Spiritual Warfare: Part Two

Chapter Nineteen: Your attitude towards Satan and spiritual warfare

C. S. Lewis wrote, "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils.  One is to disbelieve in their existence.  The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them." 

What he is saying is to be balanced in how you approach spiritual warfare.  I believe God wants us to learn and be aware of what is going on in the spiritual realm and how it affects our lives and the world we live in, but He does not want us to become preoccupied with it or overly interested in it.   You simply need to learn about Satan and how he works just as any soldier studies their adversary... but do not get so caught up in it all that you lose sight of the fact that he is already a defeated foe.  Satan knows he has already lost, so all he can do is cause trouble and try to get people out of step in their walk with God.

When Jesus equipped His disciples for ministry He gave them power and authority.  Luke 9:1,2 says,  "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,  and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick."  Look at Jesus' answer to them in Luke 10:17-20 when they returned from doing what He had empowered them to do.  It reads "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'  He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'” Jesus doesn’t want us focused on the enemy but focused on doing the Kingdom’s work.  

Satan would love to have you so focused on him that you waste valuable time that could be used growing in your relationship with God.  Don't get me wrong.  There will be times when you will need to fight him off, but if your focus is mainly on staying close to God, growing in your relationship with Him, and doing what He's asking you to do, the attacks from the enemy will simply be his way of trying to get you off course.  Keep your focus on God and on your walk with Him.

In Spiritual Warfare: Part Three,  we will look at how Satan tries to attack followers of Christ.