Know Your Enemy - Chapter One

I was recently blind-sided by Satan. Using someone very close to me, I became hurt, then angry and finally enraged. As the situation escalated, I realized that this was not just a one-on-one with another person, but that Satan's handprint was manipulating the exchange. I quietly backed off, ending the exchange of venom, but my pain and anger prevented me from doing any more than that. It took weeks to get back into the Spirit. I had been duped by Satan, and right then, I asked God to show me my enemy. I wanted to be prepared at the onset of the next attack.

So, this is the first part of God's revelation to me. As he reveals more about the enemy to me, I will write them here.

The very first thing that God revealed to me was Matthew 24:36:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only."

God has told no one about the timing of the final hour - not even his Son. When a General plans war against an enemy, one of the best weapons is the element of surprise. As the posters stated in WWII - "Loose Lips Lose Soldiers". This is war and God takes this final battle seriously - enough not to reveal his timing to anyone - not even his Son.

If God takes Satan seriously - then we should, as well.

So, let's go back to the beginning. God created the angels, including Lucifer. These spirit beings were created to have fellowship with God while serving him. God loved them. At some point, Lucifer wanted more position in God's economy. He may have had a very good relationship with God for a long period of time. He probably had been a good and faithful servant and now felt that he should be raised to a higher postion. However it came about, we do know that Satan's first sin was pride. His second sin was gossip. Satan used his influence to sway the other angels to follow him in rebellion; many followed.

Now Satan stood before God with those who had leant their support - challenging God's authority. Satan had God in a "Catch 22". Our God is a just and merciful God. This dichotomy of character required a perfect solution, for God could not allow evil to flourish and yet, he loved his creatures. God's justification called for the total destruction of Satan and the other rebels, but His love would require mercy. What would he do?

Blowing the Shofar

Many years ago, I read an interesting book on the relationship between Jewish holidays and Christian events. Unfortunately, the name of the book and the author have been lost to me - so please excuse me for not giving the proper credit here.

At sundown June 12th, the Jewish holiday of Shavout will begin. This holiday is also called The Feast of the First Fruits, and although this celebration has less significance than some of the other holidays in current Jewish doctrine, I believe this day has great significance for Christians.

The origins of this Feast started in ancient tradition, and was a time of thanksgiving for God's generous provision. The Hebrews would decorate their houses with flowers and greenery, and harvest the first fruits of their fields including barley, spring wheat, vegetables, olive oil and honey. When the Shofar was blown at sundown, they would bring their first fruits into the temple as an offering to God. This was a time of thankfulness and great celebration. The festival would last for seven days

The Shofar, which you can hear by clicking on this link:
http://www.s-hamilton.k12.ia.us/antiqua/mp3/shofar.mp3, would be blown to call the people to the Temple of God. The traditional Shofar was a musical instrument constructed from a rams horn or ibex horn and blown at times of feast, fasting or battle. Hebrew tradition states that at the end of times, the Shofar will be blown at the final return of the Messiah alerting Satan that his time of judgment has come. It is said that Satan flees each time the Shofar is sounded believing that his demise is imminent, therefore, the Hebrew people would blow the Shofar when they wanted to execute their feasts, fasting or battles without the presence of Satan.

It was on Shavout that Moses received the Laws of God at Mount Sinai. The Shofar was blown before the Law was given to Moses. Satan heard the Shofar, and believing his time of judgement had come, he fled, allowing Moses to accept the Law without his evil influence. This started a new economy for God's people - the Economy of the Law.

As Christians, we share in the next economy - the Economy of Grace. This economy also started on the Hebrew holiday of Shavout. We call this day Pentecost as stated in Acts 2:

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound (the Shofar) came from heaven like a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them." RSV

These disciples were the "first fruits" of the new Economy of Grace, and just like the issuance of the Law, the Shofar was sounded so that the Holy Spirit could be dispensed in secret from Satan.

I believe the next economy will also be dispensed on Shavout. With a shout, (the Shofar) the Lord will call up the First Fruits of the harvest before the end of ages.

Spiritual Warfare

Yesterday, I switched on a local Christian radio station while driving to work. A song full of praise and worship filled the car, and I lifted my hands in agreement. Although I did not know the words to the song, I set my heart on praising God. Suddenly, I felt God washing my face with his hand. "What are you doing?", I asked him.

"I am preparing you for spiritual warfare. Put on my armor."

In compliance, I mentally pictured myself dressing in the armor of God. As in 1Thessalonians 5:8, I mentally dressed myself in the breastplate of faith and love. I then lifted the helmet of salvation over my head. "Why are you preparing me for battle?"

I remebered that I had a management meeting that morning, and our Corporate Relationship Guru was speaking at the meeting today. This woman is warm, soft spoken and well liked by our staff. She is frequently called upon to intercede when relationships in our office are strained and she has facilitated peace between many co-workers through NLP programming. She claims to be spiritual - but without Jesus.

Many years ago, I too was involved in NLP. As a salesperson, I frequently listened to tapes and read books offered by such names as Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar and Denis Waitely. They kept me motivated, inspired and positive - but without God. Little by little as I listened to these tapes, I relied on God less. I spent less time praying or reading my Bible and more time listening to these tapes; putting my faith in my own powers. Thankfully, one day God tapped me on shoulder and asked me to look up from what I was doing. I could see that I had become arrogant in my own abilities - I no longer needed or depended on God. I eventually discarded the NLP paraphernalia and went back to my Bible for inspiration and spiritual growth.

During our meeting yesterday, the Relationship Guru spoke to us about managing our departments. We all listented intently. Suddenly, she looked straight at me and asked "What is the difference between arrogance and self-confidence?" I knew this was the moment for which God had prepared me. I could feel the dark presence as though it were standing in front of me.

Without fear, I returned the eye contact and responded, "Arrogance is inspired by fear. Self confidence is the absence of fear and contains the humility to allow for others."

The air in the room changed, and she quickly ended our meeting. Before I could get back to my office, she had left. I remembered James 4:7 "Submit yourself therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." RSV

Be mindful that your spiritual growth comes from the word of God. Any other source may contain the dark forces that will lead you from God to your own arrogance.

Temptation

"Pray that you may not enter into temptation." Luke 22:39

Before Jesus went into the Garden, he wisely charged his disciples to pray. He knew that this would be their most trying hour, for fear and self-preservation would replace their growing faith.

Jesus knew what was to come. God had lifted the cloak of safety from the little group, so that the promise (death and ressurrection) could be fullfilled. Satan needed to believe that he had the chance to destroy the Messiah - the Redeemer to fulfill the prophecy, but in removing that cloak of safety, the entire group was susceptible to temptation.

Jesus went to the Garden to pray against his own temptation. He wanted to execute his Father's plan without succumbing to slander or anger against his tormentors. He expected his disciples to do the same.

In verse 43, Jesus comes back to his disciples after praying, and is incredulous that they are sleeping. Again he charges them to pray against temptation. He knows that if he or his disciples justify themselves in the coming hours, then the justification of God will not be apparent.

It was too late - Judas came with the guards, and as predicted his disciples acted out of fear and anger instead of faith. Using a sword they cut off the ear of one of the guardsmen. Fear begets anger, and anger begets damage.

Quickly Jesus healed the guardsmen ear, just as he now heals the relationships that we damage with our sword or tongue. He shows us that it matters not who is right or who is wrong, but that we continue to love each other without succumbing to fear and anger.

Faith and fear cannot abide together, and fear is the first step into temptation.