Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer reflects a sincere desire for the victory of Jesus Christ to be made complete and visible in your life, and that is a right desire. Scripture shows that Jesus has already won the decisive victory over the adversary through His death and resurrection, and that the final and complete removal of the adversary is certain when Christ returns, while even now God limits and restrains the work of darkness.
The Bible presents Satan not as an equal opposite to God, but as an adversary whose power is permitted and bounded by God. In the account of Job, the adversary is seen going to and fro throughout the earth and presenting himself before the Lord, and God sets clear limits on what he is allowed to do. He could touch what Job possessed but not Job himself at first, and later he could touch his body but must spare his life. This shows that nothing happens apart from God's sovereign permission, and that God allows the adversary to continue for a time for His own purposes, including allowing us to make a genuine choice to love and follow Him.
It is also important to see how the adversary works. From the beginning in the garden he has questioned God's word, contradicted it, and then defamed God's character by suggesting God is withholding something good. He still uses that same approach, and he also works as an accuser who condemns and tries to drive people away from Jesus and from the forgiveness and cleansing found in Him. He even tried to keep Jesus from the cross by offering Him the kingdoms of the world without the cross, suggesting God's purposes could be achieved another way. Jesus rejected that suggestion and went to the cross, and by that cross He redeemed what had been forfeited when Adam yielded to the adversary and the world was delivered into the hands of the prince of this world.
Because of that redemption you have ground to pray with confidence in the name of Jesus. Jesus taught His disciples to pray to be delivered from the evil one, and He has left His people to exercise the authority of His name to oppose the works of darkness. Through prayer you can come against the blinding and binding power that holds people captive and ask God to set them free, to silence accusation, and to halt plans that are direct or indirect, seen or unseen. That prayer is a real spiritual weapon God has made available, and praying in Jesus name to bind the power of darkness and to destroy its works in the lives of those around you is consistent with Scripture.
As you pray in this way, remember two things the Bible emphasizes. First, when God brings deliverance, the heart should not be left empty but filled with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, walking in the Word and keeping it. Second, when the adversary condemns, do not move away from Christ. Run toward Him, for His purpose in condemnation is to make you give up, while Christ's purpose is to forgive, cleanse, and restore.
I join you in prayer now. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ I ask that You would restrain the adversary and all his influence, whether direct or indirect, and bring to nothing every plan meant for evil. Silence the voice of accusation and let the voice of Your mercy and truth be heard. By the authority of Jesus who triumphed at the cross and who saw Satan fall like lightning, I ask that You would break the power of darkness, guard this life from the evil one, and fill every place with Your Holy Spirit, Your peace, and Your protection. Establish Your kingdom and Your will, and keep this dear one close to Jesus, trusting in His finished work until the day when the adversary is finally and forever cast out. Amen.
The Bible presents Satan not as an equal opposite to God, but as an adversary whose power is permitted and bounded by God. In the account of Job, the adversary is seen going to and fro throughout the earth and presenting himself before the Lord, and God sets clear limits on what he is allowed to do. He could touch what Job possessed but not Job himself at first, and later he could touch his body but must spare his life. This shows that nothing happens apart from God's sovereign permission, and that God allows the adversary to continue for a time for His own purposes, including allowing us to make a genuine choice to love and follow Him.
It is also important to see how the adversary works. From the beginning in the garden he has questioned God's word, contradicted it, and then defamed God's character by suggesting God is withholding something good. He still uses that same approach, and he also works as an accuser who condemns and tries to drive people away from Jesus and from the forgiveness and cleansing found in Him. He even tried to keep Jesus from the cross by offering Him the kingdoms of the world without the cross, suggesting God's purposes could be achieved another way. Jesus rejected that suggestion and went to the cross, and by that cross He redeemed what had been forfeited when Adam yielded to the adversary and the world was delivered into the hands of the prince of this world.
Because of that redemption you have ground to pray with confidence in the name of Jesus. Jesus taught His disciples to pray to be delivered from the evil one, and He has left His people to exercise the authority of His name to oppose the works of darkness. Through prayer you can come against the blinding and binding power that holds people captive and ask God to set them free, to silence accusation, and to halt plans that are direct or indirect, seen or unseen. That prayer is a real spiritual weapon God has made available, and praying in Jesus name to bind the power of darkness and to destroy its works in the lives of those around you is consistent with Scripture.
As you pray in this way, remember two things the Bible emphasizes. First, when God brings deliverance, the heart should not be left empty but filled with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, walking in the Word and keeping it. Second, when the adversary condemns, do not move away from Christ. Run toward Him, for His purpose in condemnation is to make you give up, while Christ's purpose is to forgive, cleanse, and restore.
I join you in prayer now. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ I ask that You would restrain the adversary and all his influence, whether direct or indirect, and bring to nothing every plan meant for evil. Silence the voice of accusation and let the voice of Your mercy and truth be heard. By the authority of Jesus who triumphed at the cross and who saw Satan fall like lightning, I ask that You would break the power of darkness, guard this life from the evil one, and fill every place with Your Holy Spirit, Your peace, and Your protection. Establish Your kingdom and Your will, and keep this dear one close to Jesus, trusting in His finished work until the day when the adversary is finally and forever cast out. Amen.
