As you slowly read through the following verses, see the events happening in your mind as if you are watching them live:
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years are ended . . .” Revelation 20:1-3
Did you notice that it was an angel given the power to bind the deceiver with a great chain and then throw him in the abyss? In the movie in my head, the angel grabs the superhuman enemy of God, man, and good by the throat and tosses him down into the pit. The deceiver won’t be able to exercise his deceit from the bottomless pit. Clearly, the evil one does not have the same power as God, not even close. The dragon’s power has limits on it because he originally was one of God’s highest angelic creations. Even after he was thrown out of heaven for his rebellion, his power was not as God’s omnipotence. Knowing this, we more clearly understand these commands:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and He will flee from you.” James 4:7
Because we are very aware that the “devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour,” it is incumbent for we who are in Christ to know we can cause him to run away. How do we do that? Ephesians 6:11 answers this question:
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Would you like to put the devil and his minions on the run? If so, then consider putting on the armor as part of your daily practice:
“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” Ephesians 6:14-18
Here’s your daily checklist:
___ Belt of truth
___ Breastplate of righteousness
___ Gospel shoes of peace
___ Shield of faith
___ Helmet of salvation
___ Sword of the Spirit
___ Prayer
Check those off and see our enemy run!
Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member