Who is our enemy?

FOUNDATION SCRIPTURES: I Peter 5:8-9, Ephesians 6:10-18, Colossians 2:15.

1) RECOGNISING YOUR ENEMY
i) Genesis Chapter one: Reveals that God created all and 'it was good', so what has happened on earth to result in this present day circumstances? Jesus said the storms of life would come, so clearly there is another influence outside God's original will and plan for people.
ii) Genesis chapter three: Mankind suffered their first defeat by deception. To fail to recognise deception is to remain in a state of defeat and the body of Christ can be defeated simply by not recognising the deception of Satan and remain in that condition until the Word of God is taught correctly (John 8:31-32).
iii) Gods Will is Good: James 1:17, John 10:10. Anyone holding onto any other concept of God is deceived and will live a defeated life.
iv) I John 3:8, Colossians 1:12-14. If there was no other influence in the world, God would not have sent Jesus to save us from the power of that influence. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and show his church how to live by his authority and power over all the works of Satan. What need would there have been for Jesus if God's plan had never come under attack?

2) WHERE DID THE ENEMY INFLUENCE COME FROM?
i) Ezekiel 28:13-17, Isaiah 14:12-15. Satan was created by God as the anointed cherub who was created good, perfect, beautiful as an arch angel (one who was in charge of domain) Satan had a free will, he had the power to make his decisions.
Pride developed in his heart because of his beauty and Satan led a rebellion in Heaven against God. They were defeated and banished from heaven. God had created earth and gave man authority over it. Satan and his demonic forces came to earth and deceived man out of his authority (Genesis 3:1-13, Luke 4:5-8). Satan became the ruler (God) of this world system. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), because of his legal right to be here, God had to redeem man from Satan's authority and then give his authority to man to govern Satan and his demonic forces as long as we are on this earth.

3) SOME NAMES OF SATAN
i) The Devil- Ephesians 6:11, Matthew 4:1-11
ii) Tempter- 1 Thessalonians 3:5
iii) Prince of this world- John l2:31
iv) Thief- John 10:10.
vi) Angel of Light- 2 Corinthians 11:14
vii) God of this world- 2 Corinthians 4:4
viii) Accuser of the brethren-Revelations 12:10
ix) Prince of devils- Matthew 12:24

4) SATAN'S PLAN

i) Rule the world by keeping people from knowing the truth. Jesus said in John 8:31-32 that truth has the power to produce freedom in anyone's life. Satan attacks the Word of God from entering the hearts of people because he knows the power of God's Word. Mark 4:14-20, Matthew 13:19, 2 Corinthians 4;4, John 10:10, Psalms 109:6, Ephesians 6:10, 1 Corinthians 7:5, Matthew 4:1-10, Mark 1:13.

5) GOD'S PLAN
i) Redeem man: Colossians 1:12-14, Hebrews 2:14.
ii) Give his authority to man: Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 10:17-19. The power and authority that Satan had over the world was taken back by what Jesus did on the cross, now we are to exercise this authority with all the power of heaven backing the wonderful name of Jesus and the Word of God. Satan is subject to every believer through Jesus Christ. The only power Satan has is deception, that is to lie.

FAITH FOUNDATIONS prepared by Stephen Fisher - www.stephenfisher.org