#1389. Freed from Satan’s rule (18/11/25)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

In our last devotional, we reflected on our spiritually dead condition prior to God saving us; today, we see that:

Our spiritual condition before coming to Jesus was the result of being enslaved in Satan’s kingdom!

To watch this devotional, please select the link below

1. Following the ways of this world

Before coming to Christ, we 'walked' (better translated than simply 'lived') in step with 'The ways of this world.' This world system - its values, ambitions, ideologies, and false religions - is not neutral. It is shaped by spiritual forces that stand in opposition to God.

This doesn’t mean everything in the world is as wicked as it could be - Satan often works subtly. He is, as Jesus warned, the master of disguise: “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” What appears good, progressive, or wise may in fact be leading people away from Christ.

The 'ways of this world' often look respectable and even religious, but if they are not submitted to Christ, they are part of a system that is spiritually hostile to God. That was once our reality, even if we didn’t realise it at the time.

2. Ruled by Satan

Paul doesn’t leave any room for a neutral middle ground. We weren’t just influenced by a bad environment - we were ruled by a spiritual enemy. He describes Satan in three ways:

i. Satan is a ruler – Jesus Himself called him “the prince of this world” (John 14:30). He has real authority over those outside of Christ.

ii. Satan has a domain – Paul calls it “the kingdom of the air,” referring to the unseen spiritual realm from which he and his demons exert influence over the world.

iii. Satan is at work in people – He is “the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” This refers to the active influence Satan has over those who live apart from Christ - a topic we’ll explore further in the next devotional.

Together, these verses reveal the desperate condition we were in: spiritually dead, enslaved to worldly systems, and under the rule of a personal enemy. We were powerless to free ourselves. But God, in His mercy, has done what we could never do:

This truth humbles us. It removes all grounds for pride or self-righteousness. If we are saved, it is purely because God, in Christ, has set us free.

Response

Do you realise how deep your captivity once was - and how complete your rescue now is? Are you actively resisting the pattern of this world? As Paul urges in Romans 12:

Let’s ask the Lord to renew our minds daily and remind us that we no longer belong to the kingdom of darkness - we belong to Jesus.

Community Group Notes

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Note - Please be thinking and praying about who you might want to invite to our upcoming carol service (7th December) and to sign up for carol singing (30th November). To sign up, go to: https://forms.monday.com/forms/67541e198902721e4b04ee65cc95ae8a?r=use1

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

On Sunday, we continued our series: Ephesians: to the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

Our message on Sunday from Ephesians 2:1-3, was:  The depths from which God has saved us.

Please read Ephesians 2:1-3 and discuss:

• Personal Reflection – What did God speak to you about through Sunday’s message?

• In what ways does this text glorify God's grace?

• How do these verses lead us to praise, joy and assurance?

• Why do the truths of this text lead to unity within the church?

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• How do these verses inspire us with compassion and confidence for sharing the gospel?

• Share Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.

• Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Are there any ‘people of peace’ (*see note) in your life—those who are receptive to you and spiritual conversation?

Let’s pray together: 

• Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.

• Pray for one another's SIV opportunities and boldness in following the Spirit's promptings.

• Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - asking God to open hearts and provide opportunities to speak life and truth.