If Satan Was Defeated, Why Are So Many Christians Still Losing?

Much could be said about the devil, or Satan, or the one who is our archenemy.

We’re not going to do a deep dive into this topic either but suffice it to say, he is our enemy and we no longer are held under his power, thanks to the redemptive work of Jesus.

The devil holds a kind of pre-eminence among all corrupt spirit beings, since he was the first to rebel and therefore became a “god” with a domain—the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).

The devil’s reign has corrupted the whole world, including those principalities and powers, thrones and dominions (1 John 5:19). In addition to that, he uses demons to afflict humans, especially believers. The devil goes by many names that describe his function—devil, satan (meaning adversary or accuser), the wicked one, father of lies, Beelzebub, diabolos, and many more. According to Scripture, it is generally believed his name was Lucifer, which means “bearer of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). He was part of the cherubim who ministered to God around the throne (Ezekiel 28:14). Because of his pride, he was cast down from heaven (Isaiah 14:12).

Satan is not omnipresent; he can be in only one place at a time and relies on demons to execute his plans, particularly to accuse, aggravate, and trouble the body of Christ.

What Jesus Said About the Devil

Jesus said: The devil is a murderer and the father of lies from the beginning (John 8:44). He is a thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Jesus resisted him and told him to leave (Matthew 4:1-10). He sows evil among believers (Matthew 13:25). He steals the Word (Matthew 13:18). He will try to sift you as he did with Peter (Luke 22:31).

Revelation 12:10 reveals that the accuser of the brethren, who accused them before God day and night, has been cast down. What Jesus did for us was to silence the accusations of the enemy.

The one thing we know for sure about Satan, or the devil, is that his power over us has been broken. Whatever the devil is trying to pull off as a prosecutor, he has no case against you. He is an accuser without any evidence.

What About Demons?

Demons don’t get much mention in the Bible. They did, however, manifest in Jesus’ earthly ministry as seen in the Gospels. They are low-class unclean spirits and Jesus showed us how to deal with them. He didn’t hold discussion or debate; He treated demons like vermin. He simply commanded them to leave. Believers are instructed to “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NKJV).

A demon is a disembodied spirit looking for a body to occupy. That is the only way they are able to operate on earth. Because demons don’t have a body to occupy, they are illegal aliens!

A principality or power doesn’t require a human body. They hold positions in the spirit realm, and they operate from the spirit realm to influence whole groups of people and nations.

With demons, however, it’s different. We can, just like Jesus did, cast out demons. While principalities war in regions and territories, demons war with humans.

During World War II, the Allied forces were fighting Nazi Germany. If you were to ask an Allied soldier who they were fighting, they would have said, “We are fighting Hitler!” Now I’m sure practically no Allied soldier ever saw Adolf Hitler. But in fighting the German troops, they were indirectly fighting the cause of Hitler. Similarly, more often than not, we are not directly dealing with Satan himself, but simply the demons who carry out his agenda.

Demons are just foot soldiers of the devil and all we need to do is resist them, simply tell them to leave and they must go.

The Weapons of Our Warfare

We are engaged in warfare on two fronts. There are those bothersome demons that seek to trouble us like nuisance flies. And there are principalities and powers who seek to control us, our families, our city, and our nation.

There is a saying, “Fight fire with fire.” That suggests the best way to overcome a challenge is to meet it head-on with equal or greater force of the same kind. However, the weapons we are given to fight with are far superior.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV).

This passage reminds us that although we live in the flesh, our warfare is not with flesh, and human weapons are ineffective. The true battleground is in our own minds, where strongholds are built through thoughts and beliefs that are contrary to the knowledge of God and the truth. We must discover who we are in Christ. Knowing the truth about our identity will set us free from any attempt to control or manipulate us. God has given us spiritual weapons powerful enough to pull down these strongholds, refute arguments and theories that oppose the truth, and bring every thought captive into Christ’s obedience. In this we wrestle. It’s a daily battle, but it’s one we win!

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere (Ephesians 6:12 AMPC).

Principalities and powers will attempt to exert their influence over nations, cities, churches, and even families, but you can stand firm in your God-given authority and resist the tide of evil in your own garden or sphere of influence.

Thank God for the weapons given to us. He has given us the name of Jesus, the Word of God, the anointing of the Holy Spirit with the gifts and fruit of the spirit. We apply the blood of Jesus by using our mouth and speaking. We also can use times of communion, remembering all Jesus has done for us, worshipping Him for that. Such amazing weapons! By utilizing and activating these weapons, we can overcome these strongholds and replace lies with the truth.

What God Says

How dare the nations plan a rebellion. Their foolish plots are futile!

Look at how the power brokers of the world rise up to hold their summit as the rulers scheme and confer together against YAHWEH and his Anointed King, saying:

“Let’s come together and break away from the Creator. Once and for all let’s cast off these controlling chains of God and his Christ!”

God-Enthroned merely laughs at them; the Sovereign One mocks their madness!

Then with the fierceness of his fiery anger, he settles the issue and terrifies them to death with these words:

“I myself have poured out my King on Zion, my holy mountain. I will reveal the eternal purpose of God. For he has decreed over me, ‘You are my favored Son. And as your Father I have crowned you as my King Eternal. Today I became your Father. Ask me to give you the nations and I will do it, and they shall become your legacy. Your domain will stretch to the ends of the earth. And you will shepherd them with unlimited authority, crushing their rebellion as an iron rod smashes jars of clay!’

“Listen to me, all you rebel kings and all you upstart judges of the earth. Learn your lesson while there’s still time. Serve and worship the awe-inspiring God. Recognize his greatness and bow before him, trembling with reverence in his presence. Fall facedown before him and kiss the Son before his anger is roused against you. Remember that his wrath can be quickly kindled! But many blessings are waiting for all who turn aside to hide themselves in him!” (Psalm 2 TPT)