No Neutral Ground in the Spiritual Battle

The thief [Satan] cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: 

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

John 10:10

The invisible war is being waged right here on earth every day.  Satan fights to maintain control of the kingdoms of the world. He does not want them to come under God's authority. The battle also rages within the hearts, minds, and souls of men and women as Satan strives to keep our focus away and off of God.

Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers and attacks believers in the areas of worship, the Word, their daily walk, and their work for God. 

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  2 Corinthians 4:4

The battle also rages in our physical body which Satan attacks through sickness and disease.

The invisible war started in Heaven with an angel named Lucifer who was originally a beautiful angel created by God and part of the Kingdom of God. Lucifer, through his pride, felt that he should be worshiped in the same manner of God and decided he wanted to take over God's Kingdom. You can read about his rebellion in Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:12-19.  A group of angels [now called demons] joined Lucifer (now called Satan) in this rebellion. Lucifer and the rebellious angels were cast out of Heaven by God. They formed their own kingdom on earth:  

And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon (Satan); and the dragon fought and his angels. . .  

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.   Revelation 12:7, 9

Lucifer now known as Satan and the angels, which followed him in rebellion, now known as demons. Demon spirits can enter, torment, control, and use humans who belong to Satan's Kingdom. They motivate evil acts which are done by men and women. Satan directs his demons in their evil activities. He combines these powerful forces with the world and the flesh to war against all mankind.

Man was originally created in the image of God and for the glory of God (Genesis 2). The invisible war against man started with the first temptation in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Satan influenced Adam and Eve to sin. This resulted in all men inheriting the basic sin nature and committing individual acts of sin due to this nature:  

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.  Romans 5:12

It also resulted in the invisible war between man and the forces of evil:  

And I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman (mankind), and between thy seed (the forces of evil) and her seed (the forces of good represented by the Lord Jesus Christ). . .  Genesis 3:15

Because of sin, man was separated from God and condemned to death. This death was the spiritual death of separation from God. It was also physical death, for when man sinned Satan entered the genetic system with the curses of sickness and disease. But God loved man so much that He made a special plan to save him from sin:  

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.   John 3:16-17

Through belief in Jesus, confession and repentance from sin, men and women can be released from the power of the enemy. The death and resurrection of Jesus not only resulted in salvation from sin, it also defeated the enemy, Satan:  

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.   1 John 3:8

One may ask, 

     ®     'But if Satan is defeated, why does the war still rage?, 
     ®    'Why do we still see evil in the world around us?' and 
     ®    'Why are we tempted by sin and attacked by sickness?'

In the natural world, following any war there are always pockets of enemy resistance. These are rebellious troops that will not give up until forced to do so. Although Jesus defeated Satan, we are living in territory which is still occupied by enemy resistance forces. Understanding spiritual warfare strategies gives us the ability to deal with these evil powers.

who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?   Galatians 3:1 

Satan is trying to keep men captive in sin. Through deceptive methods he is enticing men and women to sinful living. He aims for the affections of the soul and spirit which rightfully belong to God. He also targets the body to destroy it with sickness and disease:  

The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

Satan still wants to be the supreme ruler. He is waging an intense battle for the body, soul, and spirit of man. His strategies are directed at God, His plan, and His people.

Apostle Paul said it is important to know Satan's strategies:

 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.  2 Corinthians 2:11

We should learn all we can about Satan's strategies of attack. We must also understand the Scriptural basis of victory over Satan and the forces of evil. We are called to intelligent combat.  Basic to the understanding of spiritual warfare is this key principle:

We must recognize that all battles of life, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, financial or with human personalities are only outward manifestations of a spiritual cause.

Although in the natural world, problems may seem to occur through the circumstances of life, the basis of these natural battles is in the spirit world. The account of Job illustrates this principle (Job 1-2).

We have tried to correct the evils of this world through medicine, education, legislation, and improved environment. It has not nor will it ever be fully effective because the visible evils of the world are the results of an underlying spiritual cause. They cannot be corrected by natural means.

We are either part of the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Satan. 

Either God or Satan has power over our life. One of the parables told by Jesus illustrates that all men are either part of the Kingdom of Satan or the Kingdom of God. Jesus compared the world to a field. The good seed in the field are children of the Kingdom of God. The bad seed, which resulted in the growth of tares (weeds), are children of the wicked one:

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the Kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.  Matthew 13:38

People enter the Kingdom of Satan through natural birth. The Bible teaches that all men are born in sin. This means that they have a basic sin nature or the "seed" of sin within. Their natural inclination is to do evil: 

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Psalms 51:5

Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.  Romans 5:12

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.   Romans 3:23

Because we are born with the basic sin nature, we have all at one time been part of the Kingdom of Satan. All who remain sinners remain part of the Kingdom of Satan. The whole message of God's written Word, the Holy Bible, is the appeal to man to move from this evil Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God. Men are born into the Kingdom of Satan through natural birth. They must be reborn into the Kingdom of God through spiritual birth. Entrance to the Kingdom of God is by the new birth experience explained in John 3.

There are only two divisions in the invisible war. Jesus said, 

"He that is not with me is against me"  Luke 11:23 

You cannot be neutral in this war. You are on one side or the other in this spiritual war. Some believers, because of their fear of confrontation with the enemy, try to ignore the war and form a truce with the enemy. They think if they ignore Satan, he will not bother them. This is one of Satan's main strategies. He tries to render members of God's army immobile by his terror tactics.

But there is no neutrality in this war. You are either a victim or victor. 

You will either be victorious in your soul and spirit or you will be defeated, discouraged, and despondent. Which will it be?

The spiritual call to arms has gone out:

     ®    Are you on the side of good or of evil? 
     ®    Are you part of Satan's Kingdom or the Kingdom of God? 
     ®    Are you the good seed or the tare? 
     ®    Are you a victim or a victor in the invisible war?

(Biblical Studies)

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