The one who comes to interfere and create various hurdles in the lives of all believers is given many names in the Scripture but the most prominent is Satan, the name by which he is generally known. He is very clever and wise from the time he was created by God and uses all his skills in destroying the faith of all believers. To save us from his attacks, God has blessed us with His strength and might as well as knowledge and wisdom in His Holy Spirit in us. We are equipped to face the devil’s attacks of deception and continue to move on the path of victory.
Why can’t we detect Satan’s attack – We are of the world and are able to see all material things but are unable to see beyond that, though there are light rays of higher frequency in the world. Likewise, we cannot hear beyond a certain wave-length of sound waves. We cannot suppose, as many people do and live, that there is nothing beyond our sight and hearing. The creation process is about God speaking and everything coming into being. But we are not aware of what God had in mind while speaking thus and creating everything. We learn that ‘God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness’ (Genesis 1:4). We have no idea as to what was there in the darkness, that was separated but not removed.
Before anything was created over the earth, ‘darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters’ earth (Genesis 1:2-3). Apostle John had been very close to Lord Jesus and he had declared, ‘God is light and in Him is no darkness at all’ (1 John 1:5). The Holy Spirit is God and is holy, for there cannot be any darkness in Him. Yet in His presence over the earth, darkness was present and the reason for that is not clearly stated.
The Creator God had finished the work of creation and then as expected, He ‘saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good’ (Genesis 1:31). Again, there is no information about the darkness that was separated from light, whether it was good, very good or bad or evil. God is always wise and nothing can surprise Him, for He is beyond the restrictions of time and space. The psalmist, while praising God for His great attributes declared, ‘For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past’ (Psalm 90:4). God is above and beyond time and the only thing that He forgets, are the sins of a believer, who repents and surrenders his life to His Son, Jesus Christ. God has absolutely clear knowledge of everything that is anywhere in the whole universe and He has provided His Word, the Holy Bible to His people as a guide book to live according to that. Yet He has hidden certain things from us, especially about the devil and his agents, the demonic forces.
God Himself certified Job as His servant and ‘that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil’ (Job 1:6). Yet He permitted Satan to afflict him in every sphere of his life, including causing the death of all his children. While suffering the pain, Job never prayed for his physical healing but only to know the real cause of his affliction. Tired of the false accusations of his three friends, He cried out in despair, to say, ‘I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You regard me’ (Job 30:20). Job’s prayer shows the depth of his suffering and the feeling of being ignored by God who was so close to Him, and its effect on his faith.
Satan was created ‘perfect’ in his ways and he was in ‘Eden, the garden of God’ and was the ‘anointed cherub who covers’ (Ezekiel 28: 13-15). In his fallen nature, his powers or his wisdom has not gone down but he is using it all to oppose God and His people. It is for our good that God does not reveal what is going to happen to us in future because of evil schemes of the devil. We would be so traumatised by that knowledge that it will be nearly impossible for most people to move about. God permits this state so that, ‘after you have suffered a while, (God will) perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you’ (1 Peter 5:10). This is the reason for God permitting the forces of evil to afflict us, so that with these sufferings we could be raised to a higher level of perfection to be better partners for doing good to others.
Facing this unseen enemy – The basic and most important aspect of army life is to know your enemy and then plan your strategies to defeat him. Apostle Paul, the great fighter of faith, has identified the weapons available with a believer (Ephesians 6:14-18). However, none of the weapons is for attack, including the ‘sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God’. We are supposed to defend ourselves and when attacked, counter him and make him flee.
The names of the devil in Scripture reveal his very character and way of attack. The first, a roaring lion – A lion tries to remain undetected till the last moment and attacks the weak, the lonely or the sick (in the soul) (1 Peter 5:8). He wants to make us useless for the heavenly kingdom by making us stumble, sin and thus damage our faith. He does not plan to injure but destroy and kill and steal our influence over others (John 10:10).
Second, the day star – Lucifer was a covering cherub in heaven but due to his pride fell from heaven. The prophet describes him as ‘the Day Star, son of Dawn’ for he projects himself as the alternative light (Isaiah 14:12). He can never be the true source of light and being filled with darkness in himself, he leads all who follow his ways into the deep pit of sin and evil and into eternal darkness. Lord Jesus is the Morning Star, ‘as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns’ (2 Peter 1:19). Lord Jesus shines in our hearts to fill us with a holy desire to submit to Him and follow His ways. He leads us away from darkness and leads us into His light here on earth and thereafter, in heaven till eternity.
Third, the Tempter – After His baptism, Lord Jesus was tempted by the devil to somehow destroy His mission and role as the Messiah, the Redeemer (Matthew 4:1-3). A tempter presents a challenge before a person to act in ways contrary to God’s Word and ways. He tried to challenge the Son of God to prove His Sonship by using His own power, exploit God’s power (angels) to glorify Himself or surrender to have an easy way. He finds people’s weaknesses and the things that seem desirable to them and leads them to evil by leading them to their fulfilment.
Fourth, the Accuser – The one who brings someone’s sins in a distorted form before God to prove their sinful nature deserving punishment. God declared Job a righteous man but the devil levelled false accusations about him before God to prove otherwise (Job 1 & 2). He knows about God’s love for His people and he distorts the truth to condemn as many as possible into hell.
Fifth, the Serpent – At present, though Satan and his followers, the fallen angels, have been expelled from heaven, yet they have access to His presence. In the final battle this will be cancelled and he, ‘the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Revelation 12:9-10). He is the snake in the Garden of Eden and the dragon in Revelation. He could lure Eve for he was familiar with her and Adam’s works.
Sixth, Father of lies – Lord Jesus revealed the devil’s true nature to say, ‘when he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies’ (John 8:44). In whole of creation, he was the first person to lie and deception started with him through his claim that he could rise to be equal to God. He lied and distorted the truth to mislead Eve and he and his agents do the same to lure their intended targets to sin.
Seventh, Murderer – Lord Jesus termed the devil as ‘a murderer from the beginning’ (John 8:44). He caused the spiritual death of Adam and Eve and exile from the presence of God and His Garden. Satan continues to tempt everyone of all ages to sin and not turn towards the Saviour Lord
Eighth, Prince of the Power of the Air – Air is the source of sustenance of life but also is the carrier of all good and evil. Apostle Paul mentions the ‘course of the world’, the ‘kosmos’, implying the physical as well as the operation of that world. In today’s world we can see the misuse of the internet and other connected works to spread falsehood and evil.
Nineth, Beelzebub – The scribes from Jerusalem accused Lord Jesus of being ‘possessed by Beelzebul’ and using this prince of the demons to cast out demons from people held captive (Mark 3:22). Satan led a third of the angels in rebellion against God and he is their leader, using them for all evil in the world.
Tenth, Belial – This is the spirit of evil and Satan is given this name for he was the first to sin in all of creation. People sin, out of their own desire/choice, he encourages it. It also means worthless and all his works and his entire being is this.
With this information, we can also understand the way we are likely to be attacked by evil and take precautions. We must see our own areas of weakness and pray to God for strength to overcome that.
Way to overcome our weaknesses – God’s plan for us is not to be losers and He as a loving Father desires us to be strong in His might. For this very purpose we are blessed with the indwelling Holy Spirit of ‘power, love and a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7). Just as the body can be satiated with food at one time, but feels hungry after sometime, the soul also needs the filling of the Holy Spirit. Most believers live as ‘filled today, empty tomorrow’ of the Holy Spirit. God has clearly defined the way, ‘not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit’ (Zechariah 4:6). The way is shown by our Lord Jesus, who ‘in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed’ (Mark 1:35). This is the price to pay, absolute surrender and nothing else that we think we can do for God. Looks very simple but is difficult to practice, for the devil will always bring many other things that look more urgent and important.
Why is it necessary to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily? God desires every believer to love others, live a holy life, be joyful and do what is right. A normal person’s inclination is always in ways that are opposed to this. The presence of the Holy Spirit is seen in the fruit as depicted in our behaviour towards others. The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit but others thought, ‘They are full of new wine’ (Acts 2:13). What is the difference between being filled and full of the Holy Spirit? Apostle Paul has warned all believers, ‘do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18). Both change a person’s behaviour, but one destroys and the other blesses. The Greek word ‘pleroo’ means to be ‘filled to full capacity’, just like a car petrol tank being filled. But as we move in life, facing various situations, knowingly and unknowingly, the fullness gets depleted. This filing is a continuous process and not a one time filling only.
Alcohol goes into the body and in its fullness, shows its character in that person by changing his talk and walk. When a believer receives the Holy Spirit again and again and eventually becomes full. His lifestyle is visibly changed and others notice, including the evil spirits around him. In fullness, the Holy Spirit takes full control of a believer’s life for there is no other force operating within. After His baptism, the Son of God was filled to the full of the Holy Spirit, ‘and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness’ (Luke 4:1). Our work of being filled is the way and the result is to be full and cede control. A halfway filling is giving a chance to some other force also to have control over our life.
The different stages of this filling up are clear in Scripture. First, at salvation, as Lord Jesus called out, ‘if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink’ (John 7:37). This is a call to be saved and the Holy Spirit leads one to believe. Second, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is only for a believer who has truly submitted to the Lord as His Saviour. The Book of Acts lists out various instances of baptism. This is baptism into the power of the Holy Spirit. While the first call was to the unsaved but this is to the saved. Third, the repeated filling of the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Holy Spirit is not only about speaking in tongues but in manifestation of the working of His power. Apostle Paul urged all believers to be continually filled with the Spirit. This is where our success and failure as a true follower of Lord Jesus rests. Most people continue to look for the blessing of speaking in tongues as the ultimate symbol but transformation is seen in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Apostles Paul and Barnabas preached the Word in Antioch and a great number believed. With this evident work of the Holy Spirit, ‘the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 13:52).
We identify, understand and defeat the schemes of the devil and his forces of evil not in our power or might but in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. We must ask God for wisdom and He gives liberally, for this is the fullness of His Spirit (James 1:5). Submit to God daily, ask, open your mouth wide for Him to fill it and in His power, trample on serpents and scorpions and over the forces of the enemy and move from strength to strength and victory.
Everyone wants to live victorious over every situation in their lives, but how many want to struggle and put in hard work to achieve this? For this one has to continue to completely surrender one’s will and desire to God and get filled with the fullness of His power. Scripture reading, meditation on the Word, application of that in one’s life and repeatedly being filled with the Holy Spirit is the real key to it!
