The Bible instructs us to be on our guard from the assault of our enemy – the devil, but do believers take Peter’s admonishment seriously? Currently, we are witnessing an increase in lawlessness and spiritual ineptness, something that is sadly exacerbated because many do not believe, at their peril, that the devil is real. Instead, they think that he is an anagogical character similar to that of the tooth fairy or Father Christmas. The reality and truth of the matter are, the devil is very real, and so are his demonic cohorts that feast upon the sin of humanity, hence why we are to be on our guard!
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world (1 Peter 5:8-9).
It is critical that believers are vigilant, more now than in any other period in history. We are the final generation, the one that will witness the return of Jesus and subsequently go through the Great Tribulation, a period unprecedented in world history. Additionally, we must understand and accept that the church will be besieged with false teachings of demons at this time because the devil has become entrenched and at home in the institutional church.
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve (2 Corinth. 11:13-15).
The devil has sown unrighteousness (weeds) with the righteousness (wheat) just as Messiah informed us. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels (Matthew 13:25;39).
For unrighteous weeds will not bow, but the righteous wheat when ripe bows its head, a symbol of walking humbly before the LORD. Such weeds are amongst the assembly of believers seeking to espouse lawlessness within the body as they masquerade as believers.
The infiltration of unrighteousness within the body by planting weeds has increased just as scripture states, for lawlessness abounds within the assembly and across the earth in these latter days. Therefore, believers need to guard against such infiltration and lawless doctrines from false teachers/prophets, just as scripture admonishes us to do.
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (Mat. 7:15).
Therefore, if we seek to be effective in our battle and walk with God, we must understand how we can stand, who our enemy is, his tactics, and we can be victorious.
The enemy of believers
The Bible informs us that our enemy is not flesh and blood but rather a spiritual foe, made up of principalities, powers in the heavenly realms that are led by the devil who once was an angel of light, the covering cherub before the throne of the LORD.[1] Some argue from the description in Ezekiel 28, specifically v13, that the devil was the one who directed the worship before the throne of the LORD in heaven. However, regardless of whether that is correct, we know that the devil was an anointed cherub who became puffed up due to pride and rebelled against the LORD. Consequently, the devil was removed from his position in heaven,[2] yet he can still go before the throne of God and accuse believers.[3] However, before the Tribulation, the devil is removed from heaven and thrown down to the earth, preventing him from accusing believers before the LORD’s throne.[4]
The devil will on earth seek to establish his throne, in the place God has placed His throne upon the earth – Zion, Jerusalem, the city of the Great King. For a time, he will be given the power to reign over humanity, as God uses humanities greatest and oldest foe to judge them, as God gives humanity over to its evil desires.[5] [6] However, during this period, God will plead with humanity, sending and empowering believers to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom throughout the world.[7] Many will die for their faith,[8] [9]yet others will be preserved, as we see Deuteronomy 28-30 being fulfilled.
The good news is the devil’s reign will be short, one that will end when Messiah – Jesus returns and puts all His enemies under His feet. The devil is then bound for a thousand years, the Millennium period, after which he is let loose and finally judged and thrown into the lake of fire with the beast, the false prophet[10] and those who have rejected God.[11]
What about demons?
Demons are the disembodied spirits of the Raphaim, the giants of old,[12] along with the half breed gods found within Greek mythology. These are the offspring of the fallen angels, referred to as Nephilim. These ungodly offspring have nowhere to go when they die because God did not create them, nor did He create a place for them. Therefore, they wander in the barren place, the wilderness of the earth, seeking a body they can inhabit.
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. (Luke 11:24-26).
It is not my intention to discuss this further; however, if people want to understand this, then I recommend they read the first few books of Enoch. This will outline what happened when the fallen angels came down to earth.
In essence, we need to understand that as a believer in Messiah, we have authority over such demonic entities through the name of Jesus, Yeshua in Hebrew.[13] [14]
What is the enemy’s strategy?
The devil’s strategy has not changed since the garden because his tactics remain effective against humanity. We see in scripture thatthe devil comes to bring doubt as he seeks humanity to question the validity of the Word and commands of the LORD.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’? (Gen. 3:1)
Messiah stated in discussion with certain Pharisees:
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies’ (John 8:44).
Here we see that the devil’s native language is that of lies, for he has forsaken the truth and no longer follows it. Instead, the devil espouses deceit and lies to deceive humanity so that they reject God and doubt His truth – His instructions, precepts and Word.
Scripture also informs us that the devil wanders the earth[15] seeking to seduce believers[16] and then accuses them before God’s throne. [17] That the devil, through seduction, blinds the minds of the unbeliever so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel.[18] However, when the Gospel of the Kingdom is proclaimed through the power and directing of the Holy Spirit,[19] the eyes of the blind are opened, and the captives set free through the blood of Jesus, who died for all humanity.[20] [21] [22]
The devil seeks to devour and kill believers, both physically and spiritually, so that they can never fulfil the calling on their lives. He further tempts humanity so that they satisfy the desires of our flesh rather than fulfilling the instructions and calling of God, as the devil shackles them in sin. ‘But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ’ (2 Corinth 11:3). We see this when the devil tried to tempt Messiah so that He would not fulfil the mandate given to Him.[23]
Furthermore, the devil seeks to come and take away God’s Word when it is proclaimed, as recorded in the parable of the sower. [24] But why does the devil seek to take away the Word that was sown? It is because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.[25]
So, how do we overcome the enemy and gain victory?
Scripture informs us that through Messiah, we have the victory. For Messiah, in His death and resurrection, destroyed the hold the enemy had over humanity and creation.
The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work (1 John 3:8).
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil (Heb. 2:14).
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Col. 2:15).
Those in Messiah are instructed in scripture to ‘Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings’ (1 Peter 5:9). James also admonishes: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7).
As believers, we need to do our part, following the example laid down by Messiah. We must be vigilant and sober, for our enemy goes around seeking whom he may devour. But note, as we watch, we are to submit and humble ourselves to the LORD by walking in accordance with His Word. This is how we work out our salvation in fear and trepidation.[26] It is as we submit to God that we resist the devil. Consequently, if we do not humble ourselves and submit our lives to the God and the Word of God, then we are resisting God and submitting to the devil; thus, why we MUST be vigilant and on guard, ensuring that we do not give the devil a foothold in our lives.
Furthermore, we overcome the devil and his cohorts by the blood of the lamb, that being what Messiah did through His death and resurrection. Therefore, as believers, we lay down our own desires, for our lives are not our own any longer and do the work of God. Our life has been purchased with the blood of Messiah.
Therefore, as we “Shema” hear and do what scripture states, by trusting in LORD and obeying His Word, we show God that we love Him, in doing this, we make the LORD our refuge and fortress,—submitting to God = resisting the devil. All we need to do is STOP focusing and worrying about what the enemy is doing and focus on what the LORD wants us to do! As we focus on the LORD, on His Word and the calling He has for us – we Shema and the devil will flee.
The battle is intensifying; therefore, we must ensure we are ready to stand through audit our lives and drawing close to God. The days are getting darker, but it is going to get significantly worse, as the kingdom of satan is established on the earth through the antichrist. We need to understand we are at war, and there are going to be casualties in the fight. Many believers are going to be martyred, yet some will endure till the end, but this should not stop us!
I urge you to make ready, spend time in the Word of God and in prayer. Seek the LORD like never before because time is short. Let us not sit idly doing nothing. Neither let us succumb to the devils lies. Rather let the Body of Messiah arise and stand firm, holding fast the Word of God, as it proclaims with boldness and authority the Gospel to all creation.
Let us not shrug of world events as nothing. Rather let us look through the prophetic lens of scripture and see that what is currently transpiring is the establishment of the antichrist system, and therefore let us stand and hold fast and fervently proclaim the Good News to those dying in sin. Let us not worry about how we look or what people think. Remember, the Gospel will offend. It will convict because without it doing so, a person will not accept the reality of their condition. Without God, man will die in their sins and will be thrown into the lake of fire. Will we, will you answer the call upon your life and unashamedly stand for Christ?
Let us, with boldness, fight the good fight and finish the race we have started. Let us overcome the devil through the blood of the lamb, the Word of our testimony and not shrink from death.[27]
May the LORD bless and keep you.
Shalom
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[1] Ezekiel 28:14
[2] Isaiah 14:12-15
[3] Job 1:7
[4] Revelation 12:9-10
[5] Romans 1:24
[6] Psalms 81:12
[7] Matthew 24:14
[8] Matthew 24:9
[9] Revelation 6:9
[10] Rev. 20: 7-10
[11] Rev. 20: 11-15
[12] Genesis 6:1-4
[13] Mark 16:17
[14] Luke 10:19
[15] Job 1:7
[16] 1 Peter 5:8
[17] Rev. 12:9-10
[18] 1 Corinthians 4:4
[19] 1 Thessaloniana 1:6
[20] John 3:16
[21] Colossians 1:13-14
[22] Luke 4:18-19
[23] Matthew 4:1-11
[24] Mark 4:1-9, 13-14
[25] Rom. 10:17
[26] Philippians 2:12
[27] Rev. 12:11