Go anywhere in the world, pick up any newspaper in any nation and in any language. Read the front page, and you will find yourself pulling your hair and asking: “What is wrong with everyone? What is wrong with the government? What is wrong with people? What is wrong with my spouse, my parents, or my children?”
Something has gone fundamentally wrong with the human race. No one can deny that fact. People offer superficial answers: poor upbringing, a bad environment, lack of education, or poverty. Throughout history, nations have spent billions of dollars trying to change these things. And what happened? We simply turned uneducated criminals into high-tech criminals who have learned to do wrong with great sophistication. Crimes continue, humanity grows colder, and nations remain at war. Despite our advancements, man’s inhumanity to man always grabs the front page. The faces change, but the story remains the same.
Why? It is as if someone injected poison into the human bloodstream. That is why, even when we know the right thing to do, we deliberately, repeatedly, and defiantly choose to do wrong. We see it in society and in our homes—couples fighting, families fracturing. We deceive ourselves into thinking we just need more counseling, more education, or more money.
But we need a right diagnosis. Some people fear the test results and choose to live blindly until an emergency strikes. If you go to a doctor with chest pain and he misdiagnoses a heart attack as mere gastric trouble, you may die. We cannot find a cure until we find the cause. Against the lies of the world and our own deceiving hearts, the Apostle Paul gives us a shocking diagnosis. Theologians call it “Total Depravity.” I call it being at our W.O.R.S.T.
Step Three: Run by Satan
We have already seen the first two steps: we were Wholly Dead and Only Worldly. Today, we step further down into the dungeon of depravity to the third step: Run by Satan.
How is it that creatures created in God’s image—made to know, commune with, and reflect Him—are so dead? How can they spend their lives in transgression, pulled by the vanity of a world that never satisfies? Every son of Adam eventually realizes Solomon’s truth: that all life under the sun is vanity. Yet, they continue like “zombies” for generations. There must be a terrible, sinister power behind this.
Paul tells us exactly what that power is in Verse 2:
“…in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.”
Paul describes this power in two ways:
- The Prince of the power of the air.
- The spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.
This refers to Satan, the archangel who fell and took an army of evil spirits with him. He is the ultimate villain. One of his cleverest ploys is to convince people that he does not exist. If there is no enemy, you feel no need for a defense; if there is no defense, his victory is easy.
In Ephesians 6, Paul speaks of spiritual warfare, noting that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. Most people are clueless about this battle, which is exactly what Satan wants. We must not be ignorant of his schemes.
How Satan Works in the Unsaved
Satan traps the unbeliever in a lifestyle that inevitably leads to destruction. He uses both an external and an internal force to maintain this control.
1. The External Force: The Prince of the Power of the Air
Satan is called a “Prince,” meaning a ruler or authority. He has a temporary, authentic power over the world system. Our Lord Himself acknowledged this by calling him the “prince of this world” (John 12:31). He is not a myth; he is the supreme ruler of the forces of evil. 1 John 5:19 tells us that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
What does “power of the air” mean? “Air” refers to the external atmosphere—the trends, systems, and “vibe” of this world. Just as we speak of a “political air” or a “wave,” this refers to the spiritual atmosphere. The “power of the air” is the aggregate influence of evil spirits who operate in this invisible realm.
Think of it like this: right now, there are thousands of unseen radio waves, Wi-Fi signals, and GPS data passing through your body. You cannot see them, but you see their effects on your phone. Demonic power is similar. You cannot see the spirits, but they orchestrate the “course of this world”—a comprehensive anti-God system that shapes government, media, culture, and commerce.
His methods include:
- Blinding the Mind: He promotes values like materialism and moral relativism, effectively blinding people to the Gospel (2 Cor. 4:4).
- Coordinating Distraction: He keeps people “hypersensitive” to the world and “insensitive” to God. He uses a constant stream of new trends, movies, and internet distractions to ensure people never stop to think about death, their soul, or eternity.
- Sophisticated Deception: He even uses false religion and false teachers, appearing as an “angel of light” to lead people away from the truth.
2. The Internal Force: The Spirit at Work Within
Satan not only controls the “air” around us; he works inside the heart. Paul calls him “the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.”
Notice he uses the singular “spirit.” While there are many demons, they operate with such perfect coordination and a single goal that they act as one spirit. Their goal is simple: keep the soul dead, keep it pulled by the worldly current, and ensure it finally perishes. This spirit operates under the government of the “Archon”—the prince himself.
Unbelievers think they are free, but they are actually being orchestrated by a supernatural evil being. Because they are spiritually dead to God, they can only respond to this earthly, evil environment. They enjoy this toxic atmosphere because no one there talks about sin or obedience; instead, transgression is shown in beautiful, attractive colors.
The Contrast of Atmospheres
Have you ever noticed the difference in the atmosphere when we gather as a church? Here, we talk freely of God. But the moment you step out, it feels as though the very “air” resists the truth. That is the “Prince of the power of the air” at work, externally trapping people in a damning lifestyle.
If God were to open your eyes, you would see that the world is not just a collection of people making independent choices. It is a realm where “walking dead bodies” are being moved by an unseen hand.
The only way to escape this coordinated, internal and external influence is for God to open your eyes to the disease. Only then will you run to the treatment offered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Until that moment, humanity remains a collection of walking zombies, run by a master who hates them.
Next time, we will look at how this enemy tries to hinder those who have already been saved. But for today, ask yourself: Whose spirit is currently at work within you? Are you sensitive to the signals of the world, or to the voice of the Living God?
Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:24-26
We have seen that man is Wholly Dead and Only Worldly. Now we look deeper into the third step of our W.O.R.S.T. condition: Run by Satan.
Paul tells us that this spirit “now works in the sons of disobedience.” This is not just an external influence from the media, the internet, or worldly friends. The devil can directly plant thoughts into your mind. He can whisper evil suggestions and persuade you toward rebellion.
The word “works” in Greek is energeō (from which we get “energize”). It means to effectually operate—it is a dynamic, active, and powerful influence. This is the same word used in Philippians 2:13 to describe how God works in His children to will and to do His good pleasure. Just as the Holy Spirit powerfully works in a believer to lead them to heaven, the Prince of the Power of the Air is powerfully working inside the unbeliever to drag them to hell. There is a pervasive, efficient power at work in every unsaved person, pushing them further away from God.
The Captivity of the Soul
How scary is the description Paul gives in 2 Timothy 2:24-26? He tells Timothy to be patient with those who oppose the truth. Why? Because they are not just “stubborn”—they are captives.
“And that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
The only way to escape is through the truth. When the truth is preached, and God grants repentance, a person “comes to their senses.” This implies that before salvation, man is in a spiritual stupor or madness, snatched away like a slave seized by “men-stealers” in a raid. Satan has seized human beings to perform his will.
On a personal level, Satan uses subtle, personalized tactics. He knows your specific weaknesses, your memories, and your desires. He sows seeds of pride or despair. He presents sin as “necessary” or “attractive.” He seeks a “foothold” (Eph. 4:27) to keep you from your Creator. He is both the systemic current dragging humanity into worldliness and the quiet whisper tempting your heart to sin.
The Torture of the Master
Satan is a cruel master. We see in the Book of Revelation how he oppresses people with addictions and deceitful lusts. Eventually, as Romans 1 says, God “gives them up” to their own vile affections. This leads to mental obsession and oppression.
The demons torture the mind like scorpions. This is the source of so much modern misery: a guilty conscience, no peace, and an unbearable fear of death. Some people are driven to such self-loathing by their sin that they cannot even look at themselves in a mirror without feeling physically ill. Satan promises name, fame, and success in the music industry, sports, or politics—offering the world in exchange for a soul—only to destroy the person in the end. He uses “viral celebrities” as weapons to sow anti-God seeds in the minds of the youth.
His goal is simple: to harden the heart until it defies God at every turn, so that the person becomes a “son of disobedience” who will blaspheme God even under judgment, as seen in the bowls of wrath in Revelation.
How Satan Works Against the Church
Paul is not saying every unbeliever is demon-possessed, but they are all demon-influenced. However, Satan’s work does not stop at the church doors. He has specific strategies for the saved:
- Hiding the Word: In the Parable of the Sower, as soon as the Word is heard, the devil comes to snatch it away so they are not saved. He uses the “cares of this world” to choke the seed.
- Blinding the Mind: 2 Corinthians 4:4 says the “god of this world” blinds the minds of unbelievers so the light of the Gospel cannot shine.
- The Innovation of False Teachers: This is Satan’s most efficient tool. Instead of sending 500 demons to steal the Word from 500 people, he simply perverts the heart of one pastor. If he can get a “famous pastor” to preach a false prosperity gospel, he doesn’t need to work on the congregation individually—they are already being fed “doctrines of demons” (1 Tim 4:1). Satan often disguises himself as an “angel of light.”
- Attacking Unity: He loves a divided church. He plants “tares” (unsaved people appearing as believers) to cause disorder and bitterness.
- Targeting the Minister: He hinders God’s servants. Paul said, “Satan hindered us” (1 Thess 2:18). He knows that if he strikes the shepherd, the sheep will scatter.
- Accusing the Believer: He tempts you to sin, telling you “God will forgive you, don’t worry.” Then, the moment you fall, he switches sides. He becomes the “Accuser,” whispering, “You aren’t a real Christian. How could you do this again? God is finished with you.” He wants to paralyze you with guilt so you lose your boldness and your ability to fight.
Application: Wake Up to the War
To the Believers: Fill your heart with unspeakable gratitude. You were once a child of the devil, controlled by the power of the air. But God, being rich in mercy, made you alive! Remember where you came from—you were in the “Egypt” of Satan’s kingdom.
Understand that this is a war. It is a spiritual battle. How do you resist?
- Be Sober and Vigilant: Your adversary never sleeps.
- Use the Sword: The Word of God is your only weapon. When the devil whispers, say, “It is written!” If you do not know the Word, you have no sword.
- Resist: James 4:7 says if you resist him, he will flee.
- Stay in the Fortress: The church is your spiritual protection.
To the Unbelievers: Let this message fill you with a healthy, “unspeakable fear.” If you find the Gospel boring, it is not because you are more intellectual; it is because the “god of this world” has performed an operation on your mind to blind you.
Your condition is lethal. You are controlled from the outside by the world system and from the inside by an evil spirit. There is no hope in yourself. Modern “Christianity” might tell you to “be confident in yourself,” but the true Gospel begins by telling you that you are dead and captured.
Plead with God. He is rich in mercy. Only His sovereign power can deliver you from the snare of the devil and give you life.