Satan's Onslaught Against My Father

Before I go any further, I ask everyone to remember my sister-in-law, Debbie Ballard in prayer. Debbie has had pain in her chest and a very high blood pressure since Sunday. Tonight, her doctor decided to put her in the hospital in Marion, Indiana, and run a stress test on her tomorrow (Wednesday).
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My father was one of the healthiest men you would ever meet. I cannot remember dad being sick while growing up. He fell off a truck at Kroger one time in his 30's and hurt his back pretty bad. But even then, God healed him and he fully recovered. But at around 54 years old everything changed.

Looking back now on all that dad went through over the last fourteen years, I can see the fingerprints of the enemy. Ephesians 6:12 states, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." I absolutely believe that Satan targets God's people that are fruitful in the kingdom of God. I believe that there are modern day Jobs that God allows Satan to try and test in order that He (God)may be glorified through man's good works.

Dad's illnesses were more than just a man growing older. Dad within a fourteen year period had one physical problem after another. It started with being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease followed by Diabetes. Then, a few years later the Doctors found cancer in one of dad's kidneys. After the surgery, I can remember the Surgeon telling us that dad's tumor in his kidney was the size of a football. So he had to remove the entire kidney. At around sixty years of age, dad had a heart attack while living in Terre Haute. They put to stints in dad's heart. Afterwards, dad really worked hard watching what he ate and exercising often. But a few years later, the Parkinson disease began to slow him down physically and mentally. Finally, over the last 18 months, my father had an infection throughout his body that contributed greatly to his death.

Dad's life was a fruitful one, even the years when he was sick. He multiplied himself many times over as he led people to Christ, discipled people, pastored and planted churches. Dad planted churches and sent people out into the ministry that planted churches. When a church is planted it is like planting a tree that bears fruit season after season. Satan hates and detests people like dad who are fruitful and multiplies many times over what God gives them. He will attack them and try them with regularity in order to cause them to become discouraged and to work less for God.

As it was said many times during my father's funeral service last week, he never complained through the fourteen years of sickness. He never felt sorry for himself. He never asked "Why." As the scripture says, "Endure hardness as a soldier," and dad did that understanding that his battle was not against "flesh and blood" but demonic powers that could not be seen with natural eyes. Through it all, Dad "...fought a good fight...finished [his] course...[and] kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). He was a overcomer through Christ Jesus.

Some of you that are reading this blog today need to hear a word from the Lord. He is saying to you "Don't give up! Keep fighting! Keep battling!" As you do this your life is producing fruit. Just because you may not be able to see it or feel it doesn't mean it's not happening. Yes, Satan is attacking you and you may be getting discouraged. But keep going to church. Keep giving. Keep teaching. Keep praying and keep sharing Christ. Remember, your enemy is not flesh and blood and remember you are an overcomer because "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4).