Under Attack

A friend of mine posted this status update on Facebook, “Typical bickering on the way to church…at least we’re on our way…” 

Due to the commonality of this problem, many of her friends posted comments, including myself. “Our family does that too. I think it’s spiritual attack.”

I’ve thought about these two comments often since we posted them; spiritual warfare seems to be increasing all around us. Perhaps the times in which we live are bringing out worse weapons from Satan’s arsenal.

I wrote an article on recognizing the true enemy in spiritual warfare entitled Who's the Enemy?

Since its publication, however, I have had some more thoughts regarding this important subject.

Size Doesn’t Matter

Spiritual attacks come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. My opening example from Facebook may seem insignificant. However, if Satan can get into our families and cause dissension on Sunday morning, then he quite often is successful in keeping families away from church. Many parents opt to stay home from church rather than deal with the stress of getting everyone in the car and to the building on time. Rather than succumb, this is the perfect time to realize our battle isn’t with our kids or spouse but is with a potent spiritual enemy. That enemy is trying to keep us away from a place where he knows we will grow in our relationship with God.

Who Do Ya’ Know?

My book Everything We Need: God's Path to Know Him Better looks at twelve truths believers need to know because everything we need for life and godliness is through our knowledge of Him (2 Peter 1:3). I realized the other day that none of the lessons say to know Satan so we can fight him more effectively. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War may teach ‘know your enemy,’ but God’s Word doesn’t. I believe we need to know God and His truth; then we will be able to recognize and battle the enemy.

Child Soldiers

The thought of sending a child into battle is horrendous. Although the practice does exist, international agencies work to stop it because no child should be used as a soldier during an armed conflict. Likewise, recognizing and engaging in a spiritual battle is a sign of spiritual maturity. 

Jesus says in Luke 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon [Peter], Satan has asked to sift you (plural) as wheat. But I have prayed for you (singular), Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” First, Satan must ask before he can attack. Second, Jesus prays for us when He allows Satan to do us. However, what I really want to point out is the plurality of the first “you.” Satan desired to attack more than one of the disciples, perhaps all. However, Simon Peter was the only one whom God gave permission to Satan to actually do so. Perhaps this was because Simon Peter was the one strong and mature enough to get through the attack and come out victorious on the other side.

Key Battleground

Ephesians 6 is a well-known passage about putting on the armor of God before we take our stand against Satan’s attacks. Recently, a new point in this familiar passage jumped out at me. We tend to stop reading at verse 17 because it completes the list of required armor. 

Once we are fully armored, from head to toe, we fight the battle. Verse 18 tells us where and how to fight the battle - it is only fought in prayer. “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).