
This three perhaps four part series should help not only to understand
but also to simplify the myth and mystery surrounding the concept of spiritual
warfare.
We have decided to look into this subject especially now
because we are now in the third quarter of the year. Spiritual warfare is not
limited to the end of the year and is probably not even stronger at the end
than the beginning of the year. The fact is we are at war and the devil our
enemy is relentless.
Just before the ascension, Jesus called
the disciples to himself and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18. All means ALL, in other
words, there’s nothing left elsewhere.
God made man in His own image and gave
him the earth; this obviously was an insult to the devil, who had fallen from
heaven. He made a visit into the garden
and said to Eve in Gen. 3:1 “Did God really say, ‘You must not
eat from any tree in the garden’?” this was only an invitation to converse; it
is my opinion that the devil knows what God had said.
The devil came into
the garden, powerless, homeless and destitute but at the end of the day,
through one of the greatest strategic manoeuvre of the ages, not only did he
leave with the transfer of ownership of the earth to himself (Satan), but he
also took the power and authority originally given to man; he didn’t even throw
a single dart.
Man ate the forbidden
fruit. We’ll be talking about this in details at another time but what I find
most fascinating about the account is the fact they weren’t even hungry. Now that’s something to remember the next time
you feel tempted to dance with the devil, he’ll make a full of you. By the time
the devil finished with man, he was homeless, helpless, naked and void of all
dignity and glory. The devil still does that today.
In order to understand and appreciate what the
devil stole from man, have a go at Psalms 8.
O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is
Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out
of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because
of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
When
I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars,
which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son
of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the
angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to
have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things
under his feet….
After Jesus died and resurrected, it is definitely
comforting to hear him make that bold assertion; “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me….”
There are good things you started at the beginning of the
year which the passing of time and the pressure of living have made you ignore,
it’s time to go back to them and fight. You have authority. I see you winning in Jesus' name