August 27, 2023
Messing Around In Areas We Do Not Belong
“After the morsel, Satan then entered into him…” John 13:27a (NASB)
In 1983, I was stationed in Germany in the Army. Each week two soldiers had to perform what was called A-LOC duty (receiving and exchanging warehouse parts) during the weekend. I was in charge of the warehouse section one weekend. The other soldier was in charge of where batteries were (call him ‘Bob’). Bob and I were there for the entire weekend receiving parts to soldiers on field maneuvers or incoming semi-trucks. One night after we finished, we were in the front office. We were the only two on post, except the military police at the gate. As we were talking, something ran by the window. I said, “Did you see that?” He said, “No.” His back was to the window. We ran outside the warehouse to the corner of the building. As we got to the edge, Bob stopped suddenly. I ran into him. We saw something inhuman on the opposite side of the building. It was a large black figure outlined like a man. He said, “You aren’t supposed to be here,” as he ran toward it trying to take it into custody. Unfortunately, he hit a volleyball net halfway, and fell to the ground. I ran over to check on him and suddenly the figure was gone. Disappeared. A snap of a finger. To shorten the story, we called the military police up front. They brought police dogs to track if necessary. On this night it had freshly snowed. Terrorism in Germany was active during this time. A Post Office on base had been bombed earlier that year. After checking the area, the police said they found no footprints (not one) in the snow where the figure was standing. It just disappeared. To this day, Bob and I have seen something. I believe we saw a demon. Stories surfaced of similar sightings even inside the warehouse. One was by my direct supervisor. Her story was even scarier than ours. Our warehouse was a Nazi Germany warehouse during the second World War, which the United States reused until the mid-1990’s. It was never bombed due to large mountains blocking its view from above.
“After the morsel, Satan then entered into him.” At this point, Judas gave himself over to the devil for the deeds ahead. “This is the natural outcome of one who plays with the devil.”[1] Imagine this; lost people (without Jesus as Savior) can be possessed by demons. Christians, can be oppressed (or influenced) by demons, but not possessed. This tells us Judas was never converted. When lost or saved are possessed or oppressed by demons, the act is committed by a demon, not Satan. Demons are equally powerful tempting us each day. They have will, intellect, and abilities, but they are not as powerful as Satan. They are his minions. If Satan were to attack us personally, we would know it. Satan entered Judas. The ‘prince of Hell’ entered Judas. “It certainly was the midnight of Judas’ soul. It was the night that would know no morning. Judas had chosen his own place of darkness and doom.”[2] Job too, was attacked by Satan. He endured it but later began to wane. God had to restructure Job’s thoughts to bring him back to reality.
The reality of Satan and demons is as true today as it was in Judas’ day. They are here on earth and actively seeking to destroy lives. We must be on guard each day, by placing on the Armor of God (Ephesian 6:13-18). Do not give in any area where they may plant a thought, desire, or attitude. It is all a ploy to make you as a Christian unusable to the kingdom of God. It also makes for a miserable living when you have the opportunity to stand against them. For the unbeliever, you stand unprotected against Satan and his demons. Give your life to Christ!
[1] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 13:27). Broadman Press.
[2] Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe (pp. 323–324). Crossway Books.