God has given us exclusive information about the devil and his strategy. Satan is the MASTER OF DECEPTION, tricks and schemes and he will do anything he can to win the battle. “Now the serpent was more cunning (‛ârûm: resourceful, crafty) than any beast of the field…he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall NOT EAT OF EVERY TREE of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1) God actually said, “Of EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN YOU MAY FREELY EAT…but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (just one tree) YOU SHALL NOT EAT, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) Satan twisted the Word just to distract Eve a little, then HE LIED, “You will NOT SURELY DIE. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, (a lie) KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL.“ (Genesis 3:4-5) When Eve, then Adam took ate that fruit they sinned with unbelief and died a spiritual death, when one sins against God the spiritual man dies! “…But the fearful, (deilos: an excessive fear of losing), unbelieving shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
We know who Satan is, “a LIAR and the father of it (all lies).” (John 8:44) We know what his nature is, what his strategies are, and what the final outcome of his efforts will be. But best of all, God has provided specific directions on how to mount our defenses against his attacks. “I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be CORRUPTED from the simplicity that is in Christ. Satan’s disciples “…are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:3, 13-14)
With such information, there is no reason we should NEVER LOSE A SPIRITUAL BATTLE. But before getting into those details, most Christians face a greater challenge: acknowledging the seriousness, maybe even the existence, of the devil (George Barna says that more than 60% of Christians do not believe in a literal devil) or in “spiritual warfare.” Therefore, we must, “Put on THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.” (Ephesians 6:11-12) “Resist the devil and HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.” (James 4:7)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham