I’M SO SORRY, BUT THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
Sakkie Parsons
I was having an online conversation with someone about how quickly people blame the devil when they knowingly choose to sin, keep on sinning, and then, when the truth comes out, excuse themselves by saying, “I’m so sorry, but the devil made me do it.”
Today I want to show you that many of us knowingly do what we already understand is wrong—because we still want to. We choose to go ahead deliberately, and when we are eventually caught and the truth comes out, we fall back on the excuse: “Sorry, forgive me, but the devil made me do it.” But I want to point out to you that the devil cannot make you do anything, because you have a will of your own.
Even our Lord will not force you to serve and follow Him, because He created you with your own will, and He respects your will, just as He wants you to respect His.
But let us start at the beginning.
The Word says that we must resist the devil, and he will flee from us:
James 4:7
So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.
The first thing we must do is:
James 4:7
So submit to [the authority of] God…
But I will come back to that.
Let me first start with:
James 4:7
Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.
Over the years, I have sometimes seen in church services and among Christians—if it were not so sad, I would almost call it laughable—the ways people “rebuke Satan.” I have sometimes thought to myself that Satan must be holding his stomach laughing. Because—
How does the Word say I must resist satan so that he flees from me?
Well, the Bible is very clear about it. Yet so many people either do not see it, or they simply do not want to see it, because then rebuking Satan will not make them look as “impressive” as they think they do. This is especially true for so-called “devil chasers,” those who go around casting out demons left and right—even from true Christians.
But let’s go to the Word and see how Jesus Himself teaches us to do it and sets the example:
Matthew 4:2-11
2 After He had gone without food for forty days and forty nights, He became hungry.
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city [Jerusalem] and placed Him on the pinnacle (highest point) of the temple.
6 And he said mockingly to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,
‘He will command His angels concerning You [to serve, care for, protect, and watch over You];’
and ‘They will lift You up on their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall not test the Lord your God.’”
8 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory [splendor, magnificence, and excellence] of them;
9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
11 Then the devil left Him; and angels came and ministered to Him [bringing Him food and serving Him].
Do you see how absolutely simple it is for every child of God who has the Spirit of God dwelling in them to resist satan—and not only resist him, but make him flee?
Jesus simply said, “It is written…” and quoted the Word. After showing us how to do it, Jesus also told us how to send him away with those words:
Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written…”
Therefore what, according to my understanding of the Word, is the correct and only way to resist Satan so that he flees from you?
Let me give you a practical example from my own life.
Many years ago, not long after my conversion, I made Romans 8:28 my life motto.
So, when Satan attacks me with thoughts like:
“Why did your loving God make you blind?”
My response is:
“In the Name of Jesus, satan, go away from me, for it is written:
Romans 8:28
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”
This has always worked for me, so I do not see why it will not work for you. But you must know how to skillfully use your Sword (the Word of God) against Satan, and you can only do that if you regularly study the Word—keeping your Sword sharp—because it is your only weapon against Satan, just as Jesus demonstrated:
Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
As I mentioned earlier: the devil cannot make you do anything, because you have a will of your own.
Even our Lord will not force Himself into your life. He waits for you to open the door of your heart to Him:
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me.
In the same way, satan cannot possess a child of God or make you do “this” or “that” unless you allow him to.
He waits for you to give him an opportunity in your life, and then he takes over completely.
This is when someone does something evil and later says: “I don’t know what came over me.”
The answer is simple: he or she used their own will to give satan access. It is as simple as that.
I quoted earlier:
James 4:7
So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.
Now let’s return to:
James 4:7
So submit to [the authority of] God…
You do not stand a chance against satan if you have not first done this. You cannot rebuke satan in the Name of Jesus if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and His Holy Spirit does not dwell within you.
Otherwise, satan will ignore you—just as he ignored the Jewish exorcists, the sons of Sceva, in Acts 19:13-16.
No matter how loudly you shout or how dramatic you act, you have already lost the battle before you began:
Acts 19:13-16
13 Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists also attempted to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I implore you and solemnly command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!”
14 Seven sons of one [named] Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 But the evil spirit retorted, “I know and recognize and acknowledge Jesus, and I know about Paul, but as for you, who are you?”
16 Then the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they ran out of that house [in terror, stripped] naked and wounded.
Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
Is Jesus Lord of your life?
If not, then you have read all this so far only to read again, for the second time today:
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me.
Jesus wants to empower you so that from today on, when satan attacks you, you can say:
“Satan, in the Name of Jesus (for Jesus is now the power within me), go away from me! For it is written: (and then you quote the Scripture that applies to your situation). Therefore, I will worship the Lord my God and serve Him only.”
If you have made that decision today—or perhaps renewed it—then enjoy your life in Christ!
Remember to talk with our Lord often in prayer, and keep practicing the use of your Sword—the Word of God—your only weapon against satan.
For all who have read this message and made or renewed the decision not to give satan control of your life, I leave you with this passage from our Lord’s Word. Write it down and place it somewhere where you can see it often, for our Lord has given it to us in His precious Word:
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like mature men and be courageous; be strong.
Sakkie