If you are a Christian, you inherited a brutal and mortal enemy. Satan hates you because God loves you and mostly because You love God. He hates God.  When seemingly negative things happen, I’m not always sure if it is just life or if satan is messing with things.  So, there are times when I address the enemy in battle and I’m usually at least irritated, if not downright mad!

From the journal .  .  .  . June 1994

Thanks for this new day!  Thanks for Your sunshine in the clouds.  I know that there is hope, but I’m leaning toward depression.  Our money situation is not good, Lord.  I need to grocery shop, but I can’t until I get some money.  Mark is doing okay.  He’s worried but not despairing.  Bless him Lord.  He’s not feeling very well.  Is he under attack?

“In the name of Jesus, I rebuke you, satan. * The Lord Jesus rebuke you. Let go of my husband.  He is God’s property.  Remember Calvary and the blood of Jesus. Don’t forget, satan, He defeated you when He rose from the dead.  You’re going down!

*Jude :9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Oh Lord, deliver me from temptation.  Only by grace can I stand.  It’s not by my human endeavor, but by the blood of the Lamb.

And I Believe God Said:

As you stand with Me you become a target.

Matthew 10:22 ²² And all nations will hate you because you are my followers.
 

The heart that loves Me is an automatic enemy of satan.  

Revelation 12: ¹⁷ And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.
 

Fear not! 

Isaiah 41: ¹⁰ ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;  Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

I know how to deal with him, but you must stay under My arm, under My banner.*  This isn’t a casual alliance you have with Me.

Ex 15:16-17. You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth.
Song of Sol 2:4 “He has brought me to His banquet hall,
Ps 60:4. And His banner over me is love. 

If you are casual about this war, you are in a very precarious position.  The battle is Mine, but you have to be wise and alert.  Don’t stop working for Me, but stay within my sight.  Stay under My protective hand.

2 Chron 20:¹⁵ and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
John 15: ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. ¹⁹ The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
* A banner is something that identifies and unifies a particular group of people. For example, a military flag or standard is sometimes called a banner. The Israelites’ saying, “The Lord is my Banner,” was a way of identifying themselves as the unified followers of the Lord God. www.gotquestions.org

I am so aware that there is a spiritual battle going on in our world and specifically in our country. The evil in this world is becoming more and more evident.  As a result, I am doing more and more praying and engaging in spiritual warfare. I can never think about spiritual warfare without being reminded of Ephesians 6:10-17.  

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against ^[a]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ^16 [b]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

People of God, we need to pray.

Rev 13: ⁷ And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.

Rev 20:10.  Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.