8 Simple Rules For Being The Church. Know Our Enemy
8 Simple Rules:
7. Know Our Enemy
Introduction
The devil, or Satan, is not a living being but is a symbol of evil. - 1995
American Survey (Barna) - 59% or people either agreed strongly or agreed
somewhat.
Satan
Who is he and where did he come from?
The Bible doesn't give us a whole lot of information about his origins, but
what it does say is this.
1. Satan is a real personal being - not simply some force or influence.
Although Satan is a spiritual being, he is personal. Jesus himself viewed
Satan this way (John 8:44). If you believe that Jesus is God, then you must
also accept his belief that Satan is a personal enemy.
2. Satan along with all other demons, were once good angels who rebelled
against God and were cast out of God's presence.
God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting
them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment (2 Peter 2:4)
The angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned
their own home--these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting
chains for judgment on the great Day. (Jude 6)
Also see Revelation 12:7-9
3. Satan is the leader of these demons and is a being of complete evil.
Jesus describes Satan as Beelzebub, the prince of demons. (Matthew 12:22-
27)
There is some evidence that Satan was once the highest ranking angel and
the greatest created being. People think this because Jesus describes Satan
in language that seems to echo some Old Testament passages that may refer
to him (compare Luke 10:18 with Isaiah 14:12, and see Ezekiel 28:17; Isaiah
14:13-14).
In God's scheme of things, the greatest power is the power to love. If this
is the case, then Lucifer had a greater potential to love others than any
other created being.
Father of lies (John 8:44)
Murderer (John 8:44)
Evil one (Matt. 13:19)
Sinner (1John 3:8)
Tempter (Matthew 4:3)
Accuser (Revelation 12:10)
Deceiver (Revelation 12:9) - he can appear as an 'angel of light' (2
Corinthians 11:14)
4. By dying on the cross Jesus completely defeated Satan and his angels
(called demons)
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle
of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15)
5. On the Day of Judgement, God will enforce that victory and sentence
Satan and his demons to hell for all eternity. (Revelation 20:10)
6. However, until then, God has allowed Satan and his demons a limited
amount of freedom and time on this earth to do as he pleases.
REV 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe
to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is
filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."
Also see (Job 1:6-7).
His aim is to bring down all people and keep them away from God (2
Corinthians 4:4), but especially to target the church (Revelation 12:17)
and prevent the growth and work of Christians (Ephesians 6:12).
Why has God allowed Satan this freedom? I think one of key reasons is that
God wants to train his people in prayer.
8. Prayer:
1. Have a lifestyle of obedience to Jesus.
1TH 5:17 pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
If you are involved in anything which is trying to tap into a power other
than God.
. Horoscopes
. Oijie Boards
. Séances
. Communicating with spirits
.. Then you need to stop all involvement in those things and ask for God's
forgiveness.
2. Remember that in prayer you are relying totally on God's power
"Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will
stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." EX 17:10 So
Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur
went to the top of the hill. EX 17:11 As long as Moses held up his hands,
the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the
Amalekites were winning. EX 17:12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a
stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands
up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady
till sunset.
REV 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of
their testimony
3. Be alert
1PE 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert.
What to look for:
. A whole bunch of unusual things happening at a significant time.
. Reactions by yourself or others which are over the top.
Friend of Dad and Mum's who used to often speak at Christian camps. If
weird things start happening just before the camp starts, it's a sure sign
that Satan is worried.
One time his daughter broke her leg just before the weekend he was going to
a camp to speak. He knew that God was going to use that time to do good
things because Satan was worried!
Often it is a good idea to pray, asking that God would let you know if
Satan is involved.
4. Don't be afraid of Satan
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone
to devour.
Normally, if you see a lion my advice would be to get out of its way fast.
But Satan is one lion that we are to stand up to.
Lions can be pretty scary things! But what is Peter's response? Don't be
afraid of him. Even though we are to respect his power, as Christians we
are under God's power which is infinitely greater.
5. Resist him
1PE 5:9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith
How do we resist Satan? By saying to him:
Satan, you are not welcome here. In the authority of Jesus I am telling you
to go from here/this person.
6. Invite God's Holy Spirit to be present
1. See the church through Jesus' eyes
2. Understand its cal to unordinariness ordinariness
3. Be in, but not like, culture
4. Unwrap your spiritual gifts
5. Get plugged in to community
6. Tell Jesus' message using Jesus' method
7. Know your enemy
8. Pray