If/when you get stung by a bee or wasp, you know to get that stinger out sooner than later. The same with a wood splinter, because the longer you let it stay buried under the surface of your skin, the more prone you are to allowing infection setting in... which usually won’t lead to a loss of life or limb, but it sure can hurt like the dickens for a while.

Do you remember those old movies where the approaching enemy would launch a flaming arrow or spear that would land atop a thatch roof...and the flames would quickly spread engulfing the home, or maybe other buildings within the castle walls? Smart folks had pails and barrels of water ready to douse those flames in times of such ‘conflicts’.

Or how about when ‘uninvited guest’ make an entry into your home, be it rodents, flying insects or reptiles; and yes...even ‘squatters’. I’ve never understood that law that is on the books in some places...where a complete stranger can make their way into a person’s home on their own, and then have ‘legal squatter rights’ to stay there. But my point in using these various examples is this: The longer we allow something we don’t want...to remain, the more damage or unpleasant consequences we will most likely face.

Does the expression ‘nip it in the bud’ sound familiar? If you don’t know what that means, ask someone...or ‘Google’ it.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he reminds them (and us) that we are engaged in a spiritual conflict or ‘war’ (10:3-4)...but that it’s not to be fought using physical or ‘fleshly’ weapons. He actually refers to our ‘weapons as being mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God...’ (5). And look how we first confront these conflicts or encounters with ...by “bringing EVERY thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...”(5).

If you want to talk about having a breakdown in the line of your defense, this would be the area that more people than you might imagine fall victim to. I know I did for years; and I also use to have this thought when I heard that particular verse - ‘who’s got time for that?’. It did not even seem plausible or realistic that anyone could really 'do that', as in monitor and screen 'every single thought' we might have. And truth be told...there were times where I did not want ...to just shut down various ‘streams of thought’; so there is that to consider as well. (Might want to give that one a second look)

And while we are on this topic, have you ever read, wondered, or even asked yourself- "exactly why does ...’Satan come immediately to snatch or take away the word of God that was sown in their hearts when they heard it’?” (Mark 4:15; Luke 8:11-12). You really should look both those passages up and make sure they are underlined in your Bible. I wonder if it has anything to do with what we read in 1 Thess. 2:13, and yes, go read/mark that one as well. And take a moment or two to ponder that if you would, please.

Then, there is Paul’s discourse found in Ephesians 6 where he expounds on this ongoing conflict we find ourselves in, and how it is NOT...’flesh and blood’ that we contend with... “but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”(6:12-NLT). He talks of ‘putting on this armor of God’ so that we can ‘stand against the schemes or wiles of the devil’, (11) and he includes in that list of armor, a reference to some ‘shield of faith in order to quench the fiery darts or arrows (or missiles in one translation) being hurled by the wicked one’ (16).

Friends...we’ve all had, or been ‘blindsided’ by some of the most unholy thoughts, images that could fill our mind, and subtle temptations that come out of...nowhere. And if/when they gravitate down a darker or even more ‘evil’ path...have you ever wondered where those thoughts even came from? Yes...you can even have those random thoughts come at you while sitting in a nice church hearing a good sermon. *News Flash* - the stained glass doesn’t keep ‘them’ out or away.

Take a look at John 13:2 where we learn: “The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.” Next, look at Acts 5:3 where Peter confronts Ananias regarding his deception. It was more of a rhetorical question when he asked: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit...”?

I would submit to you that we have not really given enough time and attention to this area of a spiritual enemy who ‘roams about like a roaring lion...seeking to devour...’ (1 Pet. 5:8). And let’s face it...our time-tolerance for ‘weekly sermons’ has diminished over time. Don’t lie...we smile inside when the preacher up front lets you out sooner or earlier than normal...so we can get to the restaurant before everyone else...or make it home in time for the start of the game. I should also warn that if that weekly 30-45 minute sermon is ‘all the word’ you are getting that week...well you probably have already lost the battle and have been taken ‘captive’. Yep, I said what I said.

Yes...there is a strong demonic force at work today and it's quite active...right here in the good old U.S.A. Not all the ‘demons’ are in African jungles or Hati. But it’s those deceptive ‘religious spirits’ that can really get us all crosswise. Let’s not forget that Satan can ‘disguise himself as an angel of light, and his minions as ministers of righteousness’ (2 Cor. 11:14-15). And what about all those ‘false teachers who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves’, that both Jesus and Paul warned us about? (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29). I don’t think they were talking about those four-legged animals either. Care to guess why those folks in Matt. 7:22 ended up in such a tragic and awkward predicament, or how a church could appear to many to be ‘alive’ and yet be told by Jesus they were ‘dead’? (Rev. 3:1-3)

Hear me loud and clear on this: Any true, ‘born again child of God’... need not fear this spiritual enemy (1 John 5:18; Rom. 8:14), but you’d be foolish to underestimate him given we are not ‘ignorant of his devices’ (2 Cor. 2:11). And that does not mean we are to be overly preoccupied with him either. Those who are abiding in Jesus have their minds set on Him and walk in perfect peace. (Isa. 26:3; Col. 3:1-2). See you tomorrow, Lord willing?