When the Battles Come

Have you ever noticed the small words that are etched near the bottom of car’s side-windows? They tend to read: Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. I remember when I first learned how to read and discovered this short but very important detail here, I was awed. The things in the mirror didn’t look that close…

but if I turned my head and looked at what they were reflecting, it was like it clicked: “Wow! When did that car get there?”

A lot of Christians think that because they are saved, Satan won’t touch them. This is dangerous thinking.  I would like to point out that Christians base everything off of the Bible, everything from relationships to finances. Now I don’t know about them but a big part of what I’ve read in my “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth,” is on what we must do when we go through trials! How to face them, the qualities needed throughout them (James 1:19), how to prosper through them (James 1:2-4); and (rather importantly) the armor we should be wearing during them (Romans 13:14; Ephesians 6:10-11, 13-18)!!

Now 1 Peter 5:8 [NKJV] says- Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

I hope you understand that no matter what’s happening; Satan is not the good guy. He’s a fatal and deadly “temporary fix.” His only goal in life is to see to it that you end up in his pens of eternal pain. Once I heard of someone’s idea of hell was along the lines of “going through eternity with every mistake you made in life going through your head“. I can definitely picture the devil’s angels having fun with that line… taunting, taunting, taunting.

However! When we come to Christ we are freed from this eternal death to eternal life! Oh how sweet it is! Here is where I want to draw the attention. After having accepted Christ as your personal Savior you have done something that really gets the devil fired up… you got active! You’re not someone he doesn’t have to worry about anymore. This seems like a rather frightening thing… “What happens now? The devil’s after me? I’d rather just be his than deal with his wrath…” For starters it is not his wrath you should be worried about!

Here’s a picture for you: Once you were in the devil’s bondage; ignorantly you walked around content with simply living everyday life. Or maybe you were even just being a lukewarm Christian, convincing yourself that no matter what’s up, at least you are going to heaven. When that was happening, the devil had you were he wanted you. But now that you’re a radical, on fire for God Christian, he’s taken your picture and put it up on his “wanted” list. Satan has a highlighter, pencil and paper, and he’s looking up all the ways he can get you back.

The devil is using everything possible he can to edge us off of our Solid Rock [Jesus] so that he can sink us back into the raging storms that are all around. We must remember: we’re not alone. We have God on our side (Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 16:10; Hebrews 13:5)! And not only that but He has provided us with weapons to combat this stuff (as mentioned earlier) and it’s awesome!

In the beginning of this whole note, I mentioned the car’s side-mirror, remember? How many times have you been in a battle that seemingly came out of nowhere? Realize that Satan isn’t going to march up to your front door and barge in; anyone would turn him around and send him out, because they’d see him for what he really is. Instead he will deceive us into believing he’s far, far behind us. Then when we least expect it, we’ll turn around and “Whoa! When did you get here??” You know how it’s a slow leak that does the most damage? Yeah, the devil has that one down.

We can’t be dozing off about things like this. We must be on guard!

He who scatters has come up

before your face.

Man the fort!

Watch the road!

Strengthen your flanks!

Fortify your power mightily.

(NKJV-Nahum 2:1; italics mine)

Tell me, what good will the shield of faith do to protect one against the devil’s fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16) if that person isn’t even looking for which way those missiles are coming from. Even more so, if they’ve got so much “faith” that Satan won’t touch them so that they’ve slung the shield over their back? Last I checked that’s not a shield’s purpose; it’s meant to be used, not carried around like some badge.

Let’s not forget my favorite example: the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). The Bible is the word, it’s our sword. If we are ignoring the warnings in it that it’s yelling out at us, we’re putting ourselves in danger.

Say, you were to go out into battle. Upon entering this battle, you’ve grabbed the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. Now, you know how to use the shield, you’ve perfected the use of this protection. However, you’re lacking in what to do with this sword that’s tilting back and forth so awkwardly in your hand.

Satan’s just dished out some nasty things but you’ve held up the shield every time… but you have no comeback. You just hold the shield saying “I trust in my God!” and “I will have faith anyway;” but if you’re not using your sword, I can guarantee you will reach a point where parts of what that nasty snake has said just sort of… whispered over your shield… “You can’t do this… you’re being weakened with every move!”

You see the sword and the shield go hand and hand. Faith without works is useless, nothing, dead (James 2: 18, 20, 26). Without the works not only will we be fools to others and ourselves, but our shield of faith will be mighty small. When the devil fires something the shield of faith is thrust out to quench that fiery dart; then the sword is to slice out that lie with the truth (Ephesians 6:14, 17); “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)!” We cannot just hold up the shield and expect Satan to run for his life if we’ve done nothing to grow and strengthen our faith [our shield].

The best way to learn these different weapons is to use them, of course, and to know them before the battle has even arrived. The shield isn’t for chopping off the enemy’s head, and the sword isn’t for guarding yourself. Know your weapons, their uses, and then practice them.

When the battles come, we have had to be on the lookout! Ready and waiting, giving the devil no chance to knock us down before we even seen he’d arrived.

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

1 Corinthians 16:13

Remember that Satan has no power over us except the power we give to him. If we let him into one area, he will have control over that area because instead of saying “No” and locking him out we allowed him to enter. However, when we tell him to get out, he has to leave… it’s our choice and responsibility to shut that door behind him and deadbolt it. If we don’t then he will just come back in and wreck havoc worse than before (Matt 12:43-45).

In ending this, I want to point out again that we have nothing to fear throughout these things in life -battles, demons or Satan himself (2 Timothy 1:7). With God on our side nothing can stand against us. Keeping in mind that the devil is a defeatedenemy is important. He doesn’t want us to know this, but it’s true! God has already won. So while Satan will try to bring us down, the truth is, he cannot touch us. We have to take this Truth and let it write upon our hearts (Proverbs 3:3).

Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 31:24 (NASB)

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Proverbs 28:1 (NKJV)

By standing firm, you will win your souls.

Luke 21:19 (NLT)

These are all good verses to use as our sword! Praise our great Abba God that He has overcome this world and through Jesus Christ so have we!

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

(NASB- James 4:7; bold mine)