Well, should we ever speak directly to the devil?

Some Christians do.

Many don't.

Who's right?

Here's the question from Frederick a listener in Germany.

Pastor John hello an episode of APJ APJ 1439 really jump-started my prayer life

so thank you for it as I felt really, I was also concerned about something you did there while you were pressing into reasons why the devil loves it when our prayer life is weak.

You even address the devil directly telling him to get out of the way.

While I got the point I was left concerned. Should we ever speak to or address the devil directly while praying to God.

I know that it is a common practice in many churches to address the devil directly, to

rebuke him in corporate prayers, for example.

I consider these practices false as I don't see any

biblical reasons to do so. We even read in Jude, quote, but when the archangel

Michael contending with the devil was disputing about the body of Moses he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, quote, the Lord rebuke you, end quote, that's Jude 1-9.

It seems like some people spend a lot of time speaking directly

to the devil while praying to God, but should we?

Well, may the Lord give us wisdom not to over-emphasize the presence and danger of the devil and demons, and not to

under-emphasize the presence and the danger of devils and demons. That's what I'm going to try to do.

Strike that balance in these few minutes that we have together. I want to get a biblical

balance and you can fall off the fence on both sides here.

Here are three preliminary brief encouragements to set the stage.

First, the devil is not our main problem.

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