By: Colonel James Green, February 1985
WE KNOW THAT SATAN IS OUR ENEMY, DON’T WE? We also know that he is on the prowl as an enemy of the Word of God, the Holy Bible. The first time that the name “Satan” appears in the Bible is found in I Chronicles 21:1-“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” Through this provoking, David sinned and judgment from God followed (see vv. 8-17). Before this, we find Satan in the very beginning of man’s creation as the serpent (Gen. 3:1).
The name of Satan is mentioned 54 times in the Bible. The Hebrew word [for Satan] brings out the activity and nature of Satan: “Satan” means “to attack, accuse; adversary, opponent, the arch- enemy of good; withstand.” The name “serpent” is mentioned 11 times, referring to Satan.
So all through Scripture we find Satan attacking, accusing, withstanding God’s chosen people as an adversary, an opponent, and an arch-enemy. Is it any wonder why the Lord wants us to know our enemy and resist, rebuke and tread upon him? We see him as the “dragon” in the book of Revelation (12:3-12). As the serpent, he whispers a magic spell, is an enchanter, a prognosticator; but as the “dragon” he is pictured as a “fabulous kind of serpent (perhaps as supposed to fascinate)” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).
In his military eminence (i.e., in his condition or station of prominence or superiority by reason of rank or office as of personal attainments), the devil has his assistants, his administrators, his legions of demons, dispersed in strategic positions to implement his injunctions at command. We see this highly organized satanic cosmos in Ephesians 6:12-PRINCIPALITIES (ruler demons over territories and countries), POWERS (demons with authority to carry out orders assigned to them), RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD (lords or princes of this age), and SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES (wicked spirits who are highly destructive and injurious in character). There is no end to Satan’s [evil] occupations and his [wicked] character. He is the master of darkness. He is the master destroyer.
Another biblical synonym for “Satan” is “Apollyon” or “Abaddon” (Rev. 9:11). “Apollyon” is his name in Greek while “Abaddon” is his Hebrew name. “Abaddon” means “destruction”.
The devil is primarily a nocturnal being; darkness is his greatest time of enterprise. He has held man in a prison of darkness for centuries (Rom. 2:19; 13:12; 1 Cor. 4:5; II Cor. 4:6; 6:14; Eph. 5:8, 11; 6:12; Col. 1:13; I Th. 5:4-5; 1 Pet. 2:9; II Pet. 2:4, 17; I John 1:5- 6; Jude 6,13; Rev. 16:10).
Satan is not a fair fighter. He is perpetually watchful to assault, attack, and vex defective humans when they are at a low ebb, incapable of resistance. Usually when we get down spiritually or physically, he attacks us more, hoping to destroy us. Satan works through bad habits, illnesses, diseases, and plagues. He troubles his victims emotionally, mentally, sexually, and religiously. Some related spirits that work through one’s emotions are these: hatred, resentment, anger, rage, fear, rejection, self-pity, depression, worry, bitterness, unforgiveness, rebellion, quarreling, loneliness, jealousy, selfishness, etc.
Through our mental realm or mind of thought, [Satan attacks us with] spirits such as torment, doubt, confusion, indecision, procrastination, anxiety, fear, insanity, madness, hallucinations, paranoia, schizophrenia, retardation, mania, frustration, forgetfulness, unbelief, skepticism, occultism, intellectualism, rationalization, pride, etc.
In the sexual realm, the devil works through such spirits as sexual fantasies, masturbation, lust of all kinds, perversions, homosexuality, lesbianism, fornication, adultery, incest, harlotry, rape, etc.
I have heard Christians say that all of the above things mentioned are only for the unsaved, yet we see these very things working within the Body of Christ. Why? It is Satan working in conjunction with our human will. It ought not to be, but let’s face it, WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE CHURCH! We can’t blame everything on the devil, yet if we take notice, he works in our ignorance as well as with our consent.
Two ways that I know that Satan can get into a believer’s life are through the sin of omission (failing to obey God’s Word, omitting to do certain things) and through the sin of commission (willfully committing a sin).
If we fail to forgive one another, we open the door for the tormentor (Matt. 18).
If we do invite spirits inside us, we can cast them out through the mighty name of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:17). I personally know some believers who think that Satan exists only as a concept, a thought, an intellectualized image, merely an evil personality within man. This is Satan’s most subtle working, his most deceptive wiles at work! The Bible tells us to resist the devil, not ignore him (James 4:7).
Satanic power is a “supernatural” power and is therefore stronger than the human will. The only effective weapon, therefore, against satanic power, must be a GREATER “supernatural” power, which is that of God.
