Why is it that the stories, books, movies that interest us most, the ones that intrigue and captivate our hearts and imaginations, always have a villain?  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a good story that didn’t have a bad guy?  But the truth is, the reason these stories fascinate us is because your story has a villain!  He is identified in Scripture first as Lucifer and after his rebellion from God he appears in the Garden of Eden in the form of a serpent.  He is commonly referred to in the present day as Satan, or the Devil or simply as the Enemy!

Earlier this week I wrote about Simon Peter, the disciple whom Jesus warned was about to be sifted like wheat by Satan.  Peter learned a thing or two when he emerged from that harrowing affliction and he warns us in his first epistle,

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  1 Peter 5:8-9

So, just what is Peter presuming about the life of the average Christian?  Verse 8 says that we have an adversary (an enemy or opponent) who is walking around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour!  I once heard a beloved pastor teach on this passage many years ago.  He said, “He goes around like a roaring lion, but he’s nothing but a declawed, defanged pussycat!”  I rejoiced in that imagery at the moment but I was still a bit wet behind the ears as a Christian.  Life, personal experience with the adversary, and an intense study of spiritual warfare have led me to understand that Satan is still a very powerful opponent!  When referring to the present power of Satan, renowned spiritual warfare authority Dr. Ed Murphy says, “already, but not yet.”  Yes, Satan was defeated at the Cross!  But the effect of that defeat has not yet been applied.  There is coming a day when the Enemy will be put in his place … and his place is Hell!  But he’s not there yet!  And his power has not yet been taken away from him.  He is not, contrary to popular belief, a declawed, defanged pussycat.  The Apostle Paul encourages us in Romans 16:20,

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

So, when Paul wrote that it was several decades after the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Satan had not yet been bruised.  And notice that Paul’s prophecy says that God will bruise Satan “under your feet” …  Christian friend, you will be involved in the demise of your enemy!  Can anybody say SPIRITUAL WARFARE!!!

And verse 9 indicates that you are not alone in this conflict!  Notice that Peter says, “knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”  No, you’re not alone!  Every believer in Jesus Christ will suffer affliction from our adversary, the Devil.  Remember Revelation 12:17 which I quoted in my last blog,

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

If you have the testimony of Jesus Christ, if you are a believer and a follower of the LORD of Hosts, then you have an enemy who is committed to destroy you!  Jesus speaks of this in John 10:10 in that beautiful passage about the Good Shepherd.  We’re all familiar with His statement in that verse,

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

But did you know that is only the second half of the verse.  John 10:10a says,
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy …

There it is!  The thief (the Enemy, Satan) comes for one reason and one reason only!  He comes “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy!”  Okay, so let’s look at the whole verse in it’s context …

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

So, yes!  There is a promise of abundant life for the believer and that promise is made by the Son of God, Himself!  But, beloved, do not confuse the promise of the abundant life with the “nice little life” you have been searching for!  You won’t find what you’re looking for!  It’s not out there!  The abundant life, however, is yours for the taking upon the promise of Jesus Christ!  But never, never, never lose sight of the warning Jesus gives in the first half of the verse, immediately preceding the promise.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy …

So, there it is!  The abundant life is ours … but it comes at a price!  Salvation is free to anyone who receives it (although it cost Jesus His all) however, the abundant life must be fought for!  We must, of necessity, put on the whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) and take our place in the battle!

And the battle will be fierce at times!  If you haven’t already, you will receive painful wounds in this spiritual skirmish!  Sometimes those wounds will knock you out of the fight for a period of time but remember, Jesus describes the purpose for His coming thus;

“… he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised”  Luke 4:18

“To set at liberty them that are bruised.”  Does that describe you?  Have you been wounded in combat?  Take heart, Jesus is our Medic and He will gently, compassionately bind up your wounds and when you have received your strength again (and you will) He will put you back into the heat of the conflict so that;

… the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.   Romans 16:20

In the next blog post I will write more about the wounds taken in battle.  Until then, keep your eyes upon “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)