Declaring War On The Devil

Declaring War On The Devil

Tonight, I want to talk about the enemy. I believe that if we are to declare war on the

devil, we must not only know God, but know who our enemy is.

I love history, and I know from just watching many different leaders and generals, who

prepare war, that when they prepare, they take a look at the enemy. They look at the

potential of the enemy, they look at their weapons, they look at their troops, so tonight

as I talk about declaring war on the devil, we must know who he is.

Satan is not omnipotent, or all powerful, only God is

Satan is not omniscient, or all knowing, only God is

Satan is onmipresent, or everywhere all the time, only God is

Satan has an individual personality

What is the ministry of Satan?

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

So why is Satan out to destroy us? Why is it that he wants to kill, to steal, and to destroy?

Well we know that Satan was an angel, he was a very important angel... but

He was not made in the image of God like mankind was.

Genesis 1:26

Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule

See, Satan’s problem was that he didn’t want to serve, he wanted to be served. He

wanted to exalt himself above God. Now we know that angels are ministering spirits,

they help serve Christians. They are assigned to Christians, so that they can work on the

Christians behalf, and that wasn’t what satan wanted. When God kicked satan out of

heaven, he deceived 1/3 of God’s angels. Now, since mankind was made in the image of

God, satan had to do something to destroy God’s plan for mankind.

Sin Nature came into the world

Gen 3:3

When Adam and Eve sinned, moral and spiritual death came immediately, while the

physical death came later. Moral death consisted in the death of God’s life in them and

their nature became sinful. Spiritual death meant that their former relationship to God

was destroyed. Since the sin of Adam and Eve, every person born comes into the world

with a sinful nature.

When we are born into this world, we have sin nature. That means it’s nothing for people

to steal, to lie, to lust, to do all these things. We in the world wonder why things have

been so bad, but this is the only thing the world knows.

Now, for those who have been born again, we now have God’s nature in us. When you

are saved for real you will have a new nature in you, one that wants to please God. The

old nature wants to please the devil.

2 Cor 5:17

if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all

things have become new.

Know your enemy. The enemy is not people, but the devil

2 Cor 10:4

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down

strongholds, casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the

knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

We seen from the scripture that satan’s only means to deceive us is through thoughts,

through suggestions.

What does God have to say about the devil? He calls him the father of lies, he calls him

the accuser of the brethren, the deceiver, the dragon

How to prepare for war with the devil.

How a soldier prepares for war.

- Puts on his gear

- Puts on his paint on his face

- checks his weapons

- Listens to the platoon leader or general

1) Stay connected to the vine....

If you don’t have a prayer life, start one, connect with God daily. Just talk to Him.

John 15:4 & 5

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides

in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much

fruit; for without me you can do nothing.

2) Put on your armor daily....

Eph 6: 10-17

It’s worthless to go into battle without your armor and your weapons.

2 Tim 2:3

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

3) Stay connected to God’s word

Hebrews 4:13

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword,

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a

discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.