So I was talking to a good friend of mine yesterday about spiritual warfare. This person happens to be a student. This person is developing a heart to reach out to their friends and make a difference. Which of course is very cool. As we were talking, God really impressed something upon me that concerned me. I told the person that I wasn't sure how to go about making a difference with their friends. Because this I've figured out. The enemy hates prayer. I think his goal is to keep us complacent. Comfortable. Bored. When we get excited and start praying for people that don't know Jesus, I've noticed in my life that that's when the temptations come. That's when I start feeling real resistance from the devil. Whenever we start becoming active in the spiritual world pressing against the kingdom of darkness, that's when the enemy rises up against us.

I don't think he has to get us even to sin. Sin will come. His job is to get us distracted. Sometimes with destructive things. Sometimes with good things. Things that are ok, but aren't him. A new activity that takes up a large part of our time and attention. A new girlfriend or boyfriend that monopolizes our time. A new job that takes us away from church or youth group. First we see our devotional life start to slip. Our bible reading drops off. Our prayer life diminishes. Then we start missing things that would build us up. It's like our enemy lulls us to sleep. I'm sitting here watching the Chronicles of Narnia where Lucy is sitting in the fawn Tumnus' house and he's playing his pan flute. He lulls her to sleep to make her susceptible to the White Witch. Had he told her when he met her by the lampost that he intended to turn her over to the enemy, she would have run away. But he didn't. He sweet talked her to come to his house. He bribed her with snacks and offered her wonderful company. The enemy isn't too much different. Sometimes the things that he offers seem so innocent and feel so good that, we can't imagine that there's anything wrong with them.

Anyhow, back to the conversation. I told the student that I wasn't sure that I wanted to turn them loose on trying to make a difference in the people around them. The reason was, the enemy knows exactly how to exploit our weaknesses. If we are starved for attention and acceptance, he will take advantage of us there. He is absolutely cruel. He has no compassion. If he can ruin us as well as stop our momentum and the momentum of the church, super! I look back at this last year. There were a few that really had a desire to make a difference in the people around them. I don't know whether that really ever happened. But I saw where the enemy perhaps took opportunity with the weaknesses in their lives and sent them off track. This has been on my mind most of the day. We really need to count the cost on our commitments. Those in positions of influence have a far greater responsibility. When I left my last youth pastor position, I purposely tried to separate myself from the students there because I didn't want to be in competition with the incoming youth leader. The downside was, there were a group of students that had begun relying on my input. And I let them down and left them stranded. I listened to distractions because I was young and wanted my own way.

I'm watching Narnia and to the point where the White Witch has invited Edmund into her sled and she's giving him Turkish Delight and hot chocolate. She's distracting him with promises and lies. The next time he sees her, she will imprison him.

Be careful if you are interested in leadership positions. You have a target on your head. Just as I do. He will take you out through good options. Things that feel good. Excitement or acceptance. Be wise. If your eyes aren't squarely on God, YOU ARE VULNERABLE! Beware.  Go Tribe~Beat Boston!