Spiritual Attack
How You Can Recognize Spiritual Attack and Defend
Yourself
Ryan Lestrange
There are occasional bumps in the road of life, but how
do we know the difference between a challenging day, a difficult season or an
actual spiritual attack?
How do we open our spiritual eyes to see what is
happening and overcome it?
Have you experienced times when you felt like everything
that could go wrong was going wrong?
You find yourself overwhelmed and bombarded on all
fronts. In the midst of multiple crisis situations your mind seems heavy, your
body tired and your spirit dull.
You want to pray, and you try to pray, but it seems as
though your mouth is filled with chalk and the words fall on hard ground to no
avail.
There are fires burning all around you, but you're not
sure which one to put out first. It seems hard to believe that so many things
could be going wrong at the same time.
Part of you wants to ignore what you're facing, part of
you wants to fight like a mad warrior, and part of you feels as if you are
drowning in a sea of despair.
All these descriptions are signs of a spiritual attack.
As believers we often live between the tension of two
kingdoms:
1. The kingdom of light – God's kingdom is filled with purpose and destiny for
our lives. God, our loving Father, has created such good plans for us!
As we walk with Him, the reality of our
position in His kingdom becomes clear, as described in Philippians 3:20: "But
our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ."
We grow wiser concerning spiritual attacks and learn to
identify clear victory strategies.
2. The kingdom
of darkness – The devil, who leads this world, is a
dethroned being who really has no authority in our lives.
He displays an unusual determination to corrupt and
destroy humanity. He is persistent and relentless, continually bombarding the
lives of people.
This fallen angel named Satan continues to attack, lie
and invade with the intent of crushing God's purposes for our lives (Luke 10:18).
The reality is that there is an invisible realm all
around us. We may live and move in the natural realm, but we all are citizens
of the spiritual realm as well.
One of the great deceptions the devil uses is convincing
people he does not exist. It is an effective weapon because a spiritual attack
must be recognized before it can be conquered.
Many other individuals are walking around blinded by the
lies of the enemy. He has silenced their discernment, blocked their weaponry
and moved in under the cover of darkness.
We Cannot
Ignore Our Enemy
But, as believers, we are given discernment
to know the devil’s purposes and schemes (2 Corinthians
2:11).
It is time for us to open our eyes, discover the real
invader and put him on the run!
We cannot adopt the strategy of the ostrich and bury our
heads in the sand, somehow hoping that if we just pretend nothing is going on,
the attack will cease.
This is the warfare plan many misguided Christians
embrace.
They follow the lead of the ostrich and refuse to
acknowledge the existence and work of the devil.
Every time I write, preach or share any type
of message about spiritual warfare, critics raise their voices.
"Why are you acknowledging the enemy?" they will ask. "Why
talk about him? Why focus on him?"
Other things they say are less kind. They seem to feel as
though it is a sin to expound on the strategies of the enemy.
It is a really ridiculous argument to me. Imagine a
general with the greatest army and all the military advantages on his side
choosing to ignore his enemy because his opponent's weapons and military are
inferior.
The general decides he will pretend his enemy does not
exist. He will hope and pray that nothing happens and will simply try to think
positively.
I know what you are thinking: "That is ridiculous!"
I agree with you, but that is the approach so many in the
church advocate. They want to ignore the devil, pretending he is not there.
This is not a strategy for victory! Jesus did not ignore
the works of hell.
In fact, He plundered hell and terrorized the devil
everywhere He went. There was not a day in Jesus' earthly ministry that He was
not harassing the devil.
Luke describes one such clash:
"He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When
the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the crowd marveled. But some of
them said, 'He casts out demons through Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.'
Others, testing Him, asked Him for a sign from heaven.
"But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them,
'Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate. And a house divided
against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his
kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons through Beelzebub. Now if I
cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore
they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, no
doubt the kingdom of God has come upon you'" (Luke
11:14–20).
Jesus' ministry brought terror to the courts of hell.
When He showed up, the enemy was not only exposed but also kicked out.
Jesus cast the devil out of the mute man in Luke 11, and
the man's tongue was loosed to speak and to glorify God.
Immediately accusations and persecution arose against
Jesus. This is the same thing we see manifesting all around us today.
When a minister deals with the powers of hell, people
become nervous, afraid and even offended. These reactions are a manifestation
of the kingdom of darkness that are intended to keep people imprisoned.
Jesus revealed that breaking the power of the
enemy and manifesting the kingdom of God is a revelation of "the
finger of God."
He showed that part of His divine authority and nature is
to displace the works of hell.
Some religious people will claim that acknowledging the
existence of spiritual warfare empowers the enemy.
He did not seem much empowered in the verses of Luke 11!
I know there are those in the church who put too much
attention on the power of the enemy, and I believe you can get out of balance
by constantly focusing on evil spirits.
The truth is this: There is a real devil who desires to
kill, steal and destroy.
He has literal plans to execute against the
children of God.
If we do not properly understand his mode of operation,
he will launch successful attacks against us.
In this spiritual war, there
are no fence-sitters – you are either with the Lords’ victorious army or with
the wicked “Powers” of Satan.
Be sure you are listed with
the victorious army of the Lord. Settle that sin issue right now by saying this
prayer:
“Father
God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.
I
am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new
life pleasing to You.
Please
forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I
believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the
dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I
invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from
this day forward.
Please
send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of
my life. Thank you, Lord, that according to Your Word, I am born again. I
promise to obey You and study your Word – the Bible.
Use
me for Your glory.
In
Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
RELATED POSTSThe preceding is excerpted from Overcoming Spiritual Attack by Ryan LeStrange, published by Charisma House, 2016. Copyright © 2016 by Ryan LeStrange.
Ryan LeStrange started in ministry after training and serving under his spiritual father, Dr. Norvel Hayes. Ryan and his wife, Joy, lead Impact International Ministries based in Bristol, Virginia, which consists of several local churches and revival ministries. Through Ryan LeStrange Ministries, he travels the globe preaching, igniting revival and moving in the power of God. Ryan can be seen weekly on his television program, Power 4 Today, airing around the world on GodTV. He is the founder and apostle of Impact International Apostolic Fellowship, networking and fathering ministers around the world. Ryan has written several books releasing an apostolic and prophetic perspective to the body of Christ.
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