When The Enemy Turns Up The Heat

Remember when the enemy turns up the heat, God is trying to perfect something in our lives.  It is through testing we grow stronger, more mature, able to do more and become more than we are right now. That’s why we can keep our smile when the heat is turned up—because we know God will use it not against us, but for us.  2 Co 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  Fiery trials may be very painful, but it is only through the blazing furnace our faith grows purer and stronger.

When the heat is being turned up it is simply a spiritual attack the enemy is bringing against the people of God.  The Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)
There are few things we need to remember when the heat is being turned up in our lives:

1. Acknowledge the Spiritual Warfare of Adversity. Satan is real (1 Peter 5:8-9). Why would God send his Son to fight what does not exist? The Bible says in 1 John 3:8, “The Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil” (NLT). When the heat is turned up in your life, it’s proof that you’re doing something right.
2. Realize Your Position In Christ.  Never forget that you have authority of the enemy because of who you are in Christ Jesus.  Matthew 28:18-19 says we have all authority in heaven and earth. Then Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples” (NIV). He transfers the authority to you and me. He does that because he’s given us a specific mission (2 Corinthians 5:20).
3. Put on the Whole Armor of God. Paul says, just as the Roman soldier is properly dressed to do battle, we also need to be dressed for battle. For instance, we should often pray, “Lord, I put on the helmet of salvation that will protect me from the thoughts the Devil will try to give me. I don’t want to think the Devil’s thoughts. I don’t want to think my thoughts. I want to think your thoughts, so that that I may be a voice for you. I put on the belt of truth. Lord, I want to share the truth, not falsehood. I want to lead people into righteousness.” (Ephesians 6)
4. Stand on the Promises of God. God has given us so many promises in His word so that we can beat the heat when the enemy turns up the heat.  For example, in James 4:7, he tell us to submit to God, then resist the devil and he will flee.  This is a promise from God and as long as we stand on the promises of God we will be victorious.

5. Remember Your Offensive Weapons. The battlefield for spiritual warfare is primarily in your thought life (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). The weapons God gives us to use are faith, truth, prayer and praise. Take every thought captive!

When the heat is turned up, remember God is perfecting something within you.  Romans 8:28 tells us “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”