Treasures of Truth
12 Know the Enemy
In Ephesians, Paul draws the curtain back
on the drama behind the scenes
and states that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood….”
The Christian has become engaged in….
The Invisible War...
“In this theater of the universe, the earth is the stage
on which the whole drama of rebellion, ruin, fall,
judgment, redemption, salvation
and the triumph and ultimate vindication
of God’s wisdom and righteousness
is being unrolled in
the amazing spectacle of the invisible war.”
The Invisible War by Donald G. Barnhouse
Know Your Enemies...
Know Your Enemies... The Flesh…
I say then: Walk in the Spirit,
and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
and these are contrary to one another,
so that you do not do
the things that you wish. Galatians 5:16-17
“The flesh is a built-in law of failure,
making it impossible for natural man
to please or serve God.
It is a compulsive inner force
inherited from man’s fall,
which expresses itself
in general and specific rebellion
against God and His righteousness.
The flesh can never be reformed or improved.
The only hope for escape
from the law of the flesh
is its total execution
and replacement by
a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This terrible force is within us,
and even after we have by faith counted him dead,
he will attempt to spring to life again and control us.”
The Adversary by Mark Bubeck
The flesh and the Spirit are in conflict. Romans 7:23; Romans 8:7
The works of the flesh lead to bondage. The flesh is an expression of this world system that is independent from God. I John 2:16
We cannot glorify or serve God in the flesh. Romans 8:8; Galatians 5:16-21
Dangers of Indulgence
“…nor give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:27
“…and escape the snare of the devil” II Timothy 2:26
“…and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:15
“…concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck” I Timothy 1:19
Do not quench the Spirit. I Thessalonians 5:19
Quench means to extinguish; make an end of; subdue, suppress.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Ephesians 4:30
Grieve signifies pain of body or mind.
It means things that cause sorrow, grievances.
Know Your Enemies... The World…
Do not love the world
or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world;
the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life;
is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world is passing away,
and the lust of it;
but he who does the will of God abides forever. I John 2:15-17
The world primarily appeals to our emotional and psychological side…
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life;
It is to the flesh of man
that the world appeals…
not to the new man as he is in Christ.
We are "In It But Not Of It"
They are not of the world,
just as I am not of the world. John 17:16
As regenerate people
we are utterly unrelated to this world system
because by the Spirit we’ve been born from ‘above’…
heaven is not only our destiny,
but our origin.
The character of the world
is morally different from the Spirit-imparted life
we have received from God.
By which have been given to us
exceedingly great and precious promises,
that through these you may be partakers
of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption
that is in the world through lust. II Peter 1:4
Know Your Enemies... Satan (The Adversary)…
“We know that we are of God,
and the whole world
lies in the power of the evil one.” I John 5:19
Satan’s Organization
Satan as prince of the demons (Matthew 12:24) is the head of a well-organized rank of angels (Ephesians 6:11-12).
THE LEVELS OF AUTHORITY
SATAN Prince of the demons (Matthew 12:24).
PRINCIPALITIES Arche
First one, pre-eminent ones, leaders.
They rule over various lands (Daniel 10:13).
Angelic warfare.
They carry vast responsibility and power to guide the affairs of Satan.
POWERS Exousia
Authorities – demons of Satan in the lower atmosphere,
constituting his kingdom in the air…
positions of authority.
Suggest very powerful activity
they are capable of addressing against believers.
RULERS OF DARKNESS Kosmoskrator
World rulers of this darkness.
These beings are more numerous;
yet are the real workhorses on the command level.
WICKED SPIRITS Pnumatikos poneeria
The demonic spirits so often mentioned
in the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus as found in Mark 5:9.