Spiritual Warfare
In our discussion about spiritual warfare, we started with ourselves. We first battle that which is within. In verses 14-16, James asks us to examine ourselves and see if we have “bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts.” In verse 15 he makes it clear that this is earthly, sensual and demonic. “For where envy and self seeking exists, confusion and every evil thing are there.” In chapter 4, he asks the question “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war within your members?” He is making the point that we fight these desires that are in all of us. It is proof that our hearts are deceptively wicked. As we read through to verse 8, James asks us to “therefore submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you.” He is not mincing words here. These desires that we suffer from are demonic in nature in that they come from the influence of the devil. The devil cannot make you do anything (nor can he dwell within or possess a born again Christian, God is not into time sharing), but he can influence us through the world around us that which we let into our eyes and ears. As he says in verse 4, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” Satan has been given authority of this world and we do not submit to that authority.
The wiles or schemes of the devil. Paul warns us that we should “put on the full armor of God, that we may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil.” The wiles or schemes never end. Satan is constantly planning and changing to come up with anything that will cause us to disbelieve God. He never stops and will go to great lengths to cause us to fail. In verse 12, Paul writes, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We often think that the battle is in the flesh, and to a certain extent, it is. But we are under constant attack from these principalities and rulers of darkness. Principalities are those spiritual realms that are over a specific area of the world. Saddam Hussein was not the devil, but he was certainly influenced as was Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Poll Pot, and any number of world leaders that have obviously not taken their orders from God. There are many countries in the world today that are obviously not under the influence of God. When Iran makes it clear that they wish to annihilate Israel and the United States from the face of the earth, God is not influencing them. In our personal lives these principalities and powers watch over us day and night as the enemy watching our every move to learn our weaknesses and exploit them. When putting on the whole armor of God, we protect our families, ourselves, and possibly our own country spiritually.
Satan does have authority over this earth, but he can still only be one place at a time. In verse 7 we see that God asks Satan “From where do you come?” And Satan’s reply is “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” This proves that Satan cannot be in more than one place at a time. However, we discussed the fact that 1/3 of the angelic realm was cast down to earth with him. All of these angels are under his command so to speak. Satan is more than likely not the one watching us individually, but he does have an angel under his authority watching, tormenting, and reporting to him; these are the ones we have to be on our guard for. But take notice in verses 9 and 10 that as God points out Job to Satan, Satan makes it clear that he believes that God has a hedge of protection around him (The whole armor perhaps?) God tells Satan that he can test him, but not kill him. Satan cannot do anything to us without God’s permission. He really is God’s lackey. Although I do not underestimate his authority or power, he still answers to God. It is extremely important to notice throughout Job’s trials; he does not know what is going on. God has not clued Job it to the fact that Job is being tested. This test is for Satan’s benefit because God already knows that Job is His servant. When we are going through trials, tribulation and persecution (which was promised by Jesus that we would for His names sake) it may not be for our benefit. However, it may be for Satan or someone here on earth that is watching our reactions. We are in a spiritual battle where we cannot see our enemy.
An angel from God comes to Daniel. In verse 12, we see that this angel was sent specifically to answer Daniel’s prayer. “Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.” In verse, 13 we see that this angel was held up by the prince of the kingdom of Persia (Iran). Who is this prince? It is an angelic being who obviously has the authority as the prince over the principality of Persia. You then see that this messenger angel was held up by the kings of Persia (plural). Michael the Archangel had to come and help him so that he could deliver his message to Daniel. This vision that he gives to Daniel is extremely important because it speaks about what will happen to his people (the Jews) in many days yet to come. We have the privilege of being alive to watch much of this vision come to life and unfold right before our eyes. The point that I want to make is not the vision, but that Daniel clearly points out in his writing that these principalities and powers are in existence and have a direct effect on our lives. You will notice that the angel set out from the first day that Daniels heart was set to understand these things (his prayers for his people). But without Daniel knowing, the angel was held up. Do we pray for things and expect instant answers? There are battles taking place on our behalf in this realm that we do not even know about. But if our prayers are not answered in our timing, who is to know what is really holding them up?
We discussed the fact that Melchizedek was the priest of God Most High and He blesses Abram. Abram had just saved the king of Sodom and his people. In verse 21, we see this king as evil for he says “Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” This king (through Satan) does not want the material things; he wants the souls of the people. This is Satan’s work and he accomplishes it. A tremendous temptation to have that kind of power over people. Even though Abram, (through God) has saved Sodom from destruction, they do not receive the message from God to themselves. They give in to the schemes of the devil and do not attempt to do otherwise. They become a willfully disobedient, deviant, an abomination to God and immoral society, we know God judges Sodom and Gomorrah with fire later. Abram has performed a good work and gives God the glory and credit for it in verse 22 “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich'”. Abram makes it very clear whom he serves.