Scripture, a book of out-of-date exceptions or a handbook of examples?
An example of an out-of-date exception is that we now no longer sacrifice at the Temple, but forgoing truths about Satan is at our own peril.
To know how to war, we must know our enemy. Three of its general tactics?
- I’m Not Here: Too many churches treat Satan as already defeated, so we live as if he is no longer active in our lives. Because of this, when evil happens to us, we have only ourselves or God to blame.
- Full Scale Assault: Once we awaken and engage our enemy as instructed by scripture, it levels assaults directly at us and even at those in our lives. If we are yet unskilled warriors or maybe in a broken state, the enemy needs only small skirmishes to discourage and derail us. As we grow in skill and might, the enemy elevates its assaults.
- Let’s Cut a Deal: As Graham Cooke says, “the enemy is on a limited budget.” As we become too powerful, it will try to negotiate a deal. “You know you’ve been mighty for the Lord and you’ve accomplished a lot. You’ve earned a break; let others do the work.”
What should we do?
Multiple verses provide strategies and tactics, but we’ll start in James. Look up more for extra credit.
Submit therefore to God [it starts here and only here]. Resist [our responsibility] the devil [guess it must be actively engaging us] and he [a real being] will flee from you [we can kick its tail, in Christ]. James 4:7
Alone you have NO power against our enemy, so you must begin by submitting your authority to our King. Then you resist. How?
- Acknowledge its existence. Ever walk into a place and for no good reason felt angry, or tempted, or unsettled. Or ever had a slightly challenging conversation that unexplainably exploded as if someone doused it with gas? Is Satan an active category in your worldview?
- Kill the head trash. Once the accusations and gossip start in your head, stop them instantly. Replace them with facts and scriptures you know to be true. Try this for a day, and see if it impacts your life.
- Avoid. A simple way to think of this is “watch little feet where you go.” You could also add “watch little mouse where you click,” “watch little Netflix what you choose,” and “watch little iPhone what you access.” Another is to be self-aware about the many excuses you make. “Holiness is so impractical,” or “I can guard my heart as I steep in wicked influences.”
- Invoke God’s authority. Once we recognize our enemy’s presence, send it away in the name and power of Christ. Decide to resist.
Example:
My wife’s and my discussion about our kids exploded into Armageddon over a very small thing.
How you could engage: Enemy, I see your tactics. I stand under the cover and authority of my King, and I take captive every thought, rebuking every word of head trash and accusation against the woman I love and like. In the name of Jesus Christ, the one who died, rose, and sits at the right hand of my Father on our behalf, I command you to leave, all of you: anger, accusation, lies, fear, guilt, shame, disappointment, and any I’ve missed. Go to the foot of the throne and take the punishment given to you. I resist your efforts to destroy my relationship with my bride, the very one I am here to protect, and I receive the love, peace, forgiveness, grace, and mercy of my King in this place right now.
If you decide the enemy is not actively engaged in your life, its already won most of the battle.
Accept its existence and involvement, seek out other verses, grow in power, and crush your enemy. It will make you more dangerous for good.
We will post more examples in the future, and we welcome comments of what you do below.
