Standing Against the Enemy
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
Jesus defeated Satan. Period. Despite what horror movies may tell you—the exorcist who can’t defeat a powerful demon, and so on—the battle was won in the Garden, finished on the Cross, and sealed by the Resurrection. The problem is we live as if Jesus didn’t defeat the devil. In contrast, we strike a deep blow to our enemy when our concept of the spiritual battle moves forcefully from being an afterthought to a way to believe and behave.
Based on the attitudes I encounter in men worldwide regarding evil, if I were Satan I would want us as an opponent. We live as if we are uncertain of the outcome of the war against evil. The sad reality is that the underworld has the upper hand on the ground level of this war with God’s men. Many times we assume the submissive position of a scared dog, or freely give permission (by our inaction) to evil to trample over our lives and the world with impunity.
A reality check is in order. It’s time to look in the mirror and not be satisfied with what we have become in the midst of the Great War for our King. We must make peace with the fact that we are spiritually enabled, empowered, and equipped to make war on the enemy and do something. Paul says that “the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20). We are commissioned to inflict losses, unmask and thwart plots to kill, and deliver those in bondage to darkness into the freedom of the sons of light.
Satan knows who you are. Get that. That’s what every God’s man must do on a more urgent basis; you need to accept what that means. What’s that you say? Simple, you cannot ask for a hall pass to get out of this fight. You must also stop living in ignorance and denial. Instead, you need to understand and get to know Satan’s ways. Why? Because, you are to be feared—not laughed at. You are on the winning side.
Father God, You have supplied all that I need to return the love you have shown to me. You are amazing.