Paul recognizes the devil’s tactics and deceptions, but he is undaunted. He knows the devil and his powers are defeated foes. They cannot overturn Jesus’s work on the Cross. They cannot overcome Jesus’s people. Indeed, the church stands firm together in this battle, strengthened by God and empowered by his Spirit.

The devil wants to disrupt God’s work and destroy his people. He is a master tactician. Deception may be his primary scheme, but he employs other methods and traps to trip us up. To stand firm in spiritual battle, believers must know their enemy and his ways.

Jesus overcame sin, death, and Satan. Then he ascended into heaven. His departure paved the way for the Holy Spirit to dwell among the disciples. The Spirit came with power, gifts, and conviction to help the church witness to Jesus and withstand Satan’s attacks. The church remains Jesus’s empowered people.

Jesus’s atonement had cosmic outcomes. He defeated God’s ancient foe, Satan. He overcame the plague of sin and plight of death. New Testament authors regularly reflect on Jesus’s triumph. Theologians call this theory of atonement Christus Victor. In Christ, eternal victory is available.

Jesus worked many wonders. He healed the sick, calmed storms, raised the dead, and produced miracle bread. These acts demonstrated his spiritual authority. Among these great works, exorcisms—silencing demons and sending them out of their hosts—signaled the kingdom of God overthrowing Satan’s rule. This episode looks at three cases studies of exorcisms and the physical, mental, spiritual, and relational effects of demonization.

At his baptism, the heavens tore open, the Spirit descended, and God the Father commissioned his beloved Son into ministry. However, before going public, the Spirit sent Jesus into the wilderness. It was time of fasting, testing, and spiritual victory. Jesus denied the Devil’s temptations, showing gritty resolve and proving he was the Son of God.     

At the proper time, Jesus entered the world (Gal. 4:4). God sent him. His arrival was heralded by angels but humble in nature. A virgin named Mary conceived him by the Holy Spirit and gave birth to him in Bethlehem. He was the promised seed of Abraham and the Serpent-crusher God promised Eve. The birth of Jesus started God’s plan to overthrow the kingdom of darkness and worldly influence of Satan.

Following the Babylonian exile and during the Persian empire, Israel became more interested in the world of angels and demons. They developed a more detailed taxonomy of spiritual beings, evident in the Intertestamental writings: Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, and Dead Sea Scrolls. While this literature is not inspired, it does give insight into how Jewish people viewed angels, demons, and Satan in Jesus’s day.

Tim interviews pastor Lee Compson about 1 and 2 Kings, Elijah and Elisha, spiritual authority figures, and how to read Old Testament narrative. Lee co-authored the 1&2 Kings commentary in the Kerux series and leads at Milford First Brethren Church. The is bonus material for the Outstanding Faith series at Leesburg Grace Church in Fall 2023.

Despite few references to Satan in the Old Testament, spiritual warfare abounds in Israel’s story. Angels and demons typically work behind the scenes; however, sometimes they appear bearing messages, bringing accusations, or fighting battles. Demonic forces show preference for certain locations, occult practices, and graven images. These ancient opponents remain a threat to spiritual flourishing in our day.