New Levels, New Devils?
A Look at Spiritual Warfare
It’s sort of a strange doctrine, and I don’t know that I was ever explicitly taught this in Charismatic circles, but I certainly had heard the idiom.
New levels, new devils.
The idea is that as you ascend the heights of Christian enlightenment and intimacy with God, you will begin to do exploits that increase His Kingdom and likewise threaten the reign of Satan on the earth. With your growth and your works increasing, there will also be an increase in spiritual warfare.
You will encounter stronger and more wily demonic forces that are out to kill, steal, and destroy.
Common sense might tell you that the closer you draw to God, the further you are from the demonic. In fact, Scripture seems to support this when elaborating on what it takes to resist sin in our lives.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7, NIV
Likewise, I think about how God’s presence is described in Scripture.
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
1 John 1:5–7, NIV
It would seem that walking in the light, where Jesus is, brings us further into the sanctifying work of His Spirit. It causes us to engage in Christian community and to grow in grace, becoming less susceptible to the sin that often sidetracks us in our daily lives.
This isn’t to say that we no longer sin, but that we desire sin less and less. We despise our tendency toward sin more and more.
Temptation & Sin
I already know that many will find the above verses unrelated to spiritual warfare. These passages are more about resisting the flesh’s desire for sin, not resisting the devil’s schemes.
That’s a fair point on its face. However, these things are not unrelated.
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
James 1:13–15, NIV
It is true that temptation can be presented to us by the devil, and that can certainly be classified as spiritual warfare.
A prime example of this would be Christ’s temptation in the desert during His time of fasting. He was offered opportunities to succumb to the flesh’s desires by Satan. Though we find ourselves imperfect, unlike Christ who resisted in perfect submission to the Father, we are promised that God will make it possible to resist this warfare.
Regeneration of the heart and sanctification of the believer are the means by which we walk in increased levels of freedom and the ability to resist temptation.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV
It’s interesting to note that God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
I don’t think this means that we will always be strong enough to resist sin. Perhaps it is meant to mean that, but we are imperfect and we will never attain a level where we cease sinning.
However, knowing that we will not always resist temptation perfectly, I find myself with this reverberating thought:
Even when we do fall into sin, God will ensure we can endure the consequences.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
1 John 1:8–10, NIV
When I think of the phrase New levels, new devils- I think of the moments when I have heard the phrase used. It is either a badge of honor, to say that the troubles a person is facing are proof of their godly life, or it is used to fill the silence when discussing the fall of someone who succumbed to sin, sickness, or death at a time when it seemed they were really accomplishing a lot for the Kingdom of God. It’s short-hand for saying, “The devil took them out because they were doing so well.”
Even though it’s clear that the devil can tempt us, it’s also clear that God can aid us in our moment of weakness; God will strengthen us to resist, forgive us when we fall, and help us endure consequences.
It’s important to note that people who fall into temptation and sin are not evil or disqualified from following Christ. However, people who claim to be in the light but hide their sin make God out to be a liar and the Word is not in them.
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:1–10, ESV
People who stumble and repent are to be restored by stronger brothers. People who stumble and say nothing, who sin without remorse or submission to consequences, are to be dealt with soberly, because they are very likely in great peril, or possibly they are not Christians at all.
It is very important to keep sober judgment about ourselves and our brothers. We know our own conscience and whether it bears witness that we are in Christ. We can’t know the conscience, or the heart, of our brother. We are told to judge the fruit of their life; actions in combination with a confession of faith, tell us about their heart.
Trials, Suffering, and Endurance
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2–4, NIV
James’ epistle is a wealth of wisdom regarding endurance in the face of suffering. He even mentions Job by name- the man who is the epitome of suffering in the Bible. It would seem in this context, all believers are equally primed for suffering.
We are told to look to people like Job as examples of endurance (and ultimately blessing), because we too will suffer trials. Our trials will not be in vain, but they will refine us and lead to a somehow sweeter blessing from the Lord than we would have received apart from our suffering.
“Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”
James 5:10–11, NIV
If you’ve never studied Job, I recommend it. It is fascinating and it is layered. It is full of sorrow and intrigue. It is profound and ancient, difficult to understand, but a treasure worth seeking out. It opens like this:
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And 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, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.”
Job 1:6–12, ESV
As strange and difficult to follow as the book of Job can be, it certainly gets a point across. The devil is real, and he is given a measure of power to inflict suffering on even the righteous when God allows it.
Certainly, Job was a very righteous man. Perhaps this is why he received such a massive degree of spiritual warfare. Perhaps, the saying is true?
Who else suffered greatly and was said by God Himself to be a great man? John the Baptist certainly comes to mind. You might find yourself arguing with a friend over who suffered more- Job or John? After all, John the Baptist lost his head.
“Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” -Jesus
Matthew 11:11, ESV
New Levels, New Devils?
Let’s be real. It’s the same old devil and he is causing the same old trouble for everyone and anyone he can find. He doesn’t care about levels. You think he esteems one person more highly than another? He hates us all.
Besides, how arbitrary is it to have a system of levels when Jesus Himself said that the least in the Kingdom is greater than the greatest? How self-important are we, ranking ourselves like Olympic athletes standing up on risers with different colored medals around our necks?
We are all on the same level. We are all under attack. We are all suffering. We are all called to endure and help one another until Christ appears.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
1 Peter 5:8–10, NIV
I will leave us with the quintessential passage on spiritual warfare…
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Ephesians 6:10–18
