CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENEMY

"Only the children of the most high God dare to oppose him (Satan) and, if need be, resist to the point of shedding of blood.

The devils have names of great power ascribed to them in Scripture. Satan is singled out as the most powerful of all. He is called "the strong man" Luke 11:21, so strong that he keeps his house in peace, defying all the sons of Adam. We know from our own experience that flesh and blood is no match for him. Christ must come from heaven to destroy him and his works, or we would all die in our sins.

He is also called the "roaring lion" 1 Peter 5:8 the beast that rules the whole jungle. When a lion roars, the sound of his voice so petrifies his prey that he can walk calmly among them and devour them without resistance. Such a lion is Satan, who moves with ease among sinners, preying on them at will 2 Timothy 2:26.  He takes them alive as easily as the fowler entices a bird into the net with a scrap of bread. If the truth were known, the devil finds most sinners so naive and spiritless that he needs only to appear with a proposition, and they yield without the slightest twist of the arm. Only the children of the most high God dare to oppose him, and if need be, resist to blood.

Another name for Satan is "the great red dragon," who with his tail (i.e., wicked men) sweeps down the third part of the stars of heaven Revelation 12:3-4. He is also called "the prince of the power of the air" Ephesians 2:2, because as a prince he can muster his subjects and call them to report for duty at any time.

But his most powerful title of all is "the god of this world" 2 Corinthians 4:4. It is given to him because sinners grant him a godlike worship, mistakenly holding him in reverence as the saints do God Himself.

The nature of demons also makes them mighty. Remember, these fallen creatures were once angels and have not yet been stripped of all their power. Scripture verifies the potency of angels: "Bless the Lord, you his angels, that excel in strength," wrote David in Psalm 103:20."

Today’s lesson is full of truth and I recommend you read each scripture in your Bible and look up in your Bible Study Notes any helpful information so that you can understand each one in its context.

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617