Spiritual Warfare: Know Your Enemy and Give God the Glory

If you have spent all these years thinking the “devil went down to Georgia,” I hate to be the one to break it to you, but Charlie Daniels seriously underestimated his travel schedule. Lol!

The devil isn’t hanging around Georgia looking for a fiddle contest. Scripture tells us he is roaming the earth looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

That verse should get our attention.

I hate the devil. I hate his conniving ways, his lies, his deception, and everything he stands for. And because I dislike him so much, my natural tendency is not to think about him at all. Why would I waste my precious time thinking about someone I detest?

But there is a problem with that approach. If we are in a battle, we need to know something about the enemy we are fighting.

You Better Know Your Opponent

I’ve always admired Peyton Manning. Maybe part of that is because he played football at the University of Tennessee, but I also admired his incredible work ethic.

Peyton didn’t just show up on game day, throw on a uniform, and hope everything worked out. He studied his opponent. He learned what they did well, where they were vulnerable, and what they were likely to do in certain situations.

Christians could learn something from that. We have an enemy, and pretending he doesn’t exist doesn’t make him disappear.

Ephesians 6:11-12 (NIV)
¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Our battle isn’t merely against difficult people, bad circumstances, family disagreements, or whatever problem landed in our lap this week. Scripture tells us there is a spiritual battle taking place around us.

That doesn’t mean we need to become fascinated with the devil. Quite the opposite. My attention belongs on Jesus. But I do want to recognize the enemy’s tactics when I see them.

The Devil Is Not God’s Equal

This week, I did something I don’t particularly enjoy doing. I started reading more about the devil and spiritual warfare, and that led me back to Revelation 12.

Revelation can be difficult for me to wrap my head around. There are dragons, horns, crowns, beasts, and battles. But one part of the chapter is very clear.

Revelation 12:7-9 (NIV)
⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Did you catch those words? He was not strong enough.

Yes, the devil is dangerous. Yes, we should be alert. Yes, spiritual warfare is real.

But the devil is not God’s equal. Not even close.

Pride Has Always Been Part of the Problem

Isaiah 14 contains a passage that Christians have long connected with the pride and rebellion associated with satan.

Isaiah 14: 12-15 (NIV)
¹² How you have fallen from Heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! ¹³ You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. ¹⁴ I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” ¹⁵ But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

Look at the repeated words:
“I will ascend.”
“I will raise my throne.”
“I will sit enthroned.”
“I will make myself like the Most High.”

Do you notice who is at the center of every statement? I.

Pride says, “Look at me.” Pride says, “Give me the credit.” Pride says, “I deserve the glory.”

But there is only One worthy of glory, honor, praise, and worship. And it isn’t us. It certainly isn’t the devil.

It is God!

Learn to Recognize the Lies

Jesus described the devil as the father of lies.

John 8:44 (NIV)
⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

That means we need to pay attention to the thoughts and messages we allow to take root.

God doesn’t care about you.
Your prayers aren’t doing anything.
Everybody else has it better than you.
You might as well give up.

The enemy doesn’t always arrive looking frightening. Sometimes he simply whispers something that sounds believable.

That is why we need to know God’s Word. You can’t recognize a counterfeit if you don’t know the real thing.

Be Careful What You Feed

We also need to pay attention to the voices around us.

That doesn’t mean we abandon someone when she is hurting. We should sit with her, love her, pray with her, and help carry her burden. But there is a difference between comforting someone and joining her in bitterness.

There is a difference between saying, “I know this is hard, and I’m praying with you,” and saying, “You’re right. God has completely forgotten about you.”

One points toward hope. The other feeds the lie.

Take Your Complaints to God

I used to think complaining automatically gave the devil glory, but I’ve come to see an important distinction.

The Bible is filled with people crying out to God. David did it repeatedly in the Psalms. Job poured out his anguish. Even Jesus wept.

Taking our hurt, fear, frustration, and disappointment to God is not the problem. The danger comes when our complaining starts convincing us that God cannot be trusted.

There is a big difference between saying, “Lord, I don’t understand this, and I need Your help,” and saying, “God never does anything for me.”

One takes the problem to God. The other begins building a case against God.

So cry if you need to. Ask questions. Tell God you are disappointed, confused, scared, or angry. He can handle it. Just don’t stop talking to Him.

Who Gets the Glory?

Pride can also sneak in when things are going well. We accomplish something and start thinking, “Look what I did.”

And yes, maybe we worked hard. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging effort or being proud of doing a job well.

But who gave us the ability? Who opened the door? Who put the right people in our path? Who gave us another morning to wake up and try again?

Everything I have ultimately comes from the Lord.

So when good things happen, I want my response to be: To God goes the glory.

One Tiny Thing I Refuse to Give the Devil

You may have noticed something strange throughout my faith posts. I never capitalize devil or satan. Yes, I know the grammar rules. I know satan is technically a proper name. I don’t care. Lol!

That is my own tiny way of reminding myself that he receives no honor from me. No glory. No admiration. No fascination. Nothing. He gets a lowercase “s.”

Take that, satan. Lol!

More importantly, I want my life to point in the opposite direction.

When something wonderful happens, praise God. When I am scared, run to God. When I am tempted, call on God. When I don’t know what to do, ask God. And when the enemy whispers a lie, answer it with God’s truth.

The answer to spiritual warfare isn’t becoming preoccupied with the devil. It is becoming deeply rooted in God.

He Was Not Strong Enough

I want to leave you with the words that stood out to me most in Revelation 12.

He was not strong enough.

The devil fought. But he lost. And we already know who wins in the end.

So be vigilant. Pay attention. Know your enemy and recognize his lies, temptations, and attempts to pull your eyes away from God.

But don’t walk away frightened. Walk away confident in the Lord.

James 4:7 (NIV)
⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Submit to God.
Resist the devil.
And keep giving God the glory.

TO GOD GOES THE GLORY!

Have A Blessed Day!

Let’s End With a Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we do not have to be afraid of the enemy. Help us to be alert and wise so that we recognize his lies, temptations, and attempts to pull our attention away from You.

Lord, guard our hearts and our minds. When the enemy whispers lies, remind us of Your truth. When pride starts creeping in, remind us that every good thing comes from You. When disappointment causes us to question You, help us bring our hurt to You instead of turning away from You.

Most of all, Father, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. We know the enemy has already been defeated, and we know that You are greater than anything we will ever face.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.