During the past several days, we have reviewed a few critical areas of being armed for battle in the spiritual war. On Day 30, we evaluated the importance of mentoring the next generation of the family of faith. Day 31 cautioned about knowing the difference between good and evil. Day 32 was a reminder to carry each other’s burdens. Day 33 we took a hard look at the idea that God hates evil and has justice and wrath. On Day 34 we considered how trials can be used for our training.

Today, we will consider the schemes of the enemy. The devil’s mission is to kill, steal, and destroy.  We know that he is a liar, and the father of lies. Satan and his minions use powerful seductions and subtle manipulations to deceive and lure the weak-willed into a pit of destruction. We must have a battle strategy to guard against the craftiness of the destroyer. 

Consider the areas in your own life that are weak. Are you naïve, ill-equipped, or untrained?  How has the enemy been successful in wreaking havoc with you? What attacks have wounded you the most? What have you done to fortify yourself against those enemy invasions?  Understanding the devil’s tactics will help solidify your stance against him. 

I’m going to use a few questions about doctrines to highlight some of Satan’s lie manipulations. Consider why believing false doctrines gives the enemy a warfare advantage. 

1) What warfare advantage does Satan achieve by doctrines that promote that there is more than one true God or that Jesus is not the one and only God?

2) What warfare advantage does Satan achieve by doctrines that promote that Satan, demons, and evil spirits are not real? Why would convincing us that the evil resides in our own hearts prove useful to him?

3) What warfare advantage does Satan achieve by doctrines that promote that God is mute or that God is a book? How can convincing us that God is powerless to speak to us be used against us?

Read: Isaiah 14:12-15; 54:16-17; John 8:44-48

Training is essential to prepare us for actual battle. The spiritual war is real and if we’re to know how to forge forward in the thick of it, we must be aware, prepared, suited with armor, and have the weapons of combat.  As I have said many times before, not all trials that we go through are punishment from God. Many trials are about providing the equipping and training to make us mighty warriors. 

God’s testing is always going to be about arming you to choose Him with priority. He wants to make you aware that every scheme of the devil is going to be aimed at manipulating you away from your devotion to God.  There are times when God must allow hardships and consequences to remind you that your focus has shifted from the priority. Other times God is putting you through a spiritual boot-camp of coaching, fitness, and experience.  Those lessons will give you the foundation against future temptations that God knows will be on the path ahead.

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18 NIV)

There are times on this path in obediently following God, that I have been hurt and angry with Him for allowing others to use and abuse me. I’ve questioned how the Righteous Judge could patiently watch while I was treated unfairly, persecuted, censored, betrayed, and falsely accused. But in hindsight, I can see clearly that He was training me to become more like Him.  He used those trials to equip me with wisdom, help me to see who is for me or against me, more readily identify the imposters, and anticipate traps by the enemy. 

Spiritual training is never comfortable. The only way through the pain is to keep choosing God first. When you’re tempted to walk away, cry out to Him. When you’re tempted to give up, seek Him for direction. When you’re tempted to be lazy or uninvolved, ask Him to mentor you to a better way.

Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-18

Because we so often want to focus on God’s love, we can miss that God also hates.  God has sovereign justice and wrath … without those His love would be insincere. God will never allow His love to be used as a doormat.  One of the keys to being armed for battle is agreeing with God’s wisdom in love, justice, and wrath. 

Here are some Biblical truths about what can provoke God’s wrath:

1) No other gods.  That’s the first and greatest commandment. (Exodus. 20:1-7; Deut. 12:31, 16:21-22)

2) Do not deny the voice and power of God (aka blaspheming against the Holy Spirit) (Mark 3:28-29)

3) Do not harm God’s prophets and anointed ones. (1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15)

4) God hates evil. (Zechariah 8:17, Psalm 11:5)

5) Seven abominations. (Proverbs 6:16-19)

Some think that God is not allowed to get angry or jealous, but that’s contrary to Scriptural texts as noted above.  So let me suggest questions that you may not have considered.  If you don’t hear God’s voice in prayer, can you keep yourself from provoking God’s wrath by solely keeping the intent of the law? Also, can you please God by simply keeping the law or do you need to walk in faith?  Ask God to teach you how to be more than just a law-keeper and how to truly be a God-follower.

Please study the Scriptures passages included above.

The main point that I often spotlight is to have your own relationship with God and honor Him with your heart, soul and mind.  There are times, though, when God wants to send you to assist a brother and sister in the family of faith. You know when God puts a love in your heart that supersedes your own ability to love. That love inspires you to help a stranger in need or to encourage someone going through a difficult season.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 NIV)

Recently, God gave me what seemed like an impossible assignment. I was overwhelmed and questioning my ability to keep stepping forward. Nobody likes to feel needy. There were those around me who just couldn’t offer encouragement or help. Some left me feeling ghosted. It hurt knowing that they really weren’t for me. 

Thankfully, there were a few people who I can boast about in their desire to support me no matter the circumstances. Not only did they offer financial and physical help, but they never once made me feel “crazy” for stepping faithfully to obey God. God could surely trust them to carry my burdens with my best interests at heart. They sought God for His wisdom in how to assist in carrying my burdens too. That’s the sweetest security that anyone could hope to have. Without them, I would feel that I was in this faith walk all alone. I’m not fully through the burdensome time, but I have renewed hope that there are those who are for me, not against me. That sacrificial love is a beautiful gift to behold.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10 NIV)

Did any of this discussion cause you to question if God can trust you to help carry the burdens of others? Can He?