Pastor's Ponderings, November 17, 2014

Up Jumped The Devil In The White Nightgown

Between 1940 and 1946, Louis Jordan performed an amusing song called, “Up Jumped the Devil” written by Johnny Lange.  One lyric says, “Up jumped the Devil in a white nightgown.” He said, ‘Son, why don’t you listen to me. Let me put you back up that apple tree. What you get your hands on belongs to you; whose going to miss an apple or two?’ ”  Here, the serpent in the Garden of Eden is seen as a rather mischievous fellow who simply doesn’t want to obey the rules.  God had told Adam that he could eat from any tree but one and that is the only tree that the serpent, knowing the consequences, tempted him to eat (Genesis 2:16-17).

Satan appears different ways in the Bible.  He pretends to be an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:4), a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), or the great dragon (Revelation 10:9).  But no matter how the devil shows himself, he has only one purpose and that is to destroy (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8).

Thankfully, God is infinitely more powerful than the devil or his followers. The devil may bring depression, worry, anxiety, doubt, unbelief or fear but our God is greater than anything that the devil has or seems to be (John 10:10). Therefore, we can rest assured knowing that the God that lives in us is greater than the devil who wants to destroy us (1 John 4:4).  

When we see the devil and his followers wreaking havoc throughout the world, let us remember that since God is on our side (Romans 8:31), we can defeat anything that the devil’s side has.  As believers, our first order of business must be to throw him out of our lives (Mark 16:17) no matter how many times he jumps up with or without a white nightgown.

Genesis 2:16-17
New International Version (NIV)

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

2 Corinthians 11:14
New International Version (NIV)

14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

1 Peter 5:8
New International Version (NIV)

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Revelation 12:9
New International Version (NIV)

9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

John 10:10
New International Version (NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Romans 8:31
New International Version (NIV)

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1 John 4:4
New International Version (NIV)

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Mark 16:17
English Standard Version (ESV)

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons;