Wrestling the Enemy

For we WRESTLE not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, 

against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12

God, in his infinite grace and mercy and because of His love for you and I, has equipped us with everything we need to combat the attacks of Satan.  God did not leave us defenseless against His enemy.  Along with the authority of Jesus' name, the gift of His Holy Spirit and the power of prayer, He gave us strategies effective in overcoming the enemy.  This means we don't have to try and fight the enemy on his terms.  This is a continued list of proven methods to defeat Satan where he seeks to attack you:

√        Attack and counterattack:

In natural wrestling, every move made sets us up for a response from the opponent. The same is true in the spirit world. 

          v   When we make a move for God, Satan will always counterattack with a move of his own.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.  2 Thessalonians 2:15

√        Mobility:

In wrestling, a mobile opponent is considered dangerous. This is why we want to pin our opponent down. 

          v             In the spiritual world, Satan is a mobile opponent. He goes "to and fro", as a lion, seeking to devour. 

And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.  Job 1:7

We must be on guard for his constant mobility. Satan also recognizes the effectiveness of our mobility. He wants to prevent us from being on the move for God. This is why he strives to throw and pin us down spiritually.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:   1 Peter 5:8

√        Recovery:

Any error made in wrestling results in an action that can be taken advantage of by the opponent. How true spiritually! Any error  made in spiritual wrestling is quickly taken advantage of by the enemy. It is important in wrestling to learn how to recover from a fall. It is necessary to be able to convert the bottom position into an advantage. There are moves of escape and reversal which will enable this.

          v             In spiritual wrestling we may at times experience a fall and be temporarily pinned by the enemy. But we do not have to remain in this position. God has given strategies in His Word which, if followed, will convert our disadvantage into an advantage. He has provided strategies for escape and reversal spiritually just as are used in natural wrestling.

Spiritual sickness results from sin and disobedience the remedy for this is:

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James 5:13-15

√         The objective:

The objective of wrestling in the natural world is to defeat the opponent by causing him to fall or pinning him to the ground. This results from a series of strategic moves and/or by wearing the opponent down.

          v             Satan constantly wars against believers trying to wear them down. His objective is to cause believers to fall, "throw" them, and trap them in the bondage of sin. His goal is to destroy our supportive points, just as a wrestler does to his opponent in the natural world. The goal is to make us prostrate spiritually. But the fight is not over, Apostle Paul encourages us:

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  

Galatians 6:9

√       Scoring:

Victory in natural wrestling also comes through a process of scoring by the judges. The wrestler with the highest points for the most effective strategic moves wins the match.

          v              Remind yourself, through the word of God:

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

√        We Win:

Your spiritual opponent has already been judged. Satan was overcome by the most effective move in all history, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You wrestle with an enemy who is already judged as a loser in the match. 

          v            Because of this we do not need to be afraid of his power or strategies in the wrestling match in which we engage. We do not have to fall or be pinned by the bondage of sin. We can stand confidently in the wrestling match of spiritual warfare and resist him steadfastly in the faith.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  2 Timothy 4:7

√        Mental attitude:

God calls us to love Him with our all.  

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  Mark 12:20

Because of this, Satan will use another form of attack against us.  He attacks our mind through our senses; what we see, what we hear.  He knows if he can control our mind, he can control our body, our actions, get our focus off God and stunt our growth and relationship with God.

          v             Mental attitude is very important in wrestling. The following attitudes are necessary for championship wrestling in the natural world. These attitudes also are true in the spiritual realm:

Desire: To wish and want to win is not enough. The championship wrestler must have a burning desire to win. Desire is an emotion which transcends all else in life.

Persistence: Sustained effort is required for championship wrestling. A champion wrestler will not accept defeat.  The same is true in the spiritual realm:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  Galatians 5:1

Purpose: The champion wrestler must have a will to win. Winning is the goal and purpose. To achieve this goal he must not only know he is master of the situation, but he must also let his opponent know.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Philippians 4:13

Always remember Satan is a defeated foe!

 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  

Put on the whole armour of God, 

that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  

Ephesians 6:10-11

Bible Study

11/06/18
03/02/20

07/25/22