“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert, for your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking some­ one to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, know­ing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brethren who are in the world.”  (1 Peter 5:8-9)

I had read these Scriptures many times and knew them off by heart, but it meant little to metill one night, while conducting an evangelistic crusade in a small NZ town, I was brought face to face with Satanic opposition. I had preached my heart out that night and sought earnestly to present the gospel message to the congregation of about 100 people.

A number of them had stayed behind for personal counselling, including a well presented businessman. He informed me he was a sub-editor of a daily newspaper. A fine looking man, an elder of some repute in a local evangelical church, but he had problems - acute personal problems. He had battled them for years and had sought help from many quarters, but he was, at this point of time, desperate for answers.

1 tried to help him! I counselled him using the Scriptures freely, but could get no further than the basics, i.e., read the Word, pray, confess! He left after about an hour and a half.

Next night he was back again. I noticed he looked drawn and perplexed. He had a desperate look about him. At the close of the service he asked for help. He wanted to speak to me personally. I would gladly have given him to one of the elders! The message I fear was preached for his benefit. I wondered how I could dodge having to face him the third night in a row, but there he was, waiting for me to finish counselling a husband and wife who were having marriage problems.

I admit I hoped and prayed he would go home! I suggested this to him, but no, he would wait till I was free. I cried to God for help. I was extremely tired and longed to be alone. What could I say to this sincere searcher? I was supposed to have all the answers! I was a well-known visiting evangelist! Surely he had the right to expect some help from me! But I was lame, impotent and I had no real answers for a desperate, educated businessman, who I was convinced, was in serious trouble.

He was such a good guy, good husband and father, elder, highly esteemed, successful in business, apparently not short of a few dollars. Inwardly I cried for divine help and guidance. A verse I had been impressed with just that morning, came to my mind.

“Submit yourself unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  (James 4:7)

It wasn’t the sort of answer I imagined would help this man, but it was a possibility, worth trying anyway. He was desperate and frankly, so was I! I pulled a letter from home out of my inside jacket pocket, put the actual letter back in my pocket and split the envelope open. I wrote what I thought at the time was a bizarre prayer. I put Victory Prayer on the top, gave it to this poor guy and said, “Pray this meaningfully three times a day, and see how you get on.”

I had never seen or read a prayer anything like it, but I felt it was an answer that might help this poor guy. Anyway, I was off the hook and able to go back to where I was staying.

Imagine my surprise when the phone rang three days later, and it was this same guy. Hesitatingly, I enquired how things were going.

“Amazing!” he said. “Unbelievable, everything is great! I’m on top of the world, Ces. Frankly, I can’t believe it’s me.”

“What happened to you?”

“Nothing Ces that I know of, except that prayer of yours. I took your advice, prayed it three times a day and everything started to change. I feel free at last, and the only thing different that I can think of, is that I started resisting the devil.”

Dear reader, that was the start of the Victory Prayer, 25 years ago.

He turned up that night with a 1000 cards he had printed. We gave them out freely that night, and space prevents me telling of people who were blessed, not because the prayer is magic, but because it puts into operation, a Bible principle vital to Christian influence and protection.

Four times I have written booklets on the power of satanic opposition, and each time, for one reason or another. I never got around to getting them printed. This time with Christians bearing me up in prayer, we hope to get this tract into your hands soon.

This is not intended to be so much a treatise on the doctrine of Satan, but rather a simple, readable paper that shares with you what I have found and experienced both in my personal life and in my ministry, how satanic opposition can affect Christians - good ones, poor and bad ones - keeping sincere searchers from accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Dear friend, read the Victory Prayer printed at the end of this article. Read it! Memorize it!  Resist the devil and be victorious in the following areas of your life.

PROCRASTINATION - WITNESSING - BIBLE READING & STUDY - PRAYER TIMES - SEXUAL EXCESSES - LYING – BAD DREAMS - DEADNESS - APATHY - JEALOUSY - CARNALITY - PRIDE - EXAGGERATION - LACK OF LOVE - UNFORGIVING SPIRIT (Satan is the accuser of the brotherhood) - COMPULSIVENESS - HABITS - GLUTTONY – SMOKING  -  GREED  -  DEFEAT  -  FEAR  -  EVIL SPEAKING  -  and so on.

Now I’m not saying everyone of these things is a satanic plot or trick to catch and deceive you. Many of the things I suggest may be the result of simple, bad habits you may have developed.

Several years ago I was in Australia, conducting an evangelistic crusade. It was my standard practice that I would visit a certain Bible College and give some messages on evangelism to the students. As usual that principal phoned where I was staying and assured me he wanted me as usual, to give some lectures; which I did. The principal also attended each lecture.

I was somewhat embarrassed, not so much that he was there, but because I felt convicted to distribute freely, copies of the Victory Prayer, and knowing him to be a conservative Bible student, scholar and Bible teacher of repute, I felt he might not appreciate me giving away victory prayers.

However, I went ahead and offered the students some copies. I thought it wise (for fear of upsetting the principal) not to offer him one, but he reached past the student he was sitting next to, and took a couple of copies off the pile. I felt he took them in a censorious attitude, and it registered in my mind that I would never be asked back again to the college.

It was some three years before I was in Australia again. Imagine my surprise when I had a phone call from the college principal. He was friendly! He invited me back again. To say the least, I was surprised. I thanked him for the invitation and accepted it on the promise that, seeing we were starting a small Bible College in NZ associated with Kiwi Ranch, he would make available to me his college program, set of rules and Biblical doctrinal statement.

He readily agreed. He asked me to come early to his office to have a chat and a cup of tea together. When I arrived at his office he passed me a folder of Rules and Regulations. He warmly welcomed me. He was not (I considered) the best com­municator I know, so I was frankly surprised at the warmth he expressed.

After a time I opened the folder and was stunned to find the Victory Prayer in large bold letters on the top sheet. Turning to him and addressing him by his surname, I said. “You must be the biggest hypocrite I have ever met.”

He replied “Why Ces, why do you say that?”

I replied that when I had been there last time and handed out the Victory Prayer he seemed to show disapproval, anger and opposition, but now ... “Is this your idea of a joke?”

He walked over and shut the door of his office before replying. Looking me in the eye. He said, “Ces, I learned a very important lesson last time you were over, about the power of Satan - how he operates, his amazing cunning and ability to appear, not only as a roaring lion, but also as an angel of light. The result - every student coming to the college receives a copy of the Victory Prayer first thing.”

Notice these Bible verses:

“The devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.”  (Revelation 12:9)

“Lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into condemnation (crime) of the devil... lest he fall into reproach and the snares of the devil.”  (1 Timothy 3:6-7)

“That they may recover themselves (Greek - awake) of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (for his will).”  (2 Timothy 2:26)

To Paul .... “I send you to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness of light and from the power (authority) of Satan unto God.”  (Acts 26:14-18)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds) casting down imaginations (Greek - reasonings) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

The Christian has three main forces and foes in opposition to him, trying to gain victory and power in his life.

1.  THE WORLD   2.  THE FLESH    3.  THE DEVIL

Thousands of books have been written on these subjects, however. I fear although many messages have been preached and books written on the WORLD and FLESH, few have referred to the part Satan has played, and the power he has used down the years, to oppress and compress the followers of Jesus Christ.

In Genesis we are shown very clearly how Satan deceived Eve and advised her rebellion and downfall. The judgment of God on her and her husband. Adam, and the effect this has had on future generations, has been devastating. Man has struggled against the power and cunning of Satan ever since that first disobedience against the commands and laws of God.

Look out! Take note! Be aware! Satan (even today) is at his old game of deception and confusion. The Christian church seems blind and ignorant of his methods.

I believe he is very active in causing people (even Chris­tians) to fall for homosexuality, lesbianism, abortion, etc! He attacks individuals with great power and deception so that he is almost too strong to oppose. But he can be resisted in the power of God!

The battles of life can be won, but only through a greater power than Satan’s! That is the power of God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ - HalleluYah!!!

The following prayer is a slightly amplified version of Ces Hilton’s original Victory Prayer.

VICTORY PRAYER

“Submit yourself unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7

Heavenly Father, I submit to You for this day, and yield to Your sovereign power, authority, and will.

I can only live today as a Christian should, in the Name and Strength of Jesus. Your Anointed One, whom I proclaim as my Saviour and Master.

Master, I invite You to live out Your resurrection and power through me. Lord, keep me today.

Father. I now obey the command of the Bible, Your Word. I resist the Devil, and charge Satan and all his demons, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and through His precious blood, to leave me, my family, our ministry, and all our possessions and interests, entirely and absolutely alone; for Satan is defeated by the victory and death of Christ on the cross.

The Lord Jesus rose victoriously from the tomb, ascended to heaven, and is seated at the Father’s Right Hand, far above all; and by Your grace, Father, I am in Him.

Thank You. Lord Jesus, for Your victory at Calvary, and for Your victory in my life today. Cause me to walk in the constant enjoyment of it, as I resist the Devil and submit consciously to God at every moment.

Father, deliver me from guilt, selfishness, arrogance, and from all that is contrary to Your divine Nature. Set me free from any spirit of unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred and revenge, and cause me to walk in the reality of all that You are to me. Your child and servant.

Thank You Father, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, my Saviour. Amen.