CAN WE PRAY THAT THE "DEVIL AND HIS ‘ AGENTS (DEMONS) SHOULD DIE?

The answer to the question of whether we have the power to pray that the devil and the demons should die or not is a very important one, so that we can know exactly what to do if we have the power and how we can use it. Many of us have been praying against the ,devil and his demons to die either by fire or by thunder. In fact, in most of our night Vigils, we have always prayed continually for the devil and his demons to die. This kind of prayer most often creates great excitement in the minds of God’s worshippers, considering the damages and dangers that Satan and demons have caused in many homes and lives. Therefore, when prayer pointsagainst the devil and the demons are raised in a night vigil or in any prayer meeting, the response is loudest when people shout 'Amen' because of the high expectations of worshipers for the devil and demons to die immediately after the prayer.

But surprisingly however, the devil and the demons have not died till now. Therefore, one begins to wonder Why the devil and demons still continue to wax strong despite all the prayers that have been said against them. The question now is, “have we not been praying correctly or what exactly is wrong?” That is why this topic is very important. Let us look at the bible, in Eph 6: 1 2:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly place.

From this Statement above, we know that there is a wrestling between man and these forces or powers and this leads us to the next topic that explains wrestllng.

WHAT IS WRESTLING?
Wrestling is a display of physical power by two or more persons against each other butrw1thout any intention to kill because it is a known fact that no wrestler goes to the wrestling ring with an intention to kill his opponent If that is the case, it will be wrong for us to think that the devil must die in the wrestling between him and man.

In the bible: when Jacob wrestled with the angel, there was no casualty recorded Instead, there was an encounter with destiny which brought about a change of his name from Jacobtolsrael

And Jacob was: left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day (Gen 32 24).

Therefore it is clearly shown that wrestling is not intended to kill anywhere even in the bible:

WHAT THEN IS THE RIGHT THING FOR US TO DO TO WIN IN THIS WRESTLING?
The bible says in Eph 6. 13:

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in. the evil day, And having done all, to stand.

Now, what is the whole armour of God you may ask? Does it mean we should take up cutlasses, guns and spears or should we go to the armory for sophisticated weapons and ammunition? The answer is NO. Such things are not required in wrestling. What then is the bible asking us to possess for this wrestling. These are clearly stated in Eph 6: 14-18 which includes the following:

(a) That we should gird our waist with truth: This means we should be speaking the truth always. Do not tell lies because other people are succeeding by telling lies. Say the truth always as a Christian and the devil will be ashamed. And of course you know that shame is the first level of defeat. The bible also tells us that the
truth will set us free. In every aspect of your encounter in life, both physical and spiritual, it is only the truth that can give you confidence and courage to do anything and succeed. To have good success.

(b) We should out on the breastplate of righteousness: This means that we should try as much as humanly possible to live a righteous life so that the devil will not accuse us of the wrongs we have done and take advantage of us in the wrestling.

(c) That we should shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace: That is to say, we should always be preaching peace which calls for forgiveness towards one another to avoid crises situations in our lives.

(d) We should take the shield of faith with which we will be able to quench all fiery darts of the wicked ones: It means that faith in God will make us to overcome any attack and temptations of the wicked ones. because
faith in God will make us to be bold and courageous, and this can make us to win, knowing that we have a Heavenly Father who cares for us.

(e) Then We should out on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spairit which is the Word of God: With continuous meditation on the word of God as it relates to the protection and salvation of our lives and knowing the promises of God in his word for us which are of good and not of evil (J er. 29:1 1), we will be more prepared to succeed even in the face of challenges.

(f) We are encouraged to pray always with supplication in the spairit: This shows that we need to pray always in the spirit requesting for our needs and for other people's need also, if we want our spiritual and physical needs to be met (Phil. 4:6) because the days

are evil. That is why Jesus said in the Lord’s Prayer in Matt 6:13 that “God should deliver us from the evil one” .

Finally, we are encouraged to be watchful to the end and with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; In Job 116-7; 2:1, when the children of God gathered on these two occasions, satan also presented himself. What was God's reaction towards the presence of satan in that meeting? God did not say that satan must die; neither did He ask His children to drive him away, beat or kill him. Instead, God asked satan where he was coming from, to which the devil answered and said that he was going to and fro on the earth. ln that instance, God did not ask for the death of the devil because there is a set time for the devil and his demons to be. judged by God. No Wonder when Jesus saw the possessed man, the demons asked Jesus “what have we to do with you,
He did not ask the instead; instead, He asked them to get out; of the man because Jesus a set time for that, which the devil also knew.

In the bible wihere Jesus gave His disciples power and instructions to preach the gospel across the world, He gave them power to cast out demons from possessed persons but not the power to kill demons.

And these signs shall follow them that believed; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongue. (MK 16:17)

I have not been able to find any place in the New Testament where JesuS'Christ commanded that we should pray for the death of the devil and his agent (demons). Even when Jesus Was tempted by the devil, He did not ask for satan to die but rather He commanded him to go away from him and the bible said that the devil left him for a moment, but not that satan died (Matt 4: 10-1 1). At another time when Jesus saw that satan was working through Peter's mind, Jesus said, “get behind me satan" but He did not say that satan should die from Peter as many of us pray today in our churches.

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of World; and reapers are the angels (Matt.13:39).

Therefore, with the study so far, we should know that it can not be the right thing for us to pray for the devil to die because it is only God who has the power to judge and destroy the devil and his agents at His appointed time during the harvest at the end of the werld.

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