Your Enemy

The Enemy of Your Soul

Bibliography
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Escape from Reason by Francis Schaeffer
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
The New Geneva Study Bible and the English Standard Version


As C.S. Lewis points out in the preface to the Screwtape Letters;
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about devils.  One is to disbelieve in their existence.  The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.  They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight."

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
(Gen. 3:1).  ESV.

The first thing that we should deal with is, “What do we need to know?”  Of coursed God will reveal to us what is necessary to maintain our Spiritual health but we may have a “prurient” interest that God will find it necessary to restrain.  God knows best how to heal and grow fallen men.  God could instruct us forever but His revelation to us is sufficient.  It is not exhaustive.  If it were then no library could contain all there is too know.  No exhaustive but adequate that we may be mature and effective in His kingdom.  

Since, in the beginning God “saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). It is reasonable to infer that the world, as created, did not contain any fallen angels.  But by the time we find Adam and Even in the garden we find Satan, in the form of a serpent (Gen. 3:1–5). Consequently, we infer that sometime between Genesis 1:31 and Genesis 3:1, there was a rebellion in the angelic world.

It is possible that a description of the Enemy’s fall exists in Isaiah 14.  This comes in a passage in which Isaiah is describing God’s judgment on the king of Babylon but then he seems to move on to a bigger issue than an earthly king.  

Isaiah 14:12-15 How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit. ESV.

Most of the detail we find regarding the activity of Satan, the leader of fallen angels, is found in the New Testament but certainly not all of it.  Satan is described as our “adversary” (opponent of God and His people) and the Old Testament describes him as such (1 Chr. 21:1; Job 1; 2; Zech. 3:1, 2.)

1 Chr 21:1-2 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.  So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” ESV

Here we see that Satan can incite or encourage disobedience to God and that is the core of Satan’s attack on us.  His goal is our disobedience.  He opposes us most often by encouraging disobedience.  

Other titles reveal additional characteristics or Satan.  For example, Devil meaning “accuser” (Rev. 12:9, 10); Apollyon, meaning “destroyer” (Rev. 9:11); tempter (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5); and wicked one (1 John 5:18, 19); “Ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11); murderer and father of lies (John 8:44); the serpent who fooled Eve (Rev. 12:9 and 20:2) and “god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4).  Names such as Ruler of this world and god of this age emphasize the way in which Satan presides over mankind’s anti-God lifestyles (Eph. 2:2; 1 John 5:19; Rev. 12:9).

Satan’s nature is highlighted by Paul’s statement that he becomes an angel of light, disguising evil as good (2 Cor. 11:14).

2 Cor 11:14-15 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. ESV

The deceptive nature of Satan is also brought to light by Jesus when He stands against those who rejected Him and yet claiming that God as their Father:

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ESV.

The devil can’t live in the truth.  He is a liar in all that he does.  The fundamental lie is that the creature can be equal with God.  This was the devils point of rebellion and it is fallen mankind’s point of rebellion.  The following quote is from the book by C.S. Lewis the “Screwtape Letters.”  Screwtape speaking as a senior demon to a junior demon says of humans that:

“And all the time the joke is that the word “mine” in its fully possessive sense cannot be uttered by a human being about anything.  In the long run either Our Father or the Enemy will say “mine” of each thing that exists, and specially of each man.  They will find out in the end, never fear, to whom their time, their souls, and their bodies really belong – certainly not to them, whatever happens.” Screwtape Letter XX1

Satan is destructive and is described as lion (1 Pet. 5:8) and as a dragon (Rev. 12:9).

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

He opposed Christ’s (Matt. 4:1–11; 16:23; Luke 4:13; cf. Luke 22:3) and he opposes the Christian by looking for weakness and misdirected strengths while undermining faith, hope, and love (Luke 22:32; 2 Cor. 2:11; 11:3–15; Eph. 6:16).

Ephesians 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

While we need to take the devil seriously, we should not have a terror of him.  As Calvin said, he drags his chains with him wherever he goes since his defeat has already been accomplished (Matt. 12:29) and we have victory in Christ as well as we resist with the tools He gives us (Eph. 6:10–18; James 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:9, 10; 1 John 4:4).

Remember that although the devil is taken seriously, we are not anywhere close to some false teaching of a dualistic idea of a good god and a bad god caught in a struggle.  Satan is just a creature and not divine.  He is not omniscient, omnipotent, or omnipresent.  He is defeated and only has the power than God allows him and his end will be the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10).

Are Demons Active in the World Today?
Most people in the developed world have a strong naturalistic worldview.  They would argue that only what can be seen or touched or heard is real and therefore they deny that demons exist.  They would then argue that their belief is appropriate and that any belief in demons reflects an obsolete worldview taught in the Bible and other ancient cultures.

C.S. Lewis writing as Screwtape gives voice to the devil’s strategy:

“My dear Wormwood, I wonder you should ask me whether it is essential to keep the patient in ignorance of your own existence.  That question, at least for the present phase of the struggle, has been answered for us by the High Command.  Our policy, for the moment, is to conceal ourselves.  Of course this has not always been so.  We are really faced with a cruel dilemma.  When the humans disbelieve in our existence we lose all the pleasing results of direct terrorism, and we make no magicians.  On the other hand, when they believe in us, we cannot make them materialists and skeptics.”  Screwtape in Letter VII

We certainly find a great divide on this topic in the world today.  I’ve lived most of my life in the naturalistic USA.  However, I’ve also been in places like North Sumatra in which a fascination with the spiritual world rises to the level of animism.  If we trust that God has given us a reliable guide in Scripture then it would be foolish to relegate the discussion of Spiritual warfare to superstition.

Not All Evil and Sin Is From Satan and Demons, but Some Is.

The New Testament spends relatively little time focusing on any discussion of demonic activity in the lives of believers.  The focus is on telling Christians to stop sinning and start living in righteousness. For example, in “dissensions” (1 Cor. 1:10); incest (1 Cor. 5:1–5); Christians going to court to sue other believers (1 Cor. 6:1–8); disorder at the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:33, 28) the focus is on the sinner and not on any demonic influence.

We really don’t see a biblical unction for “strategic level spiritual warfare,” in which someone (1) summons a “territorial spirit” upon entering an area to preach the gospel or (2) demands information from demons about a local demonic hierarchy (3) says that we should believe or teach information derived from demons or (4) teach by word or example that certain “demonic strongholds” over a city have to be broken before the gospel can be proclaimed with effectiveness. In the New Testament, Christians preach the gospel and lives change.  Demonic opposition may arise, or God himself may reveal the nature of certain demonic opposition, which Christians would then pray and battle against (1 Cor. 12:10; 2 Cor. 10:3–6; Eph. 6:12).  The primary focus is on the choices and actions of people (Gal. 5:16–26; Eph. 4:1–6:9; Col. 3:1–4:6; et al.) and secondarily on demonic issues (1 Tim. 4:1; 3; 4; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8-10).  Here John characterizes all those who are not born of God as children of the devil and subject to his influence and desires.

We must exercise caution so that we fight a wise fight, “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Eph. 4:26) ESV.

Our poor choices can give the enemy an opportunity.  Once again, from Satan’s point of view, he is as happy with any distraction as long as it keeps us from effective service.  We are called to run our race with patience but we can be easily distracted.  The following quote is from Screwtape.  I had it on the wall of my office for years.  I hope it doesn’t remind you of your difficulties in keeping your quiet times as much as it does me.

“And nothing is very strong: strong enough to steal away a man’s best years not in sweet sins but in a dreary flickering of the mind over it knows not what and knows not why, in the gratification of curiosities so feeble the that man in only half aware of them, in drumming of fingers and kicking of heels, in whistling tunes that he does not like, or in the long, dim labyrinth of reveries that have not even lust or ambition to give them a relish, but which, once chance association has started them, the creature is too weak and fuddled to shake off.” Screwtape Letter XII

Can a Christian Be Demon Possessed?
Grudem has a detailed exposition of the problems with using the term “demon possession.”  The New Testament speaks about people who “have a demon” (Matt. 11:18; Luke 7:33; 8:27; John 7:20; 8:48, 49, 52; 10:20) and makes it clear that some people may suffer from demonic influence but it suggests that a demon actually “possesses” someone.

For a Christian, Scripture guarantees that sin shall have no dominion over us since we have been raised with Christ (Rom. 6:14, see also vv. 4, 11) but a believer may come under attack (Luke 4:2; 2 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 6:12; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8).  So if we are trying to define how abnormal a Christian’s life can become all we can say is pretty abnormal.  We have been given authority by Jesus to end that situation.
  
How Can Demonic Influences Be Recognized?
In severe cases of demonic influence there is often bizarre and/or violent behavior (Mark 1:23–24; Mark 9:17–18, 20, 22; Mark 5:2–5)

In one case when Jesus healed an epileptic by casting out a demon (Matt. 17:14–18) but elsewhere epileptics are distinguished from those who are under demonic influence: “They brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them” (Matt. 4:24).   This was true in some other cases and shows the importance of discernment (which Jesus had in perfection).  

Demonic influence can lead to blatantly false doctrinal statements (1 Cor. 12:3; 1 John 4:2–3; 2 Cor. 11:13–15).

Jesus Gives Believers Authority to Rebuke Demons and Conduct Spiritual Warfare.
The authority to rebuke and command the enemy has been given to us (Luke 9:1; Luke 10:17; Luke 10:19; Acts 16:18; 2 Cor. 10:3–4; Eph. 6:10–18; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8–9)

The Scripture in Jude 9 is of special interest and says: “But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, disputed about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”’  The context in Jude is not Christian encounters with demonic forces, but is addressing the error of immoral and rebellious false teachers.   Jude 9 doesn’t mean that it is wrong for human beings to rebuke or command demons but it means that we need to remember that our authority is a result of our position in proper submission to Christ.  

First:
We recognize that the work of Christ on the cross is the ultimate basis for our authority over demons (Heb. 2:14; Col. 2:15; Rev. 12:11).  The power to cast out demons comes not from our own strength or the power of our own voice, but from the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20).

Second:
Our membership as children in God’s family is the firm spiritual position from which we engage in spiritual warfare (Gal. 3:26)

Third:
We should not fear demons (1 John 4:4; 2 Tim. 1:7; Phil. 1:28; Eph. 6:16; Eph. 6:13; 2 Cor. 10:4).

Fourth:
The authority in practice is simply and generally briefly speaking a command and/or scripture to an evil spirit to leave when we suspect the presence of demonic influence in our personal lives or the lives of those around us (James 4:7; Eph. 6:17; Matt. 4:1–11; Matt. 12:28–29; Luke 10:17–19; 2 Cor. 10:3–4; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8–9; 1 John 3:8; 4:4; 5:18).

Appropriate Use of the Christian’s Spiritual Authority in Ministry to Other People.
First:
Use gentleness in ministry to others (1 Cor. 14:33). You may even gently ask questions of those who you are ministering to and ask them if they think they are under attack and let them know what you are doing.  

Second:
This doesn’t have to be a dramatic or emotionally charged event.  Rather than long and loud procedures Jesus simply “cast out the spirits with a word” (Matt. 8:16) although some showed a slight initial resistance (Mark 5:8; Luke 8:29; Mark 5:9–13; Luke 8:30–33)  

Third:
Focus on the person you are ministering to and the truths of the Bible. We simply practice the basics of exercising our authority and be “babes in evil” (1 Cor. 14:20).  Minister the Gospel if the person is not a Christian (Matt. 12:43–45)

Fourth:
Effectiveness can be related to our own spiritual condition (Matt. 17:18–20; Mark 9:29).

Fifth:
Expect the Gospel to Come in Power.
We can trust God to move in power when we obey (Luke 4:41; Acts 8:7; Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 2:4–5; 1 John 3:8).