IDENTIFYING THE ENEMY
Ignorant of Satan's Devices
It is not wise to go into battle without first scouting out the land. One must be able to identify the tactics of their enemy in order to be ready to handle what will come. The scouts or spies are sent in to identify key targets, like communication towers, that can be taken out by air first, and pave the way for the ground forces to come. As God's Army we likewise need to be able to identify our enemy, before we go forth and take the land.
Ephesians 6:12 says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this present world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We see here that we are not fighting mankind, but powers that are of a different kind. This is a spiritual battle, and only through the spirit of God can we gain the wisdom to identify who we face. I believe Satan is taking advantage of many of us because we are simply ignorant of his devices (2 Co 2:11). Paul warns believers six times in his epistles "...not to be ignorant" concerning the Word of God. If we don't know our rights as children of God how can we defend ourselves. And if we don't know whom we are facing how can we respond.
Taking Out The Root
To anyone who has ever gardened you know unless you pull out the root, the weeds will always grow back. I believe as Christians most of us do pray, it is just that are prayers lack targets. We are good at identifying the fruit but ignorant in knowing the root. We pray, and pray, and pray over certain matters but seem to get little or no results. The fruit will always grow back if the root is still intact. For the next few weeks I believe God is going to teach us about our enemy. He is going to teach us how to war, and see victory.
Jer 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
We see here to establish God's Kingdom in our territory we must first root out everything that is not of God. If one expects a good harvest, they know it depends on how well they plow their field. They cannot expect much if their seeds are surrounded by weeds, for the weeds will choke out, whatever they plant. We can only expect to see a harvest if we are first willing to do the work it takes to produce. A good farmer lives for the harvest, day by day he does nothing but work his field for the good.
Binding The Strongman
Mat 12:22-29 Then some people brought Jesus a man possessed by a demon. The demon made the man blind and unable to talk. Jesus cured him so that he could talk and see. The crowds were all amazed and said, "Can this man be the Son of David?" When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man can force demons out of people only with the help of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons." Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. And every city or household divided against itself will not last. If Satan forces Satan out, he is divided against himself. How, then, can his kingdom last? If I force demons out of people with the help of Beelzebul, who helps your followers force them out? That's why they will be your judges. But if I force demons out with the help of God's Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you. How can anyone go into a strong man's house and steal his property? First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through his house and steal his property.
Satan will not just surrender because we show up. Unless we catch him and tie him up we cannot expect to take back what he has stolen. When the police go to take territory that is full of crime, they send undercover agents to identify the key people, so they know who to take out. God has given us the Holy Spirit to go forth and identify or expose the enemy so we have specific targets to take out.
Luk 11:21-22 "When a strong man, armed to the teeth, stands guard in his front yard, his property is safe and sound. But what if a stronger man comes along with superior weapons? Then he's beaten at his own game, the arsenal that gave him such confidence hauled off, and his precious possessions plundered.
God has given us weapons, these weapons are not carnal but spiritual for the pulling down of strongholds (2 Co 10:4) . As we identify our enemy, God will now release to us the weapons we need to defeat him. It is time for war, it is time to identify our enemy, so we can now pray and hit target. God has given us the authority we just need to know where to use it and whom to use it against. The bible gives us the promise that whatsoever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.