Behind Enemy Lines (3)

Know Your Enemy 2

Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20

Everyone here has something to gain from taking heed to God’s Word and learning what it means to engage in spiritual battle.

Many of you have told me over the past two weeks that God has spoken to you through these messages. I praise the Lord for those reports and what God is doing in your lives.

Let’s read this passage aloud together again. As you awaken to the spiritual battle around you, know this: Satan becomes more aware of you too. But we don’t fear him—we stand alert and ready for his schemes.

Ephesians 6:10–20 (ESV)

10 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, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Introduction:

Last week, we discovered that we have three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Today, I want to zero in on one of them—Satan himself. We’re not talking about a myth or a metaphor. We’re talking about a real adversary who hates what God loves—and that includes you.

So today, we’re going to ‘Know Your Enemy – Part 2.’ Not to glorify him, but to expose him—and to remind ourselves that he’s a defeated foe. We’re not fighting for victory—we’re fighting from victory.

Where did the Devil Come From?

A. The Devil Was Created (Not Eternal)

Colossians 1:16 (ESV) 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

John 1:3 (ESV) 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

There is a mistaken theology that says the devil is God’s equal, or that both Jesus and Satan were brothers. That is a lie of the enemy used by those who are deceived to give the devil more power than he has.

B. The Devil Was Beautiful and Powerful

God created a being named Lucifer—‘Son of the Morning,’ or ‘Light-Bearer.’ This name suggests he may have been the first, or one of the first, of God’s created angelic beings.

Ezekiel 28:11–19 (ESV) 11 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: 

Tyre was not only wealthy, it was renowned for its beauty and its exquisitely crafted musical instruments. This is a lamentation a song of mourning over a nation that has been taken control of by Satan.

The lamentation looks behind the scenes and into the spiritual realm and shows us the creation of Lucifer, his glory and his fall.

“You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.  13  You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 

The two words translated here as ‘settings’ and ‘engravings’ could just as easily be translated as ‘timbrel’ and ‘pipes or flute’ which gives the idea that Lucifer was musical in his nature.

Settings implies the action of beating a tambourine or timbrel which is rhythm and engravings in certain places means pipes like a flute.

There is a strong implication from this passage that Lucifer now Satan was involved with the praise of God in heaven.

14  You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.  15  You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.

Though Ezekiel is addressing the king of Tyre, the language goes far beyond any human ruler. It reveals a deeper spiritual reality—Lucifer, before his fall.

His mission, his purpose was to guard the throne of God. He was above all other angelic beings in beauty and authority. He was blameless but then the light in him was darkened by pride.

16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 

As the anointed cherub he was to guard God’s throne but instead he coveted it and fell.

17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.  I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. 

Satan filled with intense hatred toward God and all that God holds as precious has been cast down, humiliated and now seeks to destroy us at any turn.

18 By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you.  19  All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.”

At his fall he became Satan - which means adversary or accuser.

He is diablos - devil

Abaddon/Apollyon - destroyer

Beelzebub - prince of demons

Belial - worthless

C. The Devil Was Corrupted by Pride

Isaiah 14:12–14 (ESV) 12  “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!  13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Here Isaiah in a prophetic moment of divine inspiration shows us exactly how Lucifer - the Day Star, filled with pride chose evil and disobedience over service and holiness.

The use of the word ‘I’ shows us how pride filled Lucifer was.

‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God’

‘I will set my throne on high’

‘I will sit on the mount of assembly’

‘I will ascend’

‘I will make myself like the Most High’

Lucifer became Satan the moment he exalted self over surrender—and pride over praise.

D. The Devil Was Cast Out

Satan has no power except that which God allows and when he in rebellion decided that he would be like the most high, he was cast out of heaven.

After 72 of his disciples returned rejoicing that the evil spirits were subject to their words, Jesus warned them against pride:

Luke 10:18(ESV) 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Jesus witnessed the fall of Satan. Once glorious, Lucifer fell because of pride.

There ought to be on our part a holy anger toward our enemy who even to this day profanes the sanctuaries of the Lord.

Too many pulpits have become platforms for deception, not truth—tools of the enemy rather than weapons of righteousness. Too many preachers echo culture, not Christ. Too many churches fear offense more than they fear God.

Any opportunity that he is given he will twist - deceive - wreck - and disable the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit in our church, your family and your lives.

You must be on guard - he is like a lion that roars seeking to devour the unsuspecting

You must put on the whole armor of God to stand against him - quench his fiery darts and having done all of that continue to stand.

Conclusion:

So what do we do with this truth?”

Stay Alert – He still prowls (1 Peter 5:8).

Stay Armored – God gave us armor for a reason (Eph. 6).

Stay Anchored – Jesus already won. Don’t fight in fear. Fight in faith.

Church, we are behind enemy lines—but we are not without hope. The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. So rise up. Strap on the armor. Don’t give the enemy a foothold. Fight the good fight. And stand.

In just a moment we will be having communion together. We will celebrate what the Lord did to free us from the clutches of Satan. But before we do that, I want to ask you a question and I want you to reflect for the next couple of minutes on the question.

Paul told the church to examine ourselves and not take part in this commemoration in an unworthy way.

So let me ask you: Where have you let your guard down? Where has the enemy gained a foothold? What piece of armor have you laid aside in comfort or complacency? Ask the Lord to show you—and then ask Him to help you stand firm again.

Ask God to show you right now and to help you stand firm.

In this series, we aren’t just learning about the enemy—we're learning how to live in victory. Behind enemy lines, we are still on Kingdom ground.