Don't assume the enemy is bluffing about attacking the believer!

My friend is a street preacher. He loves it and feels called to it. He resides in boarding houses, in the cities he feels called to preach in. One day last year, shortly after arriving home and realizing someone was in his room, he began calling the burglar out. Another boarder was annoyed at his noise and came at my friend with a hammer saying, "shut up or i will hit you with this hammer!" My friend said, "Do it!"  " So the guy did! My friend was shocked and injured. The guy went to jail.  I asked my friend why he said, "Do it!" Personally being of the persuasion that, "do it!" is not the logical response to a potentially lethal threat. He told me that he never thought the guy would actually do it. Every man/male i've told this story to, pipes in with the same response when i get to that part of the story.  "Who would think someone would actually do it!?"
Sometimes we make a stand and then are amazed when the enemy attacks!

Whether the enemy seeks to attack our hearts, minds, family or finances we need to regard "him" as a threat.  We may have the victory but we also have to walk it out and guard, stand, use our weapons of warfare (eph 6) and be aware, not ignorant of our adversary's ways.

Churchill was banned from Parliament. He had eccentric and offensive ways, yet when Hitler was advancing across the world, trapsing into the backyards of those who were ignoring the atrocities that had been occuring at his hand, Churchill was once again called in. Why? Because he knew the enemy better than anyone on the planet. He had studied Hitler extensively.  Dissecting his every move since childhood. His raising, family life, social life, education, military involvement and ascent, colleagues, known associates and accociations, activities and involvements, skills and weakeneses.

Abrogating the horror that was Hitler, is largely attributed to the influence of Winston Churchill.

Know your adversary and his ways that you may not miss an opportunity to escape injury. If you tell him "Do it!" Be ready to meet his attack with the same force!

And above all "Guard your heart, it is the wellspring of life." (another blog entirely!)  Use your "shield of faith, which is able to quench the firey darts of the enemy" " Your helmet of salvation" which protects your mind and direction for the rest of your body. Your mind needs to "know" the word; What it says about your position in Christ, your salvation which is sure, your weapons and battle plan, God's larger plan, etc. Yes, the work was done on the CROSS, but we are not to be lazy and allow the devil to roam freely, devouring everything he desires. We are to use the power of the cross to defend ourselves.

Jesus said "IF they hated me, then they must hate you, if you are my disciple"...They are the world and it's dominion-ator, the adversary.

Don't be caught calling the enemies bluff without believing he may bring it on!  Be ready and never be ignorant of the ways of the enemy or of the defenses we have against his attacks!