The Word of God teaches that believers today have enemies and fight a constant warfare against them while here on earth. There are three enemies mentioned in Scripture: the Flesh, the World and the Devil (Satan). First of all, however, there is a right state of mind that we must bring into the conflict in order to have the victory. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-53For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:3‑5) it says, “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” People in this world fight physical battles against one another, but our battle is spiritual. We will go on to see how mighty the weapons of our warfare are, but notice what is brought out in these verses. We must cast down imaginations! There are many thoughts that may be considered to be true, but when examined in light of the Word of God, they are found to be only imaginations and untruths. Every one of those thoughts must be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, the One who is Himself the truth. We cannot get the victory without doing this!
Let us go on to look at our enemies and then the armor given to us for our fight against them.
Enemy Number 1: The Flesh
Although it is not the primary subject of this paper, the flesh is actually the greatest enemy of the believer and the one about which Scripture has the most to say. The flesh is that evil sin nature that every one of us has been born with and which will remain with us until we die or are given our bodies of glory at the coming of the Lord Jesus. The believer is never told to fight against the flesh, but rather is to be on guard for any attacks that may come and to rely upon the Spirit of God to preserve him. We are told about the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-2119Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19‑21) and in verse 16 we are told, “Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Again, we learn how very important it is for us to follow God’s Word and be filled with His Spirit if we are to lead victorious Christian lives.
Enemy Number 2: The World
The second enemy is the world. The world is that system of things around us that is opposed to Christ and is really headed up by Satan. The Lord Jesus said in John 15:1919If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19), “I have chosen you out of the world.” The world is the society, culture, and way of thinking that characterizes unsaved people all around us. The sooner we learn that those things are wrong at their root, the better we will be able to do what is right and according to Scripture. We are told in 1 John 2:1717And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17), “The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” James states it even more strongly when he says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)). This should be a real warning to those who are tempted to go on in friendship with unsaved companions, joining in with their activities. Sadly, we have found that there are believers that are willing to give up anything to do with Satan and the works of darkness, but they just cannot see how to be free of the world.
However, in our relationship with God, the world has no wisdom at all! In fact, the world’s wisdom is called foolishness in 1 Corinthians 1:20-2120Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:20‑21), where it says, “Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” James says, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:1515This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (James 3:15)). The world’s wisdom appeals to the natural senses and is from the devil (Satan) who is the god of this world. There is only one way that we will be delivered from the world’s thinking. As it says in Romans 12:22And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2), “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
As far as our culture is concerned, it may seem that the only way to get out of our obligations and the responsibilities that our society puts on us is to die. In fact, we are told in Matthew 16:2525For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 16:25), “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” This does not mean physical death; rather, it means that we must die to all of our ambitions, dreams, honor and respect in this world. But then we find the reward: “Whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” Yes, we will share in His rejection and persecution, but it is a life of joy that goes far beyond anything that an unbeliever or a disobedient believer can ever know.
This does not mean that we are to be in any way disrespectful to those in our community. Instead, we should tell them that we respect them very much, but that we belong to the Lord and cannot do what is displeasing to Him. Most who take a faithful stand in this way find that, although they will not understand us, those in the community will respect our position. But in many cases they will not be happy, and we must, like the early disciples, do what is right in spite of them. It says in Acts 5:44Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (Acts 5:4)1 That after they had been beaten, “they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
Enemy Number 3: The Devil
Now we come to the third enemy of the believer — the Devil, or Satan. When we refer to Satan, we are including all the demons who have followed him in his rebellion against God and who help carry out his evil work. We are told in Ephesians 6:11Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)2 That our warfare is not against men, but against Satan and his angels, for it says, “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.”
But what is the nature of our warfare with Satan and his forces? Is there a physical part to it or are there just illusions and deception? Many have heard of the power of the spirits (demons) where they have made people sick or done other supernatural things. We see an example of this in Scripture with Job, where Satan destroyed everything that he had and eventually even took away Job’s health. But is this how Satan and demons work with believers today? To give a brief answer, yes, they may be allowed by God to touch a believer physically, but their primary means of fighting against us is to deceive us into believing what is false. Before going on to see how to fight that warfare, let us look at how Satan comes against us and what our proper attitude should be in meeting him.
We are told in 1 Peter 5:8-98Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8‑9), “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” From these verses we learn that our position is defensive and that our protection is spiritual; “resist steadfast in the faith.” But there is something else that we should notice as to our attitude in meeting Satan. In verses 5-6 we read, “Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.” We must be truly humbled under God’s hand to have any chance at all in this conflict! We can trust Him for protection, and so it goes on to say in verse 7, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” It is only after we are submitted to the mighty protecting hand of God that we can go on to meet Satan. James says the same thing: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. ... Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)). Again, the first thing is to submit completely to God. Then, with His protection, we are told to resist the devil and we will have the victory.
T. Ruga (adapted)