A real battle

There is a real spiritual battle going on all around us. Praise God that it's invisible, or I've come to realize that all of us would be so shaken to the core we wouldn't be able to function. It's too much for our human minds to grasp. But it is VERY REAL and should be take VERY SERIOUSLY. It should not be ignored. In the book I'm reading, Spiritual Warfare and Missions, they make some very interesting statements. On page 33, they say:

Could it be possible that someone would really be at work to send people to hell? Satan would prefer us to be ashamed at his existence and put him in the category of mythology. We underestimate our enemy and accuser when God's Word is sadly embraced as a book of anecdotal, sweet stories with solid advice on how to make good decisions. Although on a macro level the Bible assures us we win, we skip the details of the gruesome confrontations along the way to victory.

 AND

They (the disciples) learned that one size did not fit all in their confrontations with darkness. Faith in God gives a disciple authority to confront because he knows he does not fight Satan in his own strength. Our inappropriate fear of the devil can be traced to our lack of confidence in God's ability, not ours.

WOW. The spiritual world is very real and battles are fought every day. And I think for those of us who are missions minded, it's an even bigger deal because when we go on the mission field, we are absolutely SURE to encounter it. Because Satan does not want us to go and spread God's Word and tell the world of His love for them. Satan wants everyone to stay deceived by the lies he's conceived. Religions so close to the truth yet just off, so they seem right and so gain followers, convinced they are on the right road, when in fact these poor people couldn't be farther from it. So close, yet so far. It's so sad. And it builds up this righteous anger within me. I have friends dealing with some pretty heavy spiritual attacks. And the reason I know they're spiritual is because they manifest themselves in an almost physical way, and consume my dear friends so much that they can hardly stand against it. That's when I have come to realize God's great plan for my friends. Satan doesn't want them to move forward, so he comes against them in the strongest way he knows how - fear. AND HE HAS NO PLACE NEAR US. HE IS NOT ALLOWED. IN JESUS' NAME! It's righteous anger that builds inside of me. As sons and daughters of the Most High God, Satan cannot touch us. But He will try to get as close as He can. It's a very real battle. One that is most definitely NOT of flesh and blood. One that is fought with prayer and seeking God and letting Him fight for us, knowing He is protecting us and that we are His. The battle is won. But it is not over yet. So the devil will keep fighting. And we must keep fighting and realize the reality of it. We cannot lose sight of it. It is SO important.

And in the midst of this, it is good to realize how essential it is to be intentional about our relationship with God. It really struck me, on page 36, where they say:

Satan does not have to tempt us to embrace sinful living that would destroy our witness. All he has to do is divert our focus.

Wow. And it hit me. He is very good at diverting our focus. Think about how much time we spend on Facebook versus spending time reading His Word. Just an observation in my life - that's something I struggle with. It is amazing when you think about it, isn't it? The battle is real. When we all realize that, God's kingdom will advance even farther.

On page 44 of the book, it says:

We are told, "Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith" (1 Pet. 5:8-9). Our enemy is not a house pet who likes to nip at our heels. He is not even satisfied with trying to trip us up with temptation and occasional trivial sins. He seeks our total destruction...He will do whatever he can to thwart God's people from fulfilling God's mission.

But God is BIGGER. He is more powerful. And through Him we have authority over Satan and the powers of darkness. We, not through ourselves, but through God, who enables and empowers us. God's mission and plan will prevail. But it is a real battle, and we need to be aware of it. To Him be the Glory and Power and Honor, FOREVER, Amen!