Should we be afraid of satan?

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Throughout scripture, we are warned not to ignore Satan’s devices and to understand how he works. We aren’t to live in fear as such but we should be mindful of his ways.

He is not omnipresent meaning he is limited to one place at a time but he is fast. Therefore, the idea that whatever is going on in your life is specifically Satan’s doing is inaccurate. There are, however, a host of demons who serve him throughout the world, but they are primarily working through the evil system of this world.

In most cases, Satan controls the fallen race of people, and the entire world falls under the influence of the evil one.

In the Bible, he is described as running around as a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour, not in some kind of personal encounter, but rather by creating an environment that becomes solicitous to evil.

There are 3 basic ways in which he drives / influxes the world system which is described in 1 John 2:16.

1 John 2:16 (NKJV)

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

It doesn’t take much to see what is happening on television today. Check out advertising, films, and any form of media to see how much it targets the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of self-sufficiency or worldly accomplishments..

Christians must understand that it is unlikely that we will personally fight Satan; however, scripture promises that even if we do, Satan will flee from us if we resist him.”

James 4:7 (NKJV)

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

The Bible does not tell us to constantly look out for him and then flee from him. Instead, it tells us to resist him with the Word and the armor of God and he will flee from us.

In Ephesians 6:12, it is said: “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principles and powers.” However, the solution is also found in the same chapter. And it doesn’t tell us to get our demons exorcised with Christian exorcism, neither does it instruct us to cast the demon out. It simply says, “Put on the whole armor of God,” (Eph 6:11) with the breastplate being righteousness (Eph 6:14).

It is important to live a righteous, Spirit-filled life and to trust in God’s sovereign power. There is no reason to chase Satan around and talk to him, but we should avoid him and his operations at all costs. By setting our affections on things above, by loving Christ, and by dwelling on His Word, we can protect ourselves from his schemes.

In addition, we don’t have to fear satan because of who lives in us (the Holy Spirit) is greater than he who lives in the world, and when you belong to God, no one can take you away from him.

Therefore, we do not need to worry about him.