…and yet sometimes things happen that just really take me off guard—and can be a problem when I am vulnerably positioned, either physically or emotionally, where I can be thrown off-guard by the enemy’s tactics.  The apostle Paul wrote these words to caution the Corinthian church, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

A situation has been brewing and building over the past few weeks that ended up with the loss of a lot of money and an abusive, vulgar verbal attack.  I have learned some important things through all of this; particularly some strategies I hope will equip me for the days ahead when Christians everywhere will experience the scorn and ridicule of increasingly pagan or hostile societies.  I believe with all my heart that the most important outcome of these types of situations is not “how to avoid fraud or abuse”; rather, acknowledging that there are still some vulnerable places in my heart, places that the enemy is all too aware of and will probably mount a campaign against to destroy me—yet my Redeemer lives always to make intercession for me (Hebrews 7:25), nothing can separate me from His love (Romans 8:39), and it is He who supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory! (Philippians 4:19).

Here are several things I know about the enemy:  He doesn’t fight fair, he is subversive (2 Corinthians 11:3).  Satan and his minions seek to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10); and he walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).  Yet there is just one simple thing that will render his attacks useless—it is our faith.  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).

It is so important to be equipped for battle!  It is essential that we “put on the whole armor of God, that  [we] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11, 12).

The enemy tries to get us to lay down our swords, that piece of our armor we can use aggressively to fight off his attacks.  In my situation, I was accused of being self-righteous, of using the Bible in a wrong way, trying to attack this person—I guess his perception is accurate, though I didn’t think so at the time.  I actually thought I was defending my position with scripture—but my shield is faith and the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.  The writer of Hebrews also confirms, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow” (Hebrews 4:12).

The thing is, there are no valid instruction manuals for life other than the Bible.  If we lay down God’s Word, all we have to go on are our emotions, the opinions of others, our own reasoning, and the whispers of the enemy—so of course he doesn’t want us to know and study the Bible! …of course he doesn’t want us to consult scripture for wisdom in the confusing times!

I’ll tell you what broke my heart the most about this situation—this person professed to be a Christian; and when the dialogues began, we seemed to be in agreement about what it means to serve God.  I think of this scripture found in the book of James:  “But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so…” (James 3:8-10).  An untamed tongue used for cursing others is evidence of a life not submitted to the redeeming power of the cross.  “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:3-7).

Two other things came out of this experience that I want to share.  First, is that we need to recognize one of satan’s primary identities—he is a relentless accuser of those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus (Revelation 12:10).  Words are twisted and intentions misrepresented.  Jesus stood silently as his accusers reviled and beat him; sometimes we need to remain silent in the midst of the accusations hurled our way.  We always need the grace and discernment of the Holy Spirit in our lives to know when to speak and what to say.

The other thing is forgiveness.  Jesus taught, “I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…” (Matthew 5:44).  This is possibly one of the strongest things we can do for the kingdom of God! –to forgive and pray for those who curse us and spitefully use us.  To pray for their salvation.  To pray for healing and restoration.  To pray for deliverance from the strongholds of the enemy and a revelation of God’s forgiveness and power.  To sense the Holy Spirit’s presence and feel Jesus’ amazing love and grace.  Because we do not want enemies, we want fellow heirs in the hope of eternal life.