In order to properly understand the nature of spiritual warfare, it is necessary for us to come to terms with the enormity of the deception that has been perpetrated on us by the father of lies. (John 8:44) Jesus told us that Satan has no ability to abide in the truth because he is a liar by nature. He detests truth because that is a defining characteristic of God and reveals his own horrible character. Jesus also told us that Satan’s desire is always to kill, steal, and destroy, even when he promises otherwise. He was the first “bait and switch” con artist. He is not some reformable “Grinch” who is out to steal Christmas. He is a malevolent being who wants to hurt God somehow by destroying us, the crown of creation. (Psalm 8:5)
We humans were always meant to be children of God who would not only fellowship with him but also co-rule with him. (Romans 8:29-30) God’s plan for humanity was to bring us to the throne of God, where we will function as co-heirs with Christ and participate in governing the universe. (Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 3:1) This was more than Satan could bear. The Scriptures indicate that he tried to usurp God’s throne (Isaiah 14:13), but was cast out of heaven instead, taking with him one-third of the angels (Revelation 12:4,9). We are not told when this happened, but we assume it was before the creation of man. When God created Adam and later Eve, Satan determined to do everything within his power to thwart God’s benevolent intention and destroy his creation.
The Bible tells us that Satan can only do what God allows; so, mysteriously, God allowed Satan’s plan to come to pass in order to accomplish a greater purpose, which Paul referred to in his writings.
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. Ephesians 1:9–11 (NLT) —
God always surprises with unanticipated creative ways to accomplish his purposes, which are always far more glorious than we suppose.
The most powerful weapon in Satan’s arsenal is deception. He is the Great Liar, who is self-deceived and deceives others. The most effective liars have first deceived themselves. He promised Eve that she did not need God but could be like him in her own right, knowing good from evil, as if this defined godhood somehow. The promise was empty because humans were created to be God-dependent. Jesus said it beautifully. He is the vine. We are the branches. Apart from the vine, the branch is incapable of staying alive or bearing fruit. Adam’s and Eve’s sin of disobedience, which was a declaration of independence from God that betrayed an ugly disloyalty to their Creator-Sustainer, introduced death and destruction into their lives and somewhat crippled the entire universe, exactly as Satan planned.
Nothing quite so clearly indicates man’s relative importance in God’s plan than what happened to creation when he renounced his dependence upon God and ceded his God-given authority to Satan!
God gave Adam authority over creation (Genesis 1:26, Psalm 115:16). When Adam aligned with Satan, his authority was stripped and ceded to his new “god,” the Great Liar. Now that Satan had mankind under his evil thumb, he began his campaign to pervert and destroy what God so lovingly created. Over the years he developed a two-pronged lie with which he shrouded humanity from God’s truth. One segment of society has fallen for the lie that they can be “gods” simply by declaring allegiance to the father of lies. Many of these people willingly embrace death in order to enjoy the temporary benefits of power, pleasure, and wealth. Many of those in power or who have gained fame have made this trade off. The rest of us have been told, by a variety of means, that we are relatively worthless, “useless eaters,” climate destroyers, descended from apes via evolution (thereby having no eternal significance or destiny), and deserving of being eliminated from the planet.
Yuval Harari is a chief guru for the godless globalists who work for Satan. Here is a quote of his that reveals how anti-God and anti-God’s plan these people are.
“I strongly believe that given the technologies we are now developing, within a century or two at most, our species will disappear. I don’t think that in the end of the 22nd century, the Earth will still be dominated by Homo sapiens.”
God created us to rule, but Satan wants to reduce us to abject slavery, irrelevance, and elimination through sin and deception.
The beginning of our standing up against Satan and his schemes is to embrace Truth and reject lies. Jesus’ claim to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life strikes a dagger at the heart of the devil’s plan.
Jesus came into this seemingly hopeless situation to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and rescue for God a people who would fulfill his original plan with this added bonus. Because of Jesus’ sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, those who put their faith and allegiance in him are forgiven of their sins, declared “not guilty” in the court of heaven, restored to a right relationship with God the Father as beloved sons and daughters, and given all the privileges or being heirs of God through our Lord Jesus the risen Messianic King and coming Judge of the all who ever lived.
Instead of just being humans, through the new birth we become part of an entirely different species, Humanity 2.0. The Second Adam has given rise to a redeemed and remade edition of man that is conjoined with the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17). This elevates humanity even higher than at creation!
So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NET) —
The first installment of this great salvation is called the new birth by which we are recreated in our spirits and become joined to the Holy Spirit. This makes us sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. The second installment is called transformation, the process whereby the Holy Spirit changes us in our thinking and doing so that what is true because of the new birth becomes more and more lived out in our daily lives. The final installment will be the resurrection from the dead. When Jesus finally returns to judge the living and the dead, he will raise all people, some to eternal life and others to eternal destruction. At that point, those who follow Jesus will receive glorified bodies to complete what was begun at the new birth. We will co-rule with Christ over all creation for eternity.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 (NLT) —
The glorious truth which is foundational to spiritual warfare is that human beings have been elevated by God to a place of great honor, authority, and significance through Christ.
Sadly, many in the church remain somewhat ignorant of our true identity in Christ and the authority that has been placed at our disposal as Christ’s representatives. The entire creation groans in anticipation of being set free from satanic bondage when we are resurrected from the dead (Romans 8:22)! The angels have been assigned to help us, the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14). We can become more effective in spiritual warfare when we wake up to who we are in Christ and begin to use the authority God has given to us. The battle still rages even though victory is assured. Soon God will crush Satan under our feet. What a magnificent promise that begs for us to step up to the plate and hit it out of the park.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20 (NASB95) —
God’s grace will see us through.
