Drown Out the Enemy with Life

The enemy brings death and destruction, but Christ offers life. Embrace it and live fully!

I don't talk a great deal in Soul Weathered about spiritual warfare, Satan, or the enemy.

But that doesn't mean I don't believe it's real.

We live in a world at war.

Scripture tells us:

“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”—1 Peter 5:8

That's a reality we shouldn't ignore.

Over the years, I've spent a lot of time talking with men about spiritual warfare. We've taught men to recognize the enemy's work and to understand the places where he tries to gain a foothold.

And I believe Satan has a particular hatred for God's children because we bear God's image and, in Christ, are being restored more and more into that image.

He doesn't want that image showing up in the world.

He doesn't want you living fully alive in Christ.

He doesn't want you loving your wife and children well.

He doesn't want you serving other people.

He doesn't want you walking in freedom.

He doesn't want you becoming the man or woman God created you to be.

Jesus described the contrast plainly:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”—John 10:10

There are two completely different kingdoms represented in that verse.

One steals, kills and destroys.

The other brings life.

And I've been thinking lately about what that means for the way we fight.

How Do We Fight?

Of course we pray.

We know Scripture.

We worship.

We practice spiritual disciplines that train our flesh and help expose the broken places, sinful patterns and strongholds through which the enemy can work.

Paul tells us:

“Do not give the devil a foothold.”—Ephesians 4:27

That's important.

And it begins very close to home.

Don't surrender ground in your own life through sin, passivity, indifference or ignorance.

Don't surrender your marriage.

Don't surrender your family.

Don't surrender your mind.

Don't surrender the places God has entrusted to you.

Scripture also tells us:

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”—James 4:7

But the other day, another image came to me.

What if one of the greatest ways we resist the enemy is simply by becoming fully alive in Christ?

He Has No Life to Offer

Think about it.

What does Satan ultimately have to offer?

Death.

Destruction.

Division.

Accusation.

Fear.

Shame.

Isolation.

But he has no life to give.

He can't compete with life because he doesn't possess it.

Jesus does.

And Jesus said something extraordinary about those who come to Him:

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”—John 7:38

I love that picture.

Not a trickle.

Not a few drops.

Rivers of living water.

What happens when that kind of life begins flowing through a person?

Turn on the Fire Hose

This is the image that came to me.

If the enemy is setting fires around us, then turn on the fire hose.

Drown his works with life.

Drown them with joy.

Drown them with encouragement.

Drown them with generosity.

Drown them with worship.

Drown them with celebration.

Drown them by loving people extravagantly.

Drown them by serving people.

Drown them by becoming the person God created you to be.

Paul writes:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”—Romans 12:21

There's something wonderfully aggressive about that verse.

We aren't merely supposed to avoid evil.

We're supposed to overcome it with good.

That's warfare.

Find the Place Where Life Pours Out of You

I've talked about this elsewhere in Soul Weathered because I think it's incredibly important.

Find those places where you come alive with God.

For me, some of those places have been in the wilderness—guiding, teaching, fly fishing, walking alongside other men.

For someone else, it may be teaching a classroom.

Engineering something.

Practicing law.

Welding.

Preaching.

Coaching.

Raising children.

Caring for someone who needs you.

Encouraging a friend.

The word serving can sometimes sound like drudgery.

That's not what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about discovering those places where giving yourself away becomes a joy.

Where loving God and loving other people begins to come naturally.

Where the joy of the Lord seems to pour out of you.

That's life.

And I believe that's also warfare.

Live

Maybe we've sometimes made spiritual warfare more complicated than it needs to be.

Yes, know your enemy.

Yes, recognize his schemes.

“For we are not unaware of his schemes.”—2 Corinthians 2:11

Pray.

Know Scripture.

Resist temptation.

Guard the places God has entrusted to you.

But don't spend your life staring at the enemy.

Look at Christ.

Follow Him.

Love Him.

Love people.

Worship.

Celebrate.

Create.

Build.

Teach.

Encourage.

Give.

Serve.

Laugh.

Become fully alive in the life God has given you.

Jesus said:

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”—John 10:10

So take Him at His word.

Find that place where the life of Christ pours out of you like living water.

Then open the floodgates.

The enemy deals in death.

Answer him with life.