Equipped to Be Fearless

When you walk faithfully with Jesus and live for Him, being filled with the Spirit, the enemy doesn't like it. The forces of darkness begin to attack you at every turn. What you experience is often referred to as spiritual warfare. Note the description of the enemy of every believer in Ephesians 6:12,  "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." The enemy is fierce; but we are quipped to be fearless.

In warfare, it is always of first importance to understand the enemy—who he is, what are his strengths and weaknesses, and how does he operate, or what are his tactics? "God, who made the world and everything in it" (Acts 17:24a), created the angels (Psalm 104:4). Lucifer was an angel described by Ezekiel as having "the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty" (Ezek. 28:12b) and "perfect in your ways from the day you were created" (v. 15).

Then Lucifer rebelled against God. We read in Isaiah: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit" (Is. 14:12-15).

The scene in heaven, of Satan being cast out of heaven, is described like this: "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Rev. 12:7-9).

The angel Lucifer rebelled against God in heaven. He tried to usurp the throne of God, making himself out to be above even God. He led a whole host of angels with him in this rebellion and he lost. As a result, Lucifer, known as Satan or the Devil, was cast out of heaven along with all the angels who joined him in the rebellion. They were cast down to the earth where Satan is now known as "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31). He will do anything to pull you away from God. "He is a liar and the Father lies" (John 8:44b, NASB). Satan "transforms himself into an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14b), all in an attempt to deceive as many people as he possibly can. That is the enemy; who he is, his strengths and weaknesses, how he operates, and what his tactics are.

Knowing the enemy, Paul instructs us, saying, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph. 6:10-11). Remember, Satan was described as having "powers" (v. 12), but he is not omnipotent or all-powerful; God is! Satan knows a great deal, but he is not omniscient or all-knowing; God is! Satan gets around on this earth, but he is not omnipresent or present everywhere; God is! So when Paul says, "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (v. 10), remember that the Lord's might is far mightier than anything the enemy can muster. We simply must stand firm on God’s truth at all times. When you "know the truth… the truth will set you free" (John 8:32, NIV). Amen.