Defeating the enemy


Read this if you want to know how to:


Overcome the devil's tactics


Work with God to extend His Kingdom




1. Kings & armies



Kingdom = ‘The domain of the king’ = The area he rules over.


In Biblical times - kings went out with their armies and fought to extend their kingdoms.




Jesus is the King of kings, as Paul explained in 1 Timothy 6:14-15


14 … our Lord Jesus Christ … 


15 … the King of kings, and Lord of lords.



Further reading - Revelation 17:14 & 19:16




We’re 'soldiers' in God's army.




So our job is to extend His Kingdom by:






But we have an ENEMY who FIGHTS AGAINST the Kingdom of God.




So we’ll look at:


A. Why do we have an enemy?


B. How should we fight him?  /  What weapons do we have?


C. Our enemy’s tactics against us - and how to overcome them.




2. WHY do we have an enemy?



Almighty God created the entire Universe and everything in it.

Further reading - 'Creation' message on WholeCounselofGod.com




So God could easily defeat Satan in an instant.


But He wants US to be involved in the fight.




Judges 3:1-2

1Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove (= to test) Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;


2Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof (= to teach those without battle experience).



--> God deliberately gave the Israelites physical enemies - so they’d learn how to fight & win.


--> Today: God gives us SPIRITUAL enemies - so that WE learn how to fight and to win.




Illustration

We can fantasise about having an easy life - putting our feet up & relaxing in the sun.


But doing that all day would make us very unfit.


We need to exercise!




It’s the same with our spiritual life:






It’s interesting (in Joshua 12) that the Israelites had to defeat:






3. How do we LEARN to defeat our enemy?



It’s like learning to drive - we need both:









As we notice how & why Israel won (or lost) their physical battles - we learn how to win (or lose) our spiritual battles.







 We may not like these situations - but God knows what’s best, so He doesn’t give us an opt-out!




Psalm 144:1 ~ Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.




4. We fight in PARTNERSHIP with God



Exodus 15:3 ~ The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. 


--> God isn't a pacifist: He fights!




Further reading

Exodus 17:16

Numbers 21:14, 31:1-5


Joshua 10:14

Judges 4:23


1 Chronicles 5:22

Psalm 24:8

Isaiah 13:4-5, 42:13


Jeremiah 50:25

Revelation 19:11




You and I are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) - so we should ALSO fight spiritual battles.




It’s a partnership:






There’s a great example of this partnership when God AND David fought the Philistines.


This is what God told David in 2 Samuel 5:24-25


24And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going (= marching) in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself (= move quickly):


for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host (= army) of the Philistines.


25And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.





--> There was an intimate partnership between them - which is what God wants to develop with US.




Further reading

Deuteronomy 1:30, 2:32-33, 3:1-3, 7:1-2 & 23-24, 9:1-3


Joshua 1:5 & 9, 8:7, 10:7-11, 19, 24-25, 29-32 & 42, 11:6-9, 23:3, 5 & 9-10


Judges 4:14-16, 5:23, 6:16, 7:20, 11:21 & 32, 20:28


1 Samuel 7:10-11, 17:32-47, 23:1-5, 25:28


2 Samuel 22:35-43, 23:11-12


1 Kings 20:27-29


1 Chronicles 5:20, 11:14, 14:10-11 & 15-16, 17:8


2 Chronicles 13:13-18, 14:8-15, 16:8, 20:17


Nehemiah 9:24


Psalms 18:34 & 39-40, 60:12, 108:13, 118:10-14


Jeremiah 51:20-24


Zechariah 10:5




5. So far we've looked at PHYSICAL battles - but how do we win SPIRITUAL battles?



There are no 'defence cuts' in God’s army - we have the same weapons as the early church!


But we need to USE these weapons.




Our weapons include the following:





 See the separate messages about these topics on: WholeCounselofGod.com




6. Let's now look at our OTHER weapons



Ephesians chapter 6  is well known to most Christians.






Verse 10

10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.





Further reading

Deuteronomy 3:22, 33:26-27


Joshua 2:9-11, 24:12


2 Kings 7:6, 21:2


2 Chronicles 20:7 & 29


Nehemiah 4:14 & 20


Psalms 3:6-7, 18:48, 20:7, 21:1 & 13, 23:4, 27:1-3 & 5-6, 28:7-8, 35:1-10


Psalms 37:39-40, 44:1-7, 46:1, 50:15, 54:1-7, 55:18-19 & 22, 56:9, 59:9-10 & 17


Psalms 62:1-2 & 5-8, 72:12-14, 81:1, 89:13 & 18, 91:1-16, 94:22, 97:10


Psalms 105:4, 107:6, 13, 19 & 28109:31, 118:6, 121:1-2 & 7, 124:1-8, 125:2


Isaiah 51:12


Jeremiah 50:33-34


Amos 5:8-9


Zephaniah 3:17




Verse 11

11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (= deceitful schemes) of the devil.








Verse 12

12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.








Verse 13

13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.








Verse 14a

14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth ... 


-->  The Bible is true:






Verse 14b

14(cont)… and having on the breastplate of righteousness.



--> Jesus died on the cross to give us His righteousness:






Further reading

Isaiah 54:17, 59:17

‘The Cross’ & ‘Grace’ messages on WholeCounselofGod.com




Verse 15

15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.




Romans 8:28 ~ All things work together for good to them that love God.





Further reading

'Tough times' message on WholeCounselofGod.com




Verse 16

16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.



Q - Does the Bible say that we’ll never have fiery darts thrown at us?



A - No






William Romaine - the 18th century Anglican clergyman - wrote:

 


‘The believer has many enemies opposing him in his way heavenwards; but in Christ he has strength sufficient to conquer them all.

 

His worst enemy, that gives him most uneasiness, is indwelling sin, which is never at rest, like the troubled sea, always casting up some of its filthy motions and corruptions.

 

So that when he is at prayer, it is ever trying to amuse and distract his mind with a thousand vain and idle thoughts.

 

 

Over this enemy there is no victory but by faith.’




Further reading

Genesis 15:1

Psalm 3:3

Proverbs 30:5




Verse 17a

17 And take the helmet of salvation ...



--> Helmet of salvation = 100% confidence that we have eternal life:






Further reading

Isaiah 59:17




Verse 17b

17(cont.) ... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.





 



Further reading

Hebrews 4:12


Revelation 1:16, 2:16


Revelation 19:13-16 then Judges 3:12-21 & 27-30




Verse 18

18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.








EXAMPLE of the effectiveness of praying in tongues

I was in the cab of a pick-up truck, driving late at night through rural Africa, on the way to a Christian conference.


We were stopped at a roadblock by about 10-12 armed policemen - who made our driver get out of the truck, invented a false accusation and said that they’d take him away to police cells.




The police wanted a bribe to release the driver (common practice in some parts of the world).


But God told us not to pay / receive bribes. 


(Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:19, 1 Samuel 8:1-3 & 12:1-3, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Psalm 26:9-11, Proverbs 15:27, 17:23 & 29:4, Ecclesiastes 7:7,  Isaiah 1:23 & 33:15-16, Amos 5:12)




I DIDN'T KNOW HOW to get out of this tough situation - so I prayed in tongues.




 A few minutes later - another car drove towards the roadblock from the opposite direction.


The police stopped this other car and all the police went over to it.




Amazingly - they left our driver completely unguarded.


Our driver therefore climbed back into the pick-up truck, and we drove off to continue our mission - God did a miracle!




So when we face a difficult situation and don’t know what to do - pray in tongues.




Further reading

Romans 8:26

Gifts of the Holy Spirit message on WholeCounselofGod.com




7. We need to ATTACK



Matthew 16:18 ~ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.



--> Jesus was not telling the church to just defend itself.


--> He said that: as we ATTACK the work of the enemy - the devil CANNOT keep us out!

(His 'gates' won't work for him.)




Illustration

During World War 2 - the Allied forces could have stayed safely in the UK.


But they attacked the Normandy beaches on D-Day - then went on to win the war.


--> We need to have that SAME attacking spirit - to defeat the devil & his work.




Further reading

2 Sanmuel 5:6-10


Matthew 11:12

1 Timothy 1:18,  6:12 


2 Timothy 4:7

1 John 2:14




8. We can learn from what Joshua told the Israelites



Joshua (Hebrew):







A. FIRST occasion


Joshua 17:14-18

14And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying,  Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit,


seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto (= until now)?




15And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people,


then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.




16And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us:


and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.




17And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: 


18But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings (= borders) of it shall be thine:


for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.



-->Joseph’s people (= the tribes of Ephraim & Manasseh) needed more land.


--> God had PROMISED the land to the Israelites, so Joshua (= Hebrew for Jesus) said: ‘GO UP AND TAKE IT’.




--> Ephraim & Manassaeh made excuses - they were scared of the enemy & their iron chariots.


--> So Joshua reminded the the two Israelite tribes of their status: ‘THOU ART A GREAT PEOPLE’.




In the same way - God wants US to go on the OFFENSIVE, to extend His Kingdom.




We’re also aGreat people’:






B. SECOND occasion


Joshua 18:1-3

1And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.


2And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.




3And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?



--> Joshua told the seven tribes: ‘GET ON WITH IT!


The same as he’d told Ephraim & Manasseh.




So to extend God's Kingdom, we need:



NOT





Further reading

Joshua 19:47




9. Let's now look at the devil's NAMES




Revelation 12:9 ~ And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,


which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 




1 Peter 5:8 ~ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.




His names include:



a. SATAN - which is:




So we do have an enemy!



b. DEVIL


c. DRAGON


d. LION


e. SERPENT (= a snake) which:






What does God say WE DO to: lions, snakes & dragons?



Psalm 91:9-10 & 13

9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; 


10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 



13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.



--> God says that we can stand on the: ‘lion, snake & dragon’.


= We can stand on the devil. 




Q - So what is God telling us?



A - Satan does exist.


But we do not need to fear him!




Illustration

It's like electricity is dangerous to the ignorant - but not if we know how to handle it safely.




Further reading

Judges 14:5-6

Isaiah 27:1

Luke 9:1, 10:19




10. KNOW our enemy and his tactics against us



2 Corinthians 2:11 ~ Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.


--> We need to UNDERSTAND Satan’s tactics.



Just like:






John 8:44

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.


When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.




A. The devil’s a MURDERER


When people are murdered - I believe the devil’s behind the scenes, manipulating the killers.


Think of: 9/11, genocides, terrorist bombings, the Dunblane massacre etc.

 



B. The devil’s a LIAR


I believe he's behind:





... To trick people into going to hell when they die.




C. The devil also tries to HINDER people from believing the Bible

 

Which leads to people going to hell with him, when they die:



Luke 8:12 (and Matthew 13:19 / Mark 4:15)


Those by the way side are they that hear;


then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.




11. How to DEFEAT the devil's three main tactics against us




Devil’s tactic #1



1 Timothy 3:7 ~ Moreover he (= overseer or elder, but the devil uses the same tactics against all believers)


must have a good report of them which are without (= by those outside the church);


lest he fall into reproach (= disgrace / shame) and the snare of the devil.



--> Satan sets snares / traps.


--> He 'plays dirty'.




1 Peter 5:8 ~ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:



A. Peter told us to be SOBER:






B. Peter told us to be VIGILANT (= to  watch out / be careful):




Many believers have fallen into sin, by being casual in these areas.




Ephesians 4:27 ~ Neither give place to the devil.




Further reading

Genesis 9:20-21 & 19:30-38


Psalms 140:4-5, 141:9-10, 142:3


Jeremiah 5:26

2 Timothy 2:26




Devil’s tactic #2



Matthew 4:8-9

8Again, the devil taketh Him (= Jesus) up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;


9And saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.



--> The devil tries to TEMPT us with things of NO ETERNAL VALUE: 






It’s easy to get rich, by working for the devil - in his schemes to take people to hell.


Think of: drug dealers, gambling firms, pornography merchants etc.




The devil doesn’t change his tactics:



Genesis 13:13 ~ But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.



Genesis 14:21 ~ And the king of Sodom (= a picture of Satan) said unto Abram (a believer), Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.



--> Satan offers people 'trinkets' in this world - to capture their souls and to take them down into hell for eternity.




Q - But what should drive our lives?


A:






Q - How did Jesus deal with this temptation?

 

A -

Matthew 4:10 ~ Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.

 

 






Further reading

Matthew 26:41 / Mark 14:38 / Luke 22:40 & 46

Luke 4:5-7, 22:3-6


John 13:2

1 Timothy 6:9


'What happens when we die?' message on WholeCounselofGod.com




Devil’s tactic #3



1 Thessalonians 2:18 ~ Wherefore we would have (= we wanted to) come unto you, even I Paul, once and again (= again & again);


but Satan hindered us.







Q - How should we DEAL with these hindrances?


AJames 4:7 ~ … resist the devil, and he will flee from you.




Example

I was driving to speak at a church meeting:








Further reading

Acts 13:6-11




12. Finally - one important truth we often forget



2 Kings 6:15-17



Verse 15

15And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed (= an army surrounded) the city both with horses and chariots.


And his servant said unto  him (= to Elisha), Alas, my master! How (= what) shall we do?



Q - Why was Elijah’s servant scared?


A - Because he thought that the Israelites had to fight the huge enemy army on their own.




Verses 16-17

16And he (= Elisha) answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them


17And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw:


and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.



--> Don’t be downhearted by what seems like an impossible situation.


--> God sends His angels to help us,  it’s just that we can’t see them!




EXAMPLE

I was part of a small team bringing supplies from Mozambique into Zimbabwe - where at that time, food  was very scarce.


The Zimbabwean pick-up truck which was supposed to meet us at the border didn’t arrive - it had broken down and the driver had to sell his mobile phone to pay for the repair.


So we had no way of contacting each other.


We managed to reach a large town just inside Zimbabwe - where one of the African Pastors in our team knew some believers, who very kindly gave us beds & food for the night.




About dawn the next day, this African Pastor felt someone tugging on his big toe - he looked down but there was no-one there!


He’d learnt from past experiences that it was an angel doing this - to wake him up.


So he got up early, walked into town - and found our transport, with the driver asleep inside!




--> God sent an angel - to wake the Pastor at the right time.


 --> The Holy Spirit then guided him - to exactly the right spot in the town!




Further reading

Genesis 19:10-11


Exodus 14:25, 23:20-22, 33:2


Deuteronomy 7:17-21, 20:1-4, 31:3-4, 6, 8 & 23


1 Samuel 14:6, 13-15 & 23


2 Kings 19:32-36 / 2 Chronicles 32:6-8 then 20-22  /  Isaiah 37:33-37


1 Chronicles 18:13, 21:16 & 20


Ezra 8:31


Psalms 33:20-21, 34:7


Isaiah 59:19


Acts 12:5-11

Romans 8:31

1 John 4:4




13. Conclusion



We don’t fight spiritual battles on our own:






Amen