It has been sometime since I wrote the first part of this series. It should have been no surprise to me or anyone else that many of the things I have spoken about or will be teaching about are things that I have personally gone through in the last 6 weeks.

I have taught spiritual warfare on several occasions over the years, and without a doubt, my teaching is always accompanied by an attack of the enemy. As I mentioned in my first lesson, the person of Satan and his angels (demons) is very real. This week I am going to show you how Satan uses the world, which is his kingdom, to attack us.

The book of job gives us a very unique look into the spiritual realm. We are shown how Satan relates to God, and vice verse. We also see first hand many of the weapons that Satan has at his disposal to attack us. I am going to focus on chapter one, but I encourage anyone who wants to learn about spiritual warfare to read the entire book of Job.

Job Chapter 1

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. 4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.

The first 5 verses describe a man who was blessed with wealth but at the same time was completely dedicated to God. This in and of itself says a great deal about the man. I have taught about prosperity and the pitfalls associated with trying to use God to gain wealth. I believe that God does bless some with material things, but for many material possessions and money would not be a blessing but a curse. How many of us spend as much time praying and seeking God’s help when everything is going great? To the contrary, most people only seek God when things are bad, and they are desperate for help. If you are wondering why God has never blessed you in this way, it may be because God knows that during times of blessings, you tune Him out.

This was not the case with Job. He was completely dedicated to God in spite of his wealth. We tend to look at Job after all the tragedy had overtaken him, but there is much to learn about his character before any of that happened. He was not as concerned with all his earthly possessions as he was with his relationship with God and the relationship that his family had with God.

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” 9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

In verses 6 – 12 we see something that we don’t find anywhere else in scripture. We are given an inside look at how Satan relates to God and the authority that God has given to him. Satan answers to God, as do all the other angels. He has to give regular reports to God about what he is doing and what he has been up to. Notice that God asks Satan where he has been. This is a rhetorical question because God knows everything and He knew every detail about what Satan had been doing. Still, he asked Satan the question because being under God’s authority, Satan was (and is) required to give account to God for his actions. This gives us a clear picture of God and his supreme authority that He has over Satan. I think it is worth mentioning that no matter what path we choose in life, every person that lives or has ever lived is required to give account to God for their actions.

Since Satan was cast out of heaven, his only purpose has been to “walk to and fro” about the earth and cause as much trouble as he possibly can. Notice that he didn’t give a great deal of details about what he had been up to, he simply said that he had been walking to and fro and back and forth.

Notice in verse 8 that God mentions Job by name to Satan. Remember God knows each one of us by name, better than our closest friend or family member. Have you ever wondered what Satan and God would talk about if your name came up? Would God refer to you as he did Job (“a blameless and upright man”)? Or would Satan mention you as someone who does everything that he tells you to?

In verse 12 God gives Satan authority to attack Job and in fact touch everything that Job has with the exception of his body. In verse 9 we see a picture of a God that not only blesses, but protects. God had blessed Job and at the same time built a hedge about him to protect him from Satan’s attacks. It would do us all well to remember that God is always protecting us from Satan and preventing him from totally destroying our lives and killing us. Sometimes we think God doesn’t care, when in fact if it weren’t for His protective Hand, we would all be dead. You may ask why God allows such attacks, as the ones he authorized for Job, and truthfully we may never fully understand God’s purpose. It is important to recognize that God is sovereign and loves us unconditionally. Even though we may think that everything around is falling apart, remember that God is in control.

Now let’s look at Satan’s attack.

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

I just want to point out the different tools Satan used to attack Job in this initial attack. The earth is Satan’s Kingdom and he uses everything he can to attack us.
* Satan used the Sabeans (evil people)
* Satan used the weather or elements
* Satan used the Chaldeans (more evil people)
* Satan used the weather again
* Further on we see that Satan also uses sickness, Job’s wife, his friends, and even his own pride to attack him.

It is interesting to note that Satan was not satisfied to just take Job’s possessions, but he killed his servants in the process. I’m sure this was because Job valued the people much more than his possessions. Satan knows our weaknesses and uses them to his advantage. Satan knew that Job loved his family and cared deeply for the people around him and that is where he hurt him the most.

Another interesting note is that Satan did not touch Job’s wife. Remember God told Satan that “all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”. My personal opinion is that God considers a man and his wife to be one, and thus when Satan was forbidden to touch Job’s person, his wife was included. I can’t see any other reason that she would have been spared.

The attacks on Job while severe were limited to the use of people, the weather, and sickness. Today Satan has many other tools including lust for money, immorality, technology (the internet and TV), worldly music, etc. Satan even uses churches and the teachings of false prophets to spread his poison. If there is anything that exists in this world that Satan can use against you he will.

What happens next is the most important part of the chapter.

20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

How many of us would have immediately pointed the finger at God? How many times have we blamed Him for all our troubles when we should have been thanking Him for His love and care?

I encourage you all to read the entire book of Job. It is lengthy, but worth the read. There is much to be learned about how Satan operates, and how we should relate to God during trials. It is truly a life changing book.

I hope everyone was blessed by the teaching this week. Next week I am going to finish the series on Knowing Your Enemy with Part 3 – Satan’s Kryptonite.

Thank You and God Bless
Marty Ward