We established in Spiritual Warfare Part 2 that Satan is an angel that led a failed coup d’état against the Supreme Creator. He was expelled from his position in heaven then setup his diabolical hierarchy in earth’s atmosphere. He seeks revenge by annihilating God’s precious jewel, the human race. In this final writing, I will reveal his strategies and how we are equipped to battle his advances and come out victorious.

When you won’t succumb to Satan’s hosts like the slick mentor, or be drawn down a slippery slope by a fake friend, or crumble under a reputation assault by a pathetic gossip, he’ll pull off his sheep’s clothing and reveal the wolf-lion he really is. He’s charging fierce, ferocious and hungry! But stand your ground and assault him with the Word of God and the power of your testimony!

Angels Watching Over Me

Some may remember singing this song as a child. Our thoughts were of guardian angels surrounding us to keep us safe from harm. Well, there are celestial beings that surround us but not all of them are good. And like the presence of God was there at our birth, so was another presence lurking in the background, out of sight yet very present and attentive. Attentive to your strengths and weaknesses as you grew. Weaknesses that were innate as well as those that were environmentally imposed. Either way, the Adversary has done his homework and he knows you.

Satan’s Approach

Satan’s objective is to blind the minds of those that would follow Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). To do that, he needs a host. Satan’s first known host was a serpent (Genesis 3:1-24). Note that Satan is also referred to as the dragon in Revelation 12:7-10.

Throughout time, Satan uses vulnerable people as hosts to promote his agenda. These vulnerabilities allow Satan to gain access to your mind. Entry is easiest during prolonged depression, abuse (physical, sexual or emotional), anger, lack of spiritual knowledge, acute dysfunctions, addictions, religious apostasies to name only a handful. It is not just a single entry; it is an invasion. These influencing spirits enter having been commissioned by Satan to mis-direct, warp the sense of right and righteousness, instill fear and inferiority or in juxtaposition a sense of superiority. Let’s look at how he does this.

1. He presents himself as a Mentor.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 tells us that Satan masquerades as one who speaks falsehood from the authority of the pulpit. But this application can also be broadened to say it applies to someone we admire and want to emulate. They pose as a mentor, a leader, a preacher, a politician, a parent-figure, a role model; someone to provide that missing guidance in our lives.

Living in these states of dysfunction, naturally a person would admire and follow someone who has it all together and knows where they’re going. And to think, that person has paused to take you under their wing? You don’t know it yet but you’ve been taken.

2. He pretends to be a Friend.

While the previous passage shows Satan approaching through a leader-type persona, Psalm 41:9 and Psalm 55:12-14 speaks of Satan coming through someone with whom you are very familiar. Here he uses your need for companionship.

Remember know how it was on the schoolyard playground…standing alone kicking rocks pretending that’s what you really wanted to do. Or one of the times you were grateful for dark skin so others couldn’t see your face flush when you were last to be chosen for kickball. Even as adults, those feelings of being left out still sting. Everyone from small to large wants at least one friend. Because of this need, it offers another entrance to the heart and mind.

In friendship, sometimes you go along with something just to be liked, to stay friends. The goal of these influencing spirits is to become so “one” with you that you can no longer distinguish your thoughts from theirs. You lose your “self” to the invading spirits much like cancer takes over the body spreading destruction to healthy organs.

3. He discredits those that serve Jesus Christ.

Revelations 12:10 tells of Satan accusing Christians much like a jilted lover would accuse the one he lost out to. And what accusations does Satan make?

“They’re no good, they’ve messed up again!”

“I thought they were going to be better than me!”

“Why are they still here!!!”

• Accused Job of only serving God because God protected him from trouble. Job 1: 6-11.
• Accused Israel of being a filthy, unfaithful people. In this instance, Satan was rubbing the truth in God’s face! Note that in this passage Jacob is symbolical of Israel. Zechariah 3: 1-5.

4. He comes as a roaring lion in search of prey.

“Lions and tigers and bears, on my!”

When you won’t succumb to the slick mentor, or be drawn down a slippery slope by a fake friend, or crumble under a reputation assault by a pathetic gossip, he’ll pull off his sheep’s clothing and reveal the wolf-lion he really is. He’s charging fierce, ferocious and hungry (1 Peter 5:8)!

This approach is far from subtle. Satan is intent on violently taking you out! This attack can come from a foe or friend. As the scripture warned, be alert! There are many people that survived an attack that say ‘I didn’t think they would do…’  But they did.

Watch the animated Pilgrim’s Progress Prepare for Battle, a dramatization of a spiritual battle, book written by John Bunyan.

Power to Overcome

Satan and his cohorts hate, I mean despise the Word of God. Why? Because it reminds them of how this is all going to end. One of the most effective tools to fight against them is to cite the Word of God. This is how you resist the devil (James 4:7). If you resist him, he will flee from you.

Resist as in resistance weights. You can’t go the gym and use resistance weights one workout and that flabby arm turns into muscle. You have to go repeatedly, routinely. Same here, to build spiritual muscles you must exercise the Word of God on them constantly. That means you need to know your power scriptures.

Weapons of Warfare – Power Scriptures

When you push back, denounce, call him [the devil] out, he will leave. However, the prerequisite is you must be subject to the authority of God before you can use His authority.

It is important to speak aloud when engaging in spiritual warfare. Otherwise, the many voices in your head will distract you from battle.

Ready! Aim! Fire!

Ready! – Prepare yourself first.

 

• I denounce the practice of sinning and the works of darkness are destroyed in my life through the blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. 1 John 2:8
• I willingly give up the things that are driven by carnal lusts and take on the things that renew my mind and fill it with peace. Ephesians 4:22-23
• God has given me the authority through the church to prevail against the Satan and his army. Matthew 16:18
• Greater is he [the Holy Spirit] that is in me than he [Satan] that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Aim! -Put the Word of God in your heart and mouth.

• I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ who loves me. Romans 8:37
• God will always provide an escape to every temptation that confronts me so that I can endure it and be victorious. 1 Corinthians 10:13
• By faith and belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, I overcome the world and everything adverse that comes my way. 1 John 5:4-5

Fire! – Release the authority of the Word of God through Faith

• The weapons that God has armed me with are spiritual and fashioned to destroy the spiritual fortresses the devil has built in _(person ‘s name)___ mind and thoughts.  2 Corinthians 10:4
• Although I am confronted with evil, I don’t fear evil for God is with me. While His rod and staff are my comfort, they discomfort the enemy that seeks me. Psalm 23:4
• In the end, all will know, that the battle was not fought with sword and spear, the battle was the Lord’s. and he will deliver the enemy into my hands. 1 Samuel 17:47

Conclusion

There can be much more written about spiritual warfare and how you position yourself to win. Remember that the battle is personal although global. The battle is front and center in your life, acknowledged or not. Your fight is spiritual, your weapon is the Word of God. You are now aware…now fight! Final words…

SATAN BATTLES FOR YOUR MIND

IF HE SUCCEEDS

HE’S CAPTURED YOUR SOUL

RECOGNIZE HIM AND FIGHT!