Satan in the Church of God

Satan in the Church of God

Satan means “accuser” or “adversary.” Satan already has power in the world, but he also wants to gain power in the church. He always acts as the accuser or adversary. If you give place to Satan, you will find hundreds of opportunities to accuse your brothers. But the brothers are not to be judged, condemned and crushed in the church—Satan is. He is the prince of darkness, and he can often keep his game going in a church for years on end. People fight against one another and judge each other because Satan has gained a place in their heart. Even if there are only three or four brothers in a church, you can be certain that Satan will pay this little flock a visit sooner or later. Where there are several hundred people in a church, Satan works furiously to cause division and to form factions. These factions oppose each other. The tension can be intense and deep-seated, because both sides are convinced they are right. However, when the battle comes to a head and people are at the point of splitting up—when the cup is full to the brim—those who have remained on the cross will realize that it is Satan who is leading the war. We cannot overcome him by opposing each other, but by remaining on the cross and being faithful to the Spirit. Christ overcame the principalities and powers on the cross and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Based on this, we can safely assume that everyone who accuses has given place to the devil. The others would rather suffer unjustly, because this is commendable before God.

When Judas Iscariot met Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus addressed him as “Friend,” despite the fact that Satan had entered into him. When the woman was caught in adultery and was surrounded by accusers, the Savior gave her grace and forgiveness saying, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” He did not come to destroy human souls, but to save them. Satan’s mission, on the other hand, is to divide, murder and destroy. He who seeks peace in every situation will quickly overcome Satan. That is why it is written, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” Rom. 16:20 [Emphasis added].

Under whose feet will Satan be crushed? Under those who do not accuse, who would rather suffer unjustly and who keep their flesh crucified in faithfulness to the Spirit. They will discover Satan in the church and will take up a conscious battle against him. The simple fact that our eyes are opened to see that it is Satan who is the accuser in the church causes him to lose his power, because he cannot bear the light. This is how Satan is crushed under our feet.

Begin to practice this in the churches. Stop accusing one another. Stop giving place to the devil and listening to his speeches. Then he will disappear. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, and he will flee from you. Satan also came to Jesus, but he had no part in Him. Satan gains a part in us when we are in bondage to sin, but now we have received strength from God to overcome sin and the power of Satan.

Very often people regard a God-fearing brother as their enemy because they have heard negative rumors about him. Without looking into the matter further, they become his adversary and accuser. If this isn’t Satan’s work, what is? The things that are revealed belong to the people, but secret things belong to the Lord. Deut. 29:29. Yet people continually judge and condemn according to rumors and evil thoughts; they harbor suspicions concerning things that are hidden—things that actually belong only to the Lord. We only have a right to judge what is revealed, and in the church these things are to be judged by those who are wise and understanding. Galatians 5:19 tells us, “The works of the flesh are evident.” “Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?” Yet the fact of the matter is that usually those who judge, condemn and accuse are the most carnal people in the assembly. The wise and understanding remain silent. This proves again that Satan chooses his instruments from among those who are closest to him. “Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; they set up their banners for signs.” Ps. 74:4.

Asaph heard the roaring of the adversaries, those who had given place to Satan. These people set up their own banners for signs to prove how genuine they were and how spiritual the issues were that they were dealing with, so that people would believe them.

Isn’t it the same today? False prophetesses, desiring to marry, prophesy flatteries for men and cause dissension between marriage partners. They boast of all their gifts and set them up as banners. The false prophets do the same. They roar in the midst of God’s church and always aim at the person who, in truth, has the task of watching the lambs and the sheep. They want to crush him, but the adversaries’ roaring will come to an end when their own banners become signs against them and their works are revealed. Then it will be good to have someone at hand who is wise and understanding, who is able to judge among the remnants of the sheep—a repairer of the breach.