Stand Strong In Spiritual Battle – Part 2 Series

Navy SEAL Sr. Chief Mike Day had never been shot before, but that changed dramatically one night in April 2007. Al Qaeda terrorists shot Day more than two dozen times. "This body armor took more rounds than it was supposed to," explained Day, who is now retired. Body armor capable of handling only one round took multiple hits at close range and amazingly held together. "They advertise that it can take one round, and then it falls apart to the point where they say that it's not supposed to stop anymore projectiles. And this whole gunfight was inside of 10 feet.” He said any one of the rounds should have killed him. "Just another sign that I shouldn't have survived it," Day said. That's just one part of the miracle. On the night of April 6, 2007, in Iraq's Anbar Province, Day's team of Navy SEALs and Iraqi scouts were on the hunt for a high-level Al Qaeda cell.

Day said the terrorists had shot down two helicopters, killing everyone on board. Being the first one to enter a 12x12 room where four al Qaeda leaders waited to strike proved to be almost deadly for Day. "Upon entering that doorway, they all just opened up on me. It felt like somebody was just beating me up with sledge hammers," Day said. "After I'd figured out I was getting shot I said, 'God, get me home to my girls.' That was my first prayer to God, real prayer, and He answered it," he added, fighting back tears. It was a prayer to be reunited with his wife and daughters. When the gunfight was over, Mike Day took out all four terrorists in the room, but not before being shot 27 times and hit with grenade shrapnel. "People hear about my story and they can't believe it. I was there and I can't believe it," Day said. "I got shot 27 times -- 16 in the body and 11 times in my body armor. I was shot in both legs, both arms, my abdomen. You throw a finger on me, anything but my head, I got shot there."

"I've kind of speculated the reason I didn't die is because maybe I wouldn't have gone to Heaven," he shared. Miraculously, he cleared the rest of the house before walking on his own to the helicopter, which flew him to safety. His bravery in battle did not go unnoticed. Day is a highly decorated veteran. He's been awarded 16 medals over the years, including the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. He served in the Navy for more than 21 years -- 20 of those as a Navy SEAL. God allowed him to survive the battle. He came to be a believer through the midst and pain of that firefight. God gave him the abilities to fight, survive and win the battle. Just as He does for us in spiritual battle.

We should be progressively striving to penetrate enemy held territory. Where is the territory? Everywhere! The world, this country, this state, your town or city, your own home, your family and your own body and mind - no one is exempt from these encounters! We are in the spiritual firefight for our lives on a daily basis as the enemy manipulates common things and situations to keep Christians from walking in the Spirit and the unsaved still damned to hell. They want the lost to never hear of Christ and they want the Christian to forget about Him. It is so agonizing watching people as Jesus said, “Lose their first love.”

Our enemies will place obstacles to hinder your being where God wants you. Paul for example wanted to see those at the church in Thessalonica, but Satan blocked his path.

1 Thessalonians 2:18: “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” People will also act illogically, even irrationally, and mockingly toward you. They will say you are indoctrinated, crazy, brainwashed, out of touch, whatever… I will give you an example in Acts 16:16-18: “As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination, and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. 17 She kept following Paul and us, shouting loudly, ‘these men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation!’ 18 And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment!”

How much power is in the name of Jesus Christ?! All power! Amen!