We have an enemy and his name is Satan. 

Day 8 of A Call to Die deals with exposing the techniques Satan uses to attack you and throw you off track.

He uses temptation, accusation, confusion, and obstacles.

There is a spiritual battle going on around us.

With the time that I have had in ministry, I have noticed something.

Anytime somebody decides to follow Christ diligently, it is not long before a tough situation comes their way, and they never look back to that commitment again.

Let us open our eyes.

How has this last week gone for you?

Did your commitment to this challenge quickly become interrupted with inconvenience after inconvenience?

Has life “magically” become busier?

Have new temptations thrust their way into your life? 

Has something awful happened that has left you discouraged?

This is the enemy. Should we shrink back? Maybe try again later?

By no means! Satan is attacking because he knows how irrelevant his methods will become and how dangerous you will become to his mission to deceive the world the more committed you are to seeking Jesus!

He hates you, don’t let him win.

There are many means of motivation in the gospel for people with different temperaments and this is the one that motivates the “warrior heart.”

There are some of you who when you hear that there is opposition, there is a fire lit within you that is your competitive drive and fight.

I say use that and do not fear!

Fight Satan’s attacks of temptation and confusion by knowing the Word and God’s standards and God’s goodness.

Fight Satan’s attacks of accusation with constant reminders that Jesus paid the debt, you are free from the penalty of sin and the wrath of God. You are justified and now identified as a saint. Remember, one thing that will make you ineffective in your faith is forgetting that you have been forgiven. (2 Peter 1:8-9)

Fight back when Satan throws obstacles in your life because Jesus is worth it, and realize that the only reason Satan is opposing you is that you have come across something good.

(I just want to note that as I type this, my computer is having the hardest time keeping up and is lagging significantly… this has not been an issue all last week… But I am not going to stop typing!)

I do not want you to be afraid. Often times people view Satan as the arch-nemesis of God. This can’t be further from the truth because that would imply that Satan is equal to God in power and opposition. 

Satan is not allowed to do anything that God does not allow (look at Job).

Satan still has to beg for permission. He is an enemy that is already defeated. We can even read of his end in Revelation (it baffles me as to why he continues to fight).

No situation gets out of hand for God. He is never surprised by the enemy’s tactics.

In Christ, your place is securely held in His hand. Satan can not snatch the genuine Christian out of His hands.

So what do we do?

Resist and cling to truth. Be confident in God even when things get rocky. Fight the battle in prayer. Refuse to let the enemy get a foothold in your life.

Let his opposition become a motivator to do even more for God!

Be like David when he heard Goliath’s opposition:

“…who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)

And be like David when Saul doubted him:

“Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:36-37)

His confidence and aggression towards the enemy came from loving the God we know who has delivered us from the power of sin and death, and who is with us forever today and to eternity.