Two Failed Attacks

2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”  

I have had two demonic attacks in the past few weeks. I am sure there were more, but these two I knew were demonic and knew they were happening.  

The first happened on a ten-minute drive to meet a guy for discipleship at 7:00am. I have had some recent ministry discouragements that have caused some weariness, so I was already primed for something worse. As I drove to my meeting, out of nowhere, I experienced a sharp darkness. Emotionally I went from doing well enough, to despair. I wanted to drive home, turn off the lights, and quit for the day. I was hearing words like “failure” and “wasted life.” The intensity came out of nowhere. 

Even as I drove my posture began to sink. Internally I began to shrink.  

But the Holy Spirit, on this day, had other plans. My jellying spine began to stiffen. He reminded me that I did not have to accept these lies. Life began to overcome despair. And I spoke something like, “Father, I reject this despair. This feels dark and nasty. None of this is from you. You are good and what you have for me is good. In the name of Jesus, I reject these lies. I bind the enemy from me and declare that I am your son, a brother of Jesus, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.” Immediately the darkness left and was replaced by light.  

By the way, that day was my son’s 18^th birthday. We were going to dinner that night with his girlfriend to celebrate. In that morning moment, the enemy sought to exploit a vulnerability in me to take me down and, in part, ruin my joy of my son’s 18^th birthday.  

Notice the Apostle Paul said that the Satan is just trying to seduce Christians away from simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.  

Peter trains his disciples in 1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”  

The second attack came the week after, and it was much more subtle. The first attack was a spike of intensity. The second attack was a whisper campaign. I was being convinced that I should not go to our Father to confess some specific sins. As I am prone to do, I sinned. I needed to confess and repent. Our Father loves to receive the confessions of His children and restore them to intimacy. 

I know this. 

I train others in this regularly. 

However, I was being effectively convinced that on this occasion I should not confess to Him. I was being convinced that turning to Him would be a bad idea. I can handle this one on my own. He does not want to hear from you this time.  

There was something in the subtlety of the attack that had me agreeing with my enemy! “Of course He doesn’t want to hear me this time.” “Yes, going to Him would be a bad idea.” “I can deal with this on my own.” And so I kept my sin from Him.  

What? 

I talk to our Father as His son all the time. Throughout the day. Getting real time direction, counsel, and comfort through the Holy Spirit. I get BIG JOY from helping others know Him as their Father. BUT this attack was so smooth. So slick. So convincing.  

I kept my sin from Him. 

Until I didn’t. Almost like someone threw cold water on my face to rouse me, “What am I doing?” To sin is one thing, to keep my sin from our Father is next level. I am not allowing my sin to drive a wedge between me and my Dad. So I prayed. But I needed the power of the Spirit to pray. I had to take a big deep breath and allow the Holy Spirit to fill my lungs to overcome the mess of this attack.  

And I prayed, “Father, FORGIVE me for my sin. You are good and all that you have for me is good. I reject this stupid lie that I cannot, and should not, turn to you. You are my Father. You gave Jesus for me so that I could know You! You and Jesus gave me the Holy Spirit. I am in You and You are in me. Whatever this spirit is, I reject you in the name of Jesus and declare that I am a blood-bought son of Yahweh. In Jesus’s name, amen.”  

I was immediately restored to intimacy. The distance of my drifting erased.  

That was an impressive attack.  

According to Jesus, and according to His disciples, Satan MUST be in the arena of our lives. We must consider his work as we evaluate our spiritual fire and commitment to running God’s race. LIFE in the Overflow happens in the context of Kingdom war. There is one who leads an army bent on keeping you from your Creator and the life He has for you.  

Stay alert. 

Learn his ways. 

Reject his lies. 

Declare truth. 

Run with others.