In warfare in the natural world, a soldier must first identify the enemy before entering the battlefield. He must study all available information on the enemy, his nature, and strategies. This is why military forces spend much time gathering intelligence information on the enemy. The same is true in the spirit world. We can only war effectively if we identify our enemy, understand his nature, and recognizing his strategies. The evil forces we face are not clothed in flesh. They are spiritual hosts of wickedness.I Peter 5:8, Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. His words serve as a further introduction to his strategies (Gen 3:1,4,5; Job 1:7-12; Job 2:1-6; Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13. 2). Satan does the opposite of what the Holy Spirit does. The Holy Spirit was sent by God to draw men to Himself. Satan is committed to draw men away from God.
Satan not only opposes God and His nature, but he also opposes God's program. He denies the existence of God (Psalms 14:1-3), promotes lies (Eph 2:2; II Thess 2:8-ll); and is behind false religions, the occult, and cults with their false doctrines and practices. Satan's religious system results in false teachers, prophets, and "christs”. Despite these evil strategies, Satan and his hosts of demonic powers are no threat to our Almighty God.
THE ATTRIBUTES OF SATAN:
As we have seen, Satan is a spirit, but he also has attributes of a real personality. The Bible teaches that he is Intelligent and subtle. II Cor 11:3, But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Emotional: And the dragon was wroth with the woman... (Rev 12:17). Self-willed: And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (II Tim 2:26). Powerful: ...Prince of the power of the air... (Eph 2:2). Deceitful: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph 6:11). Fierce and cruel: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). Deceptive: And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light (II Cor 11:14).
SATAN IS NOT...
Unlike God, Satan is not omniscient (knowing all things). If Satan could foresee the future he never would have allowed Jesus to die on the cross. He would have known that the death of Jesus would overthrow his power and provide a way of escape from the bondage of sin for all mankind. Satan is not omnipotent (all powerful). Jesus said the power of God within you is greater than the power of Satan. For those who believe in Jesus, Satan is already a defeated foe (John 12:31). He is strong only to those who yield to him. His power is limited by the power of God (Job 1:10-12) and he is only able to overcome a believer as they yield control to him. Because Satan is not omnipresent (present everywhere) he dispatches a host of demons throughout the earth to do his will and accomplish his purposes.
VENOMOUS SERPENT:
Satan is compared to a serpent in the natural world. The venom of poisonous snakes falls into three categories. Neurotorins: Which affect the nerves. Cardiotorins: Which affect the heart. Hemotorins: Which affect the blood. Spiritually Satan also affects our nerve (spiritual courage), our heart (to attack our worship and service of God), and tries to prevent the work of the blood of Jesus (salvation, healing, deliverance) in our life.
Snakes protect themselves by disguise. Some snakes are very hard to see because they are camouflaged blend into the surrounding so well. Some snakes protect themselves by imitation. One example is the African tree viper which "freezes" itself and sticks its neck out like a twig on a tree. The puff adder protects itself by blowing itself up as big as possible. Some snakes hiss or rattle, making frightening sounds to scare us away. Our spiritual enemy comes disguised as an "angel of light" and imitates the things of God. He also tries to frighten us by appearing large and threatening.
Snakes capture their prey in four different ways. Strike: A swift attack. Constriction: Where the snake wraps itself around the target and slowly squeezes out its life. Throwing weight around over the prey to overcome it. Biting and holding the target in its fangs while slow poison paralyzes the target. Sometimes the snake's teeth are broken off in the struggle, but snakes are constantly developing new teeth. Similarly the Devil either strikes or constricts our spiritual life with the cares of the world and sinful weights and entanglements. He is always trying to terrorize us, and he loves to hold us in bondage while paralyzing us with his deadly venom.
Here are some ways to avoid snake bite in the natural world. They are also applicable in the spiritual realm. Recognizing poisonous snakes (knowing our enemy). Wearing protective clothing (our spiritual armor). Avoiding known snake territory (areas of known temptation or satanic activity). Avoid walking after dark or in darkened areas (snakes avoid direct sunlight) as believers, we no longer walk as children of the dark but as children of light.
Snakes locate their prey by picking up the scent from the dust thrown up on their tongue which relays information to their brain. If we stand still, a snake cannot locate us. Satan spots us best when the dust is stirred up and we are running in confusion and fear. When the dust is settled and we stand against him fearlessly, he cannot strike us. This is why the Bible says "stand still.”...and "keep on standing." In a panic situation, a snake will shoot all of its venom at once and is then rendered defenseless for awhile until it can produce more venom. It is possible that this is what occurred in the wilderness temptation when Jesus used the Word of God against Satan's attacks and caused Satan to "depart from him for a season."
THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL:
It is also essential to know about the "troops,” known as demons, which are under Satan's command. Some people ignore the subject of demons completely. Others have a compulsive interest in them. We should not minimize the power of demon spirits in the world today. When Jesus confronted two men possessed by demons, their response was, what have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? (Matt 8:29).The demons in the possessed men knew their final destiny was a place of eternal torment. Since Hell is a place of torment and was prepared for Satan and his angels, then demons must be the fallen angels.
Throughout the Bible, demons are shown as active on earth. Since Satan is not omnipresent, he uses demons to do his will and accomplish his purposes throughout the world. They constitute the "powers of the air" (Eph 2:2) and the "powers of darkness" (Col 1:13) and are all under the control of Satan.
THE ATTRIBUTES OF DEMONS:
In their original sinless condition, demons had the same attributes as the good angels. In their present evil state these demons are spirits (Matt 8:16; Luke 10:17, 20). Can appear visibly (Gen 3:1; Zech 3:1; Matt 4:9-10). Can speak (Mark 5:9, 12; Luke 8:28; Matt 8:31). Believe that there is one God (James 2:19). Exercise their wills (Luke 11:24; 8:32). Demonstrate intelligence (Mark 1:24). Have emotions (Luke 8:28; James 2:19). Have recognition (Acts 19:15). Have supernatural strength (Acts 19:16; Mark 5:3). Have supernatural presence (Daniel 9:21-23). Are eternal (Matt 25:41). Have their own doctrine (I Tim 4:1-3). Are evil (Matt 10:1; Mark 1:27; 3:11). Demons are called evil spirits six times and unclean spirits 23 times in the New Testament. They are also called devils (Mark 1:32) and the devil's angels (Matt 25:41).
THE ORGANIZATION OF DEMON FORCES:
Satan is an imitator, not an originator. He has organized his demons in a structure similar to that of God's forces. Satan has apparently divided the world into principalities. A principality is the territory or jurisdiction of a prince. Satan has placed a prince over each principality. The prince of the power of Persia is mentioned in Daniel 10. This is how Satan works on a national level influencing governments and nations. These demons are at work in the social, political, and cultural systems of the world.
Satan is the author of spiritual wickedness in high places. High places in the Old Testament were where worship was carried on. This is how Satan works in the religious structures of the world. These organized groups vary in size. For example, Mary Magdalene had seven demons in her prior to her deliverance. Luke 8:30 mentions a "legion" of demons. A legion in the Roman army which ruled at the time of Jesus referred to 6,100 foot soldiers and 726 horsemen! These organized forces of demons were united in their purpose, which in this example was possession of the man and woman.
Have Different Degrees Of Wickedness. This is illustrated by the demon who said he would return with other evil spirits. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they enter in and dwell there: And the last state of that man is worse than the first... (Matt 12:43-45).
THE ACTIVITIES OF DEMONS:
Demons follow orders given by their prince. We can summarize the activities of demons by noting that they are always directed against God, His plan, and His people. Demons are used by Satan to attack the Word of God, our worship of God, our walk with God, and our work for God. Satan uses his demons to accomplish this strategy throughout the world. Demons extend Satan's power by promoting deception and wickedness. They affect individuals, governments, nations, and the world system. They promote rebellion and slander against both God and men. They promote idolatry, false doctrines, and blind men and women to the truth of the Gospel.
Demons can Change Their Functions. The demon in I Kings 22:21-23 declared he would be a lying spirit. This indicates he was not one previously for he said "I will be...”. There are different kinds of demons that attack the body and soul of man. They are responsible for immoral acts, unclean thoughts, oppression, possession and depression (Matt 10:1; 12:43; Mark 1:23-26). Spirits of infirmity afflict the physical body (Luke 13:11). Seducing spirits influences a person to believe false doctrines as indicated in I Timothy 4:1. They are spirits of cults, false Christ, and false teachers.
These demons instigates unbelievers driving them to commit terrible acts of evil, to murder, injure, commit suicide, speak lies etc. They affect the soul with emotional problems and the body with physical infirmities. Demons attack believers by temptation, deception, depression, and oppression. They try to keep us in bondage to habits and fear. They accuse and slander us and create division among the people of God.
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