2002-01-01
Good Morning Fellow Believers,
This morning, I am led to begin a new segment of our spiritual warfare series that deals with why we should battle Satan. As I was researching the Scriptures and other related material for this series, I was thunderstruck at how much information we are given in the Bible on Satan. At first, I wondered why God would spend so much time on such a negative being. However, it is clear that He is giving us "combat intelligence." If one stops to think about it, an army about to wage war really needs to know and understand the enemy to have the best opportunity to defeat him. As I go through this series, I am writing a list of facts God gives us about Satan and will find the appropriate time (at God's direction) to share that rather lengthy list with you. For now, let's find out more about the adversary so as to battle him to victory in Christ.
Knowing about the Evil One will allow us to thwart his agenda. General Matthew Ridgeway wrote, "There are two kinds of information no commander should do without-information pertaining to the enemy, which we call 'combat intelligence' and information on the terrain. Both are vital." Combat intelligence is crucial in making tactical decisions. Films like "The Battle of Midway," "A Bridge Too Far," "Patton," and "MacArthur," make the point that knowing the enemy is crucial to victory against him. Just one personal note about "A Bridge Too Far": This is the story of the battle between the Nazis and the North American forces at the end of WW II at Arnheim on the Rhine in northern Holland. Peter and I visited that place, and the Nazis had destroyed an important bridge there. We went into a beautifully kept cemetery to find every name on the headstones was a Dutch one. This raised a question in my mind, which I put to the Dutch national who was our conductor on this trip. (We were touring Europe, singing with the Woodbury Chorus and Orchestra to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and liberation of Europe). The Nazi evil had been so extreme in Holland that there was a six month delay in liberating southern Holland because it took that long to bury the Dutch dead whom the Nazis had left behind. The bridge has since been rebuilt, and Arnheim on the Rhine is now a beautiful place, although it will always wear the scars of what the Nazis did there. Seeing all of this really is a very lasting and personal way of convincing me of the wisdom of General Ridgeway's words.
We now should turn our attention to some key examples of man's interactions with the devil and his followers which will reveal why it is necessary for every believer in Christ to engage actively in spiritual warfare. GN 3: 1-6 reveals why this applies to every person on earth. "Now the serpent was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made. The serpent asked the woman, 'Did God really tell you not to eat the fruit from any tree in the garden?' 'We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, ' the woman answered, 'except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die.' The serpent replied, 'That is not true; you will not die. God said that because He knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad.' The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to et, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it." This is the quintessential example of the outer fleshly self dominating over the inner spiritual self, leading to horrific consequences, not just for Adam and Eve, but for all who don't come to faith in Christ. This is the original sin. It became our problem, because every person on earth is descended from Adam and Eve. As we move forward in this study of spiritual warfare, we will see how God has allowed us to understand exactly who that serpent is, where he came from, and why we must be battle-ready, take on the full armor that God has given us. Let me share one cross-reference that really helps in this respect. REV 12: 9, "The huge dragon was thrown out-that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him." There's much more to say about this in upcoming messages, but there can't be any question of his identity. God makes it clear.
We'll go on with more of these key examples in tomorrow's message, but suffice it say, this combat intelligence matters to each and every one of us. The last thing the Lord wants us to do is to be apathetic about what we must do or against who we must do it. This is personal, Dear Ones. None of us can escape into the place where we rationalize that we can avoid contact with the enemy or his followers. We must also remember that we are designed and equipped to do this battle and follow through to victory. We must each endure in our faith, trusting that our loving Abba always keeps His covenant promises.
PRAYER: O Lord, You have led us to a place where we must unsheathe the sword of Your word. We must grasp it strongly by spending time in it every day. We must let the Holy Spirit explain it to us, so that we will have a clear picture of Your will for us. And we must pray on the basis of Your word often as the Spirit leads us. This is a key weapon that You give us to enter into spiritual warfare. It is our desire to obey Your laws (teaching), and the Psalmist in PS 119: 129-136 expresses our heart-attitude. "Your teachings are wonderful; I obey them with all my heart. The explanation of Your teachings gives light and brings wisdom to the ignorant. In my desire for your commands I pant with open mouth. Turn to me and have mercy on me as You do on all those who love You. As You have promised, keep me from falling; do not let me be overcome by evil. Save me from those who oppress me, so that I may obey Your commands. Bless me with Your presence and teach me Your laws. My tears pour down like a river, because people do not obey Your law." In humility, we confess our sins and thank You for the continuing forgiveness that is made possible by Your Son's death on the cross for us. We feel blessed that You love us enough, even in our imperfection, to send us the Holy Spirit Who enables us to understand Your word. We pledge to You eternal devotion, adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, courage of faith, trust, obedience, honor, glory, praise, and thanksgiving for all the blessings You bestow upon us. In Christ's holy name, we pray. Amen.
Tomorrow, we will continue looking at key examples that allow us to better understand why every believer must endure through spiritual warfare. We can take comfort in knowing that whatever is ahead for us, we can face it with the confidence that the Lord's love brings. Our Abba has prepared us to do every good deed and equipped us for righteousness which He imputed to our accounts at the time of our justification (acceptance by Him as His children). All around us are manifestations of the profound love and protection given us by the Lord. We are truly a blessed people. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn