Should We Hate The Devil
There is much confusion as to whether we are supposed to hate the devil and his demons. The word hate in Hebrew is sane' and miseo in Greek. It translates as detest, abhor. I once asked God if He hated the devil. What followed was much confusion around this. I studied this and sought the advice of others and initially came to the conclusion that God hates only the sin and not the sinner so this must apply to the devil also. I know that God considers His creation good and the devil is part of His creation so I thought He probably would not hate something He created. I sought the Scriptures and could only really come up with that we are to bless those that curse us, and love our enemies. With this knowledge I repented for the times I openly confessed my hatred toward the devil and his demons but the next day my spirit was troubled - I could not get this out of my head. I knew I needed to do more research and delve further into the Scriptures and see what the word of God said on this matter. The one that came to me first and foremost was “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26, NKJV). In this God is saying that if we put anyone even our earthly family ahead of Him they become idols in our lives. God speaks in the Bible many times of how He hates idols. I then came to this Scripture in Proverbs. These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19, NKJV). In this God is saying that He hates a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among brethren. This is describing the devil. According to Scripture God does in fact hate the devil. We are told in Scripture to hate what God hates and to love what He loves. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world (1 John 2:15-16, NKJV).
You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked (Psalm 97:10, NKJV). The devil is the epitome of evil. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it (John 8:44, NKJV).
God also tells us to hate evil. You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked (Psalm 97:10, NKJV).
A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident (Proverbs 14:16, NKJV).
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good (Romans 12:9, NKJV).
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverse mouth I hate (Proverbs 8:13, NKJV).
This is what I believe the Lord spoke to me: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24, NKJV). Hating the devil and everything he stands for is the beginning of fearing the Lord. There is one who was made pure evil. That is satan. He has an unrepentant heart. I cannot forgive those who do not repent. I cannot forgive the devil for he will never repent. If you do not truly hate the devil how can you turn away from his abominations? You must hate who he is and what he stands for before you can truly love God. To hate the devil and all his evil is to love God. Unless you truly hate him how can you turn from him? You can't truly turn away from worldly ways until you truly hate them. To hate the devil is to reject all he stands for. If you give him an inch he will take a mile. If you don't hate him and his evil then your mindset will start to line up with his lies. His lying tongue will tempt you to believe that some sin is okay. I need to purge out all sin. Hate evil, turn away from evil. Turn to me, turn to the light. Hate the dark and love the light. Turn from him and his evil ways. To hate him is to hate sin. To hate sin is to love God. To love God is to love His laws that are written in your mind and on your heart. The key to all this though is NOT to focus on hating satan, instead focus on loving God. There comes a moment when you have to hate evil before you can truly commit to God. It is a decision to choose love and light and turn away from the dark. When you have done this then declare your love for God. Change your focus to meditating on loving God. It is what you focus on that brings the power. Even though you are meant to hate the devil if you focus your attention on hating him you will actually attract him. Don't waste your time and energy on hating him - this is what he wants. Rather than adopting a mindset of hating him adopt a mindset of loving God. Turn away from evil, turn away from satan. Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:6-7). If you focus on hatred of the devil it will detract from the love of God. Loving God with all of your heart, soul and mind automatically means you are hating the devil".
If you want God to activate and illuminate the laws of God in your heart so that you will love them and naturally want to follow them you can make them come alive by declaring you abhor and turn away from satan and all he stands for. Renounce the devil and his ways of corruption and evil intent. Run to the ways and statutes of God. Live for Him and His lawful system of what He views as right. Come into agreement with the Word of God. When you are ready for God to illuminate His laws in your heart then prayer this prayer:-
(PRAYER) - "Father God, Father of My beloved Jesus Christ I love You. I repent for hating Your laws, I repent for hating Your justice system. My flesh wants to do what is contrary to the laws of God. My flesh hates Your laws Father God and it hates Your justice system of discipline to teach right from wrong. I repent. Father my spirit loves Your justice system, my spirit loves your laws and I am ready to commit my heart and soul to them. I want to turn away from the devil and His corruption. The ways of man are corrupt - man aligns himself with the devil. The ways of the devil are an abomination. I have been an abomination to You Father. I have agreed with the devil on numerous occasions. No more - light a fire within my heart. Burn Your laws into my heart with your finger Lord. Illuminate them. Give me a heartfelt desire to follow them, to love them and be one with them. I want to hate what you hate and love what you love. Father I simply abhor and turn away from satan and his demons, evil, sin, immorality and corruption. I turn from satan, I renounce him and his worldly ways. I am ready for Your fire to burn deeply within My heart. I am ready for Your laws to shine bright and show me the way. Father God from this day I declare I love You, I love light, I love peace, I love Joy, I love patience, I love goodness, I love kindness, I love faithfulness, I love gentleness and I love self-control. In Jesus name, Amen".
By Tania Francis