Satan’s Exercise Program
Recently I spent considerable time looking at the depth of the word ‘possessed’ in the New Testament. I was prompted to do so because I met yet another Christian who believed, because they could not be possessed/totally taken over by Satan, they didn’t really have to worry about him in their lives. I found the results of my study enlightening to me and thought you may too.
“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.” Matthew 4:24The Jamison-Fawcette and Brown Commentary: “and those which were possessed with devils” — that were demonized or possessed with demons.
From the Strong’s Concordance “possessed” the word is 1139 daimonizomai; to be exercised by a daemon: – have a (be vexed with, be possessed with) devil (-s).
Exercised by a demon: We all know what exercise means and this phrase caused me to remember my exercising my horses on a lunge line….fast, slow—running in circles going nowhere, turning them in the other direction…whatever I willed for them.
Vex: From the Webster’s Dictionary: 1.a: to bring trouble, distress, or agitation to <the restaurant is vexed by slow service> b: to bring physical distress to <a headache vexed him all morning> c: to irritate or annoy by petty provocations: Harass <vexed by the children> d: Puzzle, baffle <a problem to vex the keenest wit> 2. to shake or toss about. Synonym: Annoy.
At this point in my study I had to stop and think about what I had always believed the word “possession” means: a total take over of a person. And I further understood why I have too often been blind-sided by Satan’s tactics: I didn’t have a good understanding of what they are.
As I read and re-read the aforementioned definitions many situations flashed through my mind with the knowledge that God’s Word says I could have stopped them by asking Him to deliver me and by using His Word to cause the devil to flee from me. This caused me to think about the Strong’s Concordance definition of the word “possessed” and about years ago my exercising my horses. I thought about how they could stop the lunge-line work-out by rearing up or getting stubborn and agitated…or try to jump the paddock fence. It was a good word picture of what I should have done in so many ‘vexing’ times in my life: Those times when Satan demonized me by exercising me to run in circles and go nowhere, turn around, brought trouble and agitated me, brought physical distress, provoked me by petty/little irritations, harassed, puzzled, baffled me and tried to shake or toss me off of my foundation…turn to Jesus Christ and His Word.
As a child of God we cannot be totally taken over by Satan. However, as a child of God we can be demonized. In fact, the more we seek God and serve him the more Satan works to vex us. I believe we all have stories we could tell about his doing so.
So, will God work on our behalf to deliver us from demonization? I want to let God’s Word answer this. (Definitions from the Strong’s Concordance.)
Psalm 71:4 “Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.”
Deliver: 6403 A primitive root; to slip out, that is, escape; causatively to deliver: – calve, carry away safe, deliver, (cause to) escape.
Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
2Timothy 4:18 “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Same words used in these verses:
Deliver: 4506 (through the idea of a current;); to rush or draw (for oneself), that is, rescue: – deliver (-er).
Evil: 4190 hurtful, that is, evil: figuratively calamitous; also (passively) ill, that is, diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, that is, derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners: – bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked (-ness).
Galatians 1:4 “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world (age), according to the will of God and our Father:
Deliver: 1807 active voice to tear out; middle voice to select; figuratively to release: – deliver, pluck out, rescue.
Evil: 4190 (same word as used above)
Psalm 50:15 “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me:
Deliver: 2502 A primitive root; to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflexively) to depart; by implication to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen: – arm (self), (go, ready) armed (X man, soldier), deliver, draw out, make fat, loose, (ready) prepared, put off, take away, withdraw self.
Psalm 31:15 “My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.”Psalm 40:13 “Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.”Psalm 71:2 “Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.”
Same word used in these verses:
Deliver: 5337 to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense: - X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).
I could cut and paste many more verses here for the word ‘deliver’ is used 281 times in the Bible. However, I believe these verses leave no room for us to ever doubt that God is waiting to deliver us from all evil…the devil included.
After completing this short study I had a quiet time with God. I asked God to search my heart and my life and deliver me from every evil way that was caused by my giving in to my sin nature. I then asked God to deliver me from every evil way Satan was exercising me…vexing me…demonizing me. God is faithful…He opened my eyes to things I had to repent of and set right, and He did as He promised to do…delivered me/set me free from Satan’s personalized exercise program…his unnoticed/unseen presence and strongholds in my life.
Martha Pounds said
Sharon,
This was so enlightening. Thank you for this and other devotionals.
I emailed also regarding a question about another devotional and have not heard back from you via email.
Did you get it. The question was on a phrase you used in Prey for the Cunning. “I bear no “x” to mark me as prey”.
I wondered if you could comment on the meaning of that phrase.
Thank you,
Martha Pounds
marte_pounds@yahoo.com
Sharon said
Hello Martha,
Sorry I have not answered sooner. “I bear no x to mark me as a prey” means I have no sign on my forehead showing others they can prey on me.
Thank you for your encouraging words.