Knowing our adversary I

Notes from the full armor of God Bible study. It is the Lord's direction to put on the armor of God to protect us from the wiles of the devil. The armor of God is mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-20 and is used as the basis for the Bible study.

[Eph 6:10-20 NKJV] 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Part 1 - Knowing Our Adversary I

There is much importance in the understanding of our enemy and the warfare we face as we seek to walk with God each day. Paul has written to the Ephesians about their position in Christ (sitting) and their walking worthy of His calling (walks) before focusing at the end of his letter upon the spiritual warfare they would have to face and overcome daily - their (standing).

We will look at the Devil and who he is.

Ephesians 6:10-13  10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

One work of the Holy Spirit in the world is to bring the good news of Jesus' deliverance for all men from the power of the devil (John 16:11). We need to being by understanding the enemy we have is a defeated enemy. Jesus went to the cross and triumphed openly over these powers that be. We don't need to live in darkness anymore; we have been delivered by His blood.

John 16:11  11 "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Paul spoke of it as well when he testified before King Agrippa recounting his own salvation (Acts 26:15-18). Jesus wanted Paul to turn the people from the power of Satan to the power of God in their lives.

Acts 26:15-18  15 "So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 'But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 'I will deliver you from the [Jewish] people, as well as [from] the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 'to open their eyes, [in order] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'

There is a battle. And you may not have known about it until you got saved. This battle is for the hearts and lives of men, and as Paul tells us here, it is not a physical enemy but a spiritual one.

  1. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].

  2. Can you remember the time when you realized that there was a spiritual battle taking place in which you were involved? ________________________

There is tremendous value for us to know our enemy well (2 Cor 2:11  11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.). Satan was a created angel. And even as a now fallen angel, he can be understood by the place angels hold in God's plans. He also has many other fallen angels at his disposal, and these rankings are described here in Ephesians 6 as well as Colossians 1:16 (16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.)

Angels were created before man (Job 38) and those that remained faithful to God are seen throughout the scriptures worshipping and serving God and being our ministers.

Job 38:4-7  4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell [Me], if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God (angels) shouted for joy?

  3. Hebrews 13:2  2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so [doing] some have unwittingly entertained angels.

2 Cor 11:12-14  12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Because angels are created beings they were given a choice if they were going to stay with the One who created them or go somewhere else and walk away. We read that angels are found in heaven worshiping God singing His praises continually, that they minister on our behalf and that we can entertain them. We also learn that angels, as man, were created for eternity, the faithful angels found around the throne of God and Satan and his angelic host destined for eternal suffering.

  4. Matthew 25:41  "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

  5. Ezekiel 28:11-19  11 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12 "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You [were] the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone [was] your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 "You [were] the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You [were] perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. 16 "By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. 18 "You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And [shall be] no more forever." ' "

This passage of scripture describes the fall of this chief angel (satan) from glory and tells us of his glory and position before his demise and his impending judgment.

  6. Isaiah 14:12-17  12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [How] you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. 16 "Those who see you will gaze at you, [And] consider you, [saying]: '[Is] this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, 17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, [Who] did not open the house of his prisoners?'

These scriptures give us further information about his fall, including the motivation that drove his five "I will's" found there. Satan was not content in his position.

When man was created, there already existed two kingdoms: God's kingdom of light and life and the kingdom of Satan, the kingdom of darkness and death. This is still the case was man seeks his way out of darkness through religion and performance, and finds his only door out is Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Colossians 2:14-18 tells us of the work of the Cross.

Col 2:14-18  14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in [false] humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Paul writes of the sure victory we now have in our risen Lord.

  7. What does Romans 16:17-20 show us?

Romans 16:17-20  17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.

  8. There is a battle I must be cognizant of (Ephesians 6:10-13, 1 Peter 5:8) as well as know where my hope is to lie. James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

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

Unbelievers by virtue of their sin are bound in this kingdom of darkness with Satan as their father (John 8:39-47) but we have been saved from a foe far superior to us but far inferior to our Lord (Ephesians 6:10).

John 8:39-47  39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 "You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father--God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 "You are of [your] father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [resources], for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 "But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 "Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

Satan's behaviors, actions, and intents reveal much about his character and will (Rev 12:10, Zechariah 3:1-4)

Revelation 12:10  10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Zechariah 3:1-4  1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! [Is] this not a brand plucked from the fire?" 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."

  E. NOT omnipresent: Angels can only be at one place at one time (Job 1:6-7, Matthew 4:3)

Job 1:6-7  6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."

Matthew 4:3  3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

As Satan is not these things God is ALL of these things. If you are a child of God whom Jesus has come to dwell in by His Spirit, you are fighting an enemy that is weak in every way. Stronger than you, yes, but you are not trying to stand on your own, you are trying to stand in the Lord. We need to be vigilant, aware of his devices, hanging onto Jesus, submitting ourselves to God. When we do, it's then that the enemy really has no place. We will be able to recognize what the enemy is doing. Jesus came to destroy him.

In the scriptures much is taught to us by the names that are given and used by both the Lord and people. God uses names for Himself to better reveal His nature. YHWH literally means the "Becoming One" or "God becomes for us all that we need". God is interested in the names in the way that they reveal character. God gives us His names in the Old Testament so we can study His character and know who He is. It is the same way when God names certain people in the scriptures it speaks about their character and their influence. The same is true about the Devil. Because God uses specific names to reveal his activity, you can classify the enemy that you face.

The nine most used names for the enemy:

  1. Satan: adversary, enemy, one in opposition; used 35 times in the New Testament, and we see Satan as just that: Isaiah 14, Luke 4:5-8

Isaiah 14  [Isa 14:1-32 NKJV] 1 For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob. 2 Then people will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the LORD; they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors. 3 It shall come to pass in the day the LORD gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: "How the oppressor has ceased, The golden city ceased! 5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of the rulers; 6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, He who ruled the nations in anger, Is persecuted [and] no one hinders. 7 The whole earth is at rest [and] quiet; They break forth into singing. 8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you, [And] the cedars of Lebanon, [Saying], 'Since you were cut down, No woodsman has come up against us.' 9 "Hell from beneath is excited about you, To meet [you] at your coming; It stirs up the dead for you, All the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones All the kings of the nations. 10 They all shall speak and say to you: 'Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us? 11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, [And] the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.' 12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [How] you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. 16 "Those who see you will gaze at you, [And] consider you, [saying]: '[Is] this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, 17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, [Who] did not open the house of his prisoners?' 18 "All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house; 19 But you are cast out of your grave Like an abominable branch, [Like] the garment of those who are slain, Thrust through with a sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a corpse trodden underfoot. 20 You will not be joined with them in burial, Because you have destroyed your land [And] slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named. 21 Prepare slaughter for his children Because of the iniquity of their fathers, Lest they rise up and possess the land, And fill the face of the world with cities." 22 "For I will rise up against them," says the LORD of hosts, "And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, And offspring and posterity," says the LORD. 23 "I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, And marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," says the LORD of hosts. 24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, "Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, [so] it shall stand: 25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land, And on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, And his burden removed from their shoulders. 26 This [is] the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this [is] the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. 27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed, And who will annul [it]? His hand [is] stretched out, And who will turn it back?" 28 This is the burden which came in the year that King Ahaz died. 29 "Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia, Because the rod that struck you is broken; For out of the serpent's roots will come forth a viper, And its offspring [will be] a fiery flying serpent. 30 The firstborn of the poor will feed, And the needy will lie down in safety; I will kill your roots with famine, And it will slay your remnant. 31 Wail, O gate! Cry, O city! All you of Philistia [are] dissolved; For smoke will come from the north, And no one [will be] alone in his appointed times." 32 What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, And the poor of His people shall take refuge in it.

Luke 4:5-8  5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for [this] has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 "Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

  2. Devil: accuser or slanderer. Used 61 times to speak of his misrepresentations and false charges. He slandered God to Eve, Jesus to Judas (Luke 22:3-4), inspiring men to lie to God as Ananias and his wife in Acts 5. He slanders the people of God (Rev 12, Job 1-2)

Luke 22:3-4  3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.

Acts 5

Rev 12

Job 1-2

  3. Serpent: 2 Corinthians 11:3 speaking of his cunning and deceit, his subtle ways of evil.

2 Cor 11:3  3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

  4. Evil One: John 17:15 evil embodied or evil personified

John 17:15  15 "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

  5. Abaddon/Apollyon: Revelation 9:11 Both mean destroyer. Satan's ultimate goal is your complete destruction. Don't believe the lies.

[Rev 9:11 NKJV] 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew [is] Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

  6. Tempter: Matthew 4:3 Looking for weak spots to exploit; we all have them. He moves from area to area looking for a crack in the armor to exploit. He looks to instigate us to sin. In Job 1:7-8 the Lord asks Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?" The word consider speaks of that search for weakness. Satan couldn't find a way in so he began to accuse Job of things that were untrue.

[Mat 4:3 NKJV] 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

  7. Murderer: He was a murderer from the beginning. He wants to destroy life (John 8:44, 1 John 3:10-12). The Bible teaches that we will become more like our god, so either in love or murder you will become more like the god you serve. The Devil is a murderer and a liar.

[John 8:44 NKJV] 44 "You are of [your] father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [resources], for he is a liar and the father of it.

[1 John 3:10-12 NKJV] 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor [is] he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain [who] was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.

  8. Liar: John 8:44 speaks of his method of operations and continual trait. He'll lie to you about sin, about punishment, about the Bible, about your need for a Savior. He'll lie to you about what awaits the sinner; he is a LIAR!

  9. Sinner: Read 1 John 3:8. When you're encouraged to sin, when there is appeal to your pride or to your flesh or your lust, know that this is a spiritual battle. BUT know this as well, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

[1 John 3:8 NKJV] 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

[1 Jo 4:4 NKJV] 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Most of his activities will fall under those nine characteristic names. And it is those titles that are most often used to spell out his methods. Paul wrote in [2 Cor 11:13-15 NKJV] 13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Maybe Satan's greatest power is not the number of people involved in crime and violence; his most effective work may be to convince the upright man who works every day, who is a good father and who is honest, to trust in themselves; that they have no need for Jesus at all. That is his greatest deception, to leave someone on the hook saying, "I can do this".

We should know who we war against. When Paul is saying put on the whole armor it is because the strategies of the enemy are powerful. Our battles as Christians are not against each other, we fight a Devil. Hie is the enemy and yet he is defeated. In this battle we can either win or sit by; but by sitting by we will lose.

 

Back to Articles and Notes