Axis Powers

During World War II, Nazi Germany (under Adolf Hitler), Italy (under Benito Mussolini) and Japan (under Emperor Hirohito) comprised an alliance of Axis Powers.

These nations were the primary aggressors waging a war against an alliance of nations that included the United States, Great Britain, France, Canada, Australia and many other nations who came together to oppose the Axis Powers

America tried to ignore an inevitable war and was caught off guard by the enemy at Pearl Harbor.

For true followers of Christ, neutrality is not an option. We can prepare for the enemies' assault or become victims. 

“Unless we know the enemy we face and how to defeat him, our efforts to live out the Gospel are for naught. Scripture lists our main enemies as the world, the flesh and the devil,

all of whom are formidable indeed”

R.C. Sproul 

Scripture  tells us that the devil is real.  He is not a comic book character nor is he a metaphor for evil.  

But, as C.S. Lewis warns us - we need to view Satan and his schemes - in proper perspective .

• Satan is powerful but God is Omnipotent
• Satan is fast  but God is Omnipresent
• Satan is clever but God is Omniscient

Satan is the enemy of every Christian. But he is a defeated enemy

In the battle of Okinawa, the US forces fought for control of Sugarloaf Hill, which stood in the way of their access to an important airfield and adjoining seaport. 

Sugarloaf was like an old fashioned game of "king of the hill", as both sides would take, then lose control of the hill - several times until the US forces finally prevailed.

In Romans 7, the Apostle Paul tells of a war that is "raging in his members". His old flesh demanded control while he sought to follow Christ

He expresses his frustration in verse 24 when he cries our "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death". 

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

James 4:4

But doesn't John 3:16 tell us that "God so loved the world"?  

Satan is the prince of this world and the people of the world live under his captivity. Until Satan is cast into Hell, the world will stand as enemies of Christ and his followers. But "God so loved the world" that he sent his only Son" - to rescue its inhabitants from Satan's prison.

Christians are called to engage the very same world that hates Christ. We are called to rescue them from Satan's dominion - even though they seek no rescue.

Christians are called to wage war against our own flesh. The old man in us continues to fight - to be in control. Christ has called us to crucify the flesh.

Christians are not called to defeat Satan. That was Christ's work. But even though Satan is a defeated enemy, we are called to be on guard to defend against his schemes. 

It is a Spiritual battle - to be fought using the disciplines of grace that Scripture calls the whole armor of God.