32. PREPARE FOR ATTACK. Genesis 39-12. & others.

Ever since Lucifer fell from Grace he has been trying to get even with God. He has found the only way he can hope to do this is through mankind. He started with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and hasn’t given up yet, nor will he ever do so. Every generation has had its battles with him and ours is no exception. In fact these battles have escalated over the centuries, as he (Satan) pandered to human pride, selfishness and greed. We can all see how this has effected the entire world and it’s population. Because of this, we are in a dilemma or state of confusion. Even though God sent His own Son who died to pay the debt our sins uncured. Still mankind prefers to take the easy way and continue in his rebellion against God rather than understand that life is short, payback time is coming, when we will have to account to a loving, but JUST God. At this point, we are in a position where we can turn back to Him, accept His forgiveness and start a new life in Jesus Christ. That doesn’t mean Satan will give up on you or me, on the contrary, He will redouble his efforts. Understand this, to stay on track with Jesus, you need to have two main qualities, 1. Be alert, the devil’s sole purpose is to take you away from Christ, He will lie, cheat, steal and do whatever it takes to achieve that goal, he will promise you whatever your heart desires, but he’ll never be able to deliver in full. So no matter what he says don’t believe him, Jesus called him a liar, so treat him as one and don’t trust anything he says to you. 2. Pray often, every morning “Dress yourself in the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against Satan and his schemes, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (not man made), “but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, do that, so WHEN the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, stand firm with the belt of TRUTH” (always check with Scripture, truth is vital), “buckled around your waist, with the Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Living a life as a representative of Christ) “in place, and with your feet fitted with the shoes of readiness that comes from the Gospel of PEACE”.(always let peace be your aim) “In addition to all this take up the shield of FAITH” (believe in who you are in Christ) “with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Then take the Helmet of SALVATION” (remember you are a saved child of God, nothing can change that) “and the sword of The Spirit which is THE WORD OF GOD” (get to know your Scripture and you will be able to use it like a sward) (Ephesians 6.11-17). Notice Paul says “WHEN” the day of evil comes and not IF the day of evil comes. So that day is coming you can count on it. Paul was explaining very graphically to his audience in relating the dress code of a Roman soldier to the dress code of the battle-fighting Christian. The parts of the body which are more vulnerable physically, need extra protection. And so it is spiritually, those same parts are also more vulnerable and need extra spiritual protection. So be ready, learn from Scripture. Was it given thousands of years ago for such a time as this? We are vulnerable creatures, we accept the easy way. More and more we can see that what is blatantly wrong, but convenient; is being not only accepted, but taught to our children and grandchildren as right. Abortion, euthanasia, suicide are all okay and even applauded. Our education system has been hijacked and teachers are being given the responsibility to teach very young children about sexual relationships, sexual orientation, gender changes etc. without any parental consent or consultation. Who gave them that right? We, the parents did, by default. It’s not too late. Take it back! Your Children’s and Grandchildren’s souls are at stake. We trusted the education system, they’ve let us down. There is a moral law given by God thousands of years ago, and the world has survived very well on that. By Who and why does it need changing. By Whom? People who want to change places with God. And why? Because they are arrogant enough to think they can make a better job. They certainly appear to think, if they can do away with the moral law, they will then get rid of the moral law-giver. How ridiculous! History can’t be ignored or changed, remember the saying “If you don’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it.” People are saying our teaching system is in a mess (and so it is) because teachers (especially primary school teachers) didn’t join up to teach sex programmes and biology but, that’s exactly what they are being expected to do These usually very young aspiring teachers are way out of their depth. Why should they be given such a tremendous responsibility?. A responsibility most of them cannot hope to fully understand. The nursing shortage can be put down to many of the same problems, The stories a number of us have heard are a stain on the once proud medical history of this country, nurses being asked to perform procedures and duties they didn’t sign-up for. “Just follow the orders” is depleting our hospitals of highly qualified gifted and devoted nursing staff who, in many cases have spent several years selflessly nursing patients back to health they are leaving that commendable profession and in some cases their own country for less pay, but a clear conscience and a good night’s sleep. The coercion, bullying and victimisation that goes on is shocking and thoroughly disgraceful for a country such as ours, which was once called “God’s Own” What have we done to it? And why? Or more to the point, what have we allowed to happen to our country and why? By not taking a stand in areas such as the above, and there are hundreds more, we are submitting to Satan and his followers. In almost every industry competence and consistency are completely missing. Therefore organisations from Government Departments to Freezing Works, Councils to Courtrooms, from forestry to farming are unable to be trusted. Everyone knows the media has been paid off and muzzled. While we are told to listen to the powers that be. Because they have the only truth OH YES!!!. But that’s not necessarily so, not everybody has God’s truth and for Christians, that’s the only truth that matters. That’s why Pilate asked Jesus “what is TRUTH” and didn’t even wait for the answer, because he too had his own truth but not what it took to stand up for it. Why? We now have one of the highest rates of suicides per capita in the world. We have more drug addicts and alcoholics than ever before, more major crime, more debt, more unemployment, more homelessness, more accidents. And surprise surprise, more money, but less food in our trolleys. Isn’t that the truth? If we can’t stand up for Biblical principals in our own private lives when we are tempted, we will be unable to stand up when the big issues come along. A soldier has to learn hand-to-hand combat and how to use small weapons before he can be trusted with bigger ones, so observe how some of God’s champions dealt with Satan’s attacks then you’ll know how to handle them when they comes your way. Lust is one of the most common ways Satan attacks these days, I suppose we can put that at technologies door, but, Satan uses anything or anybody anywhere Whether it’s an affair or an online fantasy, draw your eyes away, lust is like a tiger; once uncaged it will prowl through your mind and prey on your thoughts. What it wont do is willingly go back into its cage. So if you haven’t looked, don’t, if you have, Pray for victory and get it out of your life Another way Satan will try to get to you is that; If you have been given an assignment by God, he will have other people discourage or ridicule you especially family and friends. That’s what Nehemiah experienced when God told him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Four times Sanballat sent messengers to Nehemiah calling him to abandon the project God had assigned him, and come down to them, but each time he refused. (Nehemiah 6.2-4/) “ I am doing a great work, so I cannot come down”.Any time you stop doing the work God has given you to do and step down to the level of your critics, you’ve sent the devil a signal that his strategy is working, so you can expect more of the same. Think, if God can deliver you in times of trouble, surely He can defend you in times of misunderstanding! So get back up on the wall He has called you to build and keep working. Don’t get distracted. In (Acts 28:2-6.) Luke writes “The Islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood, and put it on the fire...a viper fastened itself on his hand, when the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, This man must be a murderer for though he escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. People’s opinions are often fickle, so here’s a response you need to adopt “Shake it off.” These people started off thinking Paul was an escaped criminal, and ended up thinking he was a god. Incredible! There is an important lesson here for us. Beware of those who change their minds about you when your circumstances change. Build your life on those who believe the best about you, and want to bring it out. Behind Paul’s spectacular success in ministry you’ll find people who never stopped believing in him. He writes in, (Romans 16:3-4) “Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for me”. In (Philippians 2:25) He called Epaphroditus my brother, my fellow worker, and fellow soldier,..and he ministered to my need. He says in (2Timothy 1:16) that Onesiphonus often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. Look for such people to build you up they are out there, and ignore your critics. If God has called you He will sustain you in your ministry for Him Some issues are so crucial that, until you have resolved them, you can’t move forward or enjoy God’s blessing in your life. Joshua faced such an issue when he stood before the towering walls of Jericho, the strongest city in the Promised Land and the first that had to be conquered. In Joshua 5;13-15) we read “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho he lifted his eyes...and behold, a man stood opposite him with his sword drawn...and Joshua… said to him “Are you for us or for our adversaries? And he answered, “No, but as the commander of the army of The Lord I have now come” And Joshua.. worshipped him and said to him, “What does my Lord say to his servant” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot because the place where you stand is holy and Joshua did so.” I believe if we pray and stand-up for God’s principals of truth, Justice and Peace, He will be there for us. Who can ask for more, “If God is for us, Who can be against us.” Thank you for reading my thoughts on preparing for attack. Unfortunately it’s the way of the world we live in. But, anything we do for God is blessed by Him and He will protect us and His ministry, if we suffer or are ridiculed it’s all for Jesus and that makes it a privilege so be happy, God is with us. Phaline. ---------------------------------------