Greetings brothers and sisters.
Today I want to talk to you about Knowing your enemy.
An enemy is defined an individual or a group that is considered as forcefully adverse or threatening.
We all have those individuals whom would like to see us fail.
Scripture says that Satan is described as being called Lucifer, he was once the most beautiful of all angels, but he got prideful and thought that he was above God, so him and his angels rebelled.
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
-Revelation 12:7-12 KJV
Following his failed rebellion against God, he is cast out from Heaven and condemned to Hell.
As we examine the characteristics that the Bible attributes to the Devil, we obtain much insight into his character.
We find that Scripture saying that he is proud, arrogant, powerful, cruel, fierce, deceitful, and subtle. In other words, he is total evil.
1. Proud
Satan is described as being proud.
Proud: having or showing a high or excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance.
"Not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the Devil."
-1 Timothy 3:6
2. Fierce And Cruel
He is described as a lion who walks about looking for things to devour.
Fierce: having or displaying an intense or ferocious aggressiveness.
Cruel: willfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it.
"Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour."
-1 Peter 5:8
3. Powerful
The Devil is a powerful being. Even Michael the archangel would not rebuke him without calling upon the name of the Lord.
Powerful: having great power or strength.
"But when the archangel Michael contended with the Devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!".
-Jude 9
4. Deceitful
Satan's methods consist of deception.
Deceitful: the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil."
-Ephesians 6:11
5. Subtle
He is also described as subtle.
Subtle: making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something.
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ."
-2 Corinthians 11:3
Have you ever heard the saying "Misery loves company." When Satan lost his war with God and got kicked out of heaven, he go angry, and has been trying to get revenge ever since.
Satan's plan: His time is short so he wants to bring as many people to hell as he can.
We are all in a war, a spiritual war between good and evil, God and Satan.
God clearly knows what he has in store for us. Satan always has a plan, he comes in when we are at our weakest point and once he has a foothold of us, he holds on until either we give our lives to God, or he takes us with him.
Don't let his plans work, resist him, come to Christ and you will be part of the most powerful spiritual army ever.
God bless.
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