I wrote a blog yesterday that I think might be misinterpreted by some, so for now at least I’ve taken it offline. My aim in blogging is to encourage, not discourage. In fact the blog summarised the first part of a recent talk but didn’t include the more encouraging second half. So here’s the second half! It’s about how to make sure the devil is unsuccessful in his plans.
Inspiration is found in Ephesians 6:10-20. In that bible passage we’re told that we have an enemy who makes plans. Real plans. They are described as ‘the devil’s schemes’ and we are called to ‘take our stand’ against them (v.11). So what should we be doing? Here are 5 things we can do.
1 Be Aware
We need to be aware that we are at war – all the time. But it’s not a war against people. We are to love people. People are not our enemy. No, the battle is against unseen but real spiritual forces – against ‘the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (5:12). As in any war there are times when the enemy steps up the pressure. I wonder if we’re in such a season at The Belfrey. But even if we’re not, we still need to be aware of the battle which is constantly raging. And reminded that it’s a fight. A struggle. Which means there will be tough times. And good times too!
2 Stand Firm
Four times in these few verses we’re told that God wants us to ‘stand’ steady in the battle. We can do this if we have all God’s armour on. And that’s really about doing the basics well. It’s about being honest and truthful (v.14); about living right lives (v.14); sharing our faith (v.15); living our faith (v.16); walking in the Spirit (v.17); living by God’s word (v.17). It’s about staying close to Jesus and doing the main and plain things well, like worship, discipleship and outreach. As we persevere in these things and keep going we stand firm, and the enemy does not like it.
3 Stand Together
But we don’t just do this on our own. We do it with others. In community. That’s why whenever ‘you’ is mentioned in this passage, it’s always ‘you’ plural. We are to stand together, not on our own. Preachers who preach on this passage often remind their listeners that Paul had in mind Roman soldiers as he was writing, knowing that they would lock shields in battle. This would make them stronger as a group. And the strong ones would hold up the weak ones. What a wonderful picture of how God wants us to stand together in the battles of life. None of us are in this on our own.
4 Be Prayerful
This passage on spiritual warfare ends up telling us to pray. In fact the word ‘pray/praying/prayers’ is used five times in a short space, reminding us that we mustn’t stop praying. The enemy detests that. We must keep coming back to God for forgiveness. And keep asking him for all that’s needed.
5 Don’t do the Devil’s work for him.
This sounds obvious, but it’s very important! We’re meant to be working against the devil’s schemes, not for them, so please don’t do his work for him. So take care how you treat people. In what you say. And serve God. And people. There’s no higher call, or greater privilege than that.
Let’s make sure we’re having such an impact that the devil does stay concerned about us – but that he’s unsuccessful in stopping the kingdom advancing. That will happen if stay faithful and true, doing the basics well, remaining ‘strong in the Lord and in his mighty power’ (Ephesians 5:10).
Discipleship Blog 
Me thinks you’ve been reading a fait share of CS Lewis occasionally, especially ‘Screwtape’, and there’s nothing wrong with that! So just to say I enjoyed ‘If I were the Devil’, and it would be well for people to keep an eye open for some of the divisive ways he sometimes uses the Church for his own ends. So thank you for the article, it did indeed remind me of Lewis!
Stand Together…
(I read the original blog and was going to comment on these lines rather negativity I might confess, but the new subject matter means I can phrase this more positivity).
It’s so important we don’t become inward thinking. St Mikes is a large, vibrant church but it isn’t THE CHURCH, it’s just one part of it. How can we stand together and support other churches that already exist in the city rather than just planting new ones.
Churches that might not have a large staff team, an army of volunteers, anyone capable of building or maintaining a flashy website and rather depleted finances.
That’s a really good point. It’s something the staff team are encouraged to do. So recently we have: provided sound equipment to St Helen’s, supported diocesan church school events in York Minster, resourced the recorded portion of a diocesan resource for next lent, provided mediation to churches in another part of the diocese, run the information office at New Wine North, provided general help and advice to quite a few other churches. It’s important we don’t think we have all the answers too.
Matthew thank you for the two recent blogs I receive by e – mail. Very boldly put, I was very encouraged by the way the spirit led you to highlight the sadistic manipulative twisted internal schemes of the devil, and how he operates in the church today! he is real
he is a threat and having it highlighted and out in the open is a good way of exposing the tactics,
I am very pleased to be receiving these descipleship blogs as they are building me up. These two blogs are very timely at the moment for me.
Nobody likes to talk about the enemy but I do believe its bad to never talk about him either so I am greatful.
be encouraged and keep blogging 🙂
Big companies with mission critical data networks spend significant amounts of money trying to protect them. As part of that it’s common to simulate attacks, trying to work out where and how the bad guys might get in… And what to do if they manage it.
I think there’s a benefit in carrying out that thought exercise, thinking about how a church might be attacked. It probably isn’t something to dwell on for long, but scripture contains significant warnings that we should be on our guard. So whilst we shouldn’t make it a major part of each day, we shouldn’t ignore these things.
My own experience is the last point Matthew makes is particularly pertinent. I’m sure it speaks to me as much as anyone else 😉
Thank you, Matthew, for what you wrote yesterday. It was absolutely right. It is how it is. Someone told me recently that the devil will slip in a lie between a thousand truths. That’s why we are told to be ever alert and on our guard. We must be careful not to be so naïve and super-spiritual that we miss the warning signs of what is really going on at ground level and the deceptions which are so manipulative. I shall quote from your blog and send it on to others who are really facing the furies of disquieted spirits. It was funny in that ‘comedy of God’ way. Well written. Inspired. Thank you.
I came across your blog and I very much dig this post! It was so wonderfully put. Thanks for spelling out how we need to do this thing, because walkin’ with Jesus ain’t easy! I love how you laid out God’s instructions and the back up we have. Keep up the great posting.
-Tasha, The Bridge Chicago
THANKS FOR ENCOURAGING LEADERS LIKE MYSELF