esus said to them, “Deliver us from evil (one).”
Jesus knew the power of Satan. He met him in the wilderness after he had fasted forty days. Jesus met him in the lives of the sick who were demonised by Satan’s army of evil angels. He met him through Peter when he tried Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from going to Jerusalem to fulfil His ministry. He encountered Satan in Judas when Satan entered Judas and empowered Judas to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
The early church encountered Satan as they went about their proclamation of the gospel.
For many western Christians, Satan is more like a cartoon character rather than a fierce and strong adversary. He plays for keeps (He comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:9,10)
Jesus died and rose again. In this act, He nailed Satan to the Cross and defeated his power.
But we need to apply the power of the resurrection to overcome Satan and his testings rather than try and do it in our own strength.
We encounter Satan in the evil structures of our institutions and governments. We encounter Satan in the evil actions of people. We encounter Satan through the
temptations to walk off the path of Jesus.
We can encounter Satan and his army of evil angels in our normal walk of life.
If we choose to ignore the reality and person of Satan, we do so at our own peril!
Peter wrote “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in faith. ” (1 Peter
5:8)
Read the Lord’s Prayer. Reflect on when you encountered evil in some form. Did you recognise Satan behind it? Did God give you the power to say No or was it done in your strength or was there a mixture? Give thanks to God for the times He enabled you to overcome Satan.