The Doorpost: Don’t cower before the enemy
By Ray King · Apr 24, 2013
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.
1 Peter 5:8-9
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:12-13
Many times we may be tempted to live as if our adversary does not exist. Some Christians might even say, “I’m just going to walk with the Lord and obey Him, and I won’t have to worry about satan.” That line of reasoning has a spiritual sound to it. Unfortunately, it is not what the Bible teaches.
Scripture after scripture make it clear that we have a personal enemy with a host of spiritual beings following him, whose goal is to destroy as many of those created in God’s image as possible. Our Lord Himself was personally tempted by the devil, and showed us the example of how to resist him. Jesus cast out evil spirits. His teaching makes it clear that we are dealing with a real spiritual enemy, not some nebulous force or principle.
The good news is that Jesus Christ defeated our enemy through His death on the cross and through His resurrection. All believers are “in Christ” and share in this victory. Satan is a defeated foe and has no power over those who are in Christ. The only victory he can have is what we allow him to have.
In the passages above, Peter tells us to resist the devil. Paul tells us to “put on the full armor of God” so we can stand against our enemy’s spiritual forces. In the following verses he goes on to give instructions on how to do this.
Scripture makes it clear that we should not cower in fear before our enemy. But it also makes it clear that we need to consciously take steps to resist him so we can stand in the victory Jesus Christ has already won.