THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE – CONTINUE

4 -- We must respect our foe, but not fear him -- Become acutely aware of his methods, but not be preoccupied by them:
Unless you have been holed up in a closet somewhere you have had to have seen the many retired military men and women in the news telling us about all the different strategies and schemes of the Iraqis and various terrorist groups. They have computer generated models and illustrations that help us to understand what are going on and how our men and women can overcome. It is not that the United States and England went into this battle with the thought of losing, but they did go in with a level of respect for the enemy and spent much time and poured over much intelligence as they planned their battle strategy. We need to do something very similar as we engage in spiritual warfare. -- Put on the whole Armour of YHVH that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. -- Ephesians 6:11. Once Paul agreed to forgive a brother along with the Corinthian church so that… -- Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. -- 2 Corinthians 2:11. Like Paul, we need to be aware of satan's tactics if we are going to win the war.

Here four helpful ways we can become aware of his tactics:

A -- Satan's names reveal his tactics:
1 -- Satan [adversary] 2 -- Devil [slanderer] 3 -- Lucifer [son of the morning] 4 -- Beelzebub [prince of demons] 5 -- Belial [without profit] 6 -- Evil one; 7 -- Tempter; 8 -- Prince of this world 9 -- Accuser of the brethren 10 -- Representations include a Serpent, a Dragon, an Angel of Light.

B -- Satan attacks YHVH's program, the Church, By...:
1 -- False philosophies - Colossians 2:8; 2 -- False religions - 1 Corinthians 10:19; 3 -- False ministers - 2 Corinthians 11:14-15; 4 -- False doctrine - 1 John 2:18; 5 -- False disciples - Matthew 13; 6 -- False morals - 2 Thessalonians 2:7

C -- Satan attacks YHVH's people by…:
1 -- Directing governments - Daniel 10:13; 2 -- Deceiving men - 2 Corinthians 4:4; 3 -- Destroying life - Hebrews 2:14; 4 -- Persecuting the saints - Revelations 2:10; 5 -- Preventing service - 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 6 -- Promoting schisms - 2 Corinthians 2:10-11; 7 -- Planting doubt - Genesis 3:1-2; 8 -- Provoking sin and Anger – Ephesians 4:26-27; 9 -- Pride - 1 Timothy 3:6; 10 -- Worry - Matthews 13:22; 11 -- Self-reliance - 1 Chronicles 21:1; 12 -- Discouragement - 1 Peter 5:6-8; 13 -- Worldliness - 1 John 2:16; 14 -- Lying - Acts 5:3; 15 -- Immorality - 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 16 -- Producing sects / cults - 1 Timothy 4:1

D -- Satan's power is limited:
1 -- He is created, therefore not omniscient or infinite; 2 -- He can be resisted by the believers - James 4:7; 3 -- YHVH places limitations on him - Job 1:12

Balance and wisdom are crucial in our assessment of spiritual opposition. To assign too much or too little credit to the reality of demonic activity is to error greatly.

5 -- As believer's in Moshiach, we do not fight for victory, we fight from victory. in Moshiach's power we are invincible!
As Operation Iraqi Freedom raged, Mohammed al-Sahhaf, Iraq's Minister of Information, daily refuted clear evidence that Iraq was losing the war. On April 6, after coalition forces seized Baghdad's Saddam Airport, renamed it Baghdad International Airport, started flying planes in and ventured into Baghdad itself, the news papers quoted al-Sahhaf saying, --We butchered the force present at the airport. On April 7, after U.S. and British troops penetrated central Baghdad and stormed Saddam's Republican Palace, the news again quoted al-Sahhaf saying, --There is no presence of the American columns in the city of Baghdad at all. We besieged them and we killed most of them. Referred to as Baghdad Bob or Comical Ali by the media, his efforts to explain away coalition force victories as illusions were comical. In the same way, our spiritual enemy is already defeated at the cross of Moshiach, yet he continues to hurl out lies, insults and condemnation at the believers. We fight a very real battle against a very real enemy, but we need to know without a doubt that our victory over him is assured. We do not fight for victory; we fight from victory. Even though we are presently engaged in battle, our future victory is written about as if it has already taken place, it is written that way because our victory is sure. -- Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. -- John 12:31; -- blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. -- Colossians 2:14-15; -- Ye are of YHVH, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. -- 1 John 4:4; -- For whatsoever is born of YHVH overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Yeshua is the Son of Elohim? --1 John 5:4-5.

In a classic -Twilight Zone- episode from 1960, an American on a walking trip through central Europe gets caught in a raging storm. Staggering through the blinding rain, he chances upon an imposing medieval castle. It is a hermitage for a brotherhood of monks. The reclusive monks reluctantly take him in. Later that night, the American discovers a cell with a man locked inside. An ancient wooden staff bolts the door. The prisoner claims he is being held captive by the -insane- head monk, Brother Jerome and he pleads for the American to release him. The prisoner's kindly face and gentle voice win him over. The American confronts Brother Jerome, who declares that the prisoner is none other than satan, - the father of lies, - held captive by the Staff of Truth, the one barrier he cannot pass. This incredible claim convinces the American that Jerome is indeed mad. As soon as he gets the chance, he releases the prisoner who immediately transforms into a hideous, horned demon and vanishes in a puff of smoke! The stunned American is horrified at the realization of what he has done. Jerome responds sympathetically. -- I am sorry for you, my son. All your life you will remember this night and whom you have turned loose upon the world; -- I didn't believe you -- the American replies. -- I saw him and did not recognize him -- to which Jerome solemnly observes, -- That is man's weakness and satan's strength! What a true statement that is.