Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
Job 1:9-12 Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man, himself do not lay a finger.”
It is a wonderful truth that Satan has limits. In both passages the Lord has sovereign authority. The Devil is a created being, an angel, but Yahweh has always existed. What are some ways that God and Lucifer differ?
God is the only necessary being. Satan is a contingent being. “It is commonly accepted that there are two sorts of existent entities: those that exist but could have failed to exist, and those that could not have failed to exist. Entities of the first sort are contingent beings; entities of the second sort are necessary beings.” The universe could exist without Lucifer; it cannot exist without God.
The Triune God is everywhere. Angels and demons are limited like we are to one location. The Holy Spirit is inside every believer. There is no where that we can go without the presence of the Lord.
Yahweh is the Creator. The Accuser can only corrupt what the Lord has already made. The Lord is the author of all good things. The Father, Son, and Spirit created the universe. Demons are fallen angels; they can only deceive and destroy. We are to stand firm against the Evil One with the armor of God (Ephesians 6).
God is the righteous judge. Satan and his minions will be condemned.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The Alpha and Omega is omniscient! He knows everything and leads us as a shepherd leads their sheep.
Jesus has already won. Satan lost through Jesus’ incarnation, ministry, obedient life, death, resurrection, and ascension. We are awaiting with anticipation when Christ will return for his church.
The Triune God is the master of time. Yahweh never changes, and His plans will never be defeated.
Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Prayer:
Father, You are glorious and holy. May Your name be praised forever. May we rely on You when we battle against our flesh, the world, and the Evil One. Thank you that you are without comparison. In the holy name of Jesus, we pray, amen.