Using Christ's Words Against Satan in Prayer and Worship
Using Christ's Words Against Satan in Prayer and Worship
The practice of using Christ's words against Satan in prayer and worship is rooted in biblical accounts of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, where he responded to Satan's temptations with quotations from Scripture [1]. This approach is grounded in the understanding that Christ's words have power over Satan.
In the biblical narrative, Satan is portrayed as an adversary or accuser, with the Hebrew term "satan" meaning "adversary" or "enemy" [1, 6]. The New Testament identifies Satan as "the prince of this world" and "the god of this world" [3]. The Psalms express a desire to overcome adversaries through God's power, with Psalm 17:13 praying, "Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword" [2].
Christ's response to Satan during his temptation in the wilderness sets a precedent for using Scripture against Satan. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy to counter Satan's temptations, demonstrating the power of God's word in spiritual warfare [1]. This biblical account has influenced Christian prayer and worship, with believers using Christ's words to resist Satan.
The apostle Paul writes in Romans 16:20, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen" [5]. This verse is often seen as a promise of victory over Satan. In 1 Peter 5:9, believers are encouraged to resist Satan, with the understanding that their "brethren suffer the same; nothing beyond the common lot of Christians befalls you" [7].
The use of Christ's words against Satan is not limited to personal prayer but is also reflected in corporate worship. The Psalms, which are often used in worship, contain prayers and declarations against enemies and adversaries [2, 4]. Psalm 44:5 declares, "Through you, will we push down our adversaries. Through your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us".
In Christian tradition, the practice of using Christ's words against Satan has been understood as a means of spiritual warfare. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, "Faith gives strength to prayer, the great instrument against the foe" [7]. This understanding is rooted in biblical teachings on the power of prayer and the importance of resisting Satan.
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, emphasizes the role of Christ's power in resisting Satan. Calvin notes that Christ "puts forth the power of his Spirit for salvation, and seals his gospel by miracles; the adversary, by the efficacy of Satan, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, and by his enchantments confirms men in their unbelief" [8].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Satan — The word itself, the Hebrew satan, is simply an "adversary," and is so used in (1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 6:4; 11:14,23,25; Numbers 22:22,33; Psalms 109:6) This original sense is still found in our Lord's application of the name to St. Peter in (Matthew 16:23) It is used as a proper name or title only four times in the Old Testament, vis. (with the article) in (Job 1:6; 12; 2:1; Zechariah 2:1) and without the article in (1 Chronicles 21:1) It is with the scriptural revelation on the subject that we are here concerned; and it is clear, from this si”
- Psalms “Psalms 17:13 (NASB) — Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Satan — Adversary; accuser. When used as a proper name, the Hebrew word so rendered has the article "the adversary" (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). In the New Testament it is used as interchangeable with Diabolos, or the devil, and is so used more than thirty times. He is also called "the dragon," "the old serpent" (Rev. 12:9; 20:2); "the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30); "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2); "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4); "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2). The distinct personality of Satan and h”
- Psalms “Through you, will we push down our adversaries. Through your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us. -- Psalms 44:5”
- Romans “Romans 16:20 (KJV) — And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Satan — contrary; adversary; enemy; accuser”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 5:9: (Luk 4:13; Eph 6:11-17; Jam 4:7.) steadfast--Compare established in the truth," Pe2 1:12. Satan's power exists only in respect to the unbelieving; the faithful he cannot hurt (Jo1 5:18). Faith gives strength to prayer, the great instrument against the foe (Jam 1:6, &c.). knowing, &c.--"encouragement not to faint in afflictions": your brethren suffer the same; nothing beyond the common lot of Christians befalls you (Co1 10:13). It is a sign of God's favor rather than displeasure, that Satan is allowed to harass you, as he did Job. Your fellow Christ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 77.2: our minds in eternal life; Antichrist, trained up under Satan’s tuition, by wicked doctrine, involves the wicked in ruin; 671 671 “ En ruine et perdition eternelle ;” — “In eternal ruin and perdition.” Christ puts forth the power of his Spirit for salvation, and seals his gospel by miracles; the adversary, 672 672 Our author evidently means Antichrist, alluding to the term applied to him by Paul in the 4th verse.— Ed . by the efficacy of Satan, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, and by his enchantments confirms mis”