Notes from a September 2012 conference regarding spiritual battle
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Truths About Spiritual Battle – (conference speaker: Marvin Smith)
Understand that Satan has already been defeated; We need not give him any control in our lives!
Satan was defeated in Heaven
Satan was defeated by Christ in the wilderness
Satan was defeated by Christ in hell
Understand that one of Satan's goal is to wear us out (Dan 7:25).
Satan is not trying to defeat God; he knows his future. Satan isn't targeting a lost men – he already has them. Rather, Satan is targeting saved people! (that he might distract us from living for Christ & serving our Savior)
Rev 13:7 -- Satan makes war with the saints
Rev 12:12- Satan has wrath - knowing that he cannot win
Understand that Satan tells us LIES about God, others, self:
Lies Satan tells us about God: God doesn't really LOVE you, ACCEPT you or CARE ABOUT you. God isn't fair/ God ripped you off, GOD CANNOT USE ME; cannot forgive me; God cannot be trusted;
Lies Satan tells us about others: nobody cares; nobody loves me; the preacher is against me; the church does not accept me; no one understands me; everyone is a hypocrite; my parents do/don't love me; my spouse doesn't love me / care about me;
Lies Satan tells me about myself:I'll never amount to anything; I'm stupid; I'm ugly (that's an offense to God!); I can't get victory; I'm worthless (we aren't worthy or worthless); I'm too filthy to be used of God; I am not accepted; I will never be loved; I cannot do anthing for God / my work isn't important.
Understand that we should combat Satan's lies with the truth of God’s word!
Some great Biblical truths:
We have been crucified with Christ (gal 2:20); buried with him (to 6:4-5); raised up with him (Eph 2:6; ro 6:5); I am seated with Christ (Eph 2:6);
The Spirit of God desires to renew us each day!
Truths about our Salvation:
Past: We have been justified / positional sanctification
Present: We are growing in practical sanctification
Future: we will be glorified
Great truths about the results of my salvation in Christ:
… I am accepted by the Father (Eph 1:6)
… I am God's child (John 1:12)
… I am justified - ro 6:1
… I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
… I have direct access to God
… I have been forgiven - Col 1:14
… I am complete in Christ
….I have been appointed to bare fruit - John 15:1
… I am a personal witness of Christ
… I am a new creation in Christ
… I am God's workmanship
… I can do all things in Christ
… I am more than a conqueror in Christ
James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."