Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare

God’s Word does not only tell us about the spiritual warfare in heaven but also in our Christian life, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12), and “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is very subtle and cunning (Gen 3:1; 2 Cor 11:3), he likes to disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14), and his purpose is to deceive the whole world (Rev 12:9), to mislead people to worship him (1 Cor 10:20; Rev 9:20), to attack and twist God’s Word (Gen 3:1-5), to take away God’s Word sown in human hearts lest they should believe and be saved (Luke 8:12), to blind the minds of unbelievers (2 Cor 4: 4), to sow the tares (the children of the wicked one) in the world (Matt 13:38-39), to trouble God’s children and to draw as many as possible away from God and His Word and His Truth.

God’s children are naive and defenceless like sheep, while Satan is fierce and cruel like roaring lion “seeking whom he may devour”! Without our good and almighty Shepherd’s care and protection, you and I are just like easy preys of Satan! Knowing this truth, you and I must give all thanks, praise and glory to the Lord as long as we are still alive and faithful to Him and His Word.

Satan, the Attacker of God’s Word: God’s Word is truth (John 17:17) while Satan is a liar, so he has attacked God’s Word since the first human beings existed in this world (Gen 3).  Many are trapped by Satan without awareness when they blindly follow human arguments and reasoning against God’s Word with textual criticism and modern versions! We must be cautious and discerning or else we may be deceived by Satan.

Satan, a Disguised Angel of Light: Satan likes to disguise himself as an angel of light—so nice, so brilliant and so powerful. There are false Christs, false prophets and false teachers who lure many people away from God and His Word through deceiving signs and lying wonders (Matt 24:24; 2 Cor 11:14; 2 Thess 2:9-10), through unbiblical doctrines (Col 2:22; 1 Tim 4:1; Heb 13:9), through a different gospel (Gal 1:6-9; 2 Cor 11:4), etc. Our Lord Jesus still warns us, “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matt 24:4). We must therefore be cautious!

Satan, the Tempter: Satan is very cunning and subtle and he makes use of human sinful nature to tempt every man with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and worldly values and pleasures (Gen 3:6; Matt 4:3-11; 1 John 2:16). Satan knows what bait is suitable to tempt men and women, young and old. Dear friends, it is vital to separate ourselves from sinful lusts and worldliness, and let the Holy Spirit control our hearts and fill us with His holy presence, God’s Word and godly desires to overcome Satan’s temptations.

Satan, the Accuser: Satan likes to trouble believers with his accusation before God day and night (Rev 12:10). God may allow Satan to trouble you and me as he did to Job to see if we still trust in the Lord and praise Him even when all material blessings, comforts, wealth, good jobs, good health, etc., are taken away (Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5). Satan may accuse you and me of our sins, weaknesses, shortcomings, or unrighteousness as he did to the high priest Joshua who was clothed with filthy garments (Zec 3:1-3). Satan is only scared of Jesus’ powerful blood and not our justification to defend ourselves. The only way to overcome Satan’s accusation is to put on the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness (Eph 6:14) and hide ourselves in Jesus’ Blood, “overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Rev 12:11).

Satan, the Persecutor: When Satan sees that it is more effective to threaten believers, he will be fierce and cruel like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), threatening, discouraging, and scaring believers so that they may give up their faith due to shame, opposition, persecutions, tribulations, afflictions, trials or death (Matt 13:21). We are to endure all the trials and persecutions and never give up our faith so that we may obtain the “crown of life” and “shall not be hurt of the second death” in Hell (Rev 2:10-11; 20:14). May the Lord graciously see us through all the attacks from Satan.