I recently read a great historic clip. During the Korean War, a unit known as Baker Company was separated from the regiment, and enemy forces were advancing on them. For several hours, no word came from Baker Company. Finally, radio contact was made, and when asked for a report of the situation, Baker Company replied, “The enemy is to the east of us. The enemy is to the west of us. The enemy is to the south of us. The enemy is to the north of us.” Then, after a brief pause, a voice continued, “And this time, we’re not going to let them escape.”
After a chuckle and a smile, I thought, “How many times have I felt surrounded?” Let me ask you: how many time have you felt surrounded by enemy forces?
Lust. Greed. Pride. Envy. Jealousy. Hatred. Illicit requests. Sorcery. Idolatry. Division. (For a fuller list check out Galatians 5:19-21). The list certainly seems endless doesn’t it?
And there seems to be no way out. But there is! In Matthew 4 Jesus was attacked by Satan in the wilderness. Three specific temptations are recorded for us, but Mark 1:13 tells us the temptations were constant during His 40 days in the wilderness. Jesus didn’t wring His hands in worry, fear, or defeat. No. He went on the offensive. Three times He said, “It is written.” Not “I’m gonna have to think about this” or “Well, Satan, you sure have me behind the 8-ball this time.”
Jesus wasn’t defensive; He was offensive. In Ephesian 6 the Apostle Paul writes about the spiritual armor available to us. The shield of faith is used to fend of the enemy’s arrows, but the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (which is the Word of God) is an offensive weapon. You don’t parry arrows with a sword, you fight with a sword.
There is authority and power in God’s Word. Don’t stand idly by. Use it!