Spiritual Warfare—Reminders [C]

3.The enemy strikes at the least expected time. Christ’s challenge to His disciples about His second coming is applicable when it comes to the operations of our enemy. “If the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up” (Matthew 24:43). Practically, our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). This calls for our heading Christ’s caution in order to live victorious lives where we are not under the constant harassment of Satan. Be sober; clear headed, sound minded, and make wise assessment of what is going on around you. Resist the devil. Don’t fall for his schemes. Be cautious of the truth that he can strike anytime. Watch and pray that you may not fall to his tricks and cunningness.

4.The enemy uses lies. Satan “was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). Don’t believe him. Satan will work overtime to deceive you into believing and acting on his lies. He excels at making God’s children believe that God no longer cares nor loves them. He bombards Christians with accusations that plight the conscience because of past lifestyles or mistakes. Know that God forgives us when we honestly confess and turn from our sins. (See 1 John 1:9) Are you under the harassment of the Satan? What lie have you believed from the enemy? God loves you. Get back into God’s loving arms of care.

5.The enemy is a schemer. Satan has been in the very presence of God in heaven unlike us. He has been implementing his schemes from the time man came into existence. He knows his game. He knows how to camouflage and disguise himself so not to be identified. He does not come in obvious and predictable forms. He comes like an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and works calculated moves to entice and entangle Christians. I believe he has both short and long term objectives. He can strategize to entice you into sin as he works on your fall within a designated time. He lays plans to stop you from reading God’s Word, be lukewarm and prayer less, stop assembling with God’s children, and wreck your family within his set time frame.

Be sober. Be vigilant. Stay on the alert. Remember, you are in spiritual warfare.