CHAPTER 31
METHODS OF ATTACK AND DEFENSE
You have been warned that a spiritual battle will begin when you seriously determine in your heart to keep (memorize) God’s Word. The Devil knows that once you become a mature Christian … nothing is impossible to you. Many people will be drawn to Jesus Christ and lost souls will be delivered out of the Devil’s hand. The Devil commonly uses several methods of attack against immature Christians. You must be prepared to meet each method of attack with the appropriate Word of God. I believe it is better for a Christian to know one-hundred and one (101) foundational verses than to memorize the entire Book of Joel or the entire Book of Galatians.
I am not saying you should not memorize an entire Book of the Bible, but I advise you to first memorize some specific foundational verses before you attempt such a task. Wait until you are a mature Christian. I believe most people can consider themselves mature spiritually after approximately three years of daily memorization and meditation of God’s Word. Why three years? Jesus spent three and one-half years ministering to and teaching his disciples. Paul the Apostle waited three years before he began to evangelize the gentiles. A healthy fruit tree should begin to bear a good crop of fruit between three and five years.
AND WHEN HE SAW A FIG TREE IN THE WAY, HE CAME TO IT, AND FOUND NOTHING THEREON, BUT LEAVES ONLY, AND SAID UNTO IT, LET NO FRUIT GROW ON THEE HENCEFORWARD FOR EVER. AND PRESENTLY THE FIG TREE WHITHERED AWAY.
MATTHEW 21:19
When Jesus did not find fruit on what appeared to be a healthy fig tree, He cursed the tree and it died. God expects us to be fruitful. We should not just appear healthy. What would you do if you planted a fruit tree and after many years it never produced any fruit? Wouldn’t you cut it down and plant another one? I dare say that a lot of Christians are just like the fig tree in the Bible story, a lot of leaves, but no fruit. Determine right now that you will bear fruit for the kingdom of God. As you mature in the spirit, you will become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. You will have discernment in your life and you will be more easily led by God. Then you will be able to more easily discern between danger and opportunity. An unsaved person has no such discernment.