Learn to recognize and understand Satan’s operational tactics — his detailed schemes are designed to cripple us through our personal (and historical) strengths (pride) or weaknesses (failures).
Why Study spiritual warfare?
It is the missing ingredient in the understanding of our forward movement in our
relationship with God, human beings, and our only enemy, the kingdom of darkness ruled and led by the devil.
The devil is a very real enemy of God and therefore of us as His ambassadors. We must learn his tactics!
1 Pet. 5:8-11, 1 Pet. 5:8-11, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of
all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
“Satan is trying to devour us – we must learn his tactics.”
Rules of spiritual warfare
Strategy weapons of truth to recognize and defeat subtle enemy of lies and deception.
The most important rule of spiritual warfare to begin with is found in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” Eph. 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
It’s God who wins the battle for us. Ps. 60:11-12, “O give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain. Th rough God we shall
do valiantly, and it is He who will tread down our adversaries.” Exodus 14:13-14, “But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; … The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” Deut. 3:22, “Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you.” Phil. 3:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
The second most important rule of spiritual warfare is that we have an enemy, the devil, and his plans for us are deception, theft and destruction (death) with the intent of separating us from trusting in God. John 10:7-10, “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and fi nd pasture. Th e thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
It is important to know that the devil is a schemer and his plans for you are already in place. We will cover how the plans are formulated in a later portion of this chapter, but for now, don’t think for a moment that he doesn’t know you or already have a plan in place for your destruction. Exodus 1:8 & 10, “Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. …Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
Watch for and learn to be aware of deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Tim. 4:1-5, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.”
Two extremes:
a – Over-emphasis (demon chasers) — blaming Satan for everything
b – Under-emphasis — don’t talk or speak about Satan — too much publicity — may be fearful
c – Learn to use the gift of distinguishing spirits (1 Cor. 12:10), 1 John 4:1-4, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but TEST the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”
a – Truth teaches us to deal with spiritual enemies.
b – Character weakness in pride, fear or immaturity will stunt our growth.
1 – If we pursue false (or unbalanced) themes or doctrine, Satan will fill our schedule in that area.
2 – Be aware and walk in all truth (word) — everything is not Satan but Satan is mentioned often — don’t blame everything on Satan, but don’t avoid him either.
Rules of spiritual warfare
Strategy weapons of truth to recognize and defeat subtle enemy of lies and deception.
The most important rule of spiritual warfare to begin with is found in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” Eph. 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
It’s God who wins the battle for us. Ps. 60:11-12, “O give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain. Th rough God we shall
do valiantly, and it is He who will tread down our adversaries.” Exodus 14:13-14, “But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; … The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” Deut. 3:22, “Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you.” Phil. 3:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
The second most important rule of spiritual warfare is that we have an enemy, the devil, and his plans for us are deception, theft and destruction (death) with the intent of separating us from trusting in God. John 10:7-10, “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and fi nd pasture. Th e thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”