Disarming the Church; Bubbles, Brussels Sprouts, and Slaying the Dragons, Raising Warriors.

 We have heard about some Universities establishing safe rooms or safe spaces for students who need a mental break from life. It seems that students feel overwhelmed with the general goings on of their day and they want a place to escape. While that seems so very nice, it is a symptom of our culture that attempts to “make it all better” just as everyone gets a trophy in sports or the elimination of valedictorians in high school graduations makes it “fair” for everyone. The simple answer is life is not fair, losers don’t get trophies, and no one will make life all better for any of us. This is the reality we live in, but society has attempted to coddle and protect the younger generations from bad feelings. This is something that causes conflict between society, culture, and the Christian life. This overprotecting society is in direct opposition to Christianity, and the younger generations are being systematically disarmed by this societal babying; and really it’s an attempt to disarm the church. Right now it seems that people who hear an opposing view melt down and lose all coping skills. This has translated to the younger generation needing safe zones because they have not been given the skills to cope in life. Where this becomes dangerous is in the Church, because if we, the body of Christ, crumble over every bit of adversity, we will allow the devil to run rampant on the earth. The devil has no intentions of backing off, and yet the church is being tricked into laying down our weapons. The devil is the original bully, and also the one scheming to disarm Christians. Therefore we need to regain our composure and get serious regarding the chaos the devil is attempting to propagate in the church, the called out body of Christ.

The idea of safe spaces emerged for the LGBT community as a place to escape bullying. Today, the idea has morphed into a place where anyone hearing something contradictory to one’s own belief which may “trigger” hurt feelings, can rest among videos of puppies playing, coloring books, cookies, blankets and pillows, bubbles, and soothing music. I suppose this is nice unless someone likes kittens instead of puppies which will trigger harmful emotions and the need for another safe space. The fallacy of a safe space is to suggest that any place outside of the “safe zone” is unsafe. If this is the way people are being told to deal with trauma, our society will have serious problems in the near future. In older age groups, our safe space was our home. We cannot possibly limit free speech so that no one contradicts each other, which is unbalanced and illogical. People with competing ideas help to spur one another on to better thinking. What I am suggesting is there is “wrong thinking” and “right thinking” and both are important to human development.

The dichotomy in the younger generation needing safe spaces, and being in Christ is that safe spaces with coloring books is so much more appealing than aggressively praying and utilizing the gifts of the Spirit. For the non-Christian, being a fragile human is not a big deal, but for the Christian, it is a target on one’s back. We have to raise up the younger people to understand this, and to learn to fight. The Church needs Dragon Slayers.

1 Peter 5:8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. AMP

What would we do if a lion was stalking us? Well, in truth a lion is stalking us, what will we do now? We should all come out swinging. Let’s look at these words more closely.

1 Peter 5:8G3525Be sober! G1127Be vigilant! G3588 G476Your opponent G1473 G1228the devil G5613[²as G3023⁴lion G5612³a roaring G4043¹walks] G2212seeking G5100whom G2666he should swallow down

Be sober, as opposed to drinking alcohol, and be watchful. Or, be alert and wide awake because you have an opponent.

476 LSJ Gloss: ἀντίδικος an opponent in a suit, defendant

Dodson: ἀντίδικος an opponent, adversary an opponent (at law), an adversary.

Strong's: ἀντίδικος an opponent (in a lawsuit); specially, Satan (as the arch-enemy) Derivation: from G473 and G1349; KJV Usage: adversary.

G473 G1349

Thayer:

1) opponent
1a) an opponent in a suit of law
1b) an adversary, enemy

ἀντίδικος  antidikos  an-tid'-ee-kos  From G473 and G1349; an opponent (in a lawsuit); specifically Satan (as the arch enemy) KJV Usage: adversary.

1228 διάβολος  diabolos  dee-ab'-ol-os  From G1225; a traducer; specifically Satan(compare [H7854]) KJV Usage: false accuser, devil, slanderer.

Diabolos is our opponent. Wait! Is there a contest? Will we all get trophies? Diabolos is walking around, observing us, waiting for a reason, a cause to accuse, attack, or oppose. Diabolos is searching for someone to swallow down. It’s too bad that those “safe spaces” won’t keep us safe. We can’t hide, we can’t avoid the beast who is waiting for us to slip up. This is why Peter says to be sober, alert, and keep watching. What this really means to the Christian is that there is no safe space, we are being observed with the intent to pounce. The god of this world is also known as the accuser.

Rev 12:9 And the huge dragon was cast down and out — that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him. [Gen 3:1,14,15; Zech 3:1.] 10 Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come — the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! [Job 1:9-11.]  AMP

Rev 12:10G2532And G191I heard G5456[²voice G3173¹a great] G1722in G3588the G3772heaven, G3004saying, G737Now G1096is come G3588the G4991deliverance, G2532and G3588the G1411power, G2532and G3588the G932kingdom G3588 G2316of our God, G1473 G2532and G3588the G1849authority G3588 G5547of his Christ; G3754for G2598[⁴was cast down G3588¹the G2725²accuser G3588 G80³of our brethren], G1473 G3588the one G2723accusing G1473them G1799before G3588 G2316our God G1473 G2250day G2532and G3571night.

2725 LSJ Gloss: κατήγορος an accuser

Dodson: κατήγορος a prosecutor, accuser an accuser, prosecutor.

Strong's: κατήγορος against one in the assembly, i.e. a complainant at law; specially, Satan Derivation: from G2596 and G58; KJV Usage: accuser.

G2596 G58

Thayer:

1) an accuser
1a) a name given to the devil by the rabbis

κατήγορος  katēgoros  kat-ay'-gor-os  From G2596 and G58; against one in the assembly, that is, a complainant at law; specifically Satan KJV Usage: accuser.

If we remember our timeline of events, we know that the devil/the dragon has not been thrown out of the upper heavens yet, he still accuses us before God’s throne day and night. He will be thrown out at the time that Jesus is crowned and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ and he shall reign forever, Revelation 11:15. This vision John had is a look backward to some of the backstory of the events going on in the heavens just before Revelation 11:15. The witnesses are killed, the war between the devil and his angels and Michael and his angels takes place, and then Jesus receives the kingdoms of the world. If we remember back to Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, the devil showed him the kingdoms of the world and offered them to Jesus if Jesus would worship the devil. In the future however, Jesus will receive the kingdoms of the world and he will reign over them. But for now we are accused before the Father day and night, just as Job was. We can’t hide from this, instead we are actually accusers by our very lives, because by living correctly our opponent is reproved.

Prov 18:17G1342A just man, G1438[²of himself G2725¹ is an accuser] G1722at G4411.1the beginning of speaking; G5613but when G1161 G302ever G1911[³demands attention G3588¹the G476²opponent] G1651he is reproved.

We have enemies in this world, people, evil spirits, the devil, we have to learn to engage our enemies.

Ecclus 12:16 An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he imagineth how to throw thee into a pit: he will weep with his eyes, but if he find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood. 17 If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee. 18 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance.

Sometimes our enemies look like nice people, but really they are planning, plotting, and scheming against us. But it is not just us, the devil intentionally planted weeds among us to pollute humanity. Jesus has an enemy too.

Matt 13:37-40 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. KJV

Matt13:39G3588and the G1161 G2190enemy, G3588the one G4687sowing G1473them G1510.2.3is G3588the G1228devil; G3588and the G1161 G2326harvest G4930[² the completion G3588³of the G165⁴age G1510.2.3¹is]; G3588and the G1161 G2327harvesters G32are angels.G1510.2.6 

2190 LSJ Gloss: ἐχθρός hated, hateful

Dodson: ἐχθρός hated, hostile, an enemy hated, hostile; subst: an enemy.

Thayer:

1) hated, odious, hateful
2) hostile, hating, and opposing another
2a) used of men as at enmity with God by their sin
2a1) opposing (God) in the mind
2a2) a man that is hostile
2a3) a certain enemy
2a4) the hostile one
2a5) the devil who is the most bitter enemy of the divine government

ἐχθρός  echthros  ekh-thros'  From a primary word ἔχθω echthō (to hate); hateful (passively odious, or actively hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan) KJV Usage: enemy, foe.

Our enemy and Jesus’ enemy are the same. But Jesus made a provision for us to overcome our enemy. There are many days in which we all might like to blow bubbles and eat cookies, but what age related wisdom tells us is that our problems will still exist when we are done. Therefore the tools or weaponry to engage the bully, the devil, is something we should do first, then later after we have subdued the enemy, we can blow bubbles. 

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. KJV

Luke 10:19G2400Behold, G1325I give G1473to you G3588the G1849authority G3588 G3961to tread G1883upon G3789serpents G2532and G4651scorpions, G2532and G1909upon G3956all G3588the G1411power G3588of the G2190enemy; G2532and G3762nothing G1473[³you G3766.2¹in any way G91²shall injure].

1849 LSJ Gloss: ἐξουσία power

Dodson: ἐξουσία power, authority, weight (a) power, authority, weight, especially: moral authority, influence, (b) in a quasi-personal sense, derived from later Judaism, of a spiritual power, and hence of an earthly power.

G1832

Thayer:

1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
1a) leave or permission
2) physical and mental power
2a) the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises
3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privi

ἐξουσία  exousia  ex-oo-see'-ah  From G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery(concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence KJV Usage: authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

3961 LSJ Gloss:πατέω to tread, walk

Dodson: πατέω I tread, trample upon.

G3817

Thayer:

1) to tread
1a) to trample, crush with the feet
1b) to advance by setting foot upon, tread upon: to encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would fain thwart the preaching of the gospel
1c) to tread under foot, trample on, i.e. to treat with insult and contempt: to desecrate the holy city by devastation and outrage

πατέω  pateō pat-eh'-o From a derivative probably of G3817 (meaning a “path”); to trample (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: tread (down, under foot).

3789 LSJ Gloss: ὄφις a serpent, snake

Dodson: ὄφις  a serpent, snake; used of the devil or Satan.

Thayer:

1) snake, serpent
2) with the ancients, the serpent was an emblem of cunning and wisdom. The serpent who deceived Eve was regarded by the Jews as the devil.

ὄφις ophis of'-is  Probably from G3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan KJV Usage: serpent.

4651 LSJ Gloss: σκορπίος a scorpion

Thayer:

1) A scorpion, the name of a little animal, somewhat resembling a lobster, which in warm regions lurk, esp. in stone walls; it has a poisonous sting in its tail

σκορπίος skorpios skor-pee'-os Probably from σκέρπω skerpō , an obsolete word, (perhaps strengthened from the base of G4649 and meaning to pierce); a “scorpion” (from its sting) KJV Usage: scorpion.

Jesus gave us authority to engage our enemy, the hateful and hostile one. This is the problem, if you will, with Christianity in our society. We have a hostile accuser after us at all times, stalking us, waiting to find fault in us. Therefore Christians need to rise up to be strong overcomers, taking the authority we have been given over the power of the enemy. If the only strong people of our society end up being the evil weeds, then we certainly have a problem. This is the way the devil is attempting to disarm the church. After we spiritually beat back the enemy we can watch puppy videos, but not before. Solomon says this:

Wisdom 2:23 For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity. 24 Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it.

We were created immortal, we will have eternal life or eternal death. Because the devil envied Adam, he tricked Adam into sinning, turning over rulership of the world to the devil. Those who follow the devil will find eternal death. This is why we fight, we fight to keep ourselves free from the devil, and to free others from eternal death.

Eph 6:11G1746Put on G3588the G3833full armor G3588 G2316of God! G4314for G3588 G1410you to be able G1473 G2476to stand G4314against G3588the G3180craft G3588of the G1228devil

1228 LSJ Gloss: διάβολος slanderous, backbiting

Dodson: διάβολος slanderous, the Slanderer, the Devil (adj. used often as a noun), slanderous; with the article: the Slanderer (par excellence), the Devil.

G1225 H7854

Thayer:

1) prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely
1a) a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer,
2) metaph. applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him Satan the prince of the demons, the author of evil, persecuting good men, estranging mankind from God and enticing them to sin, afflicting them with diseases by means of demons who take possession of their bodies at his bidding.

διάβολος  diabolos  dee-ab'-ol-os  From G1225; a traducer; specifically Satan(compare [H7854]) KJV Usage: false accuser, devil, slanderer.

The word devil means “slanderer”. The devil is not nice and he is not fair. Why is there a being that slanders us? Why can’t God just destroy him so we can live in paradise? Paradise was lost by Adam, and yet it has been the struggle of humanity to try and get back to the Garden of Eden ever since. But Eden is not available right now. There are impartial rules in place, and our Heavenly Father is a just judge. Adam had a six thousand year lease on the earth. Adam allowed the devil to take over that lease. If God controlled all the beings in the universe we would be pawns and we would not have the right to choose.  Instead of beating someone into loving Him, our God allows us to get to know Him and love Him on our own. Let’s make some observations about Job and the devil.

Job 1:6G2532And G1096it came to pass G3588 G2250this day, G3778 G2532and G2400behold, G2064[⁴cameG3588¹the G5207²sons G3588 G2316³of God] G3936to stand G1799before G3588the G2962lord, G2532and G3588the G1228devil G2064came G1722in G3319the midst G1473of them.

The sons of God meet at regular times and the devil shows up as well.

Job 1:7G2532And G2036[³said G3588¹the G2962² lord] G3588to the G1228devil, G4159From what place G3854have you come? G2532And G611[³answered G3588¹the G1228²devil] G3588 G2962to the lord, G2036and said, G4022Going around G3588the G1093earth, G2532and G1704walking about G3588the G5259[²under G3772³heaven G3918¹place at hand].

The devil walks about the earth, seeking to devour people, just like Peter said. The funny thing here is Yahweh points out Job. I know right about now we are hoping when the devil accuses people at the times the sons of God all meet that Yahweh doesn’t point us out.

Job 1:8G2532And G2036[³said G1473⁴to him G3588¹the G2962² lord], G4337Have you been attentive G3767then G3588in G1271your consideration G1473 G2596to G3588 G2324my attendant G1473 G*Job, G3754that G3756there is none G1510.2.3 G1473likened to him G3664 G3588of the ones G1909upon G3588the G1093earth, G444[²man G273¹a blameless], G435a man G573sincere G2532and G2117upright G2532and G5399fearing G3588 G2316God, G566at a distance G575from G3956every G4190wicked G4229thing?

Job’s personal characteristics were that he was blameless, sincere, upright, feared God, and he kept away from evil and wicked things. One would think, that in itself, should have protected Job from the devil, but the devil tries to imply that if Job were attacked he would not fear Yahweh but instead curse Yahweh. Remember Proverbs 18:17, our right living is an accusation against the evil dragon.   

Job 1:9G611[⁴answered G1161¹And G3588²the G1228³devil], G2532and G2036said, G1725Before G3588the G2962lord, G3361does G1431Job freely G* G5399fear G3588 G2316God?

The devil’s implication is that Job is not free to fear God. Job is only fearing Yahweh because Yahweh has blessed him. Really, do we only love Yahweh when we are blessed and curse him when bad things happen? Think about every disaster we call acts of god, we intend the meaning of god to be Yahweh, but really the word god in the phrase acts of god should mean the devil, as he is the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air. Who blesses Yahweh when a hurricane or tornado wipes out their home or kills their loved ones? While we hide in our blanket fort and color, we should consider this enemy who hunts us and think about ways to fight back. We should consider David’s words against the enemy.

Psalm 109:1 O God, pass not over my praise in silence; 2 for the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the crafty man have been opened against me: they have spoken against me with a crafty tongue. 3 And they have compassed me with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. 4 Instead of loving me, they falsely accused me: but I continued to pray. 5 And they rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6 Set thou a sinner against him; and let the devil stand at his right hand. 7 When he is judged, let him go forth condemned: and let his prayer become sin. 8 Let his days be few: and let another take his office of overseer. 9 Let his children be orphans, and his wife a widow. 10 Let his children wander without a dwelling-place, and beg: let them be cast out of their habitations. 11 Let his creditor exact all that belongs to him: and let strangers spoil his labours. 12 Let him have no helper; neither let there be any one to have compassion on his fatherless children. 13 Let his children be given up to utter destruction: in one generation let his name be blotted out. 14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. 15 Let them be before the Lord continually; and let their memorial be blotted out from the earth.

16 Because he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the needy and poor man, and that to slay him that was pricked in the heart. 17 He loved cursing also, and it shall come upon him; and he took not pleasure in blessing, so it shall be removed far from him. 18 Yea, he put on cursing as a garment, and it is come as water into his bowels, and as oil into his bones. 19 Let it be to him as a garment which he puts on, and as a girdle with which he girds himself continually. 20 This is the dealing of the Lord with those who falsely accuse me, and of them that speak evil against my soul.

Psalm 109:6G2525Place G1909[²against G1473³him G268¹ the sinner], G2532and G1228let the devil G2476stand G1537at G1188his right hand! G 1473

Imprecatory Psalms have a place in our lives. We may not understand them, but what we see is David speaking against his enemies by asking that a demon stand against his enemies. Well that certainly makes a lot of sense. Instead of demons badgering the children of Yahweh, demons should badger the children of satan. Since we have authority over the power of the enemy, wouldn’t this be a better thing to do with our time rather than hiding under pillows? We may have taken the idea of trauma and triggers a bit too far without the balance of spiritual warfare. Paul tells Timothy that leaders should not be novices, not deluded, so that they don’t fall into the judgement of the devil. 

1 Tim 3: 6G3361Not G3504a novice, G2443that G3361not G5187being deluded G1519[²in G2917³judgment G1706¹he should fall] G3588of the G1228devil

Remember, the leader has to be seasoned in resisting the devil. But we can’t resist the devil by hiding out in a safe space, we have to resist by living. Too many people would rather hide from the devil than engage the devil. Really, this means that leaders should be battle hardened. This is the direction we should raise the next generation in the body of Christ. We want the young people to be eating steak as soon as possible rather than keeping them bottle fed their whole lives.

James 4:7G5293Be submitted G3767then G3588 G2316to God! G436Oppose G3588the G1228devil, G2532and G5343he will flee G575from G1473you!

Oppose the devil. If we don’t like Brussels Sprouts we oppose eating them. We don’t have a meltdown when we see a Brussels Sprout, we simply don’t eat it. At a restaurant we don’t throw them on the floor or scream at the waiter, we simply don’t eat them. If someone campaigns for a candidate we don’t like we don’t have a meltdown, throw their signs on the floor, and scream, we simply don’t talk with them. These are basic coping skills, right? The same with the devil, we submit to God, and by doing that when the devil whispers in our ear, we ignore him, just like Brussels Sprouts.  

We have seen a couple of ways to deal with spiritual and physical enemies, but there is always someone who will attempt to bring up the idea that the Lord will fight our battles. While that is true, it is not entirely true. We have to be submitted to Him, otherwise we are on our own. Moses is giving the sons of Jacob a little talk, they didn’t’ want to enter the Promised Land because they were afraid so Moses is reminding them of that time.

Deut 1:29 And I said to you, Fear not, neither be ye afraid of them; 30 the Lord your God who goes before your face, he shall fight against them together with you effectually, according to all that he wrought for you in the land of Egypt; 31 and in this wilderness which ye saw, by the way of the mountain of the Amorite; how the Lord thy God will bear thee as a nursling, as if any man should nurse his child, through all the way which ye have gone until ye came to this place.

But they didn’t believe.

Deut 1:32 And in this matter ye believed not the Lord our God, 33 who goes before you in the way to choose you a place, guiding you in fire by night, shewing you the way by which ye go, and a cloud by day.

The Lord heard their disbelief. When they realized they sinned by not going into battle when the Lord said to, they decided to go anyway.

Deut 1:41 And ye answered and said, We have sinned before the Lord our God; we will go up and fight according to all that the Lord our God has commanded us: and having taken every one his weapons of war, and being gathered together, ye went up to the mountain. 42 And the Lord said to me, Tell them, Ye shall not go up, neither shall ye fight, for I am not with you; thus shall ye not be destroyed before your enemies. 43 And I spoke to you, and ye did not hearken to me; and ye transgressed the commandment of the Lord; and ye forced your way and went up into the mountain. 44 And the Amorite who dwelt in that mountain came out to meet you, and pursued you as bees do, and wounded you from Seir to Herma. 45 And ye sat down and wept before the Lord our God, and the Lord hearkened not to your voice, neither did he take heed to you.

If Yahweh tells us to do something, then we should do it because he will be with us. If we don’t do it when he says, but we decide to do something in our own strength, he will not be with us. In this case the Lord told Moses to tell them not to fight because He was not with them. Likewise we should not determine to fight then ask the Lord to come along. Nor should we tell the Lord to go ahead of us and clear the way, and we will follow along later. For the Lord to fight for us requires us to be submitted to Him. Solomon gives us some wisdom here.

Wisdom 5:15 But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High. 16 Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.

17 He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies. 18 He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet. 19 He shall take holiness for an invincible shield. 20 His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise.

This sounds like something Paul told us; armor, breastplate, helmet, shield, and sword, which are all implements of warfare. The armor of God was not a new idea when Paul wrote about it, our spiritual armor has been a subject that is as old as mankind. If we want the Lord to fight for us we still have to dress accordingly. Really though what an ingenious way for the devil to destroy Christians on the earth, by making them upset over controversy. If society changes its opinion to believe that we are to hide from bullies and things that challenge our belief systems, requiring the need for safe spaces, the church will follow suit. Then instead of beating up the original bully, the devil, we will hide instead, allowing him to do whatever he wants on the earth. Let’s say no, not today, not on our watch. We need to get out our armor and use that sword. The dragon still accuses us day and night. Here is some further wisdom from Sirach. 

Ecclus 4:28 Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee.

What is the truth? It is the only thing worth fighting for, that Jesus is the Messiah, and that the devil stole rulership of the earth from Adam, and until Jesus is crowned, we will be accused by the devil day and night. The truth that is worth fighting for is that we have an enemy, yet we have the authority to defeat his power on the earth. The truth is that the devil is trying to disarm the church and keep us from that knowledge. The truth is that the devil would rather us blow bubbles and sing happy songs than engage him on the earth. The truth is inconvenient, and difficult, and distasteful like Brussels Sprouts. But if we strive for it, if we submit ourselves to Yahweh, with the tools he has given us, we will be strong fearless enemies of the devil. Instead of hiding, we stand, shoulders back, heads up, ready to slay dragons, serpents, scorpions, and all the power of the enemy. We will explore our weaponry next week.