This has been a strange week. There was some feeble attempt at an attack earlier in the week, but I do not remember what it was. Let me explain what I mean by an attack. An attack is when some thought charges into your mind with such intensity that it demands attention. It can also be some action, or deed, or circumstance that stops you dead in your tracks. The purpose of the attack is to overwhelm you causing you to panic, or well up with fear. It can be seen or unseen. It can also be known or unknown. For example, an unknown attack can be an overwhelming sense that something is wrong, or out of place, or something that you cannot put your finger on, but you “know” it is there.
This is what the article Capture or be captured is about. It is about responding to such an attack as opposed to reacting to it. Typically reacting to such an attack means some kind of knee-jerk reaction based on the fight or flight response. This kind of response is often fear or anxiety, worry or resentment.
As common as such a reaction might be, it plays into the hands of the attacking enemy—the devil. This is another place that a close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit becomes so important. Spending time learning the Word of God, as opposed to just reading the daily requirement, enables God the Holy Spirit to show you things in the Word of God that sharpen your skill in wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This exercise is training you to do battle with the enemy, as well as the circumstances of life.
Your training takes over in the battle allowing you to skillfully wield the sword of the Spirit. Learning how to use the Word of God as a sword is done in the presence of the godhead. It is important to remember that Jesus (God the Son) spent much time alone with the father (God the Father). The Bible speaks of him rising early in the morning, as well as sending the crowds of people away so he could find a quiet place to be with the father.
This unexpected journey to a close personal relationship is no different. There must be quiet time, alone time to study, learn, ask questions, and find answers from the Lord. Remember, the time to start getting into shape is not when the enemy is attacking you.
The Bible records one of Jesus’ attacks with his enemy, the devil. Following his baptism in water, God the Holy Spirit takes Jesus into a secluded wilderness place, where for 40-days he goes without food or water. Realizing an opportunity the enemy attacks, with a very tempting question. If you have ever been to Israel, you know that in the outlying areas there are rocks everywhere.
The adversary says to Jesus, now 40-days without eating, “why not just turn one of these stones into a loaf of fresh hot mouth-watering bread? After all, as the son of God you can do something as simple as that, can’t you?” This is an attack. It is the attempt of the enemy to capture Jesus.
Instead of being captured, Jesus picks up the sword of the Spirit wielding it with razor-sharp precision, by saying, “it is written, man does not live by only bread, but by the words of God.” Swoosh! Jesus scores a hit. However, the enemy does not tuck his tail and run. Two more times he hurls temptations at Jesus, and each time Jesus responds by saying, “It is written.” This is how you capture the enemy.
Even though the week has been strange, something positive has shifted in the unseen world in regard to my family and the situation I have been writing about. It is too early to say, but it merits mentioning. Perhaps next week there will be something tangible that can be told.