Combatting the Lies of the Enemy  

Preparing ourselves for the battles to come

Six weeks ago, I set off on what is intended as a prolonged mission in the very north of Scotland. On the eve of departure, whilst I was doing some last-minute tidying up in my garden, I clearly heard the Lord’s commission for the trip “War is coming. Prepare the beachhead.” Whether that is a literal war or not is yet to be determined, but it set the clear focus for my mission of prayer and teaching: I was to work with the people in the church there to enable them to make the personal preparations in their hearts so that they might become a spiritual beachhead for God's Kingdom in the midst of territory that, like so much of the British Isles, could be described spiritually as ‘enemy territory’.

What cannot be denied is the reality of the spiritual battle that is growing in intensity, not only in the British Isles, but across the globe right now. This means that all of us should do what we can so that we are ready to play our part in the battles to come. 
If we were to ask any soldier in the regular army how they were hoping to win a war they were facing, their reply would include three key principles:

1. Believe the enemy is real and out to destroy you;
2. Understand how your enemy operates;
3. Develop a winning strategy.

What is true in a military war is also true in the spiritual battle that we fight against the forces of darkness in the heavenly realms. Therefore, I wish to highlight one of the key battlegrounds that we must prepare for. 

God’s Mandate to the Church

In the Bible, we see a clear picture of the cosmic battle that is being waged between the one force of Goodness [God] and the many forces of evil. It began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve handed over their right to rule to the deceptive Serpent and will only be finished when the enemy, Satan, is thrown into the fire (Rev 20:10).

This ‘battle’ we are engaged in is not being fought in the physical realm but in the spiritual: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”  (Eph 6:12). This is not the same heaven where Father God sits on His throne but a spiritual realm, including the earth, where angels, demons and we, the church, operate. 

Now, Satan would love this article to make him seem bigger and stronger in some way, perhaps even to instil fear in the heart of a reader, so right now let us take a brief moment to remind ourselves of the truth: 

The enemy has already been defeated. Jesus beat him hands down when, in obedience to God, He willingly laid down His life at the cross. But death did not have the power to hold Him. Quite the opposite, in fact, as the apostle Paul states: “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col 2:15). Jesus rose victoriously from the grave and gave back to His people the abundant life that Adam lost. 

Paul describes part of the Church’s commission in a similar way: “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Eph 3:10-11)

It is high time that we take this mandate and God-given authority seriously, and set ourselves apart for His purposes ...

It is high time that we take this mandate and God-given authority seriously, and set ourselves apart for His purposes until we see a measure of His Kingdom reign and His glorious presence manifested upon the earth — in every nation, in every strata of society, in every community — until that great and glorious day when the New Jerusalem descends and the reign of God is permanently re-established upon the earth as it already is in heaven.

Although it is fairly easy to make a response to the challenge before us, the working through of the task is not easy at all. Satan and his evil workers have had things mostly their way in our towns and villages for a very long time. His influence is deeply entrenched in the lives of the people, from government and the monarchy, down through every echelon of society. 

Therefore, we might reasonably expect that no ground will be easily surrendered without the enemy putting up a real fight. This is where we come to understand that we really are in a spiritual battle. However, if we are consecrated and submissive to God, then we have nothing to be afraid of, as James reminds us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

We are resoundingly on the winning side, and Jesus has not left us empty-handed. In Him, we have been given every spiritual weapon we need to see ground taken back, almost daily.

We are resoundingly on the winning side, and Jesus has not left us empty-handed. In Him, we have been given every spiritual weapon we need to see ground taken back, almost daily. Although our ‘weapons’ are rather unconventional – such things as unity, humility, repentance, purity, faith, love, forgiveness, obedience, prayer, worship and the word of God – the Bible tells us that, when appropriated correctly, they have tremendous power to demolish even the most deeply-rooted strongholds Satan might have in place, however long they may have been there.

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Cor 10:4).

We are, without a shadow of doubt, on the winning side. Hallelujah! But where and how did it all begin?

The Reality of the Enemy

In the beginning, Satan was a member of the angelic host. His name was Lucifer, meaning ‘the morning star’¹. He was a worshipper of God who overstepped his boundary when he aspired to become like God, to sit in God’s place and to be worshipped as God is worshipped:

“All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps… How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ’I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’” (Isa 14:11-14).

God could not leave this rebellion unpunished, and he “was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him” (Rev 12:9). Since then, he has been given freedom by God to walk the earth (1 Pet 5:8).

The New Testament gives the devil a number of titles, which demonstrate his hold on the world: “God of this world,” (2Cor 4:4), “Prince of the power of the air,” (Eph 2:2) and “Ruler of the world” (Jn 14:30). John writes: “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 Jn 5:19).

Before we were born again, we were part of Satan’s dominion. We knew no different. We were ignorant about the ways of God and the schemes of the enemy (Eph 4:18; 1 Pet 1:14). But Jesus has changed this in the life of the believer, for “…He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves.” (Col 1:13).

The Enemy’s Strategy

Once we are born again, Satan’s interest in us increases significantly and he employs many different tactics, the single purpose of which is to make us fail to “live a life worthy of the gospel” (Eph 4:1; Col 1:10). He even dared to try this with Jesus! In his humanity, Jesus was no different to us. He had the same fleshly instincts as we do, and it is these that the devil tested during Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness. 

There are three distinct, but overlapping, areas: the world, the flesh and the devil.

• The world. This is the ‘box’ in which we live – the daily set of circumstances, people, routines and situations that comprise our individual world. No two ‘boxes’ can ever be exactly alike for we each inhabit a ‘box’ that is unique to us.
• The flesh. These are the ungodly aspects of our lives that have not yet been fully given over to the Lordship of Jesus: our worldly, negative or sinful thoughts; our ungodly habits; our unrenewed or sinful behaviour; and our uncontrolled outbursts.
• The devil. These are the tempting, accusing and rebellious thoughts we entertain in our mind. When we believe them as true and make life-choices accordingly we are being led into disobedience and sin. Unwittingly, we are walking in deception, with the result that our spiritual effectiveness becomes neutralised and our spiritual growth stunted. 

 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” (Jn 10:10a).

The purpose of these tactics is to steal our peace or blessing, kill our desire for God and even destroy us completely. 

Jesus fought the battle and won by applying the word of God in each situation.

Jesus fought the battle and won by applying the word of God in each situation. If He had not won this battle, then Jesus, the man, would not have been able to demonstrate the power of God in the way in which He did. Sometimes we forget Jesus was a man. We ascribe all manner of divine characteristics to Him during His earthly ministry, which, if they were true, would actually make Him no different to the Greek gods who pretended to be human, thus denying His complete humanity. The ‘something special’ Jesus had was His walking in total submission and obedience to the will of the Father in the fulness of the power of the Holy Spirit – in all things and at all times. This is where He differs from us.

Satan manipulates people and, through them, arranges circumstances that use legitimate things such as our family, careers or even ministry to over-ride our time with God. He uses the everyday need we all have to earn money to lure many believers into materialism, the end result being that many of us have lives that are almost indistinguishable from those of the unbelievers all around us. Very quickly these legitimate things become idols as we prioritise them over our relationship with and time spent with Father God.

Sometimes Satan targets our weaknesses in order to disable us in the Christian walk and nullify our witness.

Sometimes Satan targets our weaknesses in order to disable us in the Christian walk and nullify our witness. He also bombards our thoughts with negative or worldly lies that twist God’s truth, causing us to doubt His word or paralyse us through fear – even with the intention of destroying our life altogether.

Satan is fundamentally rebellious towards God; this is how he seeks us to be as well. We were created to be submissive and obedient to God, whereas his purpose is that we live fundamentally disobedient lives, independently of God. Obviously, if we give ground to the enemy in our personal lives, then the Kingdom will not be demonstrated clearly or righteously through us.

Deception

In the Garden of Eden, the Serpent cunningly twisted the word of God. This caused Eve to question its validity, which resulted in her giving in to the temptation to rebel against God’s word and disobey Him.  Behind the whole scenario were LIES: “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1). Yes, He did actually. “You will not surely die…” (Genesis 3:4).  Oh yes, you will; and they did – spiritually. Jesus says of Satan: “…for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44).

Behind every single scheme he uses against us there is a lie.

In essence, Satan is a deceiver. He knows no other language, no other way of being. Behind every single scheme he uses against us there is a lie. Every demonic spirit is a liar. There is no such thing as a non-deceptive spirit. Every aspect of Satan’s nature and his dominion is deceptive.

In the First World War there was a brand of matches called ‘Lucifer’. They were probably so named because a light bursts forth in the darkness as the match is struck. 
In Isaiah 14:12 in the King James Bible, the Hebrew word ‘heylel’ is translated as ‘Lucifer’². In the New International Version, the same word is translated as ‘morning’; “O star of the morning”. The word carries the sense of a light bursting forth – but in a boastful, proud, showing-off kind of manner. That sums up Satan and his workers very well: “Satan himself masquerades himself as an angel of light.”  (2 Cor 11:14).

But any ‘light’ that Lucifer brings is a total counterfeit of that of the one true God. In these last days, the battle between the kingdom of light and Satan’s dominion of darkness will continue to escalate towards its destined conclusion. We are told to expect intensification in the counterfeit works of darkness and the teaching of false prophets, who will be given occult powers to work tremendous miracles, signs and wonders:

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved”  (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).

I believe that there are two contrasting influences at work in our land at this time, two ‘rivers’: 

1. The ‘river of Egypt’: a release of total ungodliness, amorality and unprecedented wickedness and evil that will eventually be accompanied by a counterfeit move of ‘god’ that will result in real persecution of the true church of God. This is an outworking of God’s judgement on a nation that has turned its back on Him and legislated Him out of society, and an institutional church that has compromised itself and endorsed much of what the ‘river of Egypt’ stands for.
2. A genuine ‘river of God’: an increasing desire for purity and God’s presence as the remnant church, who is listening to the voice of the Spirit, prepares herself for the return of the Bridegroom. These lovers of God will carry genuine anointing, power and the glory of Jesus, not because they have sought it, but because they have sought Him and are wholly set apart for Him.

Both of these are currently running parallel; my belief, however, is that the river of God will eventually rise up to increasingly overcome the river of darkness and that, prior to the return of Jesus, we will see the fulfilment of the biblical Feast of Ingathering, as an end-time revival sweeps across the earth in order that Jesus might receive the greatest reward.

Test the Spirits

To stand firm and faithful, we need tremendous spiritual discernment and insight. Do not look only to the obvious forms of false prophets, such as mediums, clairvoyants, spiritualists, faith healers, witches, etc. These are usually found outside the church.

Be very careful to also look inside the church. I urge you not to assume that everything that is happening, even within the church, is of the Spirit of Truth. “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible”  (Matt 24:24). The apostle John urges us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world”  (1 Jn 4:1).

Everything about Satan’s dominion, and what he’s doing right now, is an outright counterfeit of the Kingdom of the one true God. How then do we recognise ‘it’ – the false ‘river’ – when we see ‘it’? Or when ‘it’ comes to us – perhaps with the deliberate intention of infiltrating our church, small group or prayer cell? Or is naively embraced by the majority in our Christian community, simply because it’s the latest trend?

I used to work in a bank in a busy seaside town which had a large Butlin’s holiday camp. During the summer season the camp residents more than trebled that of the local population and it was not unusual for counterfeit, high-denomination bank notes to be circulated. I clearly remember one occasion when I was busy counting the weekend takings from the local supermarket. It was a great deal of money and, being an experienced cashier, I worked my way very speedily through the piles of notes, but not so quickly that I couldn’t spot a counterfeit note! I amazed the shop manager by stopping in my tracks and pulling out the forgery. It was a brilliant forgery, which had completely deceived him and his staff. How did I spot it? Because I knew in depth what the genuine article looked like! I was used to handling it. I knew its colour, weight and texture, so to my trained eye the forgery was immediately obvious and easily spotted.

As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual. None of us is beyond being deceived; and, because Satan has been deceiving people for a very long time, he is very good at what he does. Deception looks good. It appears authentic. It may look appealing. It may sound plausible. It may sit in the front of the gathering and press in close to the leadership. It may seek to dominate the meeting through the plethora of ‘words’ and pictures shared. It may strive to be at the forefront of the prophetic or prayer ministry – perhaps seeking to authenticate itself by telling you secret things that only you and ‘god’ would know. 

Deception never wants to serve the genuine purposes of God.

However, this deception will always lack humility. It will always seek something for itself – a name, a position, fame, control or power. It will want you to ascribe worship to it; to seek it out more than God Himself. Once its opportunity to influence the gathering is cut off, it will leave. Deception never wants to serve the genuine purposes of God. We should, therefore, give some consideration to the nature of the genuine.

The Winning Strategy – The Truth

“God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.”  1 Timothy 6:15-16.

The true light of God is different altogether from that of the enemy. The brightest light known to humans, the laser, must still necessarily contain a measure of darkness because it is not pure light. The true light of God is so bright that it is actually unapproachable and dangerous to mere mortals. The apostle Paul found himself instantly blinded and overwhelmed by the power that emanated from the light he encountered on the road to Damascus, so much so that he knew immediately that he had met with God (Acts 9:3-5).

The light is that of His glory, which is the  ‘kabowd’ or ‘weight’³ of everything in His character and nature: the ‘things’ that make Him God. Truth is one such characteristic and is found in the nature of every person of the Trinity:

 “O Lord, the God of truth”  (Ps 31:5).
“Jesus said: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’” (Jn 14:6).
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.”  (Jn 14:16-17).

The light that comes from the throne room of God is full of truth. It is so pure that it has not the slightest hint of darkness about it: “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.”  (1 Jn 1:5).

Our only defence against the counterfeit movement that will rise up in these days ... is for us to become wholeheartedly a people of the truth

And this is exactly how we also are meant to be. Our only defence against the counterfeit movement that will rise up in these days – one that will appear just as exciting and dynamic as the genuine church (possibly even more so!) – is for us to become wholeheartedly a people of the truth: those who in every aspect of life are wholly truthful, upright and honest; people of absolute integrity. “Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell.”  (Ps 43:3).

“O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth?”  (Jer 5:3).
“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts”  (Ps 51:6).
“God is Spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth”  (Jn 4:24).

Combatting deception in our own lives

“Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” (Ps 24:3-4)

When we read these verses, we may seriously consider the first two elements – ‘clean hands’ and a ‘pure heart’ – and make an effort to examine ourselves, sincerely repenting of the areas where the Holy Spirit shows us we are falling short. The idols in our heart, however, are harder to spot and the fourth element, falsehood, is extremely difficult to identify. Very few of us realise we have any falsehood in us at all. Why is that? Because it is deception! 

We can be deceived into thinking we are honest, truthful and upright when, in fact, we may be far from it. If I brag or exaggerate for effect, twist the truth, deliberately misread or misinterpret the truth, lie (even a ‘white’ one) or project a false image in any way, then I am allowing darkness into my life. If I stir up trouble between people, especially the saints, through not always speaking the truth, or rob God by taking the credit for what He is doing, then I am living a lie. I can always rationalise my behaviour. But the truth is that I am walking in falsehood – in deception.

We can be deceived into thinking we are honest, truthful and upright when, in fact, we may be far from it.

This is perhaps the single most important lesson for us to grasp because of the seriousness of the time in which we live. If we have any measure of untruthfulness about us then we are actually no better than the false prophets: “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.”  (1 Jn 1:6).
How do we change? By submitting ourselves to the truth, which is the word of God illuminated by the indwelling Spirit of truth, and working with it and Him on a daily basis in order to first change our thinking. If we do this for long enough, eventually our feelings and then our behaviour will also change.

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth”  (Jn 17:17).
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”  (Rom 12:2).

We each have a daily choice concerning how we walk in our journey with the Lord. In the sobering seriousness of the current season, we each need to give time to getting to know the One who is truth in whatever way we can. We must dig-in deeper into time spent with Him; perhaps just sit quietly in His company and allow Him to place words of truth into our spirit, and read His word, not mechanically or religiously, but with a heart that not only hears His word but leaps to obey and put it into practice.

Wisdom is that we give time now to preparing a stronghold for God within our hearts whilst we can, for the day will come when suddenly we need to stand strong on whatever foundation we have laid in our hearts. This is something that takes time, so let’s resolve to give Him that time now whilst we still have the daylight.

“As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work”  (Jn 9:4).

Adapted from and extract from Restoring Eden, by Sarah Winbow

Notes
1. Strong's H1966
2. Strong's H1984
3. Strong's H3519