Bible Answer

Can we destroy Satan?

I want to teach a Bible study destroying Satan in our lives and funeralizing him once and for all from our lives. Are there scriptures that would address a funeral service for Satan?

The Bible does not suggest that we can “destroy Satan” or "funeralize him once and for all from our lives.” These are unbiblical notions. Satan cannot be destroyed by us in any sense, nor can we perform any ritual or other action that will eliminate his influence or activity in our lives. Satan is vastly more powerful than we are, and therefore we will contend with Satan’s activity and presence in this world for as long as we live on earth (please read the story of Job in the Bible for a sobering account of Satan’s power).

In fact, the Scripture says plainly that Christians would be wise to recognize and respect Satan’s power rather than deceiving ourselves into thinking we can challenge him:

Jude 8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
Jude 9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Satan is the highest created being, according to Ezekiel 28, and as such he is the most powerful creature. In fact, Jude says he is so powerful that not even the archangel Michael dared to rebuke Satan. Knowing this, how could we expect to accomplish such a task? Jude says if we dare to revile angelic majesties in that way we are rejecting authority, which is one of the calling cards of false teachers. 

Instead, the Bible says that the Christian’s proper response to the enemy and his demons is to submit to God while respecting the enemy’s power yet resisting his schemes so he may flee:

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
1Pet. 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1Pet. 5:9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
1Pet. 5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

We are to resist him for as long as we live on earth, enduring the suffering he produces in our life, and the Lord will establish us in the end. 

We recommend you listen to our entire Jude Bible study for more guidance in this matter. We also recommend you read the following article: Does Satan still have power?