By: Pastor Peter A. Michas
�1990 Messengers of Messiah Ministries
P.O. Box 125
Troy, IL., 62294
Are you suffering from the 'devil made me do it' syndrome? Do you believe that Satan is the god of this world? What does God's Word have to say about this popular concept upheld by most Christian teachings today? Let us imitate the noble example of the Bereans who thoroughly examined the scriptures daily to see whether the things they heard were true. To help us further understand what is true and what is not, we need to possess a more accurate insight into God's many-faceted benevolent nature and His merciful dealings with mankind's adversities.
From the original Hebrew, God exhorts in Deut. 30:19, 20:
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.
God has set before us life (Greek--the "all that God is" quality of life) and death (Greek--spiritual separation from God); blessings and cursings. God tells us to choose life.
The Talmud states: hayeyem vemavet bede halashon -- life and death are in the hand of your language. In the hand denotes we have the authority to control our language. Primarily, this means always giving praise to God, in times of good as well as times of peril, never condemning Him.
This difficult to understand principal is seen in Job 2:9, 10 whose narrative also reminds us of the temptation in Eden. Job's wife plays a role remarkably similar to Eve's. Each woman became an instrument of the tempter. The verse reads:
Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and Die!" But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity? In all this Job did not sin with his lips."
Here Job is under the impression that adversity is sent from God, not allowed by God. As we continue, we shall see for ourselves where adversity does come from.
In Matthew 12:37 our Lord Himself attests,
For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.
Father God has created us to be freewill agents. In this world, Satan has God's permission to attack our spiritual and physical weaknesses. If we choose to be a quitter, the adversary will help us to be a quitter. If we want to be a loser, he will help us to be a loser. If we want to be a junkie, he will help us to be a junkie. He will assist us in any direction we may take that is opposite God's will. The adversary will make everything that is contrary to God look most appealing to us and will stop at nothing to attract us to it.
Hosea 4:10-12 clearly shows that it is not Satan causing the people to sin, but he will certainly take every advantage to destroy them after they choose to do so:
. . . Because they have stopped giving heed to the Lord. Harlotry (putting the importance of something else above God), wine (self-indulgence), and new wine (drunkenness that describes the senseless wanderings like unto a straying animal) take away the understanding [in the very soul of man]. My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand (astrology, channeling, mediums, etc.) informs them; for a spirit of harlotry has led them astray ["fostered by the lewd practices associated with the worship of idols" -- Soncino Books of the Bible]. And they have played the harlot, departing from their God.
Isaiah 19:11-17 gives us more insight into this truth. From The Anchor Bible, Hosea page 367, we read:
The princes of Egypt cause the people to err, like a drunken man staggering in his vomit. . . . The reason is that Yahweh has sent ruah 'iw'im, a spirit of vacillation (distortion), into their midst. . . .
It is not the spirit itself that causes the people to err, rather, it is the leaders who are possessed by this spirit. In these verses we see that the Egyptians had prided themselves on being the wisest and most learned of the human race. However, as they met the approaching blows of disaster, they would prove to be utterly foolish and incapable, and their conflicting, clashing leaders would bring them to ruin.
In Hosea 4:6 God declares: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
According to the Anchor Bible pages 352-353, My people is a lament over personal loss. This is so because the verb appears first in the clause.
The knowledge referred to here is the knowledge of God in the Torah for which the priest is responsible to teach to his flock. The parallel in verse 14 shows that the people are deprived of understanding, not simply that they are unaware. It then continues, "Because you have rejected knowledge." The Hebraic verb maas implies rejection, not just because of not knowing what the Word says, but being in disagreement with what it says. Therefore, we see that it is a willful act of disobedience by the priests and the people. Every man is to study to show himself approved (II Tim. 2:15), and not merely take the word of uninformed and rebellious religious leaders as to what the scriptures mean.
The Church today is in the same state of confusion, for we have lost sight of our Hebrew roots. Satan will only help encourage us to believe what lies we want to believe. He cannot make us believe anything which we do not want to believe.
II Corinthians 4:3 discloses that the same 'veil' which blinded the minds of those who rebelled against Y'shua as their Messiah, becomes the 'veil' which Satan uses to blind the minds of the rebellious ones who are perishing today.
From our English translation of IICorinthians 4:4 we read:
In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Since it is God's desire that none should perish (John 3:16), it is contrary to His very nature to blind anyone to His truth. We as believers need to stop giving the devil so much credit. Remember that we are free-will agents. We open the door to the adversary through disobedience to God's Word. In Job's case, he was blinded by Satan's lie and believed he had lost everything.
II Corinthians 4:4 -- Correct Translation from the Greek:
In whichever ones the one and only Father God in Whose possession are all the aionos, (ages, qualities of life eternally, outpouring of life either external or for a distinct period of time, outflow of life), at this time is permitting (them) to accept blindness from within themselves and from those who have rejected the knowledge by choosing to disagree with what is written. Concerning these ones, it will not, nor cannot the shining of the gospel dawn on them and bring them to light because of their own choosing of ignorance and to follow it.
The 'blinded ones' have no roots or stability in the truth of God's Word. They are double-minded 'free thinkers' who have no sure faith in regard to divine things, but are driven hither and thither by every whim, doctrine, and teaching of rebellious men. They are the ones who willfully choose to go against what is trustworthy and established truth.
With this established, let us look at the phrase by phrase explanation of II Corinthians 4:4 -- en ois O Theos -- in whichever ones the one and only Father God
tou aionos -- in Whose possession are all the eons, ages, qualities of life, outpourings of life, either eternal or for a distinct given period of time.
Aionos CANNOT be translated as world. It is translated 680 times in the English as eternal or everlasting, age-abiding and forever. It is a Greek word for the Hebrew word olam. The Hebrew word has an intrinsic meaning of It being hidden, while the Greek wordaionos has an intrinsic meaning of it being revealed.
toutou -- at this time is permitting [them]
etuflose -- (first aorist active tense to appear in this phrase.) To accept blindness, from within themselves and from those who have rejected God's knowledge by choosing to disagree with what is written. (This has the same connotation as the same as the Hebraic word maas).
ta noemata -- this Greek word is used as in the Hebrew in Psalm 119:113. It means double-minded; one who has no sure trust in regard to divine things, but is driven hither and thither by every whim, doctrine and teaching of rebellious men. They are the ones with no roots or stability in the truth of God's Word.
ton apiston -- those who willfully choose to go against what is 'pistos' (faith, trust, belief; believing in what is God's established truth).
eis to -- concerning these ones. This is left out of our English translation.
me -- it will not, shall not, cannot
augasai autois ton photismon tou euaggeliou -- so as not to see the light of the gospel shining on them, or so that the gospel cannot dawn on them and thereby bring them light because of their own choice to be in ignorance and to stay in that ignorance.
Phil. 3:18, 19 states:
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite [belly], and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
In this passage, the phrase o theos means whose god is their belly (KJ). It does not designate a deity, but the flesh nature of man. The people had made the satisfaction of the flesh their god. It is impossible that our human flesh could ever be a god. This is especially made clear in Romans 8:5-8:
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind-set on the flesh is death, but the mind-set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind- set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Man's carnal life is hostile to God. It foils, brings to naught the divine ideals for desired human qualities and characteristics. In its self-centeredness it is constantly at war with God. Those who choose to live in the world of self-centeredness cannot please God.
I John 5:18, 19 states:
We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
In the 19th vs., the Greek word keitai (root word keitazo) is mistranslated. It has nothing to do with lying in or power, it actually means to look into. What the modern translation does do, is give the impression that the devil has power over the whole world, but it really means that the people are looking into the 'meal' of Satan, not the 'meal' of God.
(All the above definitions are from Greek-English Lexicon -- Liddell & Scott.)
A very good example of man's relationship with Satan is found in John 8:37-47 where Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees:
"I know that you are Abraham's offspring; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I pceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."
According to the Torah Anthology, when describing the phrase "thou shalt not kill or murder", it says when you teach someone a lie, you have murdered a human soul; therefore you are guilty of murder because you have destroyed that soul's relationship with God.
I John 5:21 appropriately warns us:
Little children, guard yourselves from idols (deceitful things of the evil one; idols and idolatrous practices; devotions to persons -- dead or alive -- and to material things which are put first before the love of God).
I Timothy 4:1-5 also warns us of danger:
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
In these verses we are given a prophetic warning against false doctrines. It is made clear that in later times some will apostate, or fall away from the true teachings of Y'shua. It is through listening to deceitful spirits or doctrines of demons that even the strongest believer can be pulled away. Characteristics of these false teachers are seen in their hypocrisy, seared conscience, and false attitudes toward the supports and blessing of this life: marriage and food. Unfortunately, another misconception widely taught today, not only by certain Christian teachers, the New Age Movement, and a variety of other philosophies is: "We are all little gods." One Scripture verse in particular which is frequently misunderstood is Psalm 82:6:
I said, "You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High.
It is imperative to know that the use of the Hebrew word elohim in this verse refers to the period of the Judges in Israel. The Lord gave the authority to those Judges to act in accordance with His Word in ruling His people, but they were not considered gods in the sense of deity. Human flesh and angels throughout Scripture can be referred to as elohim, but always denoting a position whereby one acts with the authority of God. An excellent example of this is found in chapter one of Job where the fallen Lucifer had to have permission from God for everything that he did to Job.
Another example of this principal is found in John 10:34. Y'shua was referring to the Judges of Israel who also had to have God's permission to act in His authority. By this time, the priesthood was serving in the place of the Judges. Y'shua is referring to Himself as the Elohim -- o Theos. There is a distinct difference between being a spokesman for God and being God!
Having created us as free-will agents, God will permit us to believe and do as we please. Satan takes a truth, distorts it, and is able to influence us only if we allow it. Once you become involved in doing wrong things, you become fair game for Satan. There is no "once saved, always saved" as some people would like to believe. Jer. 3:8 distinctly shows what happened to God's chosen people who were once faithful but eventually fell into an adulterous relationship with the world's perversions. It declares:
And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.
It was the decision of the ten northern tribes to walk away from God, He did not leave them. These were His chosen people whom He had to let go! However, He never let go of Judah, therefore they never received the writ of divorce. Judah's sin was that of making a mistake or error, but they never sought after gods as did the ten northern tribes. To this very day Judah still holds the foundation keys of truth. If God had to let the ten northern tribes go, He will certainly have to let us go if that is what we wish. God will never abandon us, we must make the decision to separate ourselves from Him. In Hebrews 13:5 God promises:
"I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU, . . ."
Satan is a beaten foe! Jesus defeated him through the cross and His resurrection. He declares His absolute authority by stating in Luke 10:19:
I have given you all authority to tread upon serpents (demonic forces) and scorpions (evil deceitful people) and over all the power of the enemy (the devil) and not one thing of his will harm you [unless you relinquish that authority -- as understood in the Greek].
Other Scripture verses showing Jesus' absolute authority are:
Matthew 28:18 -- All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
John 17:2 -- authority over all mankind
Jude 1:25 -- authority over all mankind
Luke 5:24 -- authority to forgive sins
Matthew 9:6 -- authority to forgive sins
Matthew 10:1 -- authority over unclean sins, disease and sickness
Ephesians 2:1-6 inform us of Satan's limited power over us as well as of God's great love and mercy for us. Paul explains that to be 'dead in your transgressions' is a spiritual state of the living brought about through offenses against God's Word and being involved in daily sins, that is, to err in the understanding, perception, interpretation, or judgment of what is God's will. He reveals that the concealed and unrecognized sinful influence in the lives of the believers, before they were spiritually regenerated through Christ, was Satan himself, ". . . the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience."
The second verse gives us two specific facts. The first is that Satan is prince of the air waves and he is expert in using them. He works through mediums which God created such as light and sound, perverting them to serve his evil purpose. He is able to reach us through the sense realm. If Christians allow it, he will penetrate their spiritual 'armor', expertly using every tool available to destroy God's children. Satan himself owns NOTHING. He does not own the earth for "The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it" (Ps. 24:1, 2).
The second fact reveals that Satan's wicked influence is accomplished through those who choose to disobey God's word. It is crucially important to remember that Satan's limited authority is manifested only through the 'sons of disobedience', he cannot work through the 'sons of obedience' (God's children). He uses the sons of disobedience to destroy, rob, kill, and steal from the sons of obedience. His goal is to make life miserable for the sons of obedience by using every means, including corruption and pollution. He will do everything to keep us from learning the truth of God's Word so that we may be able to recognize him for the liar he is, especially the new believer, for it is the new believer who is most liable to be swayed by false teachings. He will attempt to cripple us through our finances, our emotions, our health, and any other means he can use to keep us in perversion and bondage. Satan's purpose is to steal the joy of the believers and the incentive for witnessing; and finally to destroy our trust in God (his ultimate goal), leaving us spiritually separated from Him forever.
I Peter 5:8 warns:
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Luke 22:31, 32 -- Jesus tells us that Satan's powers are limited:
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen you brothers."
Just as Satan had to ask permission to afflict Job, we see here in the New Testament he is asking permission to have his way with Simon.
II Corinthians 11:14-15 -- God's Word reveals the epitome of Satan's deceptive power:
. . .even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.
These Scripture verses tell us Satan is as an angel of light. He can make himself look like anything he wants in order to deceive believers. Externally he can make himself look like Christianity, like something of God, but on the inside he is pure evil. His 'willing vessels' present their 'gospel' as a 'gospel of righteousness' in order to entrap the unwary. These Scripture verses also inform us of Satan's limited power over us and the ultimate end for those who choose to follow him.
Know that true righteousness comes to us only through faith in Y'shua, ". . . not as a result of works, that no one should boast." (Eph. 2:9). All who would be truly saved should use this revelation knowledge as a test of any teaching presented to them.
In Isaiah 14:12 we see a description of Satan similar to the one Jesus made in Luke 10:18. If we back up to Isaiah 14:10 and read through vs. 12, we will see a vivid description of how Satan would be crushed as a world power.
. . . Even you have been made weak as we (spirits of God-defying rulers of former ages), You have become like us. Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you, and worms are your covering. How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! (Lucifer is the Roman name for morning star)
In spite of Satan's pompous boastings in vv. 13 and 14, we see him being thrust into the "recesses of the pit" in vs. 15; vv. 16 and 17 state:
Those who see you will gaze at you, they will ponder over you, saying, "Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a wilderness and overthrew its cities, who did not allow his prisoners to go home?
In Jude vs. 6 we read of God's judgment against rebellious angels. It declares:
And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
John 12:31 -- Jesus Himself attests:
Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.
Jesus is saying that Satan will be cast out of his position of power, consequently he cannot possibly be ruler over the world. We can and do have victory over Satan.
Jesus declared in John 8:44 that there is no truth in Satan. Yet the story of Job shows us how it is possible for us to be duped by the evil one if we do not have a clear understanding of God's Word.
Job was truly faithful to God. His wisdom was reflected in all his undertakings. There was a close covenant between himself and his Creator, thereby his life was richly blessed.
As we begin reading the first chapter of Job, we see Satan coming before the Lord and issuing a challenge. He contends that Job's godly wisdom and piety is not genuine, and if put to the test, Job will curse the Lord to His face. Satan insinuates that Job is only faithful because he is so blessed and protected, and asks God to grant him permission to prove his accusations. God knows his servant Job and his steadfast righteousness, and therefore gives permission to Satan to do what he will, all but lay a hand on Job.
As we proceed in our reading, we see a messenger coming to Job with news of a disaster directly affecting him, then another, and another, and even one more messenger came. Each came separately within a short span with a story of great tragedy saying, "I alone escaped to tell you." Satan used these messengers as vehicles to convey his lies and deceptions. (In our teaching, The Bride of Christ - Who Is She?, we established through Scripture the need for two or more witnesses to verify important events.) Job did not establish whether he was hearing the truth by two or more witnesses according to the Word of God. He did not even go to see the tragic happenings for himself. He simply believed the bad news he heard. Yet, despite everything, Job did not curse the name of the Lord!
Just as in those days of old when Satan used willing human beings to deliver his lies, we find this to true even today. There never seems to be a shortage of people who like to be the bearers of bad news. Unfortunately, it seems to be the nature of man to believe ten thousand words of a lie easier than the simple truth. Many Christians turn out to be their own worst enemy and are willing to allow these men of Satan to be about their father's business.
Satan uses every means possible to destroy God's created beings. As prince of the air waves, he uses these tools readily at hand: music, TV, and movies. So many people spend a vast amount of time just watching TV, or perhaps listening to music that is not acceptable, or attending films which are contrary to good taste and moral values. (We are referring mainly to things perverted or profane). Obviously they get much more of what Satan has to offer than what the Word of God has to offer. As long as everything in their life is going along all right, there is no problem. But when things begin to come tumbling down around them, they flounder. They have in them very little of the truth of God's Word, and inevitably, they weaken in their faith and begin to doubt and question God.
Satan came again before the Lord. It was pointed out to him that in spite of everything he had done, Job had remained faithful. Then Satan exclaimed that Job would be willing to give up everything he has to keep his life. Once again the evil one requested permission to bring Job down, and the Lord granted it allowing him to do what he would do, but Satan was to preserve Job's life -- his blood -- for life is in the blood (Lev. 17:14). {This is a subject requiring special attention. According to Hebraic tradition, his 'life' included his children, who were a part of him and in whose bodies flowed Job's blood. His animals would also be a part of him because they would be a part of his livelihood. This means he could not possibly have lost any of them.}
By this time, even Job's wife was telling him to curse God and die. Once again, the evil one was working through the woman just as he did with Eve. Even when Job sought consolation from his friends, each one of them attributed Job's calamities to his own sins. By their limited human observations, and in the face of Job's extraordinary suffering, they continued in their misjudgment of him.
Job knew that his extraordinary sufferings could not be accounted to him on the ground of extraordinary sins. He was aware of wicked men who were not suffering as he, but he reasoned that if, in fact he was being punished by God, it would be a perverted justice indeed. In chapter 27, Job recognizes this spiritual dilemma. How could God Who is the God of truth treat him so unjustly?
Job continues to declare his unwavering faith in God, and by his steadfastness demonstrates his integrity. He refuses to accept what his friends have been saying about his piety not being genuine. Job also expresses his concerns about the fate of the ungodly. What hope do they have in the face of adversity not only on earth, but also what hope do they have for an eternal life? He recognizes that the wicked may prosper for a time, but that time is limited. Although he suffered greatly and even cried out in anguish, he remained steadfast in his commitment to his Lord.
In chapter 42:7 God vindicates Job but rebukes Eliphas and his two friends:
My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.
Job's friends were actually judging him of wickedness, when in reality he was a righteous man. Therefore, by standing in trustfulness of God and always placing his argument with the three friends that God is just and not to be challenged, was God able to vindicate Job.
The turning point in Job's external circumstances, his deliverance from the hands of Satan, was marked by the act in which he spiritually exemplified the righteousness of God's kingdom (Matt. 6:33 -- But seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you), and when he prayed for his friends who had been willing to accuse him so unjustly.
In vs. 10 Job's prosperity is restored to him. It states:
And the Lord restored Job's captivity when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Judaica Press)
From Rashi: "the word shav is inappropriate in this matter, and it is as though it were written: And He returned (ve-ha-shev) Job's captivity when he prayed." "He returned Job's possessions which had been taken into captivity." The 'captivity' was that Satan had convinced Job that he had lost his family and possessions, but in actuality, they were being held captive by the lie Job was believing.
Job never sent anyone to see if what he had been told really happened, nor did he go to see for himself. Satan knew Job's greatest fear -- the possibility of losing his family and possessions (3:25) - so he took advantage of it. He does the same thing with us. He has no real authority over us, but he can lie and play on the fears and weaknesses that we have if we allow it.
When we dwell on our fears and allow our emotions and weaknesses to take precedence over the Word of God, we give Satan permission to attempt to destroy what we have.
Job never lost anything to begin with, not his children, nor his flocks, nor his property. He thought he had lost everything because he allowed himself to be blinded for a time by Satan's lies. Job never sinned with his lips so God was able to restore what Satan was attempting to steal from him, and even add to him double his earthly goods. Job's children who were hidden from him for a time by Satan's lie, were restored to him. In chapter 1 vs. 2 he had seven sons and three daughters, and in chapter 42 vs. 13 he still has only seven sons and three daughters. Job's goods were also returned plus they were increased twofold. God did bless him with double his life span and double his blessings on earth for his righteousness.
Luke 10:17-18 tells us that in the name of Y'shua/Jesus we do have authority over the evil one. On their return from their successful mission, the seventy disciples manifested such great joy that it evoked a rapturous delight in the Lord because he saw in their success a symbol of Satan's complete overthrow.
And the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning."
In this statement, Jesus declared that the power of Satan was broken, and that the success of His disciples was overwhelming evidence of victory over Satan and his demons.
Know that we have our restored dominion in Y'shua Who said, "All dominion and authority has been given to me in the heavens and on earth and under the earth, . . . and we have been made heir and joint heir with him", which means that Satan is not the god of this world, but that Y'shua is, and we rule with Him. AMEN