Devil -- Christianity; Spiritual life -- Christianity
First: The power of God is the believer's sufficiency in meeting the
heavenly demands: "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and
to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). "Not that we are sufficient of
ourselves to think anything as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of
God" (II Cor. 3:5). "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his
grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more
abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was
with me" (I Cor. 15:10). "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit,
are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:3). "Finally my brethren,
be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Eph. 6:10). The
latter passage is but the natural culmination of the whole revelation of
the believer's citizenship and its responsibilities. Therefore, the
final counsel is to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Second: The conflict with the enemy can be a victory only by the power
of God. A remarkable revelation is given in the Scriptures of the
attitude of the angels toward Satan, and this attitude can well be
considered by fallen man. In Jude 9, Michael, the archangel, is seen in
controversy with Satan over the body of Moses. There is no revelation as
to the time or the occasion of this controversy. It is stated that Moses
was buried in secret and was later seen in his transfigured and
glorified body, so that it is possible that the removal of the body of
Moses from the domain of Satan was the occasion here referred to. The
passage is as follows: "But Michael, the archangel, when contending with
the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against
him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." In like
manner in II Pet. 2:10, the false teachers of the end of this age are
said to disregard the heavenly powers (evidently evil) which angels dare
not do. "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of
uncleanness, and despise dominion. Presumptuous are they, self willed,
they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which
are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against
them before the Lord." There is probably a just regard, on the part of
the angelic beings, for the fact that Satan is the "anointed" of God
(Ezek. 28:14). As David would not lift up his hand against Saul because
he was the "Lord's anointed" (I Sam. 24:6). Christ is said to be
anointed (Ps. 2:2); so also is the believer (I Jno. 2:27). But it is
also shown here that the superior wisdom and strength of even Michael,
the archangel, and all other celestial beings, is never lifted in
conflict with Satan. They rely only upon the same power that is promised
the believer, and well may the believer be instructed by their example.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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