We've Got the Power

We’ve Got the Power: Knowing the Enemy

Ephesians 6:10–20

We’re in a war being fought in the hearts and lives of humanity. It is a life and death battle against Satan with no treaties, no rules of engagement, and no contentious objectors. Sadly, many Christians are losing the battle because they haven’t shown up for the war. One thing we must know is that we have a common enemy.

I. The Enemy:

a. He is the deceiver. He wants us to not know he is there ready to attack. If we don’t know he’s there, we’re not going to, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” He is smart. He is shrewd. He uses deception. Jesus called the devil “the god of this age,” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and he is a master counterfeiter. And he always appears in disguise.

b. He’s very religious. He has churches Jesus calls, “synagogues of Satan.” (Revelation 2:9) He has his ministers in the church as well. Satan has his own doctrine and loves theology. Paul called it “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1) and it’s pervasive in society and in the church.

c. Satan is more spiritual than you are. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness”—“against spiritual wickedness”—“in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) He is a spirit being. The Bible says, “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.” (1 John 4:1) We’re not wrestling against flesh and blood.

d. Satan has authority in this world. He is the god of this world. Satan is wicked beyond what mortal man can comprehend. Satan hates you, because God loves you. Satan’s war is not with you; it’s with God. He wants to hurt you to get at the heart of God because God has set His affection on you and loves you and has chosen to use you as the victory over Satan.

e. If God wanted to, He could speak Satan out of existence. But He wants to use man to defeat Satan. When Christ was in the wilderness, and Satan presents those temptations, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” (Matthew 4:3) And it’s as though Jesus said, “Satan, as God, I could speak the word and erase you from existence. But I’m not going to beat you as God; I’m going to beat you as man.” And Jesus defeated Satan.

f. And Jesus defeated Satan with the very same resources God has given to us today. What an encouragement that is! Satan is all these terrible things and more, but “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world!” (1 John 4:4) At Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ stripped Satan of his weapons and armor and keys. He took back the dominion Satan took from Adam and gave it to us!

g. Jesus baptized us in the blessed Holy Spirit and now intercedes for us to God the Father. Now, we must put on the whole armor of God and stand in the power of His might!

We’ve got the power in the Name of Jesus! We’ve got the power, in the Name of the Lord. Though Satan rages, we will not be defeated. We’ve got the power, in the Name of the Lord!