Ephesians 6:10-12 - Standing Against Our Spiritual Enemy

Please remember what I said yesterday aboutsit, walk and stand. It's so important to know and be practicing before we canstand against the evil one who will attack us, especially if we're doingsomething for the Lord. By the way, if the devil's not bothering you, it meansyou're not doing anything for the Lord. The devil tempted Jesus. The devil wentafter Peter. And I'll guarantee you, anyone that's on God's agenda,accomplishing God's purposes and committed to doing the will of God daily, willbe under the attack of the evil one and his forces.  Weneed to know how to stand. Remember what we said yesterday. We must first knowour position in Christ. We're seated in the heavenly places in Christ. We're inChrist. Christ is in you. He must be our all in all. Secondly, we must walkproperly. That's why Galatians 5:16 says, "Walk in the Spirit you willnot fulfill the lust of the flesh." Now, Paul says, "We will beable to stand”. We don't fight with the devil. You'll lose every time."Even Michael the Archangel didn't fight with the devil when they were disputingover the body of Moses (Jude 1:9). It says, "Michael said, "TheLord rebuke you." We are no match for the devil. My friend, you are inChrist you can stand in this victory in Christ.  Now,as we all know, in any military conflict, intelligence is essential. Officersmust know who the enemy is, where he operates, what he's capable of doing.Without that knowledge, victory is difficult, if not impossible. My friend, Godhas not left us uninformed. Not only in Ephesians chapter 6, but throughout theentire Bible, God Himself teaches us about our enemy so that we will not becaught off guard. Now,who is the leader of our enemy? Of course, it's the devil. He has many names.He's called the devil, which means the accuser because he accuses God's peopleday night before the throne of God (Revelation 12:7-11). He's also calledSatan, meaning “adversary” because he stands in opposition to God. Scripturealso refers to him as the “tempter” (Matthew 4:3). He's called a “murderer and aliar” (John 8:44). He's compared to a “roaring lion” in 1 Peter 5:8. He'spictured as a “serpent” in Genesis 3:1 also Revelation 12:9. He's also picturedas an “angel of light” in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Paul also calls him the “godof this age” in 2 Corinthians 4:4. Sowhere did this powerful spirit come from? Many students of Scripture believe hewas “Lucifer, son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12-15). He was cast out of heavenbecause of his pride and a desire to take over God's throne. Now, there aremany mysteries concerning Satan's origin and when all that happened, but myfriend, there's no mystery about what he's doing today where he's headed.  Asa created being, he is not eternal like God. He's limited in knowledge, power,and presence. He is not all knowing, all powerful, or everywhere at once. So,how does he accomplish so much in so many places? The answer's found in hisorganized helpers. That's why Paul explains it here in Ephesians 6 as “principalities,powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in the highplaces”. This language suggests highly organized demonic army assistingSatan in his attacks against believers.  TheApostle John indicates that one-third of the angels fell with Satan in hisrebellion in Revelation 12:4. The prophet Daniel reveals that Satan's angelscontend with God's angels over the affairs of the nations in Daniel 10:13-20.So a spiritual battle is taking place both on earth in the heavenly realms. YouI are a part of that battle. Understanding this makes walking in victoryvitally important not only to us but to God.  Godhelp us to understand today we have an enemy and it is not people. It's thedevil and his organized forces. God give us grace today to be “seated in Christ”,“walking in the Spirit”, and standing against the wiles of the evil one!