Understanding the War Pt 2

1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

When DD and I moved with our children to a different culture, so far away from America…not just in miles, we tried to prepare ourselves for new trials. At that time kidnappings were many and we knew we would face dangers we did not deal with as a Pastor in the USA. However, I soon learned that the enemy thinks differently than we do. I remember when I was attacked in a way I never thought I would be. I was in my back yard cleaning up when I suddenly felt water hitting me. I looked up – no clouds – then I saw in a second story window, my landlord urinating! I had prepared to even die, but not this! No…I did not break out in a chorus of “Showers of Blessing”, but the Spirit of God engaged me to remember my landlord did not know Christ. After a quick shower I went to his house, he was drunk and very ashamed. The way I handled it allowed me to witness to him for another year, the enemy wanted me to respond in the flesh and burn that bridge.

Understanding the war first requires that we know our Purpose.

Second: Know your enemy:

Sadly, we usually go to extremes. Either we ignore his existence and think ignorance will spare us, or we become enamored by him and spend all our time trying to discover something new about him. I find it so ridiculous that there are books 6 inches thick on Satan and demons, when the Scriptures have very few pages dedicated to this topic!

The best way to know your enemy is to study how your sin nature works – that is how he will approach you most often. Know your weak points, this will help you be prepared for his attacks.

Ephes. 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 

The word “schemes” in the original is where we get our word “method”. Satan does not have a “one size fits all” approach. His attacks are custom made for each one of us.

It is important to know our enemy, but not to become infatuated with him!

Revelation 2:24 ‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you.

The So What: How well do you know your weak points? Do you see patterns in the way you are drawn into sin? Do you spend most of your time getting to know Christ? If you know the Real Truth don’t you think identifying a fake will be easier?

Understanding the War. Pt 1

I was on a trip recently and was asked: Since you believe in spiritual warfare, what recommendations would you give to others about how to conduct themselves?” As I contemplated that question, trying to keep it simple, I boiled it down to 3 main truths that we need to know.

Know our purpose:   

Amos 3:3-7 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Does a lion roar in the thicket when he has no prey? Does he growl in his den when he has caught nothing? Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground where no snare has been set? Does a trap spring up from the earth when there is nothing to catch?  When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble?  When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

This was the difference between WWII and Vietnam! All the soldiers were the same, dedicated and committed to defend freedom. However, WWII soldiers saw a definite purpose because it was clear to see where the evil was. Vietnam was so different, so many messages were being sent and it was very confusing. Also, the generals were not allowed to conduct the war. Soldiers became disheartened as they experienced trying to win a war when the White House and politicians, who did not really know what was going on due to distance from the war itself, were running it.

We are in a very different situation! Our General has been clear about His objectives and even laid His life down for that purpose! We need to know what we are doing and why. Not every detail and not even the temporal outcome. Yet we have the clear teaching of what the outcome eternally will be! A clear vision of what God is saying to you. Ownership is a must! When you come to the reality that you were given eternal life for a purpose, and you are not here by accident, then you are able to see behind the scenes where the real enemy is conducting the war.

Scriptures state it the best:

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The So What: Do you know your call? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to show you your gifts? Have you asked Him to? Are you a person that has a job that happens to be a Christian, or are you a Christian and everything you do flows from that?