Putting the Devil in his Place

“And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Get behind Me, Satan!’” Luke 4:5-8

Positioning oneself in relationship to God rises to a very important matter in the mind of God.  Bowing, kneeling, falling prostrate on the ground, embracing, kissing, shaking hands, sitting in a certain position—all of these have a very specific meaning.  Therefore, there is special significance in the words of Jesus to Satan:  “Get behind Me, Satan.”   By ordering Satan to get behind him, Jesus was saying three things: “Get out of my face! You will not become more important to me than my source of strength. You will not separate me from my power.” 

First, Jesus was establishing the fact that the face of God is preserved for those who will worship God, receive revelations from God and find protection in God.  Moses knew how fearful it was to look upon the face of God. “And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” Exodus 3:6. Jacob’s life was changed when he saw God face to face.  “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Genesis 32:30. By telling Satan to get behind him, Jesus was saying, “Don’t think you are going to do the same thing to me as you did to Job.  When I get ready to die, you will won’t be calling the shots.  You are at my bidding.  I am not your lackey.  You have no authority over me.” 

Satan is a defeated foe. He has no control over you, over your destiny or over your will power. Use the name of Jesus against him. Get out of my face, Satan! Jesus would not allow Satan to divert his attention away from His source of strength.  You must locate your source of strength.  It is not money.  Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Ghost because they thought the money they made on the sale of their property was the source of their power.  Satan will continually try to become your source of power.  He will tell you that you cannot live without something or someone. He will tell you that you need to look good. You need your social life and social contacts, or you will fail. You need money because it is your lifeline to success. You need your job even though it comes between you and God.  You need your intelligence. You need your talent. You need your worldly friends. You need your alcohol. You need your prescription drugs. You need the affirmation of your family or else you will lose them. Satan will even tell you that you need your sin (immoral lifestyle, perversion) because it is your identity.  It is who you are. 

But, according to the Bible, God did not create perverted lifestyles.  It is not in your DNA.  The latest studies have shown that there is no homosexual gene.  The alternatives to serving God appear far more attractive than God and the church do.  It may appear that the stage is more glamorous than the platform. The bar is more alluring than the pulpit. The den of iniquity is more inviting than the closet of prayer. The costuming of the world is more attractive than the garments of righteousness. The parties of the world are more exciting than praising in church. But all of them are mere distractions!

Do not be fooled. Jesus would not allow Satan to separate him from his power. As Paul wrote, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38 

Put the devil in is place.  It is not between you and your God.  It is not in front of you. It is not beside you. Get behind Me, Satan!