Warfare Spirituality part 7

Warfare Spirituality: Warfare with the Devil and His Angels

 

The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.  If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,  in order that Satan might not outwit us.

For we are not unaware of his schemes.

·        2 Corinthians 2:9-11

Consider what God has to say in His Word about the Unseen War.

His Program Against Humanity

·         He opposes the person and program of God. It is his desire to make himself "like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14). Thus, he seeks the worship and service that God alone deserves.

·         He conceals his identity by disguising himself as an angel of light and counterfeiting the truth (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). He offers good things but through the wrong means and for the wrong reasons (Matthew 4:3-10).

·         He deceives the nations (Revelation 20:3) and influences governments to hinder the spread of the gospel.

·         He works against the unsaved by taking away the word from their hearts (Luke 8:12) and blinding their minds to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

·         He inspires spiritual counterfeits-false religions and false prophets (1 John 2:18,22; 4:3).

·         He promotes the pursuit of the occult for hidden knowledge and power (Deuteronomy 18:9-13).

·         He implants wicked thoughts and plans into people's minds (Jn 13:2; Acts 5:3).

·         He can inflict disease and death (Job 2:1-7; Acts 10:38; Hebrews 2:14).

His Program Against Believers

·         He seeks to destroy the reputations and ministries of believers (Luke 22:31; 1 Timothy 3:7). If he cannot directly defeat a Christian's ministry, he may seek to do it indirectly by attacking a loved one.

·         He incites the persecution of the saints (Revelation 2:10).

·         He hinders the plans of believers (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

·         He attempts to make Christians doubt God's love; He seeks to slander God and cause people to question His goodness (Genesis 3:1-5).

·         He accuses believers before God (Revelation 12:10).

·         He heaps guilt and self-condemnation upon Christians because of their sins and makes them believe the lie that they must pay for them.

·         He promotes a neglect of confession of sin (Ephesians 4:26-27) and defeats Christians by making them feel that God would not forgive them because they have committed the same sin so many times before.

·         He encourages believers to rely on their own strength by making plans and acting independently of God (2 Chronicles 16:7-10).

·         He tempts Christians on several fronts: lying (Acts 5:3), sexual sins (1 Corinthians 7:5), unforgiveness (2 Corinthians 2:10-11), pride and self-exaltation (1 Timothy 3:6), discouragement (1 Peter 5:6-10), and worldly preoccupation (1 John 2:15-17; 5:19).