Ep. 184 — Remember Our Enemies + ”What’s On Your Whiteboard?”
What’s On Your Whiteboard?
Last night, I had a dream that triggered a lot of fear. In fact, it was not just general fear, but very specific, detailed fear.
On Friday night, it wasn't a dream, but wakeful thoughts that kept me awake for much of the night. On Saturday morning, I had told Andrew about it, and he said, “That's because the enemy knows what fears to play on. He knows what heartstrings to pluck.” This reminded me of a dream Imelda had back on October 9th.
In the dream, she had encountered a man who was practicing witchcraft. When he realized that she wanted nothing to do with it, he made it his personal mission to destroy her. After a series of events, she found herself in his workshop. She wrote the following: “This workshop had a bunch of things where he would operate and do his chants and tools. He had a white paperboard where he had plans to destroy me, and he had written all kinds of things. He wrote in big letters, “Ways to destroy Imelda.” He was trying to put curses over my life so that they would happen to me, so that he could destroy me and get me to be defeated. I saw it at a glance because he was coming back to the room. It had a list of my weaknesses, fears, anxieties, and insecurities. It also had things like, ‘Make her get in a car accident.’”
Shortly after she told me this dream, I walked to her office and said, I'm going to write, “What's On Your Whiteboard?”
WHAT’S ON YOUR WHITEBOARD?
The simple fact of the matter is, we are both physical and spiritual beings who live in a world that is both physical and spiritual. Paul clearly called this to attention when he wrote a letter to the church at Ephesus: “Put on all God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in heavenly places.”
Evil rulers.
authorities of the unseen world.
Mighty powers in this dark world and
Evil spirits in heavenly places.
These are our enemies. This is the reality of the spiritual world, a world unseen with natural eyes. While we live in the physical every day, there is a story being played out, a battle being waged in the spiritual, which greatly affects our day to day. And it is a highly organized, highly unified system, working toward the destruction of humanity and every individual, especially individuals who are saved and pursuing God and reaching for others. There is an old saying, “The devil fights hardest where he fears the most.”
I cannot think of a specific scripture that says this, but Paul did write, “There is a great effectual door open to me, and there are many adversaries.” Open doors, drawing near to God, passionate discipleship and discipling others, does intensify the adversarial tactics of dark forces. And every tactic employed is to destroy, not necessarily physically, but to destroy future ministry, our minds, our spirits, but mostly our faith. Pastor has taught us for years that our faith is the primary target of enemy attack. Our victory comes from our faith. Salvation is a result of faith. The supernatural requires faith. Therefore, it becomes an object of assault by the kingdom of darkness.
Their organized efforts are aimed toward faith and the faithful. In a world where there are only two directions, light or dark, they don't need to focus too much time or attention on those walking in darkness on the broad path. But turn around, repent, walk in light, pursue Jesus, and you will attract the special attention of darkness. Their efforts will be amplified. Their attacks will be more energized and intensified. Recognizing this does not make us more fearful. Recognizing this empowers us. It helps us to identify the source and to know how to respond. Paul said, “…we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Cor. 2:11)
We know his schemes, plans, wiles, tricks, and cunning ways. We are not ignorant. We are aware of our enemy, his kingdom, and their crafty ways. We know about their highly individualized, very specialized plan. This evil system has had millennia to observe humanity, to know how to prey on inherent weakness and fleshly, natural desires. And they have had 19, 46, 57, 88 years to observe you and I…carefully noting our weaknesses, fears, anxieties, and insecurities. They know what works. They know what “tool” on the tool bench will be effective in taking out your faith and mine. (Or so they think.)
What are the things they think will be effective for your destruction?
WHAT’S ON YOUR WHITEBOARD?
Maybe:
Comparison. Cause them to constantly compare themselves to others so they are crippled in their own effectiveness. Or
Self-righteousness. Allow them to really feel put together and self-sufficient so that they become complacent in their pursuit of Christ. Or
Temptation. Tempt them relentlessly in a place of unfulfilled desire. Play on their own natural lusts until it's all they can think about. Or
Busyness. Distract them with busyness and constant activity. Wear them out mentally and physically with good things. Or
Offense. Highlight every offense and hope that they will easily get their feelings hurt so they will isolate and withdraw from the body. Fan the flame of their pain so it will fester into unforgiveness. Remind them often of how hurt they were and who hurt them. Or maybe
Fear. Play on every fear. Constantly and continuously whisper lies, ‘Your child will die.’ Paint images in their imagination of how this will happen. ‘You will die.’ Again, use their imagination to make this as imminent and tragic as possible. ‘Jesus will walk away just like your dad, your mom, your ex-boyfriend.’ ‘You'll be all alone.’ ‘You are all alone.’ Drone on and on until the fear is deafening and sucks them under the current of its undertow. Or
Insecurity. Along with the fear, mix in some insecurity. ‘You're not enough.’ ‘You'll never measure up.’ ‘You're too much’.. ‘too bad.’ Again, repeat these regularly. This helps with getting their focus off of Jesus and onto themselves. Or maybe your whiteboard says,
Self-sufficiency. Remind them of how capable they are. Speak the language of self-righteousness and self-satisfaction. Tell them it's their good deeds and efforts that got them this far. This can help in suffocating their dependence on God and can shut off His grace flowing into their lives. Or maybe
Distraction. Consume them with politics, fashion, home decor, social media, news. Use anything that isn't bad to get their focus off of eternity. Complacency, apathy, distraction. Remember that's what we're going for. It helps them forget that they have an enemy. Oh, and with politics, it gets them focused on the wrong enemy. Or
Laziness.
Excuses.
Uncertainty.
Success and materialism and greed. Let them pursue, let their pursuit be directed toward financial gain and time. More, more, more. Keep them pursuing material things and experiences that have no eternal ramifications. Stuff and more stuff. More and more. When they get that, they'll be satisfied, right? Keep them on a wheel of materialism that goes nowhere.
Pleasure.
Disappointments. These are so effective. Remind them regularly of the times God didn't answer their prayers, of the times he didn't seem to come through. Is He even real? Does He even care? ‘He certainly doesn't care about you.’ ‘Does prayer even work?’ ‘Why bother talking to him?’ Disappointments have been helpful in atrophying prayer lives. They can be used very successfully in cutting off trust and connection to God. Really turn the volume up on these because they fuel…
Doubts. Doubts about the Word, doubts about God. ‘Has God said?’ ‘Is the word of God really true?’ ‘Is God really good?’ ‘Don't you just need to do it your way?’”
Feelings. Always play on their feelings and emotions. Everything else on their whiteboard should touch an emotion. Get them consumed with how they feel. Sadness? Play it up. Get them consumed with how they feel. Make them not feel like reading their Bible, or talking to God, or going to church. Remind them they don't feel like it.
Anxiety. Use low-grade anxiety. Use low-grade panic. Use it as a more nebulous feeling whose acid eats away at them and causes them to question their sanity. For some, this will be more effective than full frontal fear.
Convince them to stuff their emotions instead of processing them with God. This is a powerful tool for creating resentment, hostility, and bitterness. Help them bottle up all the pain so it festers and becomes toxic, eating them from the inside out. Don't forget, resentment is an acid for faith. Bitterness is a root we have used to defile many.
Volume. Be loud. Remember the father of lies, “Walks around as a roaring lion.” Follow his example. Roar. Roar loud. Speak often. If you're not getting through, say it again in a higher tone. Add a few decibels. Or maybe your whiteboard says,
Regret. Repeatedly remind them of past failures and missed opportunities. Bring up the way they failed God, others and themselves. This gets them looking backward. It's much easier to get them to fall and fail when their eyes are not on the road ahead. And of course,
Accusations. This must go on every single whiteboard. “The Accuser of The Brethren accused them before the throne of God day and night.” (Rev. 11) Use words like “unworthy;” “undeserving.” Keep them from prayer, from worship, with phrases like, “Who do you think you are to pray?” “Who do you think you are to worship?” Remind them of their past and how it disqualifies them in their present.
Discontent. Do everything in your power to shift their focus to what they don't have. Constantly show them things they need, who they're not with, the seasons they're not in. This keeps them from the transformative power of gratitude.
Disunity. Separate them from others. Use gossip, backbiting, suspicion, disinterest, and similar concepts to keep them from tying entirely in with the body of Christ. Remember, we fight unity like we fight “faith. We only fear a unified church. Therefore, do anything in your power to disconnect them from one another.
Apathy, complacency. Lull them to sleep. Sing lullabies. Rock them in personal comfort. Allow them to forget the power of their salvation, the loss around them, the reality of their enemy, and eternity. Help them grow apathetic and indifferent. Listless, dull. What's on your whiteboard?
Jealousy, envy?
Pride.?
The list could go on and on.
What's on your whiteboard? What's on my whiteboard? Some of the things on your whiteboard wouldn't be effective on mine, and some of the things on my whiteboard wouldn't be effective on yours. The plans for ways to destroy Imelda will be different from ways to destroy Meg. But there are plans for us both, because as Christians, we are locked in the cosmic battle of the ages, light versus darkness. In addition to weaknesses and fears and anxieties and the enemy of our soul playing on our flesh and carnal tendencies, there are times where circumstances are used as well.
Now, let me interject here that not everything is the devil's fault. Many life circumstances are a natural result of the fall and many life circumstances are the result of choices from our past or present. But with that said, we know there are times when life circumstances and scenarios are a direct result of enemy opposition and of something “scrawled on a whiteboard.”“Make her get in a car accident,” was written on Imelda's whiteboard.
“Take his kids, his home, his property, his wealth and livelihood,” was written on Job's whiteboard.
“Provoke him to number Israel,” was written on David's whiteboard.
“Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat,” was written on Peter's whiteboard.
There are times where God removes the hedge around his saints lives as he did in Job's case. There are times he allows satanic forces to touch everything but the breath in our lungs. But even then, it is supervised by God. It is governed by the One far superior and far more powerful than any force of darkness has ever hoped to be. While we acknowledge the battle and recognize the tactics of darkness specialized to each individual life, we must recognize and focus on the fact that we are never alone, and we do not have to be afraid.
Recognizing the reality of an enemy with a whiteboard peels back the veil on his strategies and tactics. Just as the man in Imelda's dream didn't want her in his workshop, the enemy of our soul doesn't want us in his. He wants us to forget that we have an enemy. He wants us to overlook his strategies and plans. But you see, we know your plans, but we see you. We know your plans to destroy.
And like David said to Goliath, I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts. We are not fighting alone, never trying to defeat shrewd enemies alone. We are not overcoming cleverly disguised tactics by ourselves.
First and foremost, God is fighting for us and with us. Scripture is full of verses and passages that reiterate this. If God be for us, who can be against us?
Number two, there are angelic forces fighting our enemies. “They that be with us are more than they that be with them.” These are words spoken by Elisha to a servant when his whiteboard said, “Surround Dothan with Assyrian horses and chariots.” Angels are powerful forces of light fighting alongside the saints of God and protecting them. “The angel of the Lord encampeth around them that fear him and delivereth them.” Angels are camped around the lives of the saints to defend and deliver.
Number three, armor. In addition to the Lord of hosts and angelic forces, we have protective measures to employ. When Paul peeled back the curtain in Ephesians 6 and revealed that our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against an organized system of darkness, he didn't stop there.
He said, “Because of this, therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then, after the battle, you will be standing firm. Stand your ground. Put on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the piece that comes from the good news so that you are fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith and stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as a helmet…” (Eph. 6: 13-17A) We have access to protective measures: truth to combat lies, God’s righteousness to combat our tendency to lean on performance. Peace from the power of the salvation message. Faith to shield us from every angle the enemy may try to “take a shot” at us.
Number 4, Weapons: The Word. Paul lists out the things that will protect us from our enemy attack and goes on, “And take the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. The Word of God, the things inspired by the Holy Ghost in our Bibles, will be our weapon. Even Jesus, while led by the spirit into the wilderness and tempted of the devil for 40 days, used the Word as a weapon. When Jesus’ whiteboard said, ‘Turn these stones into bread,’ and ‘Jump off the pinnacle of the temple,’ He said, “It is written.”Brother Drew Galloway said, “You and I don't have the authority to say, ‘it is written,’ if we don't know what is written. But when I do know what is written, I do have the authority to release that to the enemy, and declare to him, not my opinion, I'm simply declaring what's already been settled. What's so amazing to me is how Jesus handled the adversary is how we too can duplicate the process. He could have snapped his fingers and made him disappear, he could have summoned the angels to carry him away. But Jesus dealt with the enemy in a very practical way, by declaring what had already been settled. It is written. And so you release the Word. That's when lives are changed. That's when the enemy has to leave. The Bible says the enemy left him and angels showed up. Because the spoken Word of God has so much power to defeat the enemy and invite supernatural power of God. You release it, but you can't release what you don't remember, and you can't remember what you don't read. Jesus didn't do a miracle to defeat enemy tactics. He led the way in something that is entirely repeatable. He used his own voice to repeat the forever settled word of God.”
The word is our weapon.
Number five, a will. We were created with the ability to choose. Often the effectiveness of the strategies scrawled on our whiteboard boils down to whether or not we choose to side with what's written there. When our whiteboard lists a very specific, very vivid fear like David, we can choose to say, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” We must exercise our will to choose God's way and the opposite of the plans the enemy has jotted down. If our whiteboard says hate, we choose love. If our whiteboard says greed or lust, we choose gratitude and contentment. If our whiteboard says self-sufficiency, we choose dependence and humility. We have a choice in the matter, and as Raina Longstreth preached last week, “No, you don't have my permission!” You cannot destroy me. I choose God's way, God's plan, God's timing.Number six, worship. When Job's whiteboard said, “Destroy everything in his life including his health so he will curse God and give up his faith,” Job said, I don't think so. “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job blessed God. Job worshiped God, and he's not alone. There are many in the Bible who worshiped in spite of a plan on a whiteboard.
Number seven, submission. James 4:7, “Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Our submission to God enables our resistance to the devil. He despises humility and surrender. They are powerful tools that are a piece of sending him on the run.We are not alone in the battle of the ages and the battle individually. The things written on our whiteboards, no matter how specialized they are to our lives, will not be effective if we will remember we have an enemy. I recently heard Brother Court Chavis reference the book The Art of War by Sun Tzu. (This was in a sermon called Devices.)
He quoted the book, “If you know your enemy, but you do not know yourself, you have a 50-50 chance of victory. If you know yourself, but you do not know your enemy, you have a 50-50 chance of victory. But if you know your enemy and you know yourself, you have a 100% chance of victory.”We are not ignorant of his devices, and we know who we are in Christ. We recognize the enemy, we open the curtain on his workshop, and then we remember, ‘God is on my side. Forces of light are fighting with and for me. I will put on protective armor. I will use the word to defeat the enemy's plans. I will worship while I war. I will use my will to submit to God and resist the devil, and I will pray.’
Paul closes out Ephesians 6, where he reveals the dark kingdom we fight against, and also reveals our armor and weapons by saying, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Pray always and then pray again. It is in prayer and conversation with God that we plug into supernatural power. It is praying in the Spirit where we build a reserve of supernatural faith. “But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” (Jude 20) Pray and then stand.
What's on your whiteboard?There is a whiteboard with your name on it; my name on it. We've looked into the workshop. We see it. But God is on our side. And if God be for us, who can be against us?
You will win. You will come out of the fight with your faith in one hand and the word in the other. “You thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good.”
You have written a lot of things on my whiteboard, but I know who I am in Jesus and whose I am. You might as well put your marker away.What's on your whiteboard?
Thank you for joining me for this journey!
Go grab your Bible and your journal!
I look forward to the power of this habit in your life. This is Unedited.