Fighting Satan—Are You Ready for Round Two?
Time to be Bold and understand our enemy and how he fights.
Demon: Are you ready for round two? Psychologist: I didn’t know this was a fight. Demon: that’s why you’re losing! —Nefarious The Movie. Round Two Watch
As Disciples of Jesus, we must realize that we are fighting an epic battle with Satan and his demons daily. Often, we think that Satan uses counterfeiting and deception to dupe the lost. At the same time, deception is indeed one of his primary strategies. But what if I told you he wasn’t duping the lost but instead duping the found? We must understand that the world naturally keeps lost people—lost. In this spiritual battlefield, his real target is believers. Why? One of many critical advantages believers have over Satan is that our God is omnipresent; Satan is not! Because God is omnipresent, and we, as believers through the Holy Spirit, have His power anytime and anyplace (John 14:16). We have the power of omnipresence. Satan is a limited, constructed being with an omnipresence that cannot be assigned to him (Ezekiel 28:15). God created all things (Colossians 1:16), including ole Lucifer. Satan has limits and is not endless in any way, including in his presence. We know from the Book of Job that Satan can go to different locations but can’t be present everywhere. Only God is omnipresent! Since Satan is limited, he must use deception as his primary strategy. He does deception quite well!
Satan uses four primary methods to attack Christians. First, he will try and mock you out of your faith; second, he will talk you out of your faith; third, he will outlaw your faith; and fourth, he will confuse your faith. Most of Satan’s strategies center on one of these four tactics. How does he confuse our faith? False teachers and false doctrines. Who needs to be saved if Satan can confuse our doctrine, water down our preaching, and minimize sin? Present a Counterfeit Gospel.
Counterfeiting is nothing new in Satan’s game; he has been the great imitator ever since he deceived Eve in the garden. The nation of Israel was constantly being led astray; Elijah had to contend with Baal worshiping. Comparable to today’s Planned Parenthood Abortion Industry and Drag Queen story hour for children. Jeremiah and Ezekiel exposed counterfeit ministries and were then ridiculed beyond belief. Similarly, today we are dealing with counterfeits such as David French, Russel Moore, Joel Osteen, and Andy Stanley, to name a few. At the same time, these men may have had decent intentions; their yearning for world popularity, love for money, and man-pleasing have led them astray. Do they look the part of red-deviled, steely-eye killers? No. They look like your average Joel. Satan is leveraging these Christian leaders in his deception campaign. And so many lost people are falling for their false doctrines. Why? Because the religion of false prophets is based on counterfeits and like world counterfeits, their message is popular, easy, and comfortable. It’s that simple and that hard! This is nothing new in Satan’s game. Peter said:
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 2:1
Peter warns if Satan can graciously, lovingly, and kindly gradually change our doctrine—the Bible—he changes the numbers. Doctrine in today’s world, change the definition of marriage, add social justice and intersectionality to the Gospel, integrate a demonic Enneagram into the Church, and the next thing you know, he can change the numbers. Numbers mean how many he can keep from Heaven’s Gate—remember, with Satan, it’s always a zero-sum game.
We, as Disciples of Jesus, must protect the unstable. False Teachers and fake Christians will target and exploit weak, unstable souls. I’m reminded that we must be strong, fear not the wicked, and never allow ourselves to be deceived by outward appearances. Look for the fruit (good or rotten) and courageously stand for what is right — identifying and rejecting the fake. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16.
Fake Christians and false teachers may exploit and destroy what is suitable for a little while, but in the end—Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap. Galatians 6:7 Satan uses false teachers to target your families. Remember, parents; your Children are his #1 target.
Brothers and Sisters, we have been saying for years there will come a day when the world will be turned upside down. We must understand the difference between true and false. That day is here. It’s time to be Bold and understand our enemy and how he fights. Here are some glorious facts that you can take with you this week. The Gospel is still saving, The Bible is still inspiring, The Church is still growing, The Holy Ghost is still interceding, and God is still sovereign. Jesus is still reigning, and Glory is still coming! Are You Ready for Round Two?
Notes
https://youtube.com/shorts/JxOGrCQW7cI?feature=share
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/wiersbe-ot/micah-7.html
https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1011693&item_no=413130