The War
The devil is by nature is not a believer in God in the sense that he will obey God. He knows better than most people that God exist, has power and authority. However, because of his pride and ego, he thinks that he can win. The bible says that the devil wars against the saints and tries to keep men captive to him, because he knows his time is short and will face God at the end of ages. A sane person would not engage in a war that he believes he cant win, so it is possible that the enemy actually thinks he can win by his own definition of success: What is his definition of success? -> that humanity would worship him as god and that they deny the True Living God of Israel.

Why would lucifer (satan) rebel against GOD in the first place unless he actually believed he could succeed?

The fear of God alone should have kept him in check but it he did not have that type of fear. He had pride because he stopped looking at God in order to look upon his own beauty and power. The devil considered in himself that he was worthy of worship, and decided to do a coupe against the authority of God. However he was defeated in the heavens; also he was defeated when Jesus Christ came to the earth; and he is defeated at the end of this age at judgement.

So the question is why doesn’t he give up?

The devil BELIEVES his own LIE, in that he can win, somehow, he thinks he can win. Satan is a deceiver who is the most deceived person in existence. He convinced himself of his own ability, power, intelligence and through his spiritual influence he also convinced other angels to rebel believing that they can win.

So it is no wonder that devils consistently war against Christians. By nature devils are unbeliever in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and are totally deceived to the age old LIE that the creation can be the master of the Almighty Creator, Judge, and Father in Jesus Christ name.

So they think they can win, even though God has declared the defeat: demonstrated at the garden; throughout the old testament writings; the ministry of Jesus Christ; at the cross; the resurrection; the Pentecost; the growth of the church; and that humanity now can have a restored fellowship with God through FAITH in Jesus Christ. The finality of that defeat is expressed at the end of the age when satan, his angels, and all men who refuse salvation in Christ will be in the lake of fire.

On a more personal level when we look at Jesus Christ the devil tried to kill him at birth. Then it is recorded that in the wilderness satan tried to tempt him out of going forth with the mission. We also see that the devil used the religious leaders to stop him. If that wasn’t enough we also see the devil use Jesus’s disciples (Peter and Judas) to stop him. The devil then starts to really get worried and mad evidence by the use of the government of Rome to kill him.

So there was no point in the Life of Jesus Christ that the devil stopped. Shouldn’t have the devil known that he can’t beat God, so then why would he try?

Its because satan is a deceiver who is deceived and therefore will continue his onslaught against the truth. That is probably why God must judge and destroy him at the end of the age (lake of fire) otherwise he would continue for eternity destroying God’s creation.

So what is the takeaway?

1. As a child of God, you have Jesus Christ in you, and therefore satan hates you more than anyone else. He will continue to try to kill you and he wont quit. That is why you can be healthy one minute, and then boom you get sick (sickness is not from God, therefore it is always an enemy), or he attacks you through persecution from those around you.
   So first thing is get over the fact you are being attack, don’t be surprised.
   2. Jesus was attacked yet won every battle, so therefore we are now able to win every battle because our faith in Jesus Christ.
   3. We have to realize that we are the expression of God’s authority, power, and holiness and therefore we can no longer be the target of satan attack, but he must become our target and we chase him down.

How to Attack?
Truth trumps lies -> Use the sword of the Spirit which is the truth. To know the truth you must know the scriptures whom God has recorded for you to know, believe, and do.

Defend
1. Pray – commune with God and pray for the church, and pray for your enemies.
2. Stay in Faith – renew your mind daily to the word of God.
3. Assurance – know that you are saved, delivered, and protected (aka the Helmet)
4. Know who you are in Christ – You are the righteousness of God. (breastplate)
5. Truth – know and do the truth
6. Preach the gospel to yourself and more importantly to others. Preaching of the gospel is the Chess move that God uses to change sinners to saints. There is no other method.

7. Start NOW!!