IGNORANCE IS DANGEROUS (2 Corinthians – 2)
One of the reasons sin and Satan were so rampant I the church in Corinth is because they were spiritually immature (1 Corinthians 3:2). He works best today where the Bible is not taught and people aren’t growing in their faith.
LESSON FOR TODAY 1: Satan blinds believers to the reality of his persona and work. Many believers today are ignorant of spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 2:5-11). Some even deny Satan exists, or, if they do believe he is real, think that believers are immune from his attacks. Nothing could be further from the truth. We must be soldiers who know how to use the equipment our commander provides in order to defeat those who would destroy us. Ignorance of how Satan works plays into his hands and leads to sure misery. Learn spiritual warfare, teach it to others, and use it whenever necessary.
LESSON FOR TODAY 2: Satan is really fighting a battle on three levels. There is the cosmic battle, Satan and demons battle against God and angels in the heavenlies (Daniel 10:1-14), the battle against believers on this earth (Ephesians 6:10-12) and an entirely different war against unbelievers to keep them in his kingdom and use them for its advancement (Acts 26:18). Our battle against him in this life is really just a faint reflection of the real battle which takes place in the heavenlies. Although fiction, Frank Peretti’s books “This Present Darkness” and “Overcoming the Darkness” help show us what these conflicts may look like. As you battle, remember the angels are battling with you and for you, you are not alone, you are just part of the greater cosmic conflict for control of the universe, and you are on the winning side! Never give in!
LESSON FOR TODAY 3: If you are a believer then you have left Satan’s kingdom of darkness (Ephesians 2:1-10) and deserted his army, choosing instead to join the forces of his arch rival. If you think he will take that lightly and leave you alone, that he will do nothing to retaliate and render you ineffective for God, then you are greatly mistaken (Daniel 10:10-21; Acts 13:6-12; 16:16-24; 19:11-18). He is totally committed to your destruction (Ephesians 6:10-18). That is why it is imperative to learn to fight. In addition, we still fight our old sin nature (Romans 7:14-25), so in reality we are fighting a battle on two fronts. Often, they combine and make things that much harder on us!
LESSON FOR TODAY 4: Satan has already been defeated at the cross (Hebrews 2:14-15; Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 4:8). In the future he will be crushed and removed forever (Revelation 20:1-3, 10). Now, in the present, we have authority and power over him in Jesus’ name (John 14:12; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 9:1; 10:1, 17-19; Acts 1:8). God uses us to gain victory over Satan even today. His future fall and removal is sure. It’s just a matter of time.
Satan will be defeated by God’s people. Paul reminds struggling believers that, although it may seem like Satan is winning at the moment, it won’t always be that way. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).
God shows demons His greatness through us. “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 3:10). “Rulers and authorities” refer to the breakdown of Satan’s organization of demonic forces (see below under Ephesians 6:10).
LESSON FOR TODAY 5: ALL powers are under God’s authority (Ephesians 1:22), but not yet brought under His final control (Ephesians 6:12). God allows them freedom as He respects mankind’s free will. He allows man the choice to follow Satan or not. We are living and building God’s Kingdom of light in the middle of Satan’s kingdom of darkness. Therefore, they can clearly see what we are doing – they carefully watch so they can destroy our work. But by our lives, our faithfulness and Christlikeness, we proclaim God’s power and greatness. Our victory over their work reminds them of their ultimate final defeat and demise. Many, however, are ignorant of this fact, so by our small victories over them now we show them of God’s sovereign control and final defeat of them. Satan, the great deceiver, has deceived many of his own demons about their final defeat. Thus, by our lives, and our words, we proclaim God’s victory over them.
Thank God for His power and victory in your life, for all He has done for you, and all He has protected you from of which you weren’t even aware. Spend some time praising Him for all you have because of Him.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
Copyright © 2021