1 John 3:8. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Why do so many problems persist—and even get worse—in our lives? Mental illness, addiction, suicide, and violence are increasing at alarming rates. Incurable diseases are spreading, defying the progress of modern medicine. Powerful nations escalate their war efforts while countless others suffer under oppression, poverty, and fear. And despite enormous advancements in science, technology, and even theology, spiritual problems are growing worldwide, destroying lives and threatening the next generation.
Tragically, many believers live without direction or power. They live like unbelievers—or worse, enslaved by the ways of the world, burdened with constant worry about their lives. Around the world, churches are shrinking, their influence fading. As the light of the gospel dims in many places, the world faces disasters and confusion on every level: morally, culturally, politically, and spiritually.
But Scripture reveals the root cause behind all of this. At the center of these problems is one devastating event that every person must understand—the appearance of Satan. The Bible calls him “the great dragon,” “the ancient serpent,” and “the devil” in Revelation 12:9. He is a fallen angel who rebelled against God and deceived the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1–7). Since that moment, he has been leading the entire world astray.
Through this deception, sin entered the world, and humanity became eternally separated from God. The devil, called “the father of lies” in John 8:44, planted one simple message in the hearts of people: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). This message lives on today through the New Age Movement and much of modern culture, preaching self-worship, false spirituality, and human-centered success. But the message isn’t new—it’s the same lie from the beginning.
Since the Fall, the human race has been blindly following “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), deceived by “the angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), and worshiping “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The devil has been stealing, killing, and destroying lives (John 10:10), not only spiritually but mentally, physically, socially, and generationally.
Most people are unaware that they are living under the power of the devil (Acts 10:38). They suffer endlessly without understanding the spiritual cause. Curses and disasters follow them. Hell begins not just after death, but in the misery they experience now. And without intervention, these curses will pass on to the next generation.
But God, compelled by His great love, did not leave us in this state. He gave a promise from the very beginning—the promise of victory. In Genesis 3:15, God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” This is the first declaration of the gospel. This is the prophecy of Jesus Christ, the one who would come to destroy the power of the devil.
Jesus is the True King. Through His death and resurrection, He broke the power of the one who held the power of death—the devil (Hebrews 2:14). He appeared for this very purpose: to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
When you believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ—the one anointed to be King—you are eternally set free from Satan’s grasp. You are given the right to become a child of God, and you receive the authority to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).
You cannot defeat Satan with your own strength, effort, or knowledge. Only through the power of Jesus—who has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18)—can you overcome. Stop fighting against people, circumstances, or your own failures. Stop relying on human strength, emotion, or standards. Trust completely in the finished work of your King, Jesus Christ.
God promises that He will soon crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20). Resist the devil by first submitting to God, and the devil will flee from you (James 4:7). The enemy will try to deceive you at every moment of your life, but in Jesus’ name, you can overcome.
Prayer. Lord Jesus, You are the Christ, the true King who destroyed the devil’s work in my life. I confess that I have been deceived, separated from God, and destined to suffer under sin and condemnation. But because of Your great love for me, You died on the cross to break the power of Satan. You rose again from the dead, conquering the forces of darkness. You have raised me with You and seated me in the heavenly realms in Christ. Thank You for the promise of victory over every scheme of the enemy. I believe and proclaim that in Your mighty name. Amen.