Christ has power even over the devil. Why do we underestimate the power of the devil today?

Little is said about the fact that Christians underestimate the devil’s existence. Only Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus does not reveal the future to anyone. However, Jesus acts decisively when dealing with the devil. The Gospel reminds us that Jesus has the power to cast out evil spirits and thus free a person from their influence. The devil calls out from the possessed: “You are the Son of God.” What do you do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God” (Mk 1:24). It is enough to say to Jesus: “Shut up and come out of him” (Mk 1:25). Jesus does not need a crystal ball, a computer, various pendulums, pyramids, séances, diplomas that we can see in psychotherapy offices. Jesus does not need advertising, supposedly scientific and professional education, awards, or knowledge from para psychological seminars and meetings. It is necessary to know.

What does it mean to be possessed by the devil? This means that the devil controls the human heart, will, reason, and feelings so much that a person does evil without fighting against it. We tend to say it more gently; it is an evil passion. And it can be different. A person can be passionately addicted to alcohol, sex, lying, gossiping, stealing, drugs, or playing slot machines. The doctor will say that it is a sick person. It is a severe situation we cannot escape on our own. We can talk about one more activity of the devil: various movements and sects where opium is subtly presented, which destroys gradually, sometimes very quickly, and a person becomes enslaved.

Let us consider the genesis of how the devil takes possession of the human heart. It is necessary to tell yourself immediately that the devil does not possess a person all at once. The devil is a tactician. First, he recognizes a person’s weaknesses. Like Eve in Paradise, a lousy idea is presented as good initially. You are a free man. You have the right and obligation to try it once. He admits that it is against God’s commandment, but it is an idea where you can experience something pleasant, unusual, strange… At first glance, temptation does not look like something terrible. Anyone who engages in conversation flirts with temptation, admires others, or compares himself with others starts the second stage in himself, which is already a harbinger of something great evil. Man is prone to make light of things. What could go wrong if I do that? At this stage, a person ceases to judge correctly, see things, evaluate the situation, and take a critical attitude. I’m in the right; I have to avenge the insult…? One drink won’t put me down. Then comes the battle stage. All it takes is a thought, a look, one deed, and the devil catches his prey. How hard it is to fight back then. Resignation begins, fear is given up, concessions are made, and the wrong idea has already settled in the mind so much that it no longer wants and does not want to go out.

Temptation. When a person weakens, it becomes more difficult to fight against him, and the attraction returns and grows more robust.