“Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us, we tremble not, we fear no ill; they shall not overpower us. This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will, he can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done; one little word can fell him.” – LSB 656:3
Demons are real. This is sometimes lost on us moderns, who at times believe all the world has materialist causes, and therefore materialist solutions. If my car has a tire blow out, I need to install a new tire. If my heart valve doesn’t pump well, I need to get a valve replacement. Now those make sense to treat materially, but what about the other hard things in life?
Many of the largest problems in our society are not solvable just by replacing a tire or a heart valve, but they’re principally spiritual. Why are there all of these people who want to violently kill others? Why are so many people, especially children, confused whether they’re boys or girls? Why are so many children growing up without both a father and a mother? Why do so many people want to die? Why are so many people lonely today? We certainly try to solve these problems with stuff, but they don’t seem to be improving. That’s because these things are primarily spiritual, and they have particularly demonic causes.
That demons are real is becoming more and more obvious. And yet, dear Christian: do not fear! “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear” (Ps 46:1). Even one little word from God has the power to defeat all the devils which fill this world. The demons sure try to appear scary, but they’re all bark and cannot truly harm us Christians. Jesus has already done the deed and squished the demons like worms beneath His nail-pierced feet.
I know the demons are wailing quite dreadfully and many Christians are suffering at the hands of demons, perhaps you included. To that I say: flee to Christ and take refuge in Him. The demons cannot stand listening to the Bible: so read. They flee when you sing hymns: so sing louder. They shudder when you pray: so bow your head and fall on your knees. The battle wounds from their attacks against you are soothed with the medicine of immortality from the altar: so take and eat and drink. The victory and the kingdom is already yours who dwell inside The Mighty Fortress.
1 A mighty Fortress is our God,
A trusty Shield and Weapon;
He helps us free from ev’ry need
That hath us now o’ertaken.
The old evil foe
Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.
2 With might of ours can naught be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One,
Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this?
Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabaoth Lord,
And there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.
3 Though devils all the world should fill,
All eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill,
They shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none,
He’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.
4 The Word they still shall let remain
Nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain
With His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,
Goods, fame, child, and wife,
Let these all be gone,
They yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth.
– Martin Luther