As a way to help her students learn to be wary of the unseen, a teacher once told her students that she was going out into the hallway and would close the door behind her. She warned the students that no matter what happened, they were not to open the door or peek out. She then made a commotion in the hallway. When they could stand it no more, the students carefully turned the knob and opened it just a crack, Suddenly the teacher grabbed one student's wrist and jerked him out into the hallway, frightening him significantly. While we may disagree with that tactic, her point was valid: curiosity about the unknown can lead us through all kinds of doorways into strange and dangerous realities.
Like children who don't hear a weather warning or who don't heed one they do know about, not everyone knows or cares about the reality of this spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul, however, reminds us of its seriousness: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark would and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Ephesians 6:12.
Satan's name mean "adversary." Before a game, athletes often study films of their adversaries to discover flaws or mistakes that can be used to their advantage. Similarly, Christians can use the Bible to learn of Satan's trickery and craftiness and to become skilled at resisting him.
Each of us is like a chain. No matter how strong, everyone has at least one weak link. Satan tries to use the weakness of that link to destroy people who are precious to God. His methods vary. Evil spirits trouble and possess people (Matthew 8:28). With trickery and deceit Satan seeks to snatch the seed of God's Word from people's hearts (Matthew 13:19). He was so bold as to even tempt the Son of God (Matthew 4:1)
However, don't miss the victory of Jesus. signs of the power of God and of His Anointed also fill every page of Scripture and are all around us. This is a battle in that the final results are already in. The Father gave His Son a "name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9):the name of "Jesus," at our side. Satan does have one advantage: he has more experience in tempting than we have in resisting him. On the other hand, we have the advantage of Jesus at our side. Satan knows and fears Him. Jesus has already met Satan in deadly conflict and won--for us! Even the gates of hell shall never be successful against Christ and you, His followers (Matthew 16:18).
Like children who don't hear a weather warning or who don't heed one they do know about, not everyone knows or cares about the reality of this spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul, however, reminds us of its seriousness: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark would and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Ephesians 6:12.
Satan's name mean "adversary." Before a game, athletes often study films of their adversaries to discover flaws or mistakes that can be used to their advantage. Similarly, Christians can use the Bible to learn of Satan's trickery and craftiness and to become skilled at resisting him.
Each of us is like a chain. No matter how strong, everyone has at least one weak link. Satan tries to use the weakness of that link to destroy people who are precious to God. His methods vary. Evil spirits trouble and possess people (Matthew 8:28). With trickery and deceit Satan seeks to snatch the seed of God's Word from people's hearts (Matthew 13:19). He was so bold as to even tempt the Son of God (Matthew 4:1)
However, don't miss the victory of Jesus. signs of the power of God and of His Anointed also fill every page of Scripture and are all around us. This is a battle in that the final results are already in. The Father gave His Son a "name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9):the name of "Jesus," at our side. Satan does have one advantage: he has more experience in tempting than we have in resisting him. On the other hand, we have the advantage of Jesus at our side. Satan knows and fears Him. Jesus has already met Satan in deadly conflict and won--for us! Even the gates of hell shall never be successful against Christ and you, His followers (Matthew 16:18).
