Don’t Sweat the Adversary When You Know the Advocate

This past week at MCFC we began a new series called Defeated Foes, Undefeated Faith. We’re looking at some of the big bads that are out to ruin our faith and witness, derailing us from life as God intended. First up, was the devil.

Have you ever given much thought to the devil? Hopefully not too much. It’s not good for us on the one hand to get worked up about him, ascribe every single thing that goes wrong in our lives to him, or to be afraid of him. On the other hand, it’s not good to ignore that he exists, he is your enemy, and he wants to bring you down with him.

If we have an enemy, and we do, it’s good to understand what it looks like to live in victory over him and thankfully, Jesus has made this possible for us!

Though the devil is a real adversary, prowling like a lion and seeking to deceive and accuse (1 Peter 5:8-9), Christians can stand firm in the victory that has already been won. The good news is that the devil has been defeated through Christ’s work on the cross.

Colossians 2:15 tells us that Jesus "disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities," triumphing over them. This victory wasn’t just a future hope—it is a present reality for all who follow Christ. As believers, we aren’t called to fight FOR victory; we’re called to fight FROM victory.

So, how do we live in this triumph?

Armor Up: Ephesians 6:10-18 equips us with the tools we need for spiritual warfare. From the belt of truth to the sword of the Spirit, God provides everything we need to stand strong against the enemy’s attacks.

Resist: James 4:7 gives us a simple yet powerful strategy: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Victory over temptation and accusation comes from our submission to God’s authority and our firm resistance of the enemy.

Stand Your Ground: Standing firm in the strength of Jesus is the theme of Paul’s spiritual warfare passage. He uses the word “stand” four times in just a few verses. 1 Peter 5:9 also reminds us to "stand firm in the faith," knowing that our brothers and sisters around the world face similar challenges. When we stand firm, rooted in the truth of Christ’s victory, the devil cannot overcome us.

In Christ, the devil is a defeated adversary. If you are in Christ, then you are victorious as well. Yes, he still prowls, but he is already disarmed. We can live confidently, knowing that through Jesus, we have the power to resist and overcome every scheme. If we fail? Then “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9 Also, when the adversary tries to confuse and deceive, our Advocate pleads our case: “…if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” – 1 John 3:1