The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
Christians are facing increased persecution and attempts are being made to silence us. It is important to know how to have victory against the attacks being made by atheists and the gay community. We can no longer be silent and passive. Psalm 35:19-20 says, “Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Neither let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously. For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.” The enemy will win when we are quiet and do nothing.
1. Know the enemy.
The enemy is those who hate us without cause(Psalm 35:20), who hate us wrongfully, repay evil for good, and oppose us because we follow what is good (Psalm 38:19-20). They are the rulers, powers, and world forces of darkness and wickedness in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). The devil also is our enemy. He “prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
2. Be alert to the schemes of the devil.
Luke 21:34 tells us to not be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, or the worries of life. To be alert a good soldier must not entangle himself in the affairs of life, but do the will of God (II Timothy 2:3-4). I Peter 5:8 and Ephesians 6:11 say to be alert to the ploys of Satan.
3. Put on the full armor of God.
This is listed in Ephesians 6:10-18:
Gird your loins with truth. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Wear the shield of faith. Use your helmet of salvation. Carry the sword of the Spirit, the word of God in your heart. Exercise the three P’s: Prayer, Petition, and Perseverance.
4. Stand.
“Stand firm in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
“Stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
“Stand firm in the faith” (I Corinthians 16:13).
5. If we get persecuted and are brought before kings and governors in the name of Jesus, follow the teaching of Luke 21:12-15.
“Make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.”
6. Let the joy of the Lord be our strength and shield. (Psalm 28:17)
We must not be “quiet in the land” any longer. It is time to make some noise! It is time to dump prosperity theology and feel-good preaching, and stand together against the enemy. We must rally around the Christians in the Middle East who have been run out of their homes by ISIS, the families of those who have been beheaded, and the ones in prison like Pastor Saeed. There needs to be a show of support for those Christians even in America (the “land of the free?”) who have lost jobs and businesses because of their beliefs.
To what extent are you prepared for spiritual battle? What kind of “noise” can you make?
Well, said! Political correctness seeks to hinder our “swords.” We must be willing to lose relationships for the sake of the cross. Americans aren’t accustomed to that.