This is a
turbulent period for Christians. The enemy is active and prowling to destroy us.
The enemy is exceptionally powerful than the individual Christian or the
Christian community. This enemy has destroyed innumerable Christians; he cannot
be ignored or discounted. A vulnerable church or a vulnerable Christian will be
totally destroyed by this enemy.
We cannot
remain passive; we should actively fight this enemy. Unless we remain vigilant,
we could be destroyed. The threat is real.
There is no
middle ground in this war; we cannot escape the clutches of this enemy. We either
win or lose this war.
Deadly Deception
This enemy
is incredibly powerful and extremely deceptive. His power and deceptions are beyond
compare.
He owns remarkable
intelligence about us. He knows our vulnerabilities to precision. He has his
eyes all over us.
Deception
is the most effective weapon in his arsenal. His deception is significantly
dangerous since it could be very subtle. His deception is highly effective
since it is employed during our weakest moment.
Prime Target: Christianity
The enemy
targets Christians primarily. This is not to say that he would not harm the
non-Christians. If non-Christians could be used to destroy Christians, this
enemy would gladly use them in any manner whatsoever.
This enemy
targets the strong and the weak Christians. The more mature and strong
Christians could be complacent about their maturity and strength. Hence they
may ignore the enemy and even think that this enemy cannot defeat them at any
cost. Their complacency could be their downfall.
The weak
Christians would not be aware of the enemy’s deadly potential. They will always
be an easy prey to this enemy. They will be seduced to fall into his deadly
embrace. Unknowingly, the weak Christians would offer themselves as a means
to destroy their stronger counterparts. (My reference to the weak Christians is
not a pejorative remark. It is germane to this theme. I sincerely hope and pray
that every weak Christian would become stronger and mature in the Lord.)
Beware
He will
attack us when we least expect him to. The attack is most deadly when it
catches us by surprise. He will hurl his best weapons against us; even through our
near and dear whom we trust the most.1 We cannot be smug and
complacent about this enemy or those around us.
I am not
sorry to say this, but if our relative or friend is not a strong Christian then
he/she is a potential tool in the hands of the enemy. Beware of such a person.
I am not saying that we should passionately suspect all those around us, who
are not too keen on growing in the Lord. But we should be diligently
vigilant.
Embrace Hate; Abandon
Love, Meekness & Humility
This war,
for a Christian, is a reality. We cannot think that we cannot wage this war. The
Bible mandates this war at all costs.2
We cannot
be meek while contending with this enemy, for if we are meek, we will be destroyed.
Abandon humility. If we are humble with this enemy, he will not only destroy
us, but he will destroy our family and everything that we have.
When this
enemy hurts us, we cannot show our other cheek. In fact, we should not allow
our enemy to reside in our vicinity or to lay his little finger upon us.
We are to sincerely
and passionately hate this enemy. Hate him with all our might, hate him with
all our power, and hate him with all that we have.3
We need to
be on fire to burn this enemy. We should strive to eliminate this enemy. We
need our weapons and all the protective gear that we can marshal to fight this
enemy.4
Can This Enemy Be
Defeated?
Christianity
is not a powerless or a vain faith in the triune God. God who created this
world is more powerful than anything and everything. So this enemy can be
absolutely defeated.
Christians should
follow a certain protocol while fighting this enemy. First, we should identify
the enemy and understand his potential. Second, we should know how to fight
this enemy and fight him. Finally, we should persevere in the battle to defeat
this enemy.
Enemy’s Identity
The enemy is
the enemy of our souls. He is the one who can separate us from the Lord, if we
are weak and lukewarm towards God. Satan is this enemy.
The Bible reveals the true character of Satan.
Please read your Bible diligently to understand Satan. Many essays and books
have been authored about Satan. Please read them. I have authored a few essays about
Satan as well.5
How To Fight The
Satan?
Fight him
with truth.6 We need to live in the truth if we are to fight the
evil one.
Fight him
passionately. In order to fight Satan with passion, we should love and obey the
Lord our God with a greater passion. The Lord should be real in our lives. Our relationship
with the Lord should be the most significant aspect of our life.
Fight him
with prayer and fasting. God’s incomparable power will be ours only if we fast
and pray.
Outside of
Christ, there is no victory over Satan. Unless we remain in the Lord, we cannot
overpower Satan.
Persevering
in this battle is not child’s play. It is very difficult to fight Satan. We may
have to face failures during our warfare with Satan. These failures cannot
deter our warfare with Satan. We need to face and accept these failures if we
are to win the battle.
Worldly
desires cannot impede our fight with Satan. We may lose our health, our families,
our jobs, our savings, our comforts, even our reputation, all for the sake of
the Lord Jesus Christ, ““I have come to bring fire on the earth—and how I wish
it were already kindled!...Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division! For from now on there will be five in one
household divided, three against two and two against three. They will be
divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and
daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and
daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”” (Luke 12: 49-53, NET).
Why, we may
even lose our lives in the process. We cannot worry about our lives while we
battle Satan. Losing our lives during this battle does not imply a loss, for
all the lives that were lost in this battle glorified God.
Do not
believe those who say that there is no Satan. They are liars. They are the sons
and daughters of Satan; they are Satan’s stooges.
Know this;
Satan is able to inflict damage upon our lives because God has allowed him to
do so. In other words, God is in control. Because God is in control, HE can and
will deliver us, if not in this world but in the world to come.
In God
alone we trust. But trusting in God comes at a price – the price of our time
and effort. May we dedicate our time and effort into knowing God, loving HIM
more, and living a glorious life for HIS sake.
Conclusion
C.S. Lewis,
in his work “The Screwtape Letter,” wrote “There are two equal and opposite
errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in
their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and
unhealthy interest in them…” I am not advocating an unhealthy interest in Satan
but my sole intent is to remind us of our attitude and response to the enemy of
our souls.
God, who
was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the blazing furnace, is with us. HE
will guide, guard and lead us to a victory over the evil one.
Endnotes:
1cf. Job 6: 9
2Ephesians 6: 10-18
3Proverbs 8:13; Psalm 97:10; Romans 12:9
4Ephesians 6: 10-18
5These are the essays authored by me:
1. Knowledge to Overcome Satan: http://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.in/2013/11/knowledge-to-overcome-satan.html
2. The Devil is God’s Devil: http://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.in/2013/11/the-devil-is-gods-devil-overcoming-satan.html
3. Should Christians Fear Evil Spirits & Demons: http://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.in/2014/03/should-we-fear-evil-spirits-demons.html
4. Could Genuine Born Again Christian be Demon Possessed: http://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.in/2014/07/could-genuine-born-again-christian-be.html
6cf. Ephesians 6: 14
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