Recently I saw the film 'War Room' (also a book – writers Stephen and Alex Kendrick) it was recommended to us by Christian friends who had been blessed by it. I watched it with tears in my eyes as I saw the story unfold. For those who have not seen it, the ‘War Room' is a room for prayer. In the story the people creating 'war rooms' create a place in their homes free of distractions to get down to real prayer. I was challenged by the film in a number of ways.
My reason for mentioning it here is that in one scene one of the key characters is speaking to a woman whose husband is wayward and says to her something like "your husband is not your enemy - our real enemy is in the shadows". This and other recent happenings got me thinking. Our real enemy is 'in the shadows'! I thought of all of the things that the world blames God for: everything from our daily troubles to the lack of world peace and global hunger. People blame God for everything that goes wrong but our real enemy gets off scot free!
Let me be clear that I have no wish to give Satan any extra publicity or credence with this blog. I want to point out though, that the spiritual war going on around us and with us is just as real as our morning breakfast. The Bible clearly tells us that we have any enemy who Jesus says was a murderer and liar from the beginning (John 8:44) and who wants us all in hell if he can manage it. Despite this for so many people he is 'in the shadows'. He doesn't mind being there, and finds great advantage in being hidden or hiding His true nature 'in sheep's clothing'. Many 'modern Christians' do not believe in a real figure called 'Satan' at all, others have constructs that reduce His significance to the same level as a Halloween party.
This is not what Jesus had to say on the subject. His already quoted direct warning was that the Devil was a liar and murderer from the beginning and scripture warns moreover to be careful of those who follow his ways. To one group Jesus says: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44). They protest as if unwitting accomplices but He says 'and the works of your father you want to do'. Peter warns us to be aware of our adversary who 'roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour’ (1 Peter 5:8).
Revelation paints a picture of an angry Satan (‘the Dragon’) who knows that His time is short (Revelation 12:17). Full of wrath this 'accuser of the brethren' (Revelation 12:10) seeks to destroy men and women by every means possible - either by frontal attack on our families and lives or by subtle means such as temptation and the deceitfulness of riches and materialism. The parable of the sower spells it out - the seed (God’s Word) on the footpath was taken directly by the birds - meaning Satan and His acolytes snatched it away before it had impact. The seed choked by thorns represented those overtaken by the deceitfulness of the world and the world system. 1 John 2:15-16:” Do not love the world (Greek Kosmon or ‘world system’) or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world”. The seductive world system and its present ambitions, pursuits and pleasures are designed by the ‘Prince of the power of the air’ (Satan) to draw us away from Godliness and consume us with distraction and confusion.
In 2 Corinthians 2:11 Paul comments on the danger of allowing Satan have something to manipulate us with: “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices”. In my own experience and walk it is at that very moment when all is going well that we should be most wary. I remember well times with a young family when my wife and I would get together on Sunday night and agree to press forward with something that the Lord had laid on our heart or challenged us with. As surely as night follows day by Wednesday of that week, we would be sitting in shock wondering where all the problems had come from. Problems at work, with the children, with each other they seemed to pour in like a flood as soon as we determined to walk more closely with the Lord.
So unfashionable as it is, we must be aware of our adversary and his intentions and warn men and women, boys and girls that there is a thoroughly ruthless enemy of our souls who we ignore at our peril. Having said all of this what are we to know and to do? Well Satan is the one who Jesus outwitted and defeated at the cross. Despite every attempt of Satan to destroy Jesus, deter Him from His mission and corrupt His offering, before the cross Jesus said "the prince of this world is coming and he has no hold over me"(John 14:29).
To say again our Lord Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, overcame Satan for us on the cross and by His mighty resurrection from the dead: Colossians 2:13-15 says: “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it”. And Hebrews 2:14: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
When he returns Jesus will vanquish Satan’s representatives on earth: 2 Thessalonians 2 v 8: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” and finally consign Satan and death to Hell when He makes all things new: Revelation 19:10 “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”.
Because of what Jesus has done for us, we read in James 4:7 ‘submit yourselves to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you'. Clearly both parts of this scripture are important – submitting to the Lord and His rule being established in our lives is crucial if we are to resist the Devil and see him flee from us. If Jesus is King of our life then we are entitled to wear the King’s armour.
It is because our warfare is spiritual and not against flesh and blood that we are urged to 'put on the whole armour of God' (Ephesians 6 v 10 – 20). Here we are urged not only to use the Shield of Faith to quench the fiery darts of the evil one but also to get on the offensive using the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. We are urged by scripture and many who have fought a good fight of faith to use scripture in our spiritual warfare, prayers and praying. (The ‘War Room’ film mentioned at the start presents this beautifully). In a message on Spiritual Warfare back in 1995 Suzette Hatting urged us to use the Sword of the Spirit in our spiritual battles. In practice this meant seeking the Lord for a scripture for any given situation and then praying that / those verse(s) over it until it was resolved.
We are urged not to underestimate our adversary - he is like a fierce lion and in Jude we are told not to speak flippantly about spiritual powers. We are told that even Michael the archangel did not dare raise an accusation against Satan when He was contending with him but said "The Lord rebuke you". (Jude v 9). In Daniel we have a picture of a mighty angel being resisted when he tries to break through in response to Daniel's prayers. The picture is one of a spiritual struggle in which we are all involved - for real. It’s important to be on the winning side (see the outcome in Revelation chapter 19 and 20:7-10 if in doubt) and we are urged to save those who we can 'as brands from the burning'.
Satan was exposed and expelled from heaven and one day his judgement will be public before the universe and before God the righteous judge. Jesus whose offering was determined and agreed before the foundation of the world will stand and own all who belong to him before the father. Before then we must stand for Him in every possible way and refute and enforce the victory of Jesus over the evil one and his hold on people: ‘Submit yourselves to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you'. (James 4:7)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Author: Chris Pearson
May God bless and enrich your life
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