Power To Overcome The Enemy. One May Feel That All One

Silencing the enemy is a very fitting title for this book. It is fitting because the author, Robert Gay, explains how God suppresses the devices of the adversary through the praise and worship of His people. Although the term “spiritual warfare” is not found in scripture, Paul expounds on the concept throughout the New Testament. He encourages the saints to “Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”. This scripture informs us that we are in a battle, a battle that has been raging since the beginning of time. It is not a battle that one can see with the naked eye. Nor is it a battle that is fought with natural weapons. It is a battle that is fought in the spirit world. Our methods of

“oftentimes to win us to our harm the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence.”

Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Dr. King gave a demonstration concerning this agonizing, perplexing question by recalling an event that occurred immediately after Christ’s transfiguration. Therefore, as Jesus was coming down from the mountain, He found a small boy that was in wild convulsions. Continuously the disciples had tried desperately to cure the unhappy child, but the harder they labored to heal him the more they realized their own inadequacies and the pathetic limitations of their power. But just before they were about to give up in despair; Jesus appeared on the scene. Then after the father of the child told Jesus of the failure of the disciples, Jesus “rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him, and the child was cured that same hour.”

“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting... but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty Himself hates with you, too. Where's evil? It's that large part of every man that wants to hate without limit, that wants to hate with God on its side. It’s that part of every man that finds all kinds of ugliness so attractive.”

I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? Only words, words; to be led out to battle against other words” (Till we Have Faces; book 2, chapter 4).

What is the most powerful weapon we have as a Christian? (Pause) What can we as Christians do.., to pull down strongholds. (Pause) When our world feels like it is falling in on us.., what can we do about it as Christians?

When Satan tried to tempt Jesus with all the kingdoms of this earth and their glory, Jesus used the sword of the word,

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 5:8-11

Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”(Abraham Lincoln). Power is the ultimate force in the universe. Power by definition is control, controlling everything would make everything go the way that person wants it to so power is sought. Power is desired by most normal people, people who aspire to be more than themselves, to rise above the common man and do as they please. Power appeals to human nature. There are many different types of power, but the main two are necessary and unnecessary power. Necessary power is that of a natural cause for example, the lion expresses his power over prey to eat; to survive he needs to use his power. Humans, on the other hand, do not need oil to survive

Meanwhile, we must look to Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” for he is the hope to our soul towards us having a better life once this world is over.

“‘Faith! Faith!’ cried the husband. ‘Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One!’” (Hawthorne 1297) These were the words expressed by Young Goodman Brown during the evil baptisms. Whether Goodman Brown was speaking to himself or his pleasant wife Faith, it is easily seen that there is a definite need of Faith and God to be saved from the “Wicked One”.

The second temptation the Devil poses is for Jesus to cast Himself down on the ground from a high cliff to prove that He is the son of God. Jesus refuses, reminding Satan that the Scriptures say "do not tempt the Lord your God." The Inquisitor claims that even if man were to have "earthly bread" in abundance, without a "stable conception of the object of life," man would not continue to live, and any who would lead men must captivate their consciences. Only three powers can do this, says the Inquisitor: miracle, mystery, and authority. In the first temptation, Jesus rejected the first power, and now is rejecting the second. The Inquisitor says, "And I ask Thee again... couldst Thou believe for a moment that men, too, could face such a temptation?" Once again, Jesus is refusing to captivate the souls of men by force.

Although Satan and his followers have been cast out of Heaven, Satan still maintains hope and courage. He states,

powerful speeches. In Book II, he gives a long yet powerful speech describing his plan to ultimately defeat God. Two of his followers, Belial and Moloch, are debating whether or not they should try to go to was against God or not. Satan then, rather charismatically, convinces them of a foolproof strategy. He has learned of God's plan to create Earth and the human race. Satan says that the best way to defeat God is to destroy this. Satan is in a sense preaching to the “underdog,” convincing his followers that they have a chance to defeat God: “To suffer, as to do,