Not So Tough

"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!

. . .Those who see you will stare at you

and ponder over you:

'Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

who shook kingdoms,

who made the world like a desert

and overthrew its cities,

who did not let his prisoners go home?'"

Isaiah 14:12, 16-17 ESV

It's easy to fear Satan, once the angel Lucifer, the light bearer who lusted after God Almighty's position and power, desiring it for himself.  Consequently, he was cast down to earth along with all his angels (Revelation 12:7-9, Ezekiel 28:11-19).  Now he is "the deceiver of the whole world" whose mission is to steal my hope, kill my faith, and destroy my love for Jesus (Revelation 12:9, John 10:10a).  

It is easy to fear such a formidable enemy.  When it comes right down to it, though, he's not so tough, not in the scheme of things, in the face of eternity and compared to the rule of a mighty God.  Here are some things to keep in mind so I won't lose heart in the midst of Satan's attacks.

Perspective.  As one who has been created, his power is limited.  His scope is also narrow as he is unable to be everywhere at once.  And the most important limiting factor to consider is that his dominion is restrictive as he still is under God's authority.  In other words, his schemes against followers of Christ must go through our Father's hands (Job 1:12).

Since all the deceptive tactics he tries on me have been approved by God, I can trust that the Lord will use it for my good, to grow my faith, hone my character, and purify my heart (Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20).  Without opposition, my faith might fizzle out, my character would stagnate, and my heart could develop impurities that cloud my perception.  With an enemy to stand against me, however, I either draw closer to Jesus for strength and protection, or I completely fall away.  

When I keep Satan in his proper perspective, remembering God's sovereign power over him, I can stand strong in the midst of attack and realize the good that God brings through the devil's evil intentions.

Doomed.  His final destination is set in stone.  Even though he struts around the earth, conducting his business as if he has all dominion and power, his fate is the worst anyone could imagine.  The punishment for his rebellion, his prideful arrogance, is to be cast into "the fiery lake of burning sulfur" (Revelation 20:10).  As if this weren't enough, he is also doomed to suffer continual, eternal torment.

Meanwhile, my fate as a devoted follower of Christ by faith offered through the kindness of God is an eternity spent in my Father's house as a co-heir with Christ (John 14:2, Romans 8:17).  I am well loved and highly treasured by the One who made me.  Therefore, I have all the hope in the world.  In light of such bounty, it is clear that I am the victor and Satan is the loser in this equation.  Why fear such a creature destined for God's worst?

When I remember Satan's future, it helps me stand firm in my place as a well-loved child that is secured by Christ's victory on my behalf (Romans 8:37).

Desperate.  "Desperate times call for desperate measures."   I remember my mom uttering this phrase from time to time during my childhood.  She was probably facing some difficult situation where she felt forced to turn to extreme solutions that may never be considered in normal circumstances.  When times get hard, we do what we have to do to survive.

Satan is no different.  He knows his fate even though he may have deceived even himself of his power, believing he can somehow defeat God.  When I stand firm against him, however, submitting myself to God, he'll retreat in the face of such overwhelming odds (James 4:7).  Still, he is desperate to win and will go to great lengths to reach his goal of world domination.  Even so, I must remember that I've been delivered and Jesus has already conquered Satan (Colossians 1:13, Hebrews 2:14-15).  He only has as much power as I give him.

When I realize Satan has been defeated, I'll understand his desperation to bring me down.

My enemy is formidable and is constantly on the lookout for ways to steal, kill and destroy, devouring my faith (1 Peter 5:8).  If I only focus on his evil, he will seem to grow in power.  But if I keep him in perspective, remember his fate, and realize his desperation, he'll shrink in status.  And when he does, in the light of God's overwhelming power and sovereignty, I'll realize Satan is not so tough.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes fixed on Jesus.

When do I feel helpless against the attacks of the evil one?

How am I rendered helpless by my fear?  

Dichotomy

"Those who devise wicked schemes are near,

but they are far from your law.

Yet you are near, LORD,

and all your commands are true."

Psalm 119:150-151

Gossip.  Destructive agendas.  Selfish living.  Desperate crimes.  Evil plots.  Terrorist attacks.  Power plays.  Government takeovers.  Military regimes.  Twisted religions.  It's hard to live in such a cold, cruel world.  While here, it's easy to become just as destructive, selfish, desperate, evil and twisted.  After all, it comes quite naturally to my flesh.  As I run toward Jesus, sticking close by His side, I look around me and become discouraged as I stand firm in His teachings.  How can I carry on?

As I live as a foreigner in a strange land that is not my home, I can draw strength as I remind myself of a few truths (Hebrews 13:14).

Evil.  I have an enemy and his mission is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).  It is his work to take away the peace I have in Christ, to eradicate all traces of God's love that wants to flow through me into a world in need, to extinguish the light of Jesus that flickers a message of hope to the darkness around me.  

Satan attempts to accomplish his objective through various tactics, schemes and sneaky plans.  While giving in to his around-the-clock attacks, it's easy to believe his filthy lies, buying into his message that all is lost, that I'm no good, that evil is winning and there is no hope for the world.  

If, however, I remember his power is limited by a God who is sovereign over all things and that he has no authority over me or any other follower of Christ, I can resist his attempts and watch him flee (James 4:7).  With such a God as this on my side, who can stand against me (Romans 8:31)?  Who can thwart His good plan?  Who can defeat His righteous and redemptive design for all of mankind?  Not one, not even the evil one who seems to have so much pull in this dark world.

I can draw strength from the fact that God is greater than Satan and his minions.

Far.  It's easy to wonder how the lost could live such self-destructive ways, especially when their mess spills into the lives of others who are vulnerable and defenseless.  I can feel discouraged when I witness the suffering inflicted upon the helpless by their fellow man.  I want to shake some sense into those stuck in a pattern of abuse as they ruin the lives of many like some kind of Tasmanian devil.  

Then God reminds me that they are far from His law.  They can no more do what is right than I can apart from the grace of God that flows through me due to my faith in Christ.  Without this grace, I'd be just as destructive, messy and abusive. In one way or another, I'm just like the worst of the worst.  We all need Jesus to save us from our own sinful selves.

I can draw strength from the fact that those who do evil acts and rise up against God's own operate in another stratosphere from God and His ways.  They can't help but do what they do (2 Timothy 2:26).

Near.  Many religions worship gods who are unknown and far away.  Little is understood about these deities and their followers pin their hope on what they believe these idols of stone and wood can deliver.  Unfortunately, they never really see any evidence of their impotent capabilities.  They are but a dim apparition in the far-off horizon.

In contrast, God is near.  The more I get to know Him, the bigger He becomes until He takes up the whole scope of my eyesight.  If I seek Him with everything that is in me, I will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  He is just that willing to be known.

I can draw strength from the fact that God is very near to me and wants to be intimately sought after and understood, becoming a Guide upon whom I can count and introducing a faithfulness that can be trusted.

There is no doubt that it can be hard to live in a world that seems to bent on destruction.  As I see the pain and suffering all around me, I can take heart by the fact that evil is limited and losing, the people caught up in wicked schemes are far from God and His ways, and God Himself is very near.  The dichotomy of evil and good cannot be denied.  Thankfully, when I choose God through faith in Christ, I am on the winning side (John 16:33)!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to realize that evil men are far from You and Your ways.

How do I live a defeated life, forgetting that Jesus died to give me victory over sin and death?

When do I give up, thinking my failures pigeonhole me as a failure instead of realizing Jesus died to make me a victor?

The Battle

"Be strong in the Lord

and in his mighty power.

Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm

against all strategies of the devil.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,

but against evil rulers

and authorities of the unseen world,

against mighty powers in this dark world,

and against evil spirits in the heavenly place."

Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT

Life is a battle.  There are so many difficulties found each and every day.  Some struggles take place at home.  Some problems rear their ugly heads at work.  Other trouble occurs just in trying to get from point A to point B.  And still other frustrations arise when dealing with the people around us.  Yes, life certainly is a battle. . . and I'm on the front line.


The thing is, my fight is not against my family members, my co-workers, fellow drivers or citizens of this world.  The battle is against the unseen forces that manipulate, coerce and tempt.  The battle is against Satan and his minions.  


It is easy for me to see the people who are right in front of me as my enemy.  I stand my ground and get into battle position, preparing myself for the fight ahead.  But I am mistaken.  The fight is not against that sweet little boy whose outrageous behavior threatens to send me over the top, or the frustrated driver who is late for work, or the angry woman whose marriage is falling apart.  This war is waged against a hidden enemy who lies behind the scenes.


How do I fight against this formidable unseen adversary?  

Strength

Most athletes, especially those who compete in sports where physical contact occurs, know they need some kind of strength training.  This could involve weight lifting, functional training or Plyometrics for explosive power.  

As followers of Christ who are engaged in daily battle, we also need strength.  But whereas an athlete needs physical strength to battle in the physical realm, we need the strength of the Lord to battle in the spiritual realm.

I think of David as one who was, "strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."  As a young boy, he stood against a formidable giant of a foe named Goliath.  Even though the man stood at over 9 feet tall while he was only a gangly boy not yet finished growing and had never wielded a sword a day in his life, he boldly faced this trash-talking, burly, seasoned warrior. 

Why was he so confident?  

David knew God was bigger than this mighty soldier.  He knew that God was in control.  And even more importantly, David was strong in the Lord.  His faith in God was so solid that he believed without a doubt that the Lord would win the battle for him.  Then, "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:47)

This kind of strength does not come from reading, studying and meditating on God's Word.  This kind of power comes from training.  David had seen how many times God had worked through him as he shepherded his father's sheep.  He boldly pursued lions and bears that had snatched up one of the flock, successfully retrieving his keep and killing the invader.  He said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:37)

How can I train in the strength of the Lord?  I should start with the little things and work my way up as I gain confidence in God's power.  Perhaps I could ask God to give me a kind word to say to a surly cashier.  Or a prayer to utter for the harried driver who cut me off.  Or a gracious smile to the neighbor who snubbed me once again.  

God's strength is constant.  His mighty power is available to me if only I would practice using it.  Then I would grow strong in the Lord like David.

Armor

I good soldier does not go into battle without his armor.  Police officers wear bullet-proof vests when they're on duty.  Even fire-fighters utilize specialized protective clothing.  Anyone who is facing a foe is wise to protect himself.

In the same way, God has given me armor to protect myself from the assaults of Satan which enables me to stand my ground.   An effective soldier does not give up ground to his enemy and neither should I retreat, effectively handing over territory to Satan.  The armor gives me confidence to stay put.  

I can hold Satan at bay by speaking the truth, claiming the righteousness that comes from the blood of Jesus and preaching the Gospel to myself and others.  His fiery arrows can be stopped with my faith in Jesus as my Savior, and remembering from where my salvation comes will protect my mind from Satan's relentless attacks. (Ephesians 6:14-17)

Keeping in mind that Jesus has saved me from the pit of despair will protect me from those thoughts of self-defeat that creep in so slyly.  

Trusting that there is now no condemnation (even self-condemnation) for those who are in Christ Jesus deflects the deadly darts the Evil One sends my way.  

Rejecting the falsehood told by the Father of Lies and instead clinging to the truth found in scripture protects me from a common attack.

God has supplied me with the armor I need to protect myself from the assaults that come from the darkness.

Weapons

Defense is important, but anyone who has played sports knows that the game can't be won unless points are scored.  In order to rack up some goals, I must go on offense.

God has given me some offensive weapons in the battle against the unseen enemy.  Armor is important for protection, but if I want to do damage to my enemy, I must have a weapon.  And that spiritual weapon is God's Word.

This is yet another reason to spend time daily reading, studying and learning God's Word.  Then, when times of attack comes, God will send scripture to mind that will do damage to the Evil One.  

Another of our weapons is prayer.  "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for the saints."  (Ephesians 6:18)

Martin Luther was a man who was intimately familiar with the spiritual battle he faced during the Reformation.  He said, "Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon."*

Prayer sometimes seems like a cop out.  It many times feels like my prayers don't amount to much.  But I must remember that, "The prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)

There is much power found in my prayers; the very power of God!  This thought alone should keep me on my knees.

God's power is available to conquer strongholds, take back territory Satan has captured and drive them enemy back all with a simple prayer to a mighty God.

I know I am in a battle.  I feel the wounds of the war.  But it is important that I remember I fight not against people, but against the hidden evil that is behind all conflict.  In order to live victoriously, I must practice standing strong in the Lord like David, remember to wear the armor God has supplied, and utilize the weapons in my cache.

And above all, I must remember the words told to God's people as they faced a formidable enemy, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15)  And He is up for the fight.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will leave the battle in God's hands instead of trying to defend myself.

How do I try to fight against those who are right in front of me instead of remembering that they are not my enemy?

When do I let my hurt feelings or pride drive me to defend myself instead of standing strong in the Lord?

* http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_3.html#ixzz1ozyi8eBl