And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Paul adds that through the cross, Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame” (Colossians 2:15).
Christ won our victory more than two thousand years ago when He made the devil a public spectacle. The is a defeated foe.
Are you tired of the devil blocking your way and causing all kinds of disruptions and problems in your life, such as problems in your relationships, financial woes, or health problems? How would you like to lift your foot high and then slam it down as hard as you can on top of the devil pounding, hammering, trouncing, crushing, and smattering him to bits under your feet? Does that sound like something you wish you could do?
Believe it or not, the apostle Paul encourages you to do exactly that. In Romans 16:20 he writes, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly….” The word “bruise” is taken from the Greek word suntribo, a word that significantly presents this notion of trampling the devil under your feet.
The word was historically used to denote the act of smashing grapes into wine. However, it was also used to refer to the act of snapping, breaking, and crushing bones. In fact, it pictures bones that have been utterly crushed beyond recognition. This is an amazing picture of our victory over the devil.
We have to continuously remind ourselves of our identity in Christ that we are more than conquerors through Him.
This word suntribo is used in Mark 5:4 where the Bible tells us about the demon-possessed man of the Gadarenes. It says, “Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces.…” The phrase “broken in pieces” is this same word suntribo. Although bound in chains and fetters, the demonized man was sufficiently energized by the demons to be able to crush those fetters to pieces.
The use of the word suntribo in this verse portrays a demon-possessed man releasing so much rage and violence that he was able to obliterate, smash, demolish, and reduce those fetters to nothing.
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When he was finished, the fetters fell to the ground in a heap, twisted and deformed — so broken that they would never be used to hold anyone captive again.
Now Paul uses this same word in Romans 16:20 when he says we are to “bruise” Satan under our feet. However, notice that Paul says we are to bruise him under our feet “shortly.” This word “shortly” is extremely important because it takes the whole picture to the next level. It tells us what attitude we must demonstrate the next time the devil tries to get in our way or block our path.
The word “shortly” comes from a military term that described the way Roman soldiers marched in formation. They were instructed by their commanders, “You are Roman soldiers! Lift your feet high, stomp loud, and let everyone know you are coming through town. The sound of the stomping and pounding of your feet is the signal to let everyone know they need to get out of your way. And if someone is foolish enough to stand in your way, even if someone falls down in front of you don’t you dare stop to ask them to move! Just keep marching, stomping, and pounding, even if it means you have to walk right over them!”
So when Paul uses the word “shortly,” he is referring to the pounding, stomping, crushing steps of a Roman soldier. And remember, Roman soldiers wore shoes that were spiked with nails on the bottom. When a challenger stood in front of them or if a person fell in their path these soldiers would simply ignore the obstacle and keep marching, stomping, and pounding along their way, leaving the challenger or unfortunate person completely obliterated and trampled beyond recognition an ugly, bloody sight.
This is how you and I should deal with the devil. Most of us believers are intimidated by this defeated foe and we talk a lot about him instead of focusing of the mighty power of our God.
I am growing in my love for the Greek translations thanks to one of my favourite teachers of the Word, Pastor Renner. When you get the Greek translation of a portion of scripture it helps one appreciates the reality of what is being narrated which would have been lost through translations.
What does all this mean for you and me today? It means the next time the devil tries to get in your way or block your path, you shouldn’t stop to politely ask him to move. If the enemy is stupid enough to challenge you and tries to hinder your plans, God tells you what to do in this verse: “Just keep walking! If the devil tries to stop you, just raise your feet high, pound down as hard as you can, and stomp all over him as you march forward. Crush and bruise him beyond recognition!” Jesus made it very clear that we “would trample over snakes and scorpions and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
However, it is important to point out that this smashing and crushing of Satan must be done in cooperation with God. Alone you are no match for this archenemy. That’s the reason Paul says, “…The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet….” In other words, this is a joint partnership between you and God. By yourself, you could never keep Satan subdued. This is why He says “without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). But with God as your Partner, the devil has no chance of ever slipping out from under your heel!
Romans 16:20 confirms the importance of partnering with God:
“The God of peace will smash and completely obliterate Satan under your feet! If Satan tries to get in your way or to block your path, then it’s time for you to act like a soldier — lift your feet high, stomp and pound down hard, crushing the enemy under your feet and leaving him in a heap, trampled beyond recognition, as you march on….”
The glorious truth is that Jesus already completely destroyed Satan’s power over you through His death and resurrection. The devil was utterly smashed, crushed, and bruised when Jesus was victoriously raised from the dead. Your God-given mission now is to reinforce the victory already won and to demonstrate just how miserably defeated Satan already is!
The enemy may try to lord himself over you; he may attempt to exert his foul influence over your life. However, he is merely using empty threats and illusions to feed fear into your mind.
Never forget — the only place that rightfully belongs to the devil is the small space of ground right under your feet! Jesus accomplished a total, complete, and perfect work through the Cross of Calvary and His resurrection from the dead. That means your healing, your miracle, or your financial blessing already belongs to you! The victory is already yours.
Faith is your decision to believe and appropriate what God has earned on your behalf through the finished work of the cross. Apostle Peter tells us that “God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). What is key, is the knowledge of Him. We have to know the Word and spend time in the presence of the Father so we can fully appreciate what already belongs to us. Most of us we fail to enjoy the benefits of the finished work of Christ due to ignorance. We don’t know what belongs to us and our position in Christ.
We are seated with Him far above powers, principalities and dominions and yet you hear some of us saying “we are fine under the circumstances”. How can you be “under the circumstances” when you are seated with Him above? . You are seated with Him above and the devil is under your feet. May that be the reality in your and my life by the grace of God!
