Thursday, June 6, 2013

Know Your Enemy


Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

We’re headed into our church’s summer sessions this month, where the different small group Bible studies take a break from the regular weekly meeting to come together as a whole church congregational fellowship and study on Wednesday nights. But our group decided that they would still get together once a month or more to continue our small group learning and discussion also. We started a new series on “Overcoming the Enemy”, a study on how Satan operates and gaining a thorough knowledge of the devil’s tactics, his probable line of attack, and his schemes against us in order to be equipped to stand firm against his assaults and live victorious daily. The first rule of battle is to “know your enemy”. So how complete is our understanding of our enemy, the devil? The Bible clearly states that every one of us lives in the midst of a spiritual battle, whether or not we realize it.

John 10:1 &10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Yet, this study states that many make the mistake of dismissing the enemy as benign, so no armor necessary. I remember one Pastor stating that the devil was a “defeated foe”, so he would not even mention “the Evil One” - ever. Others don’t believe in Satan at all. Lucifer loves unguarded hearts and minds. Still others become preoccupied with an enemy bent on destroying our ability to effectively serve God, fearfully focusing on his malicious power rather than living in the reality of God’s strength. None of these approaches reflects the battle-ready perspective of the Christian soldier that we need to walk daily in victory. Knowing the truth will enable us to “stand firm” against our adversary when we encounter him. Know your enemy.

Ephesians 6:13-14aTherefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then.


In Christ, Brian

2 comments:

child of God said...

Hi Brian,
Your study on overcoming the enemy sounds like a great one. We need to know Satan and how he fights. I believe there is just so much that Christians do not know at all. They walk around completely oblivious to the enemies tactics or the level of warfare that is around them. There is a vicious battle going on in the spirit realm and if Christians don't wake up to it they will be devoured and lose the salvation they think is secure.

I love to parallel this to the Wizard of Oz and when Dorothy and her friends came across the poppy field. They didn't have a clue the harm that would befall them if they stopped and gave in to their heavy eyelids and slept in that field. It is like the Christian going about their business and the slumber that media has on their senses to the Wisdom in Scripture. The more you are exposed to the poison that comes with today's media, the more you start to believe the lies that come into ones mind. Eventually you believe them, accept them and this just hardens ones heart to the humility and selflessness that Scripture tells us to follow. We are told that we need to be in a active relationship with Jesus Christ and we need to be following His example of laying down our lives for others, spreading the Good News and walking closer to Him.

Satan sure is crafty and he has managed to intertwine himself in with our society making everything look just fine and permissible.

Sorry for rambling on here but we surely do need to know who we are up against. He is a mighty foe BUT Jesus Christ is mightier indeed and He has won the war!! Praise GOD!

Blessings brother,
<><

Brian Ray Todd said...

Child of God, Thank you for the comments and don't worry about the length as getting your complete thought on the subject is critical for the discussion. You hit the "nail on the head" that the study focus on the realization that there is a devil and a spiritual battle going on that we need to understand and deal with in God's perspective. There is the abundant and fruitful life of the Christian that walks fearlessly with purpose (a constant stability in a chaotic sinful world). Deal means "action", as the children of God impact society and the culture for Christ and against the "Evil One". Satan is sly & crafty, the Father of Lies" as Jesus says, so we must know his ways, expect his attacks and stand firm against him for Christ's sake. It is going to be a good study indeed because you don't prepare for a storm by pretending that they don't exist or can harm you. Blessings.