Spiritual War: Enemy on the Offense

In the First World War, there were trenches from Switzerland to the English Channel. These trenches were called the front lines, and it was there that the battles were fought. There were also front lines in World War II, but they were not as stationary. War today ignores front lines because of missiles, air bombardment, guerillas, and terrorists. Both sides fighting in the spiritual war also ignore lines (unless you consider every home, every vocation, every church, school, and college in every nation a front line).

The Enemy is on the offense in all of these places all of the time. His offense is through lying, stealing, rape, murder, and war.

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears” (Acts 20:29–31).

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping” (2 Peter 2:1–3).

“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?’” (Acts 5:3).

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men’” (Mt. 16:23).

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

We have overcome our enemies:

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 Jn. 4:4).

(To be continued…)

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.