The spiritual dimension is not well understood, primarily because many people simply avoid the topic. However, we should know not only our deliverer but our enemy.
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (II Cor 2:11)
So beginning with the oldest book in the Bible, we’re given important information about Satan’s involvement in the life of the believer.
“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil...Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan…Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” (Job 1:1-12)
Initially Job, like myself, bewailed how unfair it was to suffer when we trusted God to love us. Eventually if we’re wise enough, we understand that like any good parent, he doesn’t allow us to be spoiled.
“we have access by faith into this grace / empowerment beyond our own resources wherein we stand,
- and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
- And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
- knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
- And patience, experience;
- and experience, hope:
- And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:2-5)
God frankly uses Satan to discipline his children.
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife…concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Yahweh’s Savior/Yeshua Messiah/Jesus Christ..deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (I Cor 5:1-5) [And it worked, according to the followup letter:] Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So…forgive him, and comfort him…confirm your love toward him.” (II Corinthians 2:6-8)
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (II Corinthians 12:7-8)
He is called the tempter because he attacks God’s people through temptation, seducing us through our existing desire for comfort, security, attention, money, power or whatever particular selfish desire we may have.
“Then was Yahweh’s Savior / Yeshua led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said,
- If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread…
- Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone…
- Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Yahweh’s Savior / Yeshua unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” (Matthew 4:1-11)
He is characterized as a devouring lion and an angel of light. Whichever tactic works.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith…” (I Peter 5:8-9)
“Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.” (II Corinthians 11:45-15)
According to the Book of Enoch, celestial beings are indeed shape-shifters who can appear as humans as well as other forms.
Before all these things Enoch was concealed…He was wholly engaged with the holy ones, and with the Watchers in his days…and when they pleased they assumed the likeness of men.(Enoch 12)
This revelation is confirmed in the canon of scripture.
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)
He is called the Devil, i.e. Slanderer. In addition to slandering God’s people, such as Job above, he primarily slanders God, such as claiming that he is withholding good things from us, or that he doesn’t love us or he wouldn’t let us suffer the consequences of our choices or discipline us.
“he shewed me Joshua / Yeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?…And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying…Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee.” (Zechariah 3:1-4)
Humans who are spiritually united with Yahweh’s Savior’s atonement for sin are declared righteous, and Satan cannot argue for a conviction against us.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in YHVH’s Anointed Savior / Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit…Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is The Promised One / Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:1-2,31-34)
Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven, where he is identified as the dragon and that old serpent. This should be viewed as his true identity.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 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…And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Yahweh’s Chosen Savior / Yeshua Messiah / Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 12:3-17)
We shouldn’t freak out about the end times, because since the day God gave dominion to mankind we have been under assault in every dimension of body, soul and spirit.
Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ does not guarantee us a privileged life of having all our prayer requests granted. We will be attacked by the Adversary, but we have the advantage over our enemy when we expect and prepare for attacks by becoming spiritually strong.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For 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. Wherefore 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. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:10-18)
“…follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness [which is how we] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal [spiritual ergo even more powerful than “mind” over matter] life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (I Tim 6:11-12)
Even when it seems we’ve failed, we can be confident of backup support, and ultimate victory, in the face of the most dreadful circumstances.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren…What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?…Who shall separate us from the love of The Consecrated One / Messiah / Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Yahweh’s Consecrated Savior / Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:28-39)
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (I Corinthians 15:54)
It is essential that we understand that we are at war with Satan. If we are going to win our battles, we have to understand that victory over this supernatural powerful enemy is only made possible when we are empowered by God through connection with his most powerful Spirit.
“For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou… crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet…But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Yahweh’s Savior / Yeshua / Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:5-15)
Kingdom Come 