Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
-1 Timothy 6:12
Marriage is under attack. Let me make it personal, your marriage is under attack. My marriage is under attack. Please don't be offended. Every godly marriage is under attack. Why? Because Satan knows that it is a reflection of Christ's relationship with the church. He knows that your godly union is powerful, and he desires to do everything he can to destroy it. So, he takes advantage of every opportunity and opening to wreak havoc. He can use a willing person -- a sweet, listening coworker who affirms you when you feel that your spouse doesn't, a guy you run into a the coffee shop every morning, or a family friend who has been there for you over the years. He can use circumstances -- financial distress, illness, or job issues. He can use unresolved issues and minor inconveniences that turn into major issues. The bottom line is that our enemy can and will use any weapon he has to attack our marriages. That doesn't mean that your marriage is headed for divorce. Divorce is not a sign of an attack. It is a result of an ongoing attack. Satan is just as pleased if you stay together and are ineffective. If you simply coexist and look the part of a happily married couple, our enemy still feels victorious. He wants you to stop talking to your spouse. He wants you to become cold and unfeeling. He wants you to give up and stop caring. If you do, you certainly won't come together to pray. You won't be a living example of Christ's unfailing love for us. You won't represent the kingdom well. Then the enemy feels like he has won. Note I said, "feels like" because he surely has not won. He gets no victory in our marriages. That's the point of this message today -- to declare war on our enemy! I want to spur you to righteous indignation today. I want you to get so mad at the enemy that you refuse to allow him any place in your marriage. I want you to see his attacks for what they are and do everything in your power to stop him dead in his tracks. I want you to grab the weapons of you warfare and fight the good fight of faith. Find out everything that God has said concerning your marriage and stand in agreement with that. When you sense an argument about to happen, diffuse it with God's word. When you sense complacency arising in your marriage stir up passion. When you sense any type of distance between you and your spouse come together quickly. Don't give the devil any room. Don't give him any opening. While you are warring for your marriage, can you take up arms for your brothers and sisters in Christ as well? Marriages are ending at an alarming rate in the body of Christ. Divorce rates are high. We are attending services, singing, and shouting and all the while people who sit next to us are succumbing to the attack of the enemy. This has got to stop. Suit up for your loved ones. Grab you battle gear and go in on their behalf! If you see them falling for Satan's tricks, warn them. If necessary, snatch them out of the enemy's hands, but by all means do something. Draw a line in the sand and determine that the enemy can go no further! I assure you that we win! I declare war!
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