Testing your defences

Yesterday I watched a documentary about the 6 day war in 1967. In this war, Israel fought hard for, and captured the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. This was a significant time for a nation seeking to recover sacred ground.

The most intriguing part of ths war was how, at the outset, Israel gained the upper hand.

For years the Israelies had been violating eyptian airspaces, testing for gaps in the radar defenses. Then in one concerted attack, they ruthlessesly exploited all the gaps.

In the few days before the 6 day war, Israel launched a pre-emptive attack on eyptian airforce. The Egyptian airforce were lined up like sitting ducks. The attack was devastating. In 3 hours, 300 planes were destroyed on the ground.

It is arguable that the war wasn't lost by the Egyptians during the 6 days of battle, but rather prior to the battle when they let the Isralies repeatedly violate their airspace to find the gaps in their defence.

It is the same with us.

There is a war going on - and it's a fight for your soul. God wants all of your soul. The devil wants God to have none if it. God wants you to have a life of contentment, abundance and fulfilment. The devil wants to "steal, and to kill, and to destroy" your health, your happiness, your marriage and your children's future. (John 10:10)

1 Peter 5:8 the Bible says, "Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour." Like the Israelite army, Satan tests your defences - he looks for your areas of weakness and vulnerability - he looks for the places where he can violate your space.

Where are your vulnerabilites?

Let's really dig into the detail. You may not be, generally speaking, vulnerable in a particular area. However, if the circumstances change, your vulnerability is exposed. For example, you may not be vulnerable in the area of infidelity. However, change the circumstances such that you start believing lies about your own lack of self-worth, your relationship at home is strained, you feel lonely, you're tired and worn out from over work - and then the devil invades your airspace with temptation. How are you defences then?

Perhaps the temptation was nothing more than an innocent flirt and there was no harm done. But your space has been violated and a gap in your defence has been exposed.

Do a stock-take on when, in the past, you were willing to compromise your usual standards

Do a review of the times you knew you dabbled where you shouldn't have - even if there was no harm done at the time.

The devil is testing your defences. Where are you vulnerable?

Satan is gathering intelligence on where you are open for invasion and then, at a time you least expect it, he launches a concerted attack, ruthlessesly exploiting all the gaps.

The bible tells us to to discipline ourselves and stay alert because the war may not be won or lost when the battle hits. The war may be lost much earlier when we were being sized up and we did nothing.

Ephesians 6:11-13 says "11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. "