The above phrase is from 1 Chronicles 21:1. We have an enemy – his name is Satan. He’d like for you to forget that. Why? Because you can’t fight an enemy you don’t know exists.

But our enemy he most certainly is.

Jesus cryptically told Simon Peter and the rest of his twelve disciples, “…Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.” (Lk 22:31)

Paul reminds us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:12)

Matthew & Luke both record Satan standing against Jesus, Himself. (Matthew 4 & Luke 4).

My friends, never forget we have an enemy. His name is Satan. And he wants to not simply maim or cripple us – he wants to destroy us. “Be alert and of sober mind,” Peter wrote, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Satan wants to devour your hope, your peace, your marriage, your family, your attitude,…and most of all your faith in Christ. As he did with Israel, he “stands against” you in all areas related to your faith in Christ.

But there is hope!

The Cross – and the Empty Tomb! This changed everything!!

Now, because Christ, through our faith, makes his home in us, John, the disciple, wrote, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome [the spirits of darkness], because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) The Greek word for “overcome” here means, literally, “conquer.”

This is why Paul, writer of most of the New Testament, asserted, “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) Through faith in Christ, we not only “conquer” the enemy, we obliterate him. It’s no wonder Satan would rather go unnoticed in our lives.

So, be continually mindful of two biblical truths: (1) you have an enemy who wants to destroy you; his name is Satan, and (2) Satan is a soundly conquered foe. Because of the Cross and the Empty Tomb, we are more than conquerors though Christ who loved us.

Soli Deo Gloria, Nick