The last enemy the growing believer has to face is Satan. Remember how Peter warned us:
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be of sober spirit,
be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring
lion, seeking someone to devour.
We have to remember that there’s a war going on, and I don’t
mean in
Ephesians 6:12
12 For
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual
forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
I’m not going to get into a detailed study of the Greek in this verse, but it’s actually talking about different military ranks of fallen angels. Our goal in this battle is to line up on the side of the winner, Jesus Christ! Remember, we are engaged in a battle against someone who has already lost.
Colossians 2:13-15
13 When you were dead
in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our
transgressions,
14 having canceled
out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile
to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 When He had
disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having
triumphed over them through Him.
Through the Cross, Satan and his fallen angels were completely defeated. Yet he still prowls around, looking to distract growing believers from accomplishing the will of God.
So many people today give the devil credit for more than he actually does. It’s a lot like Flip Wilson used to say (for all you old people like me), “the devil made me do it!” But Satan is not omnipresent; he can’t be in more than one place at a time. So realize, as you fight distractions and troubles in your Christian life, most of it is coming from the world and from your own flesh! Only when you overcome the first two enemies will you get personal attention from Satan!
Recognize that he is the enemy of growing believers, but he has already been defeated. Knowing how Jesus Christ accomplished this victory will give you the ability to overcome even personal attention from Satan, because:
1 John 4:4
4 You are from God,
little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you
than he who is in the world.
Live in that victory that has already been accomplished!