In reading through Ephesians the other morning I was thinking about spiritual warfare and the question came up… What is Satan fighting against? As I thought about it I realized that it was in fact a 4 part question: 1) What is Satan fighting against; 2) How are we prepared to fight back; 3) What is required of us; and 4) What do we fight with?
What Is Satan Fighting Against?
Eph 3:10-12 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. ESV
While Satan’s war is with the Word of God (Jesus) his fight is with Jesus’ bride. It is the bride (God’s Messengers) who delivers the revelation of the mystery of God’s plan to the enemy: This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. The delivering of the gospel by the bride of Christ not only touches souls here on earth, it broadcasts God’s eternal plan of the enemy’s defeat throughout the spiritual realm.
How Is The Bride Prepared To Fight This Battle?
Eph 4:11-16 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. ESV
As the five-fold ministry equips and builds up the bride, her responsibility is to allow the Holy Spirit to mature her spiritually and conform her into the image (character) of Jesus; a character she already possess in her spirit that needs to mature (to the measure of the stature of fullness of Christ). She is to mature spiritually so that she is not overwhelmed by the attacks of the enemy while she speaks the truth in love to a lost and hurting world.
What Is Required Of Us?
Eph 4:17-24 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. ESV
Our responsibility is to put off the old man. Our old fleshly nature was crucified with Jesus on the cross and no longer has authority over us. We are “new” spiritual beings who are the temple of the Holy Spirit and, as we are obedient to His leading, our mind is being renewed by true righteousness and holiness. This is what the enemy desperately fights against. We carry the revelation of God’s plan and the more spiritually mature we become the greater threat we are to him.
What Do We Fight With?
Eph 6:10-19 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints … ESV
Our bridegroom has not only revealed to us that the gospel is what the enemy is battling but that we as His bride are the focus of his battle plans. But God has provided apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to prepare us to enter into spiritual battle and He has given us the armor we need carry out the war the enemy already lost on the cross. We all know the individual pieces of His armor, but do we take time to really understand how to use each piece … the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit? Do we have a full grasp of what we have been given and how powerful they are?
Yes, we are at war with Satan and his army, but God has revealed Satan’s plan to us in advance. He has prepared us for the fight, He has told us what He expects of us, and He has given us His full armor, all of which will ensure our victory if we stand firm on these facts in faith. But that won’t happen unless we constantly remind ourselves that the moment we gave our heart to Jesus by accepting His sacrifice for us and confessing and repenting of our sins we enlisted in His army.
What does Satan fight against? He fights against the Word of God, and that means He fights against us because we carry The Word. We are a direct threat to his plans for humanity and because of that we are engaged in battle every day of our life.
But, we’ve read the last chapter of the book and we know that while the battles continue the war is already won. We are called to mop it up on a daily basis.