The Devil Made me Do it

Do some verses in the Bible make you just plain nervous?

Here’s one. Luke 22:3 says: “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.”

How much impact does the devil have on Christians? Can he enter into a follower of Jesus Christ? Did Judas have any hope of escaping his doom once Satan entered into him? Was Judas ever a follower of Christ?

These are hard questions that must be tackled. In an effort to help us understand Satan’s ability to tempt the Christian, I’d like us to consider these principles:

1. Just because we can’t see Satan doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist. I don’t see the wind, but I know it’s there. I don’t see Carbon Monoxide, but if I think my house has a leak, I’m running out that door as fast as I can! The Bible gives us lots of details about Satan that point to one thing: Satan is real. Second Corinthian 10:4-5 says this: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ”. Be careful. This fight is for real.

2. We overestimate the power of Satan. The bigger and stronger your devil the smaller and weaker your God. So many Christians live with an intense fear of Satan. Don’t get me wrong. He is real and he is dangerous. But God is stronger. Jesus overcame the devil in the wilderness and granted us the power to overcome him in our daily lives. I John 4:4 says this: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world”. That’s good news right there!

3. We underestimate the intensity of Satan’s attacks. On the other side of the Satan spectrum are those of us who underestimate how strong he is. Peter tell us he is like a roaring lion roaming about seeking whom he may devour. The truth is that Satan does not play fair. He lies – all the time. He doesn’t give second chances. Nothing makes him happier than seeing a Christian out for good. He gets you when you’re down. Christian: don’t play with fire. Paul took the devil seriously in Ephesians 6:11 when he says “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”. Satan may be strong but God is stronger. That’s worth hearing twice!

4. Satan’s influence on Christ followers is limited. When you become a follower of Jesus Christ several things happen. You become His. His Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you. Check First Corinthians 3:16 if you don’t believe me. Jesus Christ Himself has prayed for us in John 17:12 and here’s what He said: “I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” Jesus felt so strongly about His ability to protect us, he also says this in Matthew 12:29 “How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man?”. Listen up: Satan may be able to influence your thoughts but he cannot enter your mind. Christ has set you free from the power of sin and darkness.

So…the bottom line is that Judas was in trouble long before Satan entered him. Even so, he had a chance to repent but he refused.

Maybe you’ve been struggling with sin. You’re not alone. If you need Jesus Christ in your life, take that step of faith right now. If you’re already a follower of Jesus Christ and need freedom from sin and the stronghold of a temptation, you already have it in Christ Jesus.

I’ll write more about how to overcome temptation next time.

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