What Is An Enemy Attack and What Isn’t?

Once Satan was banished from heaven, he did not go to hell, however. He, along with 1/3 of the angelic hosts that went along with his prideful attempt to usurp God’s throne, were given limited authority on the Earth. The apostle Paul refers to Satan as “the god of this world” who blinds the minds of those who do not believe (2 Corinthians 4:4), and the “commander” or “ruler” of the power of the air or unseen world at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God (Ephesians 2:2). Jesus, himself, refers to Satan as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). 

Satan is alive and active in the Earth today. Christians must understand this because if we think Satan is bound in hell, we will surely fall victim to his vices. What does Satan do in his spare time? He prowls around, like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (I Peter 5:8). Over and over again, we are commanded to stay alert and be aware of his devices. 

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This brings us to question, “What is an enemy attack and what isn’t?” Before we unpack spiritual warfare, let us first think of natural warfare. In every battle, there are at least two opposing teams or sides. Each side has an allegiance to a way of life and a commander. Each side is fully aware that there is one mission: destroy the opponent. If we do not understand that the devil’s plan is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10), we will live unwisely and will be quickly annihilated by our enemy. 

Spiritual warfare can be defined as opposition from the kingdom of darkness to thwart the purposes of God. When Jesus foretold his disciples of his need to go to Jerusalem to be killed and resurrected, Peter, one of his closest disciples, objected, saying, “This will never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22)! Today, we might imagine Jesus lovingly comforting Peter and telling him God’s plans were best, but Jesus’s actual respone is shocking: “Get behind me Satan! You are a dangerous trap (obstacle, stumbling block) to me” (Matthew 16:23). Jesus recognized the kingdom of darkness working through Peter to attempt to thwart the purposes of God. 

On a smaller scale, whenever the enemy plants a lie in your heart that causes you to disobey God, you, too, are experiencing spiritual warfare. One might say, “Well, isn’t that just your flesh at work?" The problem with believing disobedience is only caused by our fleshly desires is that we ultimately miss the origin of what contributed to the disobedient thought. As noted earlier in Ephesians 2:2, it is Satan who is at work in the hearts of the disobedient. 

A Prayer for Spiritual Warfare 

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To nullify Satan’s influence on our behavior and not see it as spiritual warfare is to lay a foundation for works righteousness. We cannot, in our own strength, live righteously. It is a work of the Spirit called sanctification (John 17:17, I Corinthians 6:11). This is not to say “the devil made me do it,” but is a clear understanding that the devil is indeed at work in people. 

The apostle Paul drives the point home when he reminds the believers they “are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). 

Most of us have not come into direct physical contact with an evil ruler of the unseen world. But what about the unsaved boss at work who hurls curses your way when you don’t measure up to his standards? What about the suave, listening ear of the man in the next cubicle who understands your thoughts before a word is ever on your tongue? Your marriage “just happens” to be in trouble, and this man “just happens” to be in close proximity. Are the boss or the man agents of spiritual warfare? Yes, though likely unaware they are being used by Satan in this way. If we chalk these situations up to us needing to learn to be humble in the face of adversity or learning to manage our temptations, we will run like a hamster on a never-ending wheel of performance. 

Do we need to learn to overcome temptation? Yes, but not by our own power. Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). One might wonder, But doesn’t temptation come from our own desires? According to James 1:14, temptation does come from our desires, which entice us to sin, but where did those evil desires originate? From the deceiver, the one who is at work in the hearts of those who disobey God (Ephesians 2:2). 

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A cute colloquism that’s been trending on social media is this thought that our greatest enemy is inside of us (The enemy is en-em-me). While this makes for a viral post, it isn’t biblical. Our greatest adversary is not ourselves, and it is the devil himself. Must we constantly submit to the lordship of Jesus, bringing every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)? Absolutely. We have a responsibility to live righteously as we are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit day by day. 

However, to nullify our greatest enemy is unwise and will yield disastrous results. Every Christian has been commissioned into the army of the Lord. Our chief enemy is Satan himself. 

Burning my hand on the oven might teach me to be patient and put on an oven mitt. Losing my keys and cell phone might teach me to be more attentive or focused. Pausing to give time to the “least of these” might teach me sacrifice. These, in themselves, like most of life’s inconveniences, are not spiritual warfare. But whenever you face opposition to the purposes of God in your life, that, indeed, is an enemy attack. Be aware, for you are in warfare.

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