1. The Enemy still desires to sift God’s servants as wheat. He knows that if he can get those who are stridently walking with Christ daily, if he can get them to fall hard, that he has just bruised (maybe destroyed) the faith of many. 2. He will play mind games, attempt to hit us where we are most sensitive and vulnerable. And he will do this most against those 
who are attempting to walk hard in righteousness with Christ. This is why most Christians “out there” don’t get this. 3. And yet we see sometimes high-profile Christians going to prison, or at least losing their lives and ministry for not recognizing these sorts of ploys of the Enemy. Then Christians walk away in shock wondering how someone “like that” could be so perverse, or whatever. 4. Paul said ‘we aren’t ignorant of the devil’s devices,’ but in my experience most Christians are. And this is precisely because they live such mediocre lives as Christians that the Enemy doesn’t see the need to destroy them and their witness in such radical ways. 5. This isn’t to say that every Christian who falls is walking in righteousness or in fervor before God. Indeed, if the enemy feels like it, he’ll go after the weak for sport. He knows they are already of no effect, but why not have some fun and literally destroy the person. 6. In my experience most Christians don’t experience intense heat and attack from the devil because they just aren’t walking hard with Christ. As such, they don’t know what the devices of the devil are. And so, when he does attack, they cannot recognize it as such. 7. They’ll often chalk it up as a mental illness, or some sort of weird disorder. The remedy then isn’t to repent and walk hard in the righteousness of Jesus Christ; instead, such people will often dampen the “attack” with drugs and psychotherapy. 8. This is exactly the way the Enemy would have it. Ie. A Christian who sees the world through purely materialistic eyes with no sense that the heat in their lives just does have an otherworldly source, albeit a dark rather than Light source.
who are attempting to walk hard in righteousness with Christ. This is why most Christians “out there” don’t get this. 3. And yet we see sometimes high-profile Christians going to prison, or at least losing their lives and ministry for not recognizing these sorts of ploys of the Enemy. Then Christians walk away in shock wondering how someone “like that” could be so perverse, or whatever. 4. Paul said ‘we aren’t ignorant of the devil’s devices,’ but in my experience most Christians are. And this is precisely because they live such mediocre lives as Christians that the Enemy doesn’t see the need to destroy them and their witness in such radical ways. 5. This isn’t to say that every Christian who falls is walking in righteousness or in fervor before God. Indeed, if the enemy feels like it, he’ll go after the weak for sport. He knows they are already of no effect, but why not have some fun and literally destroy the person. 6. In my experience most Christians don’t experience intense heat and attack from the devil because they just aren’t walking hard with Christ. As such, they don’t know what the devices of the devil are. And so, when he does attack, they cannot recognize it as such. 7. They’ll often chalk it up as a mental illness, or some sort of weird disorder. The remedy then isn’t to repent and walk hard in the righteousness of Jesus Christ; instead, such people will often dampen the “attack” with drugs and psychotherapy. 8. This is exactly the way the Enemy would have it. Ie. A Christian who sees the world through purely materialistic eyes with no sense that the heat in their lives just does have an otherworldly source, albeit a dark rather than Light source.
Haha and YES! You had me laughing with the title, and then resonating seriously with you in the content of the article. I find that I am often on the same page with you in mind and thought in the Spirit, by the way! I was just on to similar conversation like this yesterday with a brother in Christ. Just letting you know I often and am currently resonating with many of the thoughts you are writing out, and appreciate them, and that I agree with you that the Spirit in and through scriptures does indeed remind us of the sub-reality of the Satan and our need to watch out for him in our union with Christ! Thank Jesus we can count on Him for his prayer for us all that our “faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:32 CSB). Every Blessing Brother, and Keep It Coming!
Timothy, ha yeah, the title was intended to bring some levity to this most serious subject. Glad to know we are of like-mind on things! Yes, I’m pretty convinced at this point that most Christians don’t experience the intensity of the spiritual battle, because that is in proportion the life of radical holiness they are committed to.
Hi Bobby, it’s been a while, I keep your emails and then catch up when i can. This definitely happened to me in ministry. I didn’t give enough credit to the evil one and he snuck in and took me out. I have now been out of ministry for 8 years, dealing with depression that I don’t seem to be able to get out of. I pray that God will use me again but it has been a long and arduous road. I constantly am waiting for a psalm 40 deliverance. Thanks for your blog, it really means a lot to me.
Hi Steve, good to hear from you! I am sorry to hear this, but I understand. I grew up as a pastor’s kid, the enemy took my dad out (my dad did too) in certain ways as well. I understand the depression, I’ve dealt with it on and off again, with various degrees of intensity, for years. In fact, I’m in a slump myself right now. I’ll pray for you. I am glad that my blog still encourages you! Keep the fight, keep the faith brother! His return is nigh upon us. My intention is to be found fighting for Him, from His strength not mine.