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Sneak Attack

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:8

One day as I spoke to a new baby in Christ about the many problems she faced, I reminded her that the enemy would oppose her at every turn and that she needed to be ready and understand who she was up against.

She lifted her face and through her tears she laughed. “You aren’t talking about devils and demons are you?”

“Yes.” I confidently answered.

“You have got to be kidding me!” she laughed again. “You are an educated, intelligent woman and you are telling me that there are these monsters out after us. I know you really don’t believe that!”

I do.

Most of my redeemed life I have sat on the sideline in the spiritual battle that rages all around us. I have been content to say my prayers, go to church and declare that I was a Christian. I did children’s VBS, taught a women’s study group and did three tours of duty on Jamaica mission trips. I pray in public at restaurants and make sure my Christmas cards are about Christ and not Santa.

That was enough until I came to college. I came to take a class titled The Chemistry of the Blood by Dr. MR DeHaan. I thought I would take a few classes and learn more. Catch some of the Bible stories that I might have missed. Now, as my second year at Old Bethel is in full swing all that I mentioned above is no longer enough. In fact, as time passes I have ventured out more moving toward the front line.

As I revealed a couple of weeks ago, I told God I was ready to move forward. I was ready to take that next step. He took me by the hand and guided me through some of the things He wanted cleared out. With reluctance on my part, we worked through it.

This past weekend I received news that truly knocked me off balance and while I was vulnerable our enemy struck and struck hard. I will tell you that I was shocked and really very put off that he would strike when I wasn’t ready. I was naïve to think that his weapons and strategy would stay the same that he wouldn’t up the game when I did, but he did. I might have been knocked down a peg—maybe two—but I regained balance and moved forward.

I took what I have been learning and I fired back. I kept in mind that this wasn’t a fight for the victory as my teacher, had pointed out last week this was a fight against a foe that knew he was defeated but wouldn’t stop.

Just because he is defeated doesn’t mean that his attacks are any less malicious or that there are not casualties along the way. But Praise God, we have the victory and the tools to fight.

If I had not made the decision that I wanted to learn all I could and store it up in my heart, I would not have withstood the attack of this past weekend.

We do have a foe, an enemy that has one goal: to take all that he can before his time runs out. He has been conquered and he knows it but he will not quit until the bitter end. In order to stand up to him you will need the full armor. (Eph 6:10-17)

Ephesians 6:10-18

[ The Whole Armor of God ] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.