War Zone- Week 1 Know Your Enemy!

As I have been seeking the Lord about what to study in this new season, I keep coming back to the idea of spiritual warfare.  Whether we like it or not, we are in the middle of a spiritual war zone.  The enemy of our souls is out to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10).  We know that in the heavenlies, meaning not heaven, where we will spend eternity, but the spiritual realm, there is a war being waged between the angels of heaven and the fallen angels/demons over the dominion of earth. We also know that those demonic spirits have already been defeated by Christ.  

Colossians 2:14-15, He canceled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us. He erased it all—our sins, our stained soul—he deleted it all and they cannot be retrieved! Everything we once were in Adam has been placed onto his cross and nailed permanently there as a public display of cancellation. Then Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were his! (TPT) 

Colossians 2:14-15, He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. (NLT) 

Although Jesus defeated the powers of the enemy, we know that they do everything in their power to convince us, as believers, that they have power and authority over us, when in fact we have authority over them. 

Luke 10:18-20, Jesus replied, “While you were ministering, I watched Satan topple until he fell suddenly from heaven like lightning to the ground. Now you understand that I have imparted to you my authority to trample over his kingdom. You will trample upon every demon before you and overcome every power Satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will harm you as you walk in this authority. However, your real source of joy isn’t merely that these spirits submit to your authority, but that your names are written in the journals of heaven and that you belong to God’s kingdom. This is the true source of your authority.” (TPT) 

Luke 10:18-20, “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” (NLT) 

In the Believer’s Bible Commentary, we read: As they returned from their mission, the seventy were elated that even the demons had been subject to them. Jesus’ reply may be understood in two ways. First it may mean that He saw in their success an earnest of the eventual fall of Satan … from heaven. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown paraphrase His words: 

“I followed you on your mission, and watched its triumphs; while you were wondering at the subjection to you of demons in My Name, a grander spectacle was opening to My view; sudden as the darting of lightning from heaven to earth, lo! Satan was beheld falling from heaven.” 

This fall of Satan is still future. He will be cast out of heaven by Michael and his angels (Rev. 12:7–9). This will take place during the Tribulation Period, and prior to Christ’s Glorious Reign on earth. 

A second possible interpretation of Jesus’ words is as a warning against pride. It is as if He were saying: “Yes, you are quite heady because even the demons have been subject to you. But just remember—pride is the parent sin. It was pride that resulted in the fall of Lucifer, and in his being cast out of heaven. See that you avoid this peril.”i 

We will address the second possible interpretation in a future study; however, today I want us to look at the first interpretation.  God has given us authority over the powers of hell and our battles have an impact for eternity.   

As we discussed in our last study, Know the Value of the Season, we know that our primary purpose is always that of winning the lost and sharing Christ with the hurting and broken world. If we are to win the lost, we are going to have to fight a few battles along the way. You may not see yourself as a warrior, however, God has called us into this battle through his Great Commission. 

To win any battle you must know our enemy. When World War One broke out, the War Ministry in London, England, sent a coded message to one of the British outposts in the inaccessible areas of British-controlled Africa, saying, "War declared, arrest all enemy aliens in your district." The prompt reply came back, "Have arrested ten Germans, six Belgians, four Frenchmen, two Italians, three Austrians, and an American. Please advise immediately who we are at war with."ii 

While, this illustration may seem funny, the men did not know who the enemy was thus they were forced to arrest everyone who was not British. Unlike those British soldiers, we have been given the identity of our enemy and we've also been given clues to the strategies he uses against God's people. 

Today I want us to look at scriptures that talk about our enemy, then over the next few weeks, we are going to discuss the strategies he uses against God's people and how we overcome each one.  We are not studying our enemy to glorify him in any way!  However, we must know what the Word says about him, so we are equipped for battle.   

I will touch each scripture briefly, with limited added commentary and allow the Word (Jesus)  to speak for Himself! 

1. We know that when Adam and Eve sinned, they gave their authority/dominion over the earth to the devil.  1 John 5:19 says, We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts]. (AMP) “In referencing the whole world under the control of Satan, John the Apostle is talking about the world system set up by Satan against God. Those walking with Christ are out from enemy authority and control (Colossians 1:13). The only way he can influence us is through lies and deception if we will allow him.” iii 

2. The enemy is constantly looking for someone to devour.  1 Peter 5:8, Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (NLT) 

Merriam-Webster Online dictionary defines devour as: to use up or destroy as if by eating or to prey upon (devoured by guilt).   

Just as a lion in the deserts of Africa is constantly on the lookout for unsuspecting prey, so is our enemy.  He loves nothing more than keeping God’s people from knowing their position and authority in Christ because an uneducated or complacent Christian is easily preyed upon and torn apart.   

3. The enemy is a liar. John 8:44, For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. (NLT) 

4. The enemy disguises himself. 2 Corinthians 11:14, But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (NLT) 

The enemy’s desire is to deceive us into believing a “false gospel”.  He makes his message and messengers look and sound good to draw in the unsuspecting.  

5. The enemy blinds the lost to keep them lost.  2 Corinthians 4:4, Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (NLT) 

6. The enemy uses deception to attack believers.  2 Corinthians 11:3, But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (ESV) 

This is not an exhaustive list of verses that reference our enemy; however, it gives us his basic make up and demonstrates our need to be on the offensive against him.  Next week we will look at what it means to be “on the offensive” against the enemy as well as beginning our study on the strategies the enemy uses against believers.