Richard B. Jones, Senior Pastor 209 Broad Street Elmer, NJ 08318 Telephone: (856) 358-6181 Email: pastorjones@snip.net

Strategic Lessons for Spiritual Warfare

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Military strategists will tell you that learning the truth about your enemy is a critical factor in winning battles. As followers of Christ, we have an enemy that seeks to destroy us, but let's add some ammunition to our spiritual warfare arsenal by blowing up some of Satan's most calculated lies about himself.

#1 Satan has limitations. Don't think that the enemy of our souls can get access to you anytime he wants or do anything he feels like doing. The Bible teaches that God has put limits on the enemy.

In my small group we've been memorizing the great promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." When the enemy whispers in your ear, "Give in - you can't win." Say back to him, "That is a lie." (Remember "Liar" is another of his names.) God says there's nothing that you will face that you can't have victory over. He won't allow it. He will allow you to be tempted only to the point where you can win. God allows the struggle to go on so that you can draw down upon His strength and live in victory.

#2 Satan is not omni-anything. He doesn't know everything (he's not omniscient); he doesn't know what you're thinking - only God knows your thoughts. He's not everywhere (only God is omnipresent). He can't do everything (he's not omnipotent) but can do only what God allows.

#3 Satan is the defeated enemy. Revelation 20 makes very clear Satan's ultimate end in the lake of fire. Satan has already lost the fight - it's just a matter of time. At the Cross Jesus took the fire out of Satan's battle plans. Colossians 2:15 says that God "spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." I love that! Satan must have thought, "If I get Him up on the cross, it's over." But wait a second - He's alive again! The greatest victory of all time is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His victory guarantees our victory in the spiritual war of the ages.

Make certain that you have fully rested your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan is all about your personal destruction; he has no interest in making your life happier, more fulfilled or more satisfying. He is only focusing on making sure you do not come to a knowledge of the truth.

Colossians 3:1-2 declares, " If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

You see, Christ is the only answer. If you know Him right now as your Savior, then learn to let Him be the Lord of everything in your life. If you do not know Him as your Savior, here is what Romans 10:9-1 and verse 13 says. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."