Two 6-year-olds struggled with the problem of the existence of the devil. One boy said, “Oh, there isn’t any devil.” The other, rather upset, said, “What do you mean there isn’t any devil? It talks about him all the way through the Bible.” The first replied, “Oh that’s not true. You know, it’s just like Santa Claus—the devil turns out to be your dad.”

I wish that were true, but the truth is the devil is real. Demons are real. They are among us. They seek to confuse us and to tell us lies. As a matter of fact the Bible teaches that the origin of false doctrines is demonic. 1 Timothy 4:1: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

The devil will always try to get us away from the word of God or try to discount the word of God. The devil will always tell you some truth, but it’s all wrapped in a lie. Remember rat poison is 99% nutritious. It has just enough poison to kill rats. A false doctrine has some truth but just enough error to kill a church.

Not only that, but the origin of all false religions is demonic. 1 Corinthians 10:19-20: “What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”

This explains the frequency of demon possession among people of false religions and the strong demonic opposition to missionary work in so many places throughout the world.

Missionaries have told stories of demon-possessed people who have tried to put curses upon them. Natives have told things about the lives of missionaries that there is no way they could have known, but for the demons were speaking through them.

Demons try to keep the missionaries from preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. They will try to keep you from getting serious about your walk with the Lord. Devils love Christians who aren’t going to church, who don’t read the Bible or pray. They aren’t satisfied with that, though. They want to totally defeat a Christian so that they won’t ever turn back to Christ. That’s their goal for every believer to defeat them through discouragement and lack of discernment.

Jesus is the light and life of the world. Devils hate the light of God and that is why much of evil is symbolized by darkness and death.

Theologians tell a story to illustrate how Christ’s triumph presently benefits our lives: Imagine a city under siege. The enemy that surrounds the city will not let anyone or anything leave. Supplies are running low and the citizens are fearful. But in the dark of the night, a spy sneaks through the enemy lines. He has rushed to the city to tell the people that in another place the main enemy force has been defeated; the leaders have already surrendered—the people do not need to be afraid. It is only a matter of time until the besieging troops receive the news and lay down their weapons.

Similarly, we may seem now to be surrounded by the forces of evil—disease, injustice, oppression, death. But the enemy has actually been defeated at Calvary. Things are not the way they seem to be. It is only a matter of time until it becomes clear to all that the battle is really over and Satan is already defeated.

If you know Jesus Christ, you need not fear Satan or his army of devilish fallen angels. Don’t be defeated by these devils. Don’t be lured into their pit of discouragement. Don’t be led astray by their false doctrines. Be faithful to your church. Be in the word of God daily. Be in prayer daily. It has been said the devil mocks our wisdom and laughs at our labor but trembles when we read the Bible and pray.

Devils will try to make life tough on you but remember they are done for. The victory is ours because of Christ’s victory on the cross. It’s only a matter of time until we emerge victorious.

Watch sermons and read sermon texts and other articles online at www.tomahawkmbc.com. Listen to Pastor Jack’s sermons on WSIP FM 98.9 every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Watch sermons on his Facebook page.