In life we often encounter people who attack us, slander us, and who simply seek to destroy us. Where does that sort of attack come from? Ephesians 6:13 states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities in high places.” Did you ever stop to think about who is giving that person in the heat of the argument the words to hurl your way? The answer is simple; it is none other than the enemy. The enemy is not that other person, but in fact the devil and his cohorts.
Satan’s entire goal in life is to destroy. He wants to destroy your family, your relationships, your job, and most importantly you, and especially if you are in Christ and trying to do something for the Lord. James said it best when he stated, “Do not be surprised when you encounter various trials.” We should not be shocked when Satan assaults us, for anyone who is attacking him will be attacked.
How do we attack Satan, by simply obeying God? Yes, we are not to wage a verbal war against Satan, as that would be foolish. He is better at it than we are. He will give someone the best lines of ammunition to hurt and wound us to our core, and better than what we can return in the heat of battle. So the warfare must be won on our knees. A Christian has never lost a single battle that they wage in prayer. God is not mocked whatsoever a man (or woman) sows that shall he (she) also reap (Galatians 6:7). You will reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow it. That can be positive, and that can also be negative, and it all depends on what you are sowing. If we sow good things we will reap good things. The Bible states in Proverbs 26:20, “Where no wood is, the fire goeth out.”
When we choose to refrain from verbal retaliation when falsely accused, or slandered; it is at that point that God will choose to retaliate for us. He does so by convicting the person attacking us through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we decide we want to get payment for a wrong done to us we can do so, but keep in mind we can only get partial payment. However, if God retaliates He will get payment in full for the wrong done to us. Thus, it is really a matter of trust. Do we trust God enough to do what He says He will do? Can we keep our wits in the throws of an attack, and allow God to fight our battles for us? The answer is yes we can.
2 Chronicles chapter 20 offers the story of Jehoshaphat, who was King of Judah, and during his reign there were three armies that conspired to come against him. Their goal was to simply kill and destroy all of Judah. Jehoshaphat did not know what to do, as the army he had was not big enough for the armies coming against him. So he called for prayer and fasting for the entire nation. The people began fasting and praying, and then suddenly the Lord fell upon Jahaziel, and he stood up in their midst and said, “ you need not fight in this battle, for the battle is not yours but Gods.” Jehoshaphat was instructed to put the choir in the front of the army, and sing praise songs as they march into battle, which for anyone would sound like a plan for utter suicide. However, as they were walking up the side of the mountain singing and praising God the enemy became confused. They got so confused they all killed each other until not one person was left alive. When Jehoshaphat and his army got up to the top of that hill and they looked down into the valley, and all they saw was the enemy destroyed in a sea of blood. Jehoshaphat and his men took all the spoil they could carry of gold, silver, and precious stones, and it was so much that it took them three days to get it back home. Friend, God will do the same for you. That enemy that has come to destroy you will not prevail. They will not win. They will be defeated, but only if you choose to surrender to your instinct to retaliate, and instead choose to allow God to fight your battle for you.
Reggie Richardson
