OUR SPIRITUAL ENEMIES

An adaptation from Pigs in the Parlor by Frank and Ida Mae Hammond chapter two.

We MUST give God the glory and believe that Satan is a defeated foe by the power and authority of the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus explains His ability to cast out demons in Luke 11:20-22 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him ALL HIS ARMOUR WHEREIN HE TRUSTED, and divideth his spoils. It was the finger of God that caused Pharaoh’s magician’s to cry out in Exodus 8:18-19 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. And God wrote the commandments on tables of stone with His finger. Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. God’s power is supreme.

Satan’s armor is nothing more than our ignorance and weakness. But we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. And we are not weak. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Panoplia is the Greek word used for “all his armour” in Luke and the “whole armour” in Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. There are four key words in Ephesians that describe our spiritual enemies. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Principalities– Gk. Archas- Things in a series such as leaders and rulers. This tells us that Satan’s kingdom is highly organized like an army. A principality is the region over which one rules. Demons are assigned over individuals, families, groups of people, businesses, churches, communities, and nations. Praise God He has a kingdom and an army too. The book of Daniel describes such a conflict. Daniel 10:12-13 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Powers– Gk. Exousias- This word is more accurately translated as ”authorities”. The evil spirits are given the authority by Satan to do his will in the areas that they have been assigned. But we as believers have greater authority. The authority of the name of Jesus. Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils… In Luke we find that there are two Greek words for “power”. Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power (Exousia- choice, permission, privilege) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (Dynamis- strength, power, ability) of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Jesus knows that his disciples need both power and authority to deal with the enemy and so he gave it to us. Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power (dynamis) and authority (exousia) over all devils, and to cure diseases. The authority comes with salvation. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. The power comes with the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Praise Jesus!

Rulers– Gk. Kosmokrator- Lord of this world, prince of the age, the devil and his demons. In 2^nd Corinthians Satan is called “the God of this world”. 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. When Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden he gained rulership. Satan is also called the “prince of the power of the air”. Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: “The father of lies.” John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Jesus did not deny Satan’s rulership but he refused to worship him. Praise Jesus! Luke 4:5-8 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Wickedness– Gk. Poneria- evil purposes and desires. An example of the wickedness of Satan is found in Mark 12:1-12 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard UNTO OTHERS (US). And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

As Jesus said in John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Psalm 21:13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.