The Nature Of Your Enemy

The Nature of Our Enemy

One of the foremost rules of warfare is: know your enemy. The more you know about your enemy-how he thinks, what motivates him-the better you are able to devise a means of counteracting his moves and defeating him. To overcome the enemy of our eternal spirit, the devil, the first thing we must know about him is his nature.

Peter described the devil as a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Most big-game hunters consider the lion the most dangerous of animals. It is extremely powerful and can move very fast and very low (out of sight in tall grassland areas). It has a great ability to track its prey, being stealthy in its maneuvers and deceptive in its motives. A lion's awesome roar instills fear that often paralyzes its prey, making conquest all the easier.

Peter accurately identified all of these characteristics with the devil. The devil is powerful, deceptive, secretive, and can act swiftly if given an opportunity to attack. His roar against us can cause us to quake in fear. Peter was writing to Christians who were enduring great persecution, and they readily understood this graphic image. The enemies of Christianity in both the Jewish and Roman communities often operated secretly, and while the early Christians knew they had enemies waiting to pounce on them for their faith, the identity of their enemies was often unknown to them.

Peter also said that the devil shows no favoritism when he attacks: “The same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:9). The devil acts like a roaring lion toward believers and unbelievers alike. His behavior doesn't change according to his prey; it is his nature to be like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. A lion's actions are consistent, whether its prey is a wildebeest or a young zebra. A lion acts like a lion … always.

The devil is often depicted humorously as a little imp with a pitchfork sitting on a person's shoulder and whispering naughty things into a person's ear. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The devil is always seeking our destruction. He is forever on the prowl, never satisfied with his most recent kill. It is his nature to destroy, to kill, to maim, to devastate. Jesus said that the devil comes at us with the purposes of stealing anything of material value from us, killing our relationships, and destroying our physical and emotional health and ultimately, our lives (John 10:10).

The devil is a fierce opponent, a deadly enemy. There is nothing funny or humorous about his tactics or his intent, and there certainly is nothing to laugh about if you are his intended victim. We do ourselves a serious disservice if we discount his existence, take him lightly, or believe that we are capable of defeating him in our own strength.

Other Descriptions of the Enemy

Peter called the devil an “adversary” (1 Peter 5:8). An adversary is someone who opposes you. An adversary may oppose what you say or do, or he may be hostile toward you for no other reason than because you exist.

The Bible has other names for the devil, all of which describe various aspects of his evil nature:

• Thief (John 10:10)

• Father of lies (John 8:44)

• Beelzebub, which refers to his being the ruler of the maggots or any agent of decay (Matt. 12:27)

• Deceiver (Rev. 12:9)

• Tempter (Matt. 4:3)

• Satan, which is a term that refers to his bringing continual accusation against those who have faith in God (Matt. 12:26)

Not one of these descriptors for the devil is flattering! There is not one ounce of good in him. He is evil to the core.

What the Word Says

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

What the Word Says

He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it (John 8:44

What the Word Says

The great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world (Rev. 12:9)

• How do you feel about the fact that you have such an enemy?

• In what ways do you feel challenged to engage in efforts to overcome your enemy?

A Satanic Attack

A satanic attack is an experience in which we sense that Satan has launched a major assault against our lives. Now, he is prowling about the edges of our lives at all times, looking for a particular point of entry. His tactic is like that of a pride of lions-to zero in on weakness, divide, and then destroy. When the devil thinks he has an opening, he attacks. We usually have a general awareness that the devil is not far away, but there are times when we are keenly aware that the devil is making a direct move against us. That is a satanic attack.