I have tried to explain American football to people from another country, and it isn't easy. Imagine a man trying to explain football to his friend who's never seen it played. This friend says, "I'd really like to play football. Tell me about it." "Okay. There's this leather ball, and there's this 100-yard field with white marks. And basically, all you have to do is run from one end to the other with the ball." A month later the foreign friend comes limping up with his arm in a cast, his body covered with bruises and bandages. And then comes the obvious question, "What happened?" And this poor would-be football player says, "You told me about the ball. You told me about the field, but there's one thing you forgot to tell me. You didn't tell me about these eleven human gorillas who would be trying to stop me!"

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You about "When You Charge, They Charge!"

Now in our word for today from the Word of God, that's what God is trying to show us about the spiritual battle we're in. 1 Corinthians 16:9 - Paul says, "A great door to effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me." In the words of the King James Version, "there are many adversaries."

Now, that happens to be a law of the Kingdom of God - spiritual opportunity is always accompanied by opposition. A great door and many adversaries always seem to go together. Now that's important for you to remember because it may explains some of the stormy times you're going through right now. If God is starting to use you, the devil is starting to fight you. The powerful preacher Charles Spurgeon said, "The surest sign of God's will and God's power is the devil's growl."

Maybe you've been taking some serious hits lately, and you're asking, "What's wrong?" The answer might be, "Nothing's wrong. Something's very right. That's why your enemy is trying to slow you down or discourage you or distract you." You could be asking, "Why now, when there is this open door?" And God might be answering, "Because there is this open door!"

Satan knows that it's going to be hard to stop you once God's plans really start to unfold. So he'd better derail you while you're standing right at the threshold of this open door. Now, being the subtle deceiver that he is, the devil often attacks you in an area that doesn't seem directly connected to God's work - your health, your car, your family, your finances. But remember, in your life, as in Job's, the devil cannot attack you without seeking the permission of your Heavenly Father who knows what you can bear.

The devil does not give up ground easily. One writer perceptively observed, "You cannot attack the strongholds of hell on Monday and then decide on Tuesday you do not want to fight. If you challenge Satan in conflict, he will more vigorously set himself against you. If you decide to fight, you must be prepared to fight."* Yes your enemy will resist you, but because of Jesus' cross, he is a defeated enemy.

So as God starts to open doors and give opportunities, pray for the protection available in Jesus' Name - for you, for those you love. Pray against discouragement. Remember that serving the Lord is much like football. As soon as you start gaining ground spiritually, the other side starts to come after you. When you charge, they charge. That's something to be aware of, not afraid of.

Just keep running toward that open door. You have the Son of God blocking for you!

* (Francis Frangipane, "Servant Life," July/Aug. '96)