War Room Strategies
1 Peter 5:8-9a, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”
Let me ask, personally – do we have any war room strategies for when Satan attacks us? One of the most effective ways is to study and know your enemy. What are their strengths and weakness? Charles Stanley said, “When you know your foe and are prepared for the attack, victory is achievable.” But here’s the problem, according to a Barna Research Group study, “only 27% of Americans believe Satan is real. 59% believe he is merely a symbol of evil.” As I read, “the devil’s most beautiful ruse is to convince us that he doesn’t exit.” Welp, he’s gone and done that effectively hasn’t he? Yep! No wonder our familes, churches and nation – we are in such a dire predictament. We’re forgotten who our truly enemy is and that Jesus has conquered him!
In 1965, radio commentator Paul Harvey gave a speech entitled, ‘If I Were The Devil’. Here’s a portion of it…it’s quite prophetic of our present-day culture: “If I were the devil; if I were the prince of darkness, I would gain control of the most powerful nation of the world; I would subvert the churches first–I’d begin a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent I would whisper, ‘Do as you please.’ To the young, I would whisper, ‘the Bible is a myth.’ That man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’ I would get organized, I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten T.V. with dirtier movies…I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could, I’d sell alcohol…tranquilize the rest with pills… If I were the devil, I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves until each was consumed…I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames…I’d…neglect to discipline emotions, just let those run wild. Until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every school door…within in a decade I’d have prisons overflowing. I’d have judges promoting pornography. Soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse…then from the Houses of Congress. In God’s own churches I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I would lure priest and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money…what’s you’ll bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against extremes: in hard work, in patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned. That swinging is more fun. That what you see on T.V. is the way to be, and thus I could undress you in public and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing!” Wow. Prophetic. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-4 & Galatians 5:16-26.
So, how do we become battle ready? What are our war room strategies? Admit our need. Declare war on our deep hurts, bad habits and self-defeating hang-ups? Rely on God. Prepare for battle. Study our enemy. Resist the devil. How? James 4:7-8a,10 answers, “Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” God is with us. He is fighting for and with us. In fact, in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection – Satan has been defeated and we can become ‘more than conquerors’ and ‘overcomers’ in Jesus’ name if we believe, accept and live for Him! Will we?
In Christ, I’m called out of darkness. I am set free. I am a conqueror. I am an overcomer, – so are you friends…so are you!
– Pastor Doug
P. S. – See you this Sunday at 9 and 10:30 a.m. for our worship services. We live stream the entire service at c3ocala.com/live. Also, don’t forget to SPRING our clocks FORWARD an hour this Saturday night.
