World War III

Conflict is normal in the Christian life. Frustration and conflict are not something strange to a Christian’s life. You're normal if you face conflict.

Before you became a Christian, you only had the power to do wrong. When you invited Christ into your life, however, you received a new nature—a desire and power to do what is right. But that old nature stayed on. That’s two natures that struggle over everything you think, say, and do. One old preacher said: "It’s like there are two dogs fighting inside you. The one that wins is the one you say 'sick em' to."

But the major reason for the conflict in your life is the second most powerful person in the world—Satan. He’s real and he’s out to stop everything that God wants to do with your life. Before you knew Christ, you were in Satan’s family, and he was pleased because you were on your way to hell. He didn’t bother you at all. He didn’t have to. At that point you had conflict, only you were in conflict with God himself!

When you became a Christian, Satan lost you. You were delivered from his family and born into God’s family. That put you on God’s side and guaranteed that you would be in conflict with God’s archenemy. Satan can’t have you, but he has another plan. He is dedicated to ruining your life as a Christian and embarrassing God by thwarting everything that Jesus died for. That’s why it is so important for you to become like Jesus. When you don’t, you play right into Satan’s hands!

But all of Satan’s attacks on you have one thing in common. They are all based on a lie. John 8:4 says that the Devil is a liar and the father of lies. Any offer he makes is an empty illusion! He can’t and won’t make a good and true offer!

Satan’s strategy for bringing you down usually comes in one of five attacks. There’s a flesh and blood example of each one in the New Testament. In each case, Jesus always helps people face their conflicts squarely, and he gives an answer. This summer we're going to look at these examples of Satan’s attacks.