WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL THE WARNINGS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ABOUT CONFLICTS WITH SATAN AND HIS DEMONS ARE ADDRESSED ONLY TO CHRISTIANS?
WHY? BECAUSE JESUS SAID THAT HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD. SINCE JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY, THE ENEMY WANTS TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM BELIEVING THAT THIS REALLY IS THE TRUTH.
OUR ENEMY IS COMMITTED TO DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE US INEFFECTIVE IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND IN OUR MINISTRIES FOR OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. IF WE ARE INEFFECTIVE THEN WE HURT GOD AND HELP THE DEVIL!
THE REASON FOR COMING UNDER SO MANY DEMONIC ATTACKS IS TO GET US TO BE POOR WITNESSES TO THE WORLD ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF THE GOD WE SERVE.
SATAN KNOWS FULL WELL THAT HE HAS ALREADY BEEN DEFEATED AT THE CROSS AND THAT HIS TIME IS LIMITED. BECAUSE HE KNOWS THIS HE WILL BE USING EVERY MEANS HE CAN TO KEEP THE BELIEVER FROM BELIEVING THIS TRUTH.
ONLY ETERNITY WILL REVEAL THE NUMBER OF CHIRSTIANS WHO HAVE LED UNPRODUCTIVE, FRUSTRATED AND FRUITLESS LIVES BECAUSE OF THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO FIGHT SATAN.
ONLY ETERNITY WILL REVEAL THE NUMBER OF CHIRSTIANS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FORSAKE THEIR MINISTRIES BECAUSE OF ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY.
1 PETER 5:8-9, "BE SELF-CONTROLLED AND ALERT. YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. RESIST HIM, STANDING FIRM IN THE FAITH…."
WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH SATAN THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING TODAY IS THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE WRONG IDEA CONCERNING THE WORD RESIST.
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY RESISTING SATAN GOT CHANGED TO THE WORD IGNORE SATAN! WHERE DID WE EVER GET THE IDEA THAT THE BEST APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE ENEMY IS TO DISMISS AND IGNORE HIM AS NOTHING MORE THAN PURE FANTASY OR THEOLOGICAL MYTH?
PASSIVE NEGLECT IS A POOR TACTIC TO USE AGAINST AN ADVERSARY WHO BLATANTLY AND FREQUENTLY REFUSES TO BE IGNORED AND WHO REFUSES TO GO UNRECOGNIZED.
SURVIVING THE ENEMY’S CHALLENGE TO COMBAT IS NOT A TASK TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. SATAN IS A CUNNING AND RELENTLESS ADVERSARY, A DEVIOUS WIZARD WHOSE MASTERY OF EVIL ENABLES HIM TO FASHION LEWD TEMPTATIONS OR FLING FIERY DARTS WITH AMAZING ACCURACY.
JOB, JOSHUA, DANIEL, DAVID AND THE APOSTLE PAUL WERE MEN WHO HAD REAL AND CONVINCING EXPERIENCES THAT PROVED TO THEM THAT THEY WERE NOT IMMUNE TO THE WILES OF A REAL DEVIL.
IF THESE GREAT SAINTS OF THE BIBLE WERE VULNERABLE TO THE TROUBLE CAUSED BY SATAN THEN WHY SHOULD WE THINK THAT WE ARE TO EXPECT ANY LESS TROUBLE?
THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF ALL IS THE AUDACITY OF SATAN TO EVEN TEMPT THE SON OF GOD IN THE WILDERNESS. IF SATAN IS BRAZEN ENOUGH TO GET IN THE FACE OF CHRIST WHY SHOULD WE EXPECT HIM TO STEER CLEAR OF US?
SATAN WANTS TO KEEP YOU FROM FULFILLING THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH YOU WERE CREATED. HE WANTS TO KEEP YOU FROM USING THE POWER OF GOD TO OVERCOME HIS ATTACKS SO YOU WILL STAY IN BONDAGE AND DEFEAT.
SINCE BELEIVERS ARE THE SPIRITUALLY COMMISSIONED AND EMPOWERED ARMY OF GOD, DEMONSTRATING THE POWER OF GOD BY LIVING VICTORIOUS, FRUITFUL AND GODLY LIVES SATAN MUST SEEK TO NEUTRALIZE THEM AT ANY COST.
THIS IS THE WHOLE REASON WHY SATAN IS ON THE ATTACK AGAINST CHRISTIANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE PRESSING THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE ON THE FRONT LINES.
ALTHOUGH WE WILL NEVER BE IMMUNE FROM THE ATTACKS FROM THE ENEMY THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO KEEP OURSELVES FROM BECOMING A "BULLS-EYE" FOR ONE OF SATAN’S TARGETS.
THERE ARE SIX THINGS WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES THAT WILL PROMISE BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION TO HELP REDUCE OUR CHANCES OF BECOMING VULNERABLE TO SATAN.
FIRST, WE MUST CULTIVATE HUMILITY. SCRIPTURE PRESENTS HUMILITY AS A DIVINE REQUIREMENT AND AN ENDEARING CHARACTERISTIC FOR THE CHRISTIAN.
MICAH 6:8, "…THE LORD HAS ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT IS GOOD, AND THIS IS WHAT HE REQUIRES: TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD."
PRIDE WAS THE LETHAL POISON THAT SENT LUCIFER FALLING FROM THE SKY LIKE LIGHTENING. THIS IS WHY, ACCORDING TO 1 PETER 5:5, GOD ABHORS PRIDE AND IS DRAWN TO HUMILITY.
THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IF WE WANT TO RESIST THE DEVIL WE HAD BETTER FIRST MAKE SURE GOD IS NOT RESISTING US!
HUMILITY COMES FROM SEEING GOD AND THE DEVIL FOR WHO THEY REALLY ARE. HUMILITY COMES FROM ACKNOWLEDGING THAT SATAN’S POWER IS SUCH THAT WE CANNOT DEFEAT HIM IN OUR OWN STRENGTH - EVER!
HUMILITY COMES FROM ACKNOWLEDGING THAT CHRIST’S POWER IS SUCH THAT SATAN CANNOT DEFEAT HIM IN HIS OWN STRENGTH - EVER! UNDERESTIMATING ANY OF THESE TWO SUPERNATURAL TRUTHS WILL LEAD TO CERTAIN DEFEAT. THE FIRST THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO CULTIVATE HUMILITY.
THE SECOND THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE. SOME MAY CONSIDER THIS REQUIREMENT TOO GENERAL.
BUT THE HARD FACT IS, HUMAN PRESUMPTION IS AMONG THE MOST COMMON ATTRACTORS TO THE DEMONIC. IN THE ARENA OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE, THE DEVIL IS CONCERNED LESS ABOUT THE WORDS CAST IN HIS DIRECTION THAN ABOUT WHO IS THE ONE DOING THE TALKING!
IN 1 SAMUEL 15:22, THE PROPHET SAMUEL DECLARED THAT "TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE" FOR ONE SIMPLE REASON: WITH SACRIFICE, WE DECIDE WHAT GOD WILL GET.
WITH OBEDIENCE, WE GIVE GOD WHAT HE ASKS FOR. SPIRITUAL OBEDIENCE ALLOWS GOD TO DEFEND HIS OWN PURPOSES! THE SECOND THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE.
THE THIRD THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO PUT ON OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR ON A DAILY BASIS.
IT IS ASTONISHING TO LEARN HOW MANY CHRISTIANS GO THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES EACH DAY WITHOUT WEARING THEIR SPIRITUAL ARMOR.
THE MOST COMMON REASON SEEMS TO BE SIMPLE CARELESSNESS. PEOPLE JUST DON’T THINK ABOUT LITERALLY PUTTING ON THEIR SPIRITUAL ARMOR.
A LOT OF THE REASONING BEHIND THIS IS DUE TO A MISGUIDED ASSUMPTION THAT DIVINE PROTECTION IS A GUARANTEED BYPRODUCT OF GODLY SERVICE!
SPIRITUAL ARMOR IS NOT AN OPTIONAL ACCESSORY. THOSE WHO CHOSE TO DISMISS IT DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK. PAUL SUMMED UP WHAT THE ARMOR IS IN 4 SIMPLE WORDS.
IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:31, HE SAID "I-DIE-EVERY-DAY!" PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD IS SYNONYMOUS WITH DAILY SURRENDER TO THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST.
RATHER THAN VISUALIZING LITERAL HELMETS, BREASTPLATES AND SHIELDS SIMPLY DEDICATE THE FIRST CONSCIOUS THOUGHTS EACH MORNING TO THE WILL OF GOD.
SPIRITUAL ARMOR BECOMES A LIFESTYLE WHEN, FOR THE BALANCE OF THE DAY, WE CHOOSE TO WALK IN THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE AND PURPOSES.
THE THIRD THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO PUT ON OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE FOURTH THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO MAINTAIN SPIRITUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
ONE OF THE MOST UNHEALTHY HABITS OF A CHRISTIAN IS TO TRY TO LIVE AS A SPIRITUAL LONE-RANGER. THOSE WHO ADOPT THIS MENTALITY ARE ONLY INVITING SATAN INTO THE DEEPEST RECESSES OF THEIR VERY BEINGS.
WHILE WE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS, WE MUST ALSO BE WILLING TO ADMIT THAT OUR VIEW IS LIMITED. BY HABITUALLY REJECTING THE COUNSEL AND INSIGHT OF THE CHURCH, GOD’S WORD AND OTHER BELIEVERS, WE BECOME EASY TARGETS FOR THE MASTOR OF ALL DECEPTION.
SPIRITUAL ACCOUNTABILITY WITH EACH OTHER IS TO ESTABLISH GUARDRAILS TO KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE AND TO BE A SAFETY TETHER IN CASE WE DO STUMBLE INTO IT.
HEBREWS 10:25, "AND LET US NOT NEGLECT OUR MEETING TOGETHER, AS SOME PEOPLE DO, BUT ENCOURAGE AND WARN EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE DAY OF HIS COMING BACK AGAIN IS DRAWING NEAR."
THE FOURTH THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO MAINTAIN SPIRITUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE FIFTH THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO ESTABLISH FAITHFUL PRAYER SUPPORT. NOTHING OF ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE IS EVER ACCOMPLISHED APART FROM PRAYER. ALL OUR FAILURES ARE PRAYER FAILURES.
JAMES 4:2-3, "… THE REASON YOU DON’T HAVE WHAT YOU WANT IS THAT YOU DON’T ASK GOD FOR IT. AND EVEN WHEN YOU DO ASK, YOU DON’T GET IT BECAUSE YOUR WHOLE MOTIVE IS WRONG -- YOU WANT ONLY WHAT WILL GIVE YOU PLEASURE.
PRAYER IS THE GYMNASIUM FOR THE SOUL. WE NEED TO GO TO THE GYM AND "WORK OUT" EVERYDAY. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT "SEVEN DAYS WITHOUT PRAYER MAKES ONE WEAK."
WE NEED TO STOP PRAYING GENERIC AND VAGUE PRAYERS OF BLESS THE CHURCH, BLESS ME, AND BLESS THE MISSIONARIES. WE NEED TO PRAY SPECIFIC PRAYERS FOR SPECIFIC THINGS.
CHRISTIANS NEED TO GRADUATE FROM THE CHILDHOOD PRAYER OF "NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP" TO THE MATURE CHRISTIAN’S PRAYER OF "NOT MY WILL, BUT THY WILL BE DONE."
JEREMIAH 33:3, "CALL TO ME, AND I WILL ANSWER YOU, AND SHOW YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS." THE FIFTH THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO ESTABLISH FAITHFUL PRAYER SUPPORT.
THE SIXTH AND FINAL THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO START TAKING GODLY RISKS. THIS IS THE ONE ACTIVITY MANY CHRISTIANS OVERLOOK BECAUSE WE THINK OF RISKS AS SOMETHING TO PROTECT OURSELVES AGAINST.
WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING GODLY RISKS THE REAL DANGER IS OFTEN FOUND LURKING IN THE REALM OF STATUS QUO. WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN THAT THE STEPS WE TAKE TO ALLEVIATE LOSS ACTUALLY, IN TURN, PROMOTES IT?
TIME AND TIME AGAIN CHRISTIAN WARRIORS ARE ASKED TO FACE ENEMIES WHOSE NATURAL RESOURCES EXCEED THEIR OWN. IF WE ARE TO SUCCEED ON SUCH BATTLEFIELDS, WE MUST LEARN TO WALK IN FAITH.
THAT IS WHY, FOR THE CHRISTIAN, FAITH IS NOT SPELLED "F-A-I-T-H" BUT "R-I-S-K." IF SOMETHING IS NOT RISKY, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE FAITH. AND "WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD" HEBREWS 11:6.
THE RISK-FREE LIFE IS A VICTORY-FREE LIFE. IT MEANS A LIFELONG SURRENDER TO THE MEDIOCRE, WHICH IS THE WORST OF ALL POSSIBLE DEFEATS. THE SIXTH AND FINAL THING WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES FOR BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION IS TO START TAKING GODLY RISKS.
SIX THINGS WE CAN ADAPT TO OUR LIVES THAT WILL PROMISE BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION TO HELP US REDUCE OUR CHANCES OF BECOMING VULNERABLE TO SATAN.
DEUTERONOMY 20:1, WHEN YOU GO OUT TO FIGHT YOUR ENEMIES AND YOU FACE…AN ARMY GREATER THAN YOUR OWN, DO NOT BE AFRAID. THE LORD YOUR GOD…IS WITH YOU."
IT IS TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO BREAK FREE OF BEING MEDIOCRE. IT’S TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO LET GO OF THE SECURITY THAT THE TREE TRUNK OF LIFE PROVIDES IN ORDER TO VENTURE OUT ONTO THE BRANCHES.
GOING OUT ON A LIMB NOT ONLY TAKES US TO WHERE THE FRUIT IS ON THE BRANCH, BUT IT WILL PREVENT US FROM BEING PICKED OFF BY THE ENEMY. AS ANY SKILLED HUNTER WILL TELL YOU, THERE IS NOTHING EASIER TO HIT THAN A STATIONARY TARGET.
