I was racing through my day and this particular topic came to my mind. I hadn’t previously been researching this topic, nor thinking of it. Take it for what it is, a spontaneous consideration of a spiritual matter. You might not be under a spiritual siege right now, but sometime someplace you will have to face this potential obstacle. I initially had chosen the phrase “potential reality” but reality could be described by some as merely a matter of perspective by our physical senses. You don’t have to physically see a spiritual siege to feels it’s presence or effects though – so perhaps “obstacle” is a more accurate description for the purpose of my ramblings.A siege is described as... a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit".
Historically, when overcoming a city through a brute-force assault wasn’t a possibility, sieges were often looked to as a viable military option. Usually a siege afflicted the enemy through any combination of three actions: a) restriction of food provisions resulting in death by starvation, b) restriction of water resulting in death by dehydration or c) restriction of communication / transportation between neighboring cities and their fresh troops. Sieges, though a much longer and more painful method of victory, could be brutally effective. Just cut off all entrances going in and all exits going out of the city. Cut off water supplies and access to outside food-sources. Aggressively patrol all routes that could provide replenishment of supplies or troops. Cut off all resources; overcome through isolating the enemy.
Sound familiar? It might, if you have ever experienced a spiritual siege.
To properly set the backdrop for discussion, let me reference a few Biblical symbols (though certainly not an all-encompassed list in regards to examples): We, the people, are compared to walled cities (Proverbs 18:19). Bread, our provision for hunger, is compared to the Word of God, also to Jesus Himself (John 6:33-35,48-51, Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4, Amos 8:11). Living water, our provision for thirst, is compared to the Spirit (John 4:13-14, John 7:38-39).
I have said it many times through the years that one of the most effective tactics of the enemy is isolating people from the things of God and from the people of God. If Satan can isolate you, it’s just one-on-one combat with him, a battle he will always eventually win. No isolated Christian can overcome and conquer the enemy. With many Christians, the siege rages on.
Let me give you a few observations regarding a spiritual siege.
Satan will attempt to cut you off from the bread of provision. He will do everything to distract you from receiving the Word of God. Bible reading and study? That takes way too much time and concentration, he would say. Listen to the preaching of the Word of God? Surely not! The preacher preaches too loud, or too soft. He wears ugly ties, he has annoying preaching habits. You’ve already heard that sermon text before. Sometimes the enemy will even present you with new excuses to keep you from the Word of God. Different times, different places, different people, different excuses but always the same tactic. To cut you off from the Word of God, a spiritual provision needed to help satisfy a spiritual hunger.
Satan will attempt to cut you off from the living water of provision, from workings of the Spirit. Find time to pray and purposely submit the carnal flesh to the Spirit of God? Most certainly not! You’ve put in long working hours and you could use that time elsewhere. Wake up early to pray? That’s a near impossible task with kids that need to get to school or a work-schedule that just won’t relent. And besides, prayer can be so stodgy and old-school. What could you talk to God about that He doesn’t already know? Besides, the last time you prayed you didn’t feel any goose-bumps or chills; was God even there that day? I can’t believe the preacher is pushing you to go further in worship again. You can do your “usual” worship thing and still be perfectly fine. Besides, this week has been crazy and you deserve to coast a little. To charge the batteries a little. Unfortunately, if the enemy can cut off your access to prayer and worship, your spiritual man will begin to quickly wither from dehydration.
Satan will attempt to cut you off from the people of God. Murphy’s Law, in it’s purest form, may very well be an occasional, physical manifestation of a spiritual opposition. Crazy things that never happen, will happen when you’re about ready to go to the house of the Lord. A flat tire. A phone call from a long-lost friend. A longer-than-usual work-day. A killer headache that just won’t give up. Running out of lunch-meat for the kid’s lunches tomorrow. Plus a million other possibilities that might do the trick.
Ohhh, and fellowshipping with so-n-so. Forget that! The last time you fellowshipped with them they rambled on and on about the troubles of their life. He’s an Tennesee Vols fan. Acccccck. She always wears last years’ styles. How drab. 9:45am Sunday School morning class?!? Tuesday night church prayer meeting? Thursday morning ladies prayer meeting? Friday night youth? You could be at church every day of the week if pastor had his way. Just because God doesn’t have to sleep, doesn’t mean that you don’t have to. God certainly doesn’t get any glory from you always being worn out, you deserve the right to sit down and catch your breath. Wouldn’t it be so much better to just pick a church service or two, show your face for an hour or so then get back to your normal everyday routine? Suggestions all whispered with a devious smile on his face.
Perhaps some of my devil’s advocate commentary hit home. Maybe not. But regardless, it gives us a possible example of how the enemy tries to lay siege to our lives as Christians. He’s subtle. He’s clever. If tempting you with committing big-time sins like robbery, murder, adultery, etc won’t work, then he might tempt you just to “not do” what you know would be excellent, Godly things. If he gets you to stop getting in the Word, the siege wins. If he gets you to stop listening to the preaching / teaching of the Word, the siege wins. If he gets you to stop praying, the siege wins. If he gets you to stop worshipping, the siege wins. If he drives a wedge of division between you and your brethren, the siege wins. Stop participating in the things of the Kingdom, the siege wins. The list goes on and on. The finer details of what the siege specifically attacks isn’t as important as what the siege seeks to accomplish: isolation.
The enemy never has to worry about ten thousand being put to flight (Duet 32:30, Eccl 4:9-12) if he’s always successful at isolating you in one-on-one battles. Isolation always results in the diminishment of spiritual strength. Victory through attrition can only be accomplished by your continued weakness. Can you rely on the strength of the Lord if you are always isolated from prayer, the Word and worship? Can you benefit from the spiritual strength and encouragement of your brethren if you have become isolated from regular corporate worship and fellowship? The only strength a spiritual siege has, comes from isolating you. Notice the Latin origin means “to sit” The siege’s effectiveness lies in breaking your will to act, essentially causing you to “sit down” because of discouragement / depression / bitterness / etc. The spiritual siege holds no power within itself once the isolation is broken.
So want to know how to overcome a spiritual siege? Quite simple. Break the barricades. Break the isolation. Be reunited with prayer. Be reunited with the Word. Be reunited with worship. Be reunited with God. Be reunited with the people of God.
Break the isolation. Break the siege. Break the enemy.
Gain victory. Through Christ. Today. Now.
