Sunday Sermons
Winning the Battle
Winning The Battle
One reason why I cannot believe the theory that Satan and God do not exist and that sin is just an invention of the Biblical writers is that every time I pick up and read the daily newspaper I am confronted with people guilty of committing terrible crimes (sins) and clear evidence of a battle raging between good and evil. Evidence confirming God’s existence is clearly seen (Romans 1:20) and so is the Devil’s presence as well (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Ephesians 6:12
There are a number of passages that speak of the Christian in the terminology of a soldier (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight”), including the above passage, which begins with a profound yet obvious truth, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood”. “Something I’ve noticed over years of talking with couples is that the enemy comes in early on, trying to steal, or sow some damage, some seed of doubt, some lie, even there on the honeymoon” (The Way of the Wild Heart, John Eldredge p. 213).
Warrior Skills
- Win Big Battles and Little Battles:
The Bible exhorts us to flee from youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22), yet remember also that temptation equally lurks in morally neutral things as well. What often unsettled the children of Israel was the uncertainty regarding where the next meal was coming from (Exodus 16:1-3; Numbers 11:1). When people think of temptation they often think about the lure of the “big city”, yet the children of Israel were out in the middle of nowhere yet still managed to find plenty of temptation. James notes, “How great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire” (3:5). A Christian needs to be aware when the next thing they say can neither bring peace (Proverbs 15:1) or serious conflict.
What this means is that any hassle or setback can immediately go from being a “flat tire”, “cranky baby”, “missed item on the grocery list”, or “bad traffic” to all-out spiritual warfare. The devil can launch an attack from the most mundane or innocent looking situations. Remember, Jesus noted in the Parable of the Sower that people will be sidetracked by such ordinary things as worry, money, and the desire for other things (Matthew 13:22). We equally see this in the fact that many marital conflicts arise over finances. This should warn us that if the devil is able to cause couples who once loved each other to go from the point of making a vow of endless love to the point of splitting up, what other ordinary and innocent looking areas can he exploit if we are not careful? Peter noted that the devil relentlessly roams looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We must always be diligent, for any individual or couple can become devoured while shopping, going on vacation, planning a camping trip, sitting in traffic, visiting in-laws, and so on.
- Fight one Battle at a Time:
The devil will try to “bury you in battles. What he’ll do is try to lure you into battles that aren’t yours to fight” (Eldredge p. 175). For example, many Jewish people wanted Jesus to get involved in a political fight with the Romans over the control of Palestine (John 6:15). Jesus refused.
- Fight the Battle Once:
“You don’t want to get worn out through hours of speculation, working over and over in your mind how some event is going to go. You don’t know how it’s going to go, and I have never once found speculation helpful. It simply ties you in knots. Resist it. Don’t fight your battles twice---once in worry and anticipation” (Eldredge p. 175). Yielding our hearts to worry will only weaken our resolve (1 Peter 5:7).
- “Resist Quickly”:
“Don’t let things get a foothold. However tired you may be, however distracted or inconvenient the moment, now is the time to fight, especially in the beginning of the temptation; for the enemy is then more easily overcome, if he is not suffered to enter the door of our hearts, but is resisted at the first knock. Don’t kid yourself, saying, ‘I’ll deal with this later’. I’m stunned how I will actually welcome a distraction, an opportunity not to deal with it. I’ll check my email, or take a phone call, or go wander through the house, check the pantry for something to eat in the very moment I should be praying” (p. 176). One will only be strengthened if one resists in the very moment that one feels most like not resisting. Remember, praying is resistance!
- Learn from the Battle:
When we are being tempted, instead of resenting the temptation we need to realize that a temptation is Satan’s probing the perimeter. He is looking for the weak spots or the areas where we might be uncertain concerning right and wrong. Such probings are instructive, for they immediately reveal the state of our defenses. In any temptation one can learn a lot about one’s present strength and convictions, and most importantly, where we need to mature and what we need to work on.
- Be decisive:
When Jesus rebuked the Devil’s temptations the text says, “And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). In like manner Christians are told, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “It takes more than a single skirmish to win a battle, and a hate-filled enemy usually will not yield at a single swing from us. Keep at it. The enemy is testing your resolve. Show him that no matter how long it takes, you fully intend to win” (p. 177). We are doing ourselves a big favor by putting up a strong front right at the start to any temptation; often what prolongs a temptation is a lack of resolve on our part. Too often we can make the mistake of wishing for the temptation to leave, instead of seizing control of the moment and insisting that we are not going to play. Remember, we do have control over how long the temptation lasts (James 1:14). In addition, a strong “no” sends a signal to people in the world who know us. People who strongly resist are often left alone by those who are up to no good.
“Every time a man makes a hard decision, the Warrior in him is strengthened. Notice those places you are normally passive, and do the opposite. What are you surrendering these days? Go take it back” (p. 172).
- Beware of the Propaganda:
Paul exhorts us to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Often when we read this verse the thoughts that we consider taking captive include angry or lustful thoughts, yet there are thoughts just as dangerous that can sneak in beyond the radar, especially in relationships:
- “I never get my way”
- “I am standing on principle but they are being stubborn”
- “I am always sacrificing and they are always being selfish”
- “I don’t think they have my best interest at heart”
- “I wonder if they really do love me”
Remember, the devil is a murderer (John 8:44) and his goal is to bring distrust (Genesis 3:12), division, hard feelings, and death to happiness, love and unity. We must not believe the leaflets that he is dropping over our heads.
- Remain Humble:
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Even though the devil misuses his power and intelligence and will lose in the end, we cannot assume that we can resist him all by ourselves. “He is more cunning than the wisest: How soon he entangled Solomon! He is stronger than the strongest: How fatally he overthrew Samson! Yes, and men after God’s own heart, like David, have been led into most grievous sins by his seductions” (Charles Spurgeon).
- Unite Truth with Faith:
The gospel is powerful (Romans 1:16) and penetrating (Hebrews 4:12-13) and is likened to a sharp sword (Ephesians 6:17). Yet we have all seen people who apparently read or studied their Bibles often, who have been beaten by temptation to the point of completely giving up. In the book, The War Within, Jay Adams reminds us that “truth is powerful only when it passes through faith” and “Truth and a soul that is ready for truth meet like fuel and flame” (p. 89). The Hebrew writer notes that the generation that came out of Egyptian bondage failed, not because they did not hear enough truth, but rather, “the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard” (Hebrews 4:2). We do not want to become an individual with ideas, potential, and merely on the brink, but because of a lack of faith never accomplishing much good.
- Call in Reinforcements:
“From the day you first opened your mouth to breathe until the day you expire, you are dependent upon others. Life is dependency” (Adams p. 93). Take advantage of the many encouraging friendships in the local congregation now (1 Thessalonians 5:14; Galatians 6:1ff) and do not wait till someone else must call for the stretcher-bearers. Invest in the lives of others and share your burdens with others (James 5:16).
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.com
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
