Why Do We Suffer? Part 6

The other great mistake we make in spiritual warfare is when we don’t see the enemy for what it is. We don’t see evil’s effects because we don’t think it’s real. Those who deny Satan’s existence are the most vulnerable to his attacks.

When I started my tenure at my current church, my wife and I listened to a sermon from the previous pastor. During his sermon, he denied the validity of scripture, denied the power of prayer and denied the existence of demons. That’s the great trifecta.

I mean, come on! If you don’t believe in those things, why are you even a pastor in the first place? You are blind to the attacks of the evil one. He is attacking your church and you are defenseless because you don’t see it happening. Jesus saw this in the religious leaders of His day, calling them “blind guides”.

Matthew 15:14

“They are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us that we have a defense against the “fiery darts” of the enemy. Our defense is called the Shield Of Faith.

In Greek, faith and belief are the same word. What Paul is saying is that your best defense against Satan is what you believe. If you have no shield, you are nothing more than a sitting duck for all of the devil’s schemes. This is why so many churches are falling apart and crumbling right before our eyes. They don’t believe anything so they are ripe targets for their lack of faith. They suffer because they don’t see the true problem. Satan is real and he wants to destroy our faith.

Ephesians 6:10-11

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”