Times of trouble are common to us all. It’s because we’re in a battle, and our foe is not made of flesh and blood. We’re up against Satan and his forces of evil; yet when we understand the devil’s methods and schemes, and the avenues by which he’s likely to attack or try to trip us up, we can literally close the door on him and find victory instead!
Answers with Bayless Conley
Day 1
Scriptures: Ephesians 6:10-13, 1 Peter 5:8-9
The Reality of the Battle
Ephesians 6:10-13 provides for us a sober warning,
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Conflict with the enemy is unavoidable. These verses make that eminently clear. There will be a battle if you are part of God’s family. We do have a spiritual adversary.
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8-9,
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
We do have an enemy and we are involved in a spiritual battle. But don’t you think if you knew when the devil was going to attack you, that it might give you a bit of an advantage? Well, over the next few devotionals I want to share with you three times that the devil is very likely to bring the battle to your front door.
We are going to find that as we look at the life of Jesus, this pattern was in His life. There were three times that the devil in particular brought the battle to His front door, as it were. And I believe we can expect spiritual battle at the same three times in our lives.
Day 2
Scripture: Revelation 12:1-5
Where Satan Will Attack First
Last time we began a series of devotionals looking at when we can expect Satan to attack us. Revelation 12:1-5 provides insight into the first time he will attack,
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
The child in this passage is the Lord Jesus Christ, the woman represents the nation of Israel, and the dragon that wanted to devour the Child as soon as He was born is our adversary the devil.
It was the devil who was behind King Herod commanding that all of the male children two years old and younger be slaughtered. It was only because Joseph was warned by God in a dream that he, Mary, and Jesus escaped from Herod’s clutches.
What I want you to see here is that the battle came to Jesus as soon as He was born. And I think we should expect battle as soon as a person is born again, as soon as someone comes into God’s family.
We need to be prepared to help protect and defend those who are new babes in Christ.
Day 3
Scripture: Isaiah 59:15-16
Protecting New Believers
We have been talking about the devil’s attack on newborn babes in Christ. This is something we can expect. But what are the reasons for it?
Look at Isaiah 59:15-16, as it provides us with a clue,
So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him.
I want you to think about that. Truth fails, and the person who departs from evil makes himself a prey, in the same way that a lion looks at a wounded gazelle as prey.
To me this is a picture of what happens to some new believers. They depart from evil (get saved) and suddenly it seems like everything is going wrong for them. And God is not pleased about it!
Where it says He “wondered ” literally means He was astonished that there was no intercessor. This means that there was no one praying. That is why they became prey!
If we do not pray for those who turn from evil, then they will become the prey of the devil. We have a responsibility to intercede for people who come to Christ. It puts up a barrier of protection around them.
Paul wrote to the Colossians about this when he said that he was praying always for them, since he heard of their faith in Christ. Paul didn’t just pray for them before they were saved, he also prayed for them after they were saved.
Oh, may God not wonder in our day, “Where is the intercessor who should be praying for the new babes in Christ?”
Let’s take our responsibility seriously and pray for those who have newly come to the faith.
Day 4
Scriptures: Psalms 119:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 13:17
Getting Established in the Faith
If you are a new believer in Christ, or know someone who is, I want to talk to you this time. I want to share with you four things that will help you get established in your faith.
1. Read your Bible every day. That’s food for your spirit. Psalm 119:11 says, Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. It is vital you spend time in God’s Word.
2. Pray every day. Spend time talking to God and then listening in your heart for His answers. As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 admonishes us, Pray without ceasing. This is a vital part of your growth and protection as a believer.
3. Fellowship with other believers. Do not get isolated from the church. Do not get isolated from the rest of the body. Scripture tells us to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as is the manner of some (Hebrews 10:25). In fact, it is important to get integrated into a smaller circle of fellowship. You need to get connected relationally. There is a real safety in that.
4. Listen to your spiritual leaders. Go to church whenever the doors are open, and go expecting God to speak to you through the teaching and preaching. One translation of Hebrews 13:17 says, Give ear to your spiritual leaders and be willing to do what they say for their work is to watch over your souls. Become a part of a strong Bible-believing fellowship and take heed to what is taught.
If you will do those things: read your Bible every day, pray every day, get involved in a smaller circle of fellowship and listen to your spiritual leaders, you will be all right.
Day 5
Scripture: Hebrews 10:32
You Made it This Far!
In the last couple of devotionals, we saw how the devil will attack a new babe in Christ. Hebrews 10:32 sheds some additional light on what we can expect,
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings.
When it says, “after you were illuminated,” it literally means, “After you came to the light.” This verse is talking about when the light of the Gospel dawned on you, when you were saved.
And what does it say? You need to recall, to remember, that after you came to Christ, you endured. You went through some battles.
I think we need to remember that. In fact, let me just encourage you today. The fact that you are reading this devotional today says something about you. Did you know there are a lot of people who were saved at the same time you were, but they are not seeking God today?
You made it through the battle! You stood fast. You might feel like you are pretty rickety and ready to keel over, but you are still seeking God! If the devil could get you, he would have gotten you already.
By God’s grace you made it this far. Now is no time to quit!
Day 6
Scriptures: Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 4:1
Attack at the Point of Spiritual Breakthrough
We have seen in previous devotionals how Satan will attack when a person comes to Christ, when they are a babe in their faith. I believe Scripture shows us that the devil will also attack when you are on the verge of a breakthrough, or at a time of important transition. This is the second battle we must fight.
In Matthew 3, we find Jesus at an absolutely critical time of transition in His life. We have not heard from Him since He was 12 years old. There has been about 30 quiet, unnoticed years where He presumably was working in His father’s carpentry shop.
That is when we read in Matthew 3:16-4:1,
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Jesus is about to enter public ministry. The sick will be healed; the poor will have the gospel preached to them; miracles will be worked; the Father will be revealed. So from this point, the battle is on. And we are given a bird’s-eye view of the conflict that occurs between Christ and the devil, which we will look at in more detail in the next several devotionals.
But I want to submit something to you this time. If it seems that all hell has broken loose in your life, maybe, just maybe, it’s because you are on the verge of a breakthrough in your life.
Maybe it’s a time of very important transition where God wants to lift you into a place where there is going to be greater influence and greater impact through your life.
Day 7
Scripture: Matthew 4:3-4
The Devil’s Seeds of Doubt
As we saw last time, Satan will seek to attack when we are on the verge of a major breakthrough. I believe there are three distinct areas of attack in this battle. Today I want to cover the first with you. It is found in Matthew 4:3-4,
Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
The devil’s first area of attack will be to try to get you to doubt your calling.
Notice that just prior to this encounter the voice of God the Father said to Jesus, “This is My beloved Son!” And that is the first thing the devil challenges, “Well, if youare the Son of God….”
He will do the same thing to you.
What is it that God has spoken to you about that He wants you to do with your life? Has He told you that He wants to use you to funnel vast resources into the gospel? Or maybe God said you are to be a teacher, or that you are going to impact the entertainment industry, or that you are going to be a prayer warrior and tip the spiritual scales in critical times.
Whatever it is, the devil will saddle up next to you and say, “Who do you think you are? What God has told you is just a pipe dream. It’s just your own head speaking to you.” He will try and get you to doubt what God has said to you and to doubt what God has called you to do.
When that happens, you need to go back to that word that God has spoken to you in order to keep your focus and direction right.
Day 8
Scripture: Matthew 4:6-7
Where Satan Will Attack Second
Last time, we saw the first area the devil will attack when you are on the verge of a breakthrough or in a time of important transition. Today, I want to show you the second area, the area of pride.
We pick up the drama of Satan’s attack of Christ in Matthew 4:6,
“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
I believe the devil was appealing to Jesus’ pride at this point. He realized Jesus was solid in His own heart about who He was and what He was to do.
So the devil took Him to the most public of all places, and told Him, “Now, hey, You need to prove this to everybody else. If You cast Yourself down, You will have a soft landing because the angels will catch You, and everyone will know that You’re the Son of God.”
Pride will cause us to do things recklessly, and Satan was doing all he could to get Jesus to act recklessly. But Jesus answered perfectly, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.”
By the way, the verse Satan quoted to Jesus about the angels catching Him had an ending, which he failed to include. It says, “To keep you in all your ways.” The Amplified Bible says, “In all your ways of obedience and service.”
In other words, you can’t do some reckless thing to prove a point to other people and expect God to save you. Don’t let your pride get you out on a limb. Instead, resist Satan’s attack in the area of pride. Realize it for what it is; it’s his temptation to get you to fall!
If you are secure in who you are, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone.
Day 9
Scripture: Matthew 4:8-11
Compromise
Today, I want to highlight for you the third area where the devil will seek to cause you to fail when you are on the verge of a breakthrough. It is found in Matthew 4:8-11,
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
If you think about it, the devil offered Jesus exactly what He had come to this world to obtain. Jesus came to win the kingdoms of this world to our God.
And the devil is saying, “Hey, You can take a shortcut. I will give You what You want. You don’t have to do it God’s way. You may have to compromise Your integrity, but think of how quickly You will succeed! You can even avoid the whole sacrifice thing! You don’t have to do it God’s way.”
Listen, anytime God has set a goal for you, and you are going to obtain something, the devil will always come and try to get you to compromise and offer you substitutes.
He will tempt you by saying things like, “You can get what you want without living by all those narrow, restrictive rules that God puts on people’s lives. You can be dishonest; you can be unfaithful; you can compromise; and you can still be blessed, and you can still be happy.”
Do not believe him for a moment. His way of compromise leads only to ruin!
Day 10
Scripture: Matthew 16:21-25
Sacrifice?
Matthew 16:21-25 shows us another time in our lives when we can expect the devil to strike, or the third battle we must fight,
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
The cross is a place of sacrifice. It is a place where you die. In this passage Jesus is talking about the sacrifice that He is going to give, laying down His life for our sins.
Peter is being manipulated by the devil to challenge Jesus. The devil is speaking through Peter, telling Christ to back off a bit, that He doesn’t need to sacrifice, that He doesn’t need to give that much, or to lay His life down.
Friend, when God is leading you to sacrifice for the sake of His kingdom, count on the devil to be right there doing all He can to stop you. He will make you believe you should let your temperature cool down a little bit, that you shouldn’t be so on fire for God. That you shouldn’t be that sold out!
Do not listen. Instead, heed God’s call to sacrifice. You will not regret it!
Day 11
Scripture: Matthew 16:24-25
The Impact of Sacrifice
Last time, we saw how Jesus calls us to sacrifice, and how the devil will do all he can to keep us from that. Read again Jesus’ words,
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).
The devil will fight to keep you from sacrifice because he knows several things:
The devil understands that sacrifice brings the presence of God. Throughout the Old and New Testaments you will find that whenever men and women sacrificed, God’s presence came. The devil doesn’t want more of the presence of God in your life. He would love for you to live a mediocre, half-hearted life. But to follow Jesus means self-denial. When Jesus leads you to sacrifice, it will always bring a greater measure of His life and His presence into your life. And the devil understands that.
The devil understands that sacrifice opens a great channel of blessing that otherwise we will not experience. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I’ve received your gift. It is a sacrifice, a sweet-smelling aroma to God, and my God will supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” That promise of needs being met according to a heavenly standard was directly linked to sacrificial giving.
The devil understands that those who have changed the world were always men and women who sacrificed. You will not find anyone who has changed the world for good that has not been a person of great sacrifice. The devil knows that is true!
Don’t let Satan keep you from the sacrifice God is calling you to make.