…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11
In the June edition of COLD WATER, our MKMI E-Newsletter, we began looking at end-time signs that show us what to see and expect just before our Lord’s return to earth. We will continue with this Bible Study here, in our inaugural edition of CHRISTIAN SOLDIER. To be aware of the signs of the end-times we need to identify the devil’s devices. This is what Paul told the Corinthians, and what the Holy Spirit is telling us now.  
Notice the word “devices” is plural. Satan has many tools in his death-bag to bring to bear against us in the last days. A sudden attack is one he uses frequently, so don’t be surprised and don’t be ignorant. Here are two examples that illustrate the point: 
 
While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"  Job 1:18-19
 
Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”  Matthew 8:23-27
One of the favorite tactics from hell is to attack suddenly .  COVID-19 is an example of this – the fear of what this virus has done, and continues to do into the foreseeable future.  In January of 2020, nobody was paying any attention to what was happening in China. Two months later, most countries of the world were in a state of total fear, panic, chaos, confusion and economic turmoil.  Suddenly , there was this giant fear cloud over the whole planet – a pervasive foreboding over the future and very survival of our way of life. Because the fear of death has suddenly taken millions of people captive in mind and body, the effects of this are still wreaking havoc worldwide. 

The recent racial protests nationwide in the USA are another example. Within a matter of weeks from late in the month of May, we’ve suddenly gone from a relatively peaceful co-existence amongst the citizenry to this fractured, divided, destructive, hate-driven race-war that’s tearing at the very social fabric of our country. 

None of this is by chance or coincidence. These devices are coordinated attacks designed to bring world evangelism to a screeching halt. In these last days, you can be sure the devil will be looking to launch more sudden attacks against the world in general, and the body of Christ in particular. Beware and be vigilant. Expect them. When attacked suddenly , here is what you must do:
Although Job eventually recovered from the sudden satanic onslaught against him and his family, it took him awhile to get his act together and turn things around. We don’t have that kind of time now. We’re in the last days – and time is critical. Don’t be like Job. Be like Jesus. He immediately responded to repel the sudden attack He experienced in that boat, and we must do the same. Today’s world is under satanic attack like never before. The scriptures plainly indicate this. We can prevent our boat from going under, if we react immediately in the name of Jesus. With rapid and accurate application, we can prevail and triumph whenever we face sudden attacks from hell, whether they be a global pandemic like COVID-19, or something much more personal.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it until Jesus returns. Satan’s greatest advantage against us is our lack of knowledge.  Hosea 4:6 says it all.  God’s people perish for a lack of knowledge.  This has always been the problem that enables Satan to operate the way he does. He knows that unbelievers represent no threat to him because they’re spiritually dead in their sins. Only born-again believers have the potential to wreak havoc against the kingdom of darkness. That’s why we’re told to study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15).  This is every Christian’s responsibility. Satan knows that Christians can’t successfully defeat him if they don’t know they can. Ignorant believers don’t know how to retaliate because they don’t know who they are in Christ.   Ephesians 6:17 says the word of God is the sword of the spirit. That means it is the primary attack weapon at our disposal – if we know how to wield it in battle. We’re told to resist the devil, and he’ll flee from us (James 4:7).  We’re told that greater is the Holy Spirit in us than the devil in the world (1 John 4:4).  We could on and on, but you get the point. You can’t use God’s sword until you know God’s word. 
Jesus knew He had authority from heaven. He knew there is great power released when words of faith are spoken directly against sudden attacks from the devil.  Mark 11:22-24 says it best: 

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 

Some things you pray about, and others things you don’t. Either way, you still have to say something.  When it comes to the exercising of our authority in the name of Jesus, there is no need to pray. Follow our Lord’s example. He didn’t pray and ask God to do something about the storm, because He knew He didn’t have to. He spoke to the storm itself. In the same way Jesus spoke to the storm and commanded peace and calmness to reign, so should we.  Sudden attacks are mountains we move when we command them to wither and die. Jesus said the works He did we can do as well (John 14:12), so if He spoke to sudden storms to destroy them, we can - and must – do the same. Now more than ever.  
In stunned amazement after what they had just witnessed in the boat, the disciples were asking themselves this question: “Who can this be, that even the wind and sea obey Him?”  The answer? This is someone who knows who He is, and acts like it. The Bible says God searches all across the world, looking for people to show Himself strong to (2 Chronicles 16:9).  This is who He’s looking for - Christians who know who they are – and act like it. Faith men, like Jesus.

If you’re Christian, do you realize the Third Person of the Trinity lives in you right now?  The Holy Spirit is not God’s consolation prize. He is not the substitute teacher. He is not the “fill-in” until Jesus returns. In the sports world, when teams make a blockbuster trade, many times it will include lesser, undetermined players that aren’t very important to either team. They’re called the “player to be named later” in the trade. Friends, the Holy Spirit is not the “player to be named later”. He is the power of the Trinity. It was the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the water in the beginning, waiting to use the spoken words of God to create everything we now see on this planet (Genesis 1:2).  Jesus knew how powerful the Holy Spirit is. That’s why He said it was better that He goes away, so that the Holy Spirit could come like He has (John 16:7).  Don’t let sudden attacks paralyze you with fear. The Holy Spirit will never leave you, so there’s no reason for spiritual paralysis due to intimidation. Here’s what I learned decades ago when I first joined the fight for Jesus.  To avoid criticism, persecution or calamity, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.  
Advancing Under Fire

In today’s world there has been a gradual “slide” away from God and the things of God. What was once thought perverse and unthinkable is now thought to be the norm. Churches and ministers are bending over backwards to appease people calling their approach “user friendly” or “seeker friendly” not wishing to “offend” anyone. In Advancing Under Fire, Mike Keyes, Sr. challenges the body of Christ to rise up, shed the mistakes and failures of the past and join forces to engage the enemy with the truth of the Gospel.

Advancing Under Fire is a must read for anyone who desires to be used by God in these last days. It goes beyond the truths expressed in the author’s previous book, Military Mentality, and presents the very real-world facts about life and death. Christianity is not a passive concept and the body of Christ is not a reactionary army. We are an aggressive group of dedicated soldiers. Jesus gave us the command to charge! We have been told to advance and so we will – but it will always be under fire!
Military Mentality

Military Mentality concerns the global war raging at this moment over the souls of humankind. Time is running out and human society worldwide is in an obvious and accelerating death spiral. We must do all we can while we can to rescue the lost by introducing them to Jesus, who alone can snatch them from eternal doom, destruction and damnation in hell. Nothing is more important than this! Through careful examination of the challenges the United States faced in World War II, the parallels are shocking in their simplicity and biblical power as they relate to our key role in bringing our enemies to their knees in surrender. The body of Christ is at war and faces many of the same challenges faced in World War II. Our weapons are different and our enemies are not flesh and blood. However, we can apply many crucial lessons we learned in the war to our fights of faith today.
From a reader...
Reverend Mike Keyes, 

Good evening. Just wanted you to know that I just finished you’re book “Military Mentality”, and what an impact it had on me. I had purchased it a few years ago when you were speaking at Living Word Church in Spencer, Iowa, before I retired as Sheriff. It was for then and now much more than ever! Thank you for continuing to preach God’s Word! Praying you and your family are doing well. Take care and God bless. 

Randy Krukow
Clay County Sheriff (Retired)
Spencer, Iowa 
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