When the Enemy Attacks

I have a subscription to the” Times of Israel” and read it daily. It keeps me abreast of the events in the land of the Savior. The war in Gaza has been the focus of the reporting since the attack om Israel in October.

I decided to follow the example and give you a Report From The War: 

I did not send a Thoughts From My Journey in June due to an assault of the enemy that I had to deal with and overcome. I learned many years ago you cannot ignore his attacks. He never works to merely hurt you; he is always after the faith of God in your heart – “Has God said?”

Fighting With the Faith You Have

When you are dealing with an attack you must be diligent not to give any ground; you must resist him at the very point of the attack (external and internal; natural and spiritual), and you cannot allow yourself to be distracted, discouraged, doubtful, or passive.

God has made no provision for our defeat, only our victory. However, it is not automatic. Victory has been provided, but we must fight for it and, hear me now, we must take it by the force of faith.

If we want victory, we must fight with the faith we have and obtain it. I cannot fight with your faith, or anyone else’s; I must fight with the faith I have. And that is enough: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain be plucked up and thrown into the sea and it will obey you.”

I have always been convinced that it was not the greatness of my faith that mattered, but the greatness of the God my faith is in! I may not be able to win this fight in myself, but I am not fighting the battle by myself – the One in me is greater than the one who has come against me. And that is true for you! 

Years ago, during a struggle against the enemy, I asked the Lord, “When will you do something?’ To which He replied, “When you take what I have given you and demonstrate the victory I won for you.” I realized then how to fight and win.

Authority and Power to Overcome

God told Adam to subdue the earth, to rule over it. He gave Adam dominion over everything on earth but other people. (that included the serpent)

The first Adam surrendered that dominion to Satan in the Fall, but the last Adam, Jesus Christ, regained it at the Cross. 

After His resurrection Jesus gave this promise and mandate to all believers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore…” Those two words “Go therefore” are our authorization. We are authorized to demonstrate the resurrection of Jesus to our world. 

The name of Jesus is our authority and the baptism with the Holy Spirit is our power! “You will receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

The Gym of Faith

The battles that have been won in my life are trophies for the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus. The battles that continue are the gym for my faith. They are the servant behind me in my chariot reminding me I am only human, and I need God…and that it is my privilege as a son of God to carry the banner of the name of Jesus and demonstrate His complete victory over sin and all the works of Satan.

Present battles make needing God, and faith in His Word, more than a religious saying empty of real power and meaning. They challenge my faith and force me to keep my shield up. They do not allow me to become complacent and lazy. 

Concerning his continual troubles Paul said, “None of these things move me.” Paul was moved by his faith in God, by his love for Jesus, and by his commitment to cause of Christ.

When the enemy attacks; when doubt comes calling; when threats begin bombarding your mind -shake off the fleas of Satan…dress yourself in the armor of God, point your finger in the devil’s face and boldly tell him to back off in the name of Jesus Christ. Resist the devil and he will run from you in terror!

Then hold tightly to your confidence in God and refuse to back down. Remember this, it is not only about our life being better and winning the battle; it is about glorifying God with our stand of faith. Abraham glorified God by his faith, and we must also.

One day all struggles, tests, trials, and battles will be eternally over. What will remain forever is the testimony of our faith in God through it all.

The Flicker of Faith

I close with this: our lives will always have challenges, but also purpose. And that purpose is bigger than our needs and desires. It is born out of the heart of God for this world – for the broken, the bound, the hurting, hopeless and lost.

Years ago, the Lord told me I must speak from the valley of struggle, from the field of battle, not just the mountaintop of victory. The power of your voice is not weakened in the time of struggle. As long as there is a small flicker of faith deep within you victory is yours and God is being honored by that faith. That flicker of faith is the victory that overcomes the world, and it is what glorifies God. As Paul said we carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in us.

Until next time I remain your friend and fellow warrior.