Recognizing the Depths of Satan

Every season in your life has certain events predestined and appointed to happen by God’s hand. Understanding the times and seasons of God is important for perceiving your destiny because your individual mandate falls within the bigger scheme of God’s timing. Your individual mandate will have attacks launched upon it by Satan, and we must get an understanding so that we can overthrow the plan of the enemy.

Satan has organized ways that he attacks believers and we must be aware of this. As a believer, you belong to the winning side, and you must know how to legally engage in combat. I’m going to talk more about the strategies of spiritual warfare. You’ll recognize the depths of Satan while wearing the mighty armor of God!

The Bible makes it clear that a battle line has been drawn between two kingdoms. One is the kingdom of God: the kingdom of light and righteousness. The other is the kingdom of the devil: the kingdom of darkness, evil, and all lies. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness both operate in hierarchical order. That is, there are grades of authority in each kingdom.

The hierarchy that is mentioned in Colossians 1:16-17 (KJV) says “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” The emphasis here is mine as I want to point out some key phrases referring to hierarchies.

This hierarchy, referring to the kingdom of God’s arrangement, is different from the Satanic hierarchy outlined in Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) “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.” Emphasis here is mine to point out key phrases.

Notice that “rulers of darkness of this age” and “spiritual wickedness in high places” is not mentioned in the Colossians account. God has angelic thrones with accompanying delegated authority in various capacities, according to their assigned duties. Satan has tried to duplicate this divine order with a rival set-up to carry out his evil plans.

Whatever you bind or loose on earth, the angels of God are mandated to enforce your command in the heavens. However, you cannot gain access to a house without a key. You can’t bind and loose without the knowledge of God’s kingdom. Ignorance in any area of your life gives the enemy the advantage

Let’s gain some insight about the structure of Satan’s kingdom according to Ephesians 6:12.

Principalities are ruling spirits assigned over nations and cities. Their domain is assigned to a certain territory within set geographical boundaries. They exert their influence over the heads of nations and kings. These ruling spirits seek to control the political lives of these nations – using human heads as their main instrument of operation.

Their function is to direct plans for countries and cities. They influence men and women in government and positions of decision making for nations. See also 2 Tim 2:2 and Daniel chapter 10.

Want to know why there is evil in the world? Why do evil governments exist and their people pine away in starvation? Why is there war, famine, poverty and starvation? Because the ruling principality assigned to that boundary has full control and is not being challenged.

Powers is the second level of authority in Satan’s kingdom. They influence the thoughts and feelings of human beings. They influence people to kill, steal and indulge in all manner of destructive deeds. Powers try to influence Christians to slander, gossip, bear grudges, and backbite. This spirit causes people to have a lackadaisical attitude towards the work of God. This spirit likes to convince believers to believe lies and/or get into a state of offense. They also influence and operate through the airwaves of the media.

Rulers of darkness in the Greek means “KOSMOKRATEROS” which means World Rulers. These are mandated by the devil to promote false religions and the occult practices –enslaving the souls of men in deception. The main aim of these Rulers of darkness is to control by deception and place in people’s minds false teachings, false visions, and false dreams.

After powers, come the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly realms. They promote hedonism and lawlessness in the land to ensnare souls of men in all manner of abominable sins. The key to their operations resides in the word “wickedness”. Spiritual wickedness are responsible for such things as accidents, pre-mature death, suicides, delayed blessings, unseen obstacles, hindrances to progress and advancements. They are very injurious and destructive in nature. Sometimes they try to influence and interfere with messages from the pulpit – they cause Christians to “sleep” and be distracted. Among other things, they convince the unsaved that all is well.

Believers, the fact that you are in a fight means something GREAT is about to come forth in your life. When purpose begins to manifest in your life, the enemy gets intimidated because you are now a threat.

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

1 Peter 4:12-13 KJV

Without understanding the dynamics of Christian warfare, your fight will be futile.

There is a code of conduct that is acceptable warfare. The most common mistake we can make is to believe that our enemy is a person. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can’t get into the flesh fighting people using carnal means when the true source of the problem is the spirit influencing the person.

Your Pharaoh is about to be drown in a Red Sea. Your lion is about to be “quenched” in the lion’s den. Your fiery furnace is about to have a 4th man show up.

If you have done battle in the Spirit realm, and have done everything that the Holy Spirit wanted you to do, sometimes our job is to stand. After having done all you can do, stand in patient faith and see the salvation of the Lord! Ultimately, the battle is not yours but the battle is the LORD’S. (2 Chronicles 20:15-30 KJV)

God is going to give you a “suddenly” defeat over all your enemies! Everyone who has shot an arrow against you – who has spoken against you.. God is about to take them down! I’m going to leave you with a Word from God until next time:

“Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked;

from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect:

suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

They encourage themselves in an evil matter:

they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves:

all that see them shall flee away.

And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God;

for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him;

and all the upright in heart shall glory.”

Psalm 64:1-10 KJV

Remember, Satan has organized ways that he attacks believers and we must be aware of how this works. As a believer, you belong to the winning side, and you must know how to engage in combat. I’m going to talk more about the strategies of spiritual warfare this month. You’ll recognize the depths of Satan while wearing the mighty armor of God!