Don't Leave Jesus at Church on SundayНамуна

Day 2: The Enemy's Plot - Kill, Steal, and Destroy

Life is a journey full of both wonderful and challenging times. The very real presence of an enemy who attempts to destroy our faith is one of the problems we face. As in any epic story, there is an opponent attempting to hinder our progress. This opponent attempts to kill, steal, and destroy the dynamic, life-giving relationship we have with Jesus in the domain of faith. John 10:10 makes it clear that although the opponent comes to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus came so that we may have life, and life more abundantly.

...I came to give you life, and life more abundantly!

The opponent in question is frequently referred to as the devil or Satan. While it may be difficult to fathom the concept of a hostile spiritual force, it is critical to recognize that there are forces in the spiritual realm that strive to undermine the foundation of our beliefs. Just as Jesus came to provide life and life more abundantly, Satan seeks to extinguish the light of our faith and deprive us of the joy and peace that Christ provides.

You may wonder, why would the enemy care if we leave Jesus at church on Sunday? The reason is based on the very essence of faith. Our lives become a monument to God's kindness and love when we experience the transformative power of faith. This is a threat to the enemy, who wishes for us to be helpless and detached from God.

By limiting our faith to one day a week, we make ourselves subject to the enemy's devices. When we confine Jesus inside the church building, we unknowingly confine our faith, reducing its impact on our lives. The opponent is well aware that a strong, everyday faith is a powerful force that can withstand his strategies.

Think about it. The enemy does not really care about destroying your marriage, family, finances, etc. because he’s jealous. Satan wants to destroy those things so that our faith goes down with it. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. So, what better way to hinder our relationship with the Lord–by destroying our faith. Once the enemy attempts to stir up conflict and havoc, we begin questioning the Savior instead of the adversary. We begin turning on one another instead of being unified to come against the one who is really trying to distract us.

Consider a playground: a place of fun, laughter, and freedom. The enemy's playground, on the other hand, is filled with uncertainty, fear, division, and hopelessness. When we leave Jesus at church and enter the secular world on Sunday, it's like leaving our playground unattended, allowing the enemy to wreak chaos. He grabs our moments of uncertainty, fear, and spiritual complacency and transforms them into opportunities for spiritual attack.

For example, someone speeds out of the parking lot, almost hitting your car and the first thing you do is curse them into next week. The very mouth you used to worship Jesus an hour ago in service is now speaking death over someone who irritated you in the moment. Do you have the right to feel some type of way about what they did? Absolutely. However, we must remind ourselves how important it is to not only see Jesus at the altar, but see Jesus in that parking lot, cubicle, family cookout or anywhere else we may find ourselves. Sometimes we make it too easy for the enemy to try his tactics and better yet, we even participate. Don’t give him the satisfaction of getting you out of a right relationship with the Lord. It’s not worth it.

To counteract this, we must remember that our faith transcends time and space. We deny the enemy his chance to take advantage of our vulnerability by actively bringing Jesus with us into our everyday lives. We take away his playground and turn it into a place where faith reigns supreme. In other words, don’t give the enemy a playground to play on.

The enemy employs a variety of strategies to divert our attention away from a genuine connection with Jesus. One of his methods is deception and lying. The enemy is identified as the father of lies in John 8:44. He tries to confuse believers by distorting the truth and propagating lies in order to cast doubt on God's Word and His character. He'll even convince you that you can handle life on your own. The devil is well-known for persuading people to sin and stray away from God, which is why he employs this strategy as well. He tempts believers with worldly desires and pleasures, making sinful choices appear appealing and pleasant, according to Matthew 4:1-11.

If we are not careful, leaving Jesus in the pew on Sunday can give the enemy additional opportunities to attack. In Revelation 12:10, Satan is frequently pictured as the accuser of the brethren. He criticizes believers by reminding them of their past crimes and failures, making them doubt their own value and God's grace. We must remember as believers that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

We can become distracted by worldly concerns when we go out into the world thinking we don't need Jesus. The parable of the sower in Matthew 13:22 shows how the troubles of the world and the deception of wealth can choke out God's word, leaving believers unfruitful. As evidenced by several episodes of persecution in the New Testament, Satan can lead others to persecute and afflict believers. This can be a hindrance and a diversion from pursuing Christ.

2 Peter 2:1 warns us that the enemy might spread false doctrines and heretical views within the Church in order to mislead and divide believers. This is all the more reason to incorporate Jesus into our daily lives so that we are not swayed into believing things that are not true. Our discernment comes from the Holy Spirit, and taking Him out of the picture invites the enemy to attack.

Not only are our lives changed by our journey beyond the church doors with Jesus at our side. Our family, friends, and communities all experience the transformation that comes from a solid, consistent faith. We become sparks of hope, joy, and love, deeply impacting people around us.

This, however, implies that we are called to defend not only our own faith, but also the faith of those who look to us as examples. By living out our faith radically, regularly, and authentically we become spiritual defenders, sheltering our families and communities from the enemy's attacks.

We've looked at the enemy's plan in this Bible plan, learning why he wants us to leave Jesus at church and how we can sabotage his plans. We've discovered that by bringing Jesus with us day in and day out, we deny the enemy a playground and safeguard not only for ourselves but also people we love and care about and those who are lost and need to be found. In the following chapter, we will continue our journey by digging into the importance of faith inside the family home.

1. What are your thoughts on the concept of spiritual warfare and the existence of an opponent seeking to undermine your faith? Do you find this idea challenging, or does it resonate with your own experiences and beliefs.

2. Consider a time when you may have felt spiritually vulnerable or distant from God. How did this impact your faith, and do you think it provided an opportunity for the enemy to influence your thoughts or actions?

If you received salvation through reading this bible plan, please visit www.parisbrooke.com/saved to receive next steps and resources that will help you along this journey with Jesus. We are so excited to welcome you into the family and I promise you, Heaven is rejoicing! Your life will never be the same!

If you’d like to continue exploring the full content of Don't Leave Jesus at Church on Sunday, along with additional key takeaways and reflection questions, you can purchase the book at www.parisbrooke.com/books. I hope this resource helps you deepen your walk with Jesus, both in and outside of church!