Lesson 98. My Enemy

Let us imagine the following situation. I live in a country whose minister of state security is a dictator. He introduces his own laws and regulations, which sometimes contradict common sense, but government officials make sure that everything is carried out exactly as their ruler desires. This chief has certain names and titles by which it is customary to address him. But the distinctive feature of this agency is that no one knows all of its employees by sight. They exist, yet they are absent from the visible realm. They possess a certain authority, but all their deeds are shrouded in secrecy. I know only the chief’s name as it appears in official documents.

Then I summon my courage and begin discussing this chief with my friends. I decide to publish information about his activities in open sources. My imagination and the example of other activists suggest new details to me concerning the personality of the man in charge of state security and his subordinates. I attribute to them things I have invented myself. In my speeches, I allow myself to be insolent and rude toward these officials whom I have never seen. But democracy and freedom of speech in our country allow me to say whatever I want. Then I learn that this agency has heard all my speeches and has taken a special interest in me. What do you think awaits me? I suppose serious problems will begin—problems I will not be able to solve on my own. Many years later, if I am still alive, I will consider what my speeches and attacks against the country’s secret services changed in society. Absolutely nothing; but enormous problems entered my own life.

We are at war, and we have a mysterious enemy whom we have never seen and whose strength and authority we cannot imagine. His name is Satan. This enemy commands an entire army that is constantly inventing new methods of temptation and attack and making sure that everything within its master’s sphere of influence proceeds according to his laws and takes place according to his will. These warriors are called demons. Serving these forces are people who have consciously dedicated themselves to Satan and sold their souls to him. They are prepared to obey all his commands.

The plans and objectives of this enemy army are described in the Bible and in certain prophetic books so that I may discover the nature of its influence and the characteristics of the conflict taking place. But nowhere is there even a suggestion that I should be rude and defiant toward these beings. Moreover, I am forbidden to use Satan’s methods in the struggle against Satan himself. God does not approve of any slander, abuse, insults, or mockery directed at the rulers of the darkness of this world. Such conduct may even deprive me of His protection and permit the enemy of my soul to defend his honor and bring serious problems into my life.

How, then, should I conduct myself properly? I believe it would be wise to remain within the bounds of decency and to use information that is publicly available. I must also take into account that the forces of evil surpass me in every respect, just as I, for example, surpass an ant. We are speaking of angels whose nature I do not understand. Although they have fallen in God’s sight, they remain angels possessing special strength and capabilities that we cannot even imagine. Their destructive influence is restricted because God protects His creation and does not allow demonic forces to display their supernatural power fully. God’s law provides special protection for every soul that lives in obedience to its requirements, and the enemy of humanity can do nothing to such people. They are outside the sphere of his influence. But if, while seeing God’s protection, I allow myself to be insolent and rude toward the enemy’s army, I attract their special attention, and every careless word I speak may give them an opportunity to harm me and ruin my life.

Does God love Satan? I know that God is Love. If this were not so, Satan would have ceased to exist long ago. Lucifer was a being whom God distinguished in a special way among all the other inhabitants of Heaven. He had a close relationship with the Creator before any of us did, and all the fallen angels were sons of God. They brought joy to the Lord’s heart until iniquity was found in them. We do not know how long such harmonious life in Heaven continued, but I believe God remembers very well all the beauty that once existed and can never be restored. When a family breaks apart, there are no victors in the resulting conflict. There is no triumph or joy of victory; no one wins, and everyone suffers. But God respects the choice of His children. He gives them the opportunity to put their plans into action and reap the consequences of that choice.

From Scripture we know that one third of the angels supported Satan in his rebellion. These beings became God’s adversaries. Who can understand the pain endured by our Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus, and the good angels when the heavenly family was broken forever, never to be restored? A sentence of death hangs over the fallen beings and will be carried out. The demons believe in God; they know His power and tremble. But this does not give me the right to mock or insult them. Even God Himself does not bring a railing accusation, but acts respectfully toward everyone within the framework of His law and the rules of war.

At the very beginning of my life with God, I joined a denomination in which it was customary to berate Satan, call him vulgar names, trample him underfoot, and laugh at him. I did not understand how wrong this was. I saw that such preachers seemed to act with impunity, and I noticed manifestations of supernatural powers in their ministry that I could not explain. But I did not remain in that church long. I left because its members lived in disobedience to God’s law and taught others to do the same. I could not agree with such teaching. Now I understand that the enemy of souls allows his servants to ridicule him, portray him as pathetic and comical, and distort his true image so that he may remain in the shadows and freely carry out his plans while deceiving people. He greatly favors those who do not believe in his existence—or in God’s existence either. Such people are very easy prey, and Satan skillfully uses their influence to accomplish his plans. A secret enemy is always more dangerous than one about whom much is known, and this works to Satan’s advantage. Nor does he object to being well known when he receives people’s worship. Such people are also his instruments of temptation. Satan once even proposed that Christ submit to his authority, and received the answer that worship belongs to God alone.

In the last days, the issue of worship will bring the entire conflict to its climax. The whole world will be divided into two parts: some people will submit to God, and others to Satan.

But the enemy of souls knows God and knows the strength and beauty of His character. He understands the influence the Creator’s love has upon the hearts of deceived people and how greatly this power surpasses all his deceptions.

God is mightier than Satan, and every son of God receives Divine power to struggle against sin. The most powerful weapon of victory is the love of the Most High within my heart. Through its presence, my nature is united with the Eternal God, and nothing can separate us from one another. It is no longer I who live, but Christ liveth in me.

1. What did you understand from this lesson?

2. Which of God’s methods are acceptable for gaining victory and achieving goals, and which are not?

3. How can I determine what manner of spirit I am of?

4. How should I treat those who do not share my convictions?

5. Can someone who is a son of God be on the enemy’s side?

6. What and Who is my protection?

7. Why is it dangerous to insult spiritual powers?

8. Please read 1 Peter 5:8–9; Revelation 12:7–9, 17; 13:7–8; John 4:23–24; Ephesians 6:12; Matthew 8:28–32; 1 John 4:1; John 16:1–4, 11; and Psalm 119:1, 34 in the light of our lesson.