We all experience times when we should have had relief and rest, but we were under attack.
It was supposed to be a day of celebration, but everything was going wrong. It was your birthday and you were remembered by people you loved, but you were under attack. You just went through the death of a loved one and you were not ready for something else, but you were under attack. You just recovered from a terrible sickness and you knew God pulled you through, but you were under attack. You just recovered from that stay in the hospital, but you were under attack.
The adversary of our soul attacks in many ways. He shows no mercy and has no kindness. He turns on you when you least expect it. It feels like all of the gates of hell have opened against you. You are not certain how long you can keep standing against the wiles of the devil.
You need to find the unlimited riches of Christ’s power when you are under attack.
John 14:18 NKJV I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:18 AMP I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you.
When the enemy relentlessly attacks, encourage yourself with God’s words. Jesus said: “I will not leave you comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn and helpless.” “I will not leave you as orphans.”
God is your refuge in the times of trouble.
Isaiah had a word for God’s people when they are under attack.
Isaiah 43:1 NKJV But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
You should listen to God’s words when you are going through things. God’s unlimited power is available to help you when you are under attack. God says, “Fear not” and “You are Mine.”
Isaiah 43:2-3 NKJV When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God…
Isaiah 43:5 NKJV Fear not, for I am with you…
God has not abandoned you when Satan attacks.
Sometimes we pass through waters of adversity and through the fire of trials. There is good news here for you.
God said two things that should encourage us.
First, God is going with you.
Second, you are passing through these things.
I need to remind you that you are not going through these things alone. God has promised to hold you up when you are under attack.
Deuteronomy 33:27 NKJV The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’
God is going to avenge His people. He still has the power to thrust out the enemy and destroy him and all of His efforts.
The Psalmist testified to this.
Psalm 9:9-10 NKJV The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
That is the Lord’s mission statement for everyone who puts their trust in Him. Jesus Christ came into this world for people under attack. The prophet Isaiah received a direct word from the Lord about this ministry of comfort, aid, and help. When Jesus was in the synagogue in Nazareth, He took up the book of Isaiah and read these words.
Isaiah 61:1-4 NKJV “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
If you are under attack, you need to know that God has not abandoned or forsaken you.
Jesus Christ came to this world to help you. When you are under attack, Jesus said: “I will come to you,” (John 14:18). God’s heart is for you and not against you. God wants you to know that He is fighting for you. He wants you to conquer and win when you are under attack. He wants you to overcome the adversary.
God says: “My everlasting arms are underneath you,” (Deuteronomy 33:27). He is standing with you so you will win. He is not only for you, He is fighting with you.
To help you when you are under attack, God has given you some powerful tools and words of encouragement.
First, God said, “I will not forsake you.”
Psalm 124:1-8 NKJV “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say— “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, When men rose up against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us; Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.” Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
If you have survived, it is because the Lord God Almighty is on your side and has helped you.
He has not forsaken you when the enemy attacked. He is a very present help in the times of your trouble. Do you see how the Lord has helped you?
Second, your help is in the name of the Lord.
Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
When Jesus conquered hell, death, and the grave, His name was exalted above every name.
Gabriel told Joseph that Mary “will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) When Jesus commissioned His disciples, He told them to go out and use His name to heal the sick and cast out devils. There is power in the name of Jesus. When Jesus the Christ finished the work that the Father in heaven sent Him to do, He was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father. Ephesians 1:19-23 tells us that all things have been put under His feet. Everything that can be named has been put under His dominion and power. You have power in the name of the Lord. His name is a refuge in the time of attack. You should take the name of Jesus with you.
Mark 16:17-18 KJV “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
- In Acts 3:1-7, in the name of Jesus the lame stood and walked.
- In Acts 4:5-12, they were saved in the name of Jesus
- In Acts 4:29-30, signs and wonders followed preaching in the name of Jesus.
- In Acts 5:12, the apostles laid hands on many in the name of Jesus and signs and wonders were done.
- In Acts 16:16-18 the demon possessed were set free in the name of Jesus.
Satan has done all he can to stop the effective use of the name of Jesus.
There is still power in the name of Jesus.
When you are weak and under attack, stand strong in the name of Jesus.
When you are under attack, God wants you to know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18–19 NKJV The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.
God wants you to know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.
When Satan tries to load you down with one attack after another, you need to know this “exceeding greatness of Christ’s power.” Christ’s power is exceedingly great even when you “wrestle …against every principality, power, ruler of darkness of this age and spiritual host of wickedness,” (Ephesians 6:12). The Lord your God is on your side and has not abandoned you. He is still holding you up. His mighty hands and arms are underneath you. Every throne, dominion, principality and power will answer to Him.
Third, God is watching over you.
Psalm 33:18-19 NKJV Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
God is watching over you.
1 Peter 3:12 NKJV For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
When you are under attack, you should encourage yourself in the Lord.
The all-mighty and all-powerful God is watching over you. His ears are open to your cries for help. That is wonderful, but it is not the end of His support and help. The Bible says, “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” God will “Show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal and fully committed to Him.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:6 For this reason we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.”
When you are under attack, there are unsearchable riches of Christ’s power.
- God said, “I will not forsake you.”
- Your help is in the name of the Lord.
- God is watching over you.