A reality check is in order.
Facing Evil
It’s time to look in the mirror and not be satisfied with what we have become in the midst of the great war for our King. We must make peace with the fact that we are spiritually enabled, empowered, and equipped to make war on the Enemy and do something. We are commissioned to inflict losses, unmask and thwart plots to kill, and deliver those in bondage to darkness into the freedom of the sons of light.
Satan knows who you are. Get that. Then, as every God’s man must do on a more urgent basis, you need to accept what that means. What’s that, you say? Simple: You cannot ask for a hall pass to get out of this fight. You must also stop living in ignorance and denial.
Instead, you need to understand and get to know Satan’s ways. Why? Because you are in a play à la Jason Bourne. You are an asset on assignment to neutralize evil wherever and whenever it rears its insidious head. You are to be feared by the Enemy, not laughed at.
When I signed on to write the God’s Man series, there was a deep sense of foreboding every time I pondered the third book (this one). I was, all at once, deeply convicted and committed to stimulating more intelligent and intentional kingdom warfare and intensely aware of what I would be asking for—troubles of another kind. Devilishly bizarre dreams, personal attacks, marital roadside bombs, harassing thoughts, family traumas, conflicts with church members, a double root canal, and a tsunami of satanic diversions are just a sampling of the mortar and artillery rounds that have been lobbed my way.
While some of these are just natural events, the negative emotions that come with them are what the Devil loves to cultivate and exploit in a believer. Every excuse to discourage me, Satan took. He doesn’t play fair and is the king of low blows. He waits to kick men in the teeth when they’re down. Magnifying emotions to create insecurities, heighten fears, and defeat us without a bullet being shot are the things Satan is best at. He must rely on playing mind games—a sign of insecurity and no real power. Nonetheless, he’s allowed to mess with us.
He is doing the same thing with you right now. Repeatedly my message to Satan was, “I know who you are and what you intend to do.” A little preemptive retaliation is consistent warfare doctrine among sovereigns who feel that the security of their networks or borders is about to be compromised in some way. These shots across the bow were intended to say, “Do you really want this? You might want to reconsider.” Throughout this time God’s Spirit has said, “Reconsider this!” like we read in the fourth chapter of Luke’s Gospel when Jesus quit listening and started rebuking evil suggestions and ploys.
Well, my friend, I am still here dialoguing with you on these pages, and Satan still knows where I live. Boo-ya! I wanted you to know a little thunder has been rolling my way, but I expected this. I knew all hell would break loose before, during, and after my decision to focus an entire manuscript on outing the Devil and equipping you to effectively confront and defeat him. I knew the Devil loathes being discovered the way any terrorist would be incensed at the man who blew his cover. I knew that the Great Pimp has a big ego matched only by that noxious chip on his shoulder toward believers. I knew that anyone who actively pulls his masks off to expose his presence is asking for a double helping of ire and indignation.