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Devil - Real or Imagined?

4/19/2012

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My wife and I meet each week with a group of Christians committed to growing in our faith and actions. We call these small groups in our church “Life Groups”, because they promote growing together in life. We are going through the ALPHA course, which is a practical introduction to the Christian faith. The subject this week was about evil.

ALPHA presenter, Nicky Gumbel, shared verses from the Bible which speaks about evil.  Each one of us in our Life Group agrees with their understanding that there is a real devil, who with his demonic helpers goes about trying to bring destruction on our lives. The Bible tells us that the devil in the form of a serpent tempted Eve and Adam. Their disobedience made a sin stain on the human race that remains to this day.

Jesus came to break that power of sin over people. Jesus and His disciples demonstrated this power when demons were cast out of people. Some consider this either symbolic or that those events  happened during Jesus’ time on earth, but no longer happens today. Each of us in our Life Group agrees with those who believe this literally happened during Jesus’ time and is still happening in our world today.

Each time that I have traveled into other countries, I have witnessed demonic activity and have seen God’s power over demons setting people free. The devil’s activity is just as active in the United States, however, it is in the subtle forms of greed, pride, worry, and numerous other actions that do not represent actions from God.

Some Christians place too much focus on the devil and his activities. The Bible tells us that our power over the devil comes by living our lives under the control of God and resisting the devil.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

How do you see the power of God evidenced over the devil on our world today?
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    Mark Radeke

    Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many.

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