Perhaps you know that sometimes rattlesnakes that are thought to be dead can still strike, bite, and kill you. Doctors in the southwest USA have a large number of patients admitted to hospitals each year suffering from bites from rattlers… thought to be dead. Sometimes the snakes were shot and their heads cutoff; but, the snake head retains a reflex action. In fact, one study showed that snake heads could still make striking-type motions up to sixty minutes after decapitation.

Similarly, we know that Satan was judged, condemned, at the cross and rendered powerless over those who will believe. But Satan’s actual execution has not yet to come… but it will at the end of the end of the Millennium when he is “cast into the lake of fire.”

In the meantime Satan, by his ‘Sin’ nature, indwells the flesh of all men since all men are born of Adam (Rom 7:17-24), by whom “Sin entered the world” (Rom 5:12). Paul here below describes the frustration of contending with the Sin nature in his flesh body.

Romans 7:20 (NASB) But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but Sin which dwells In me.

Romans 7:21-23 (NASB) I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man (soul), 23but I see a different law (operating principle) IN The Members Of My body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

Satan, that old Serpent was in fact defeated at Calvary’s cross — Satan’s ‘head’ (his position of having dominion over us) was cut off – Jesus Christ has “condemned (judged and limited) … “Sin in the flesh.”

Romans 8:3 For what ‘the law’ could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned Sin (judged Sin) In The Flesh:

Thereby the Lord freed us from the dominion and power of Satan, while He freed us from “the Law” that had empowered Sin (cf. Col 2:14, 1Cor 15:56).

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Hebrews Chapter 2 says that our Savior, by His death, “destroyed him who holds the power of death.” But still, for a season, Satan as “Sin in the flesh” of all men can still strike and wound us as believers by his “firey darts” in the form of the troubling thoughts that he can hurl into our minds. So Satan can still hurt us and also poison our relationships, spreading his deadly venom into our homes and lives.

Paul says, when we realize the thoughts we are having are not of the Lord, we should cast those thoughts down.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of (the truth of) God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We all have a thought life. Do you worry? There are some who struggle with this problem of anxiety. The thoughts I speak of here are most often sinful thoughts or fearful and anxious thoughts that are… distrusting of the Lord and His provision. These thoughts are literally shot into our minds to make our mind into what Paul calls “the mind of the flesh” (Rom 8:7), which is the Sinful flesh.

We need to know that God is not the author of fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

So, after we’ve recognized the source of our disconcerting thoughts, how do we cast down those sinful, thoughts and anxious thoughts that are distrusting of the Lord? Paul here tells us how it is done.

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith (of trust in the Lord), wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (THE Wicked One).

Paul admonished the Corinthians to take great care in this area, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices (methods)” (2 Cor. 2:11). Many believers are unaware they are under attack in their minds and assume they are ‘awful Christians’ for having these thoughts or that they are defective in some way. Satan can be very subtle and his devices are well planned. Satan shoots the evil thoughts into our minds and then… he accuses us as being awful for having the thoughts. A Christian who is ignorant of Satan’s devices quickly becomes more worried and may, feeling defective and unholy, separates himself from the Lord.

While his devices take on many forms there is one in particular that he uses quite effectively— worry! If the enemy can keep you off balance in this area he can successfully hinder your walk in the Lord.

 “Be careful (anxious, fearful) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

Paul says, “Be careful for nothing.” In our modern day language we would say, “Don’t worry about anything.” The Greek word behind the term “careful” here is merimnao, which means to pull in different directions, to distract. This is exactly what worry will do to you… it will tear you apart, both emotionally and physically. Worry can be one of the leading causes of all sorts of physical and emotional problems, which is something else you may ‘worry’ about!

Worry always dwells on the future in regard to what may or may not happen. It mulls over every worst-case scenario imaginable.

Thankfully, Paul reveals the key to being worry free until the next event that challenges us to again turn our heart to the Lord… in faith.

We need to flee temptations and quench the firey darts of the Evil One by turning our heart to and setting our minds upon the Lord as the overcoming “Spirit of life” within us.

Romans 8:5-6 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit (mind) the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.