Colossians 2:13-15; 1:12,13
Every true Christian is engaged in an invisible and unceasing warfare with the power
of darkness. No matter the spiritual height you have attained, you will not enjoy
immunity from this spiritual warfare. Even Christ Jesus had to contend with the
power of darkness at every moment of His time on earth.
Anyone who rejects the existence of the power of darkness is living in denial of the
truth. Satan is the chief architect behind this warfare working with, and through a
host of spiritual and human agents with all kinds of trickeries.
You need not fear the battle because God assures the careful, conscious, and
consistent believer triumph over the trickeries of the power of darkness.
“…To labor to be acquainted with the ways, wiles, methods, advantages, and
occasions of the success of sin, is the beginning to this warfare”-Owen.
P1. The Truth about the Power of Darkness
Luke 22:52,53; John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 2:1,2; 6:12; Revelation 12:7-13
You are in a fight with the power of darkness:
- Christ acknowledged the existence and work of the power of darkness
- The chief aim of Satan is to keep sinners in perpetual bondage and believers lukewarm, lethargic and backslidden (2 Corinth. 4:3,4)
- The evil powers seek to manipulate and dominate individuals, families, churches, societies and nations
- False religion, occultism, divination (psychic, telepathy, clairvoyance), sorcery, horoscopes, martial arts, movies, songs, video games etc. are channels of such domination
“To remove warfare from a spiritual life is to render itunspiritual…” – Watchman Nee.
P2. The Trickeries of the Power of Darkness
Genesis 3:1-6; Revelation 12:9,10; 2 Corinthians 2:11;11:1-3,13-15; Ephesians 6:11,12; Luke 4:3,5-7,9-12
The power of darkness operate and succeed through trickeries:
- The old serpent is constantly recycling his old schemes
- He preys on his victims through the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:15)
- Satan is constantly exploring so he can exploit the believer’s weak spots (Matthew 13:24-28)
- If Satan fails as a lion, he returns as lamb. If persecutio fails, he brings prosperity, power, position and promotion
“The saint’s sleeping time is Satan’s tempting time” – Gurnall.
P3. Triumph Over the Power of Darkness
2 Corinth. 2:14; Luke 4:4,8,12-13; 10:17-20; 1 Peter 5:8,9; Rom. 16:20
Christ equips us to trump, trample and triumph over Satan:
Victory will elude the spiritual weakling (Eph. 6:10-18)
- Triumphing over the power of darkness demands vigilance, sobriety and putting on the complete armour of God
- Only the spiritual weapons the Lord has given us can give us a decisive victory over Satan
- A holy life is a sure weapon for triumph over Satan (1 John 5:18; Daniel 6:1-10,16,20 24)
“Soon the battle will be over. It will not be long now before the day will come when Satan will no longer trouble us. There will be no more domination, temptation, accusation, or confrontation. Our warfare will be over and our commander, Jesus Christ, will call us away from the battlefield to receive the victor’s crown” -Watson.