Engaging the Enemy

It is always wonderful when we can tell you of great blessings and victories. In our experiences here in Cambodia, we have had plenty of blessings. But life here on this revolving globe is a spiritual battle, and there are casualties. I learned today of the spiritual downfall of one of our Bible College students. He is a kid about whom you would never expect to hear such bad news. He has left the fellowship of our church, is drinking heavily, and has moved in with a young woman who is divorced and has children of her own. Please pray for Vannak. We are praying that he'll repent.

One of our orphans, the oldest, has left our care and responsibility. We did all we could to help him, but in the end, he was not willing to follow the rules. He was endangering himself and the other children. He is already in "the far country" and drinking, gambling, and involved in a gang. Pray for Sina. He is 15 years old.

Today's service at the church was simply a continuation of this ongoing spiritual battle. I was preaching on the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. It was as if the powers of darkness moved into the room as I tried to preach. While preaching about how the Holy Spirit's work is to bring conviction of sin, it seemed as though the demons showed up at the church. Unsaved visitors began to talk loudly and chatter. An evil atmosphere descended upon the room. I was able to pray and preach my way through the episode in spite of the spiritual opposition, by the grace of God.

A great old camp meeting phrase is "shoutin' time." It means "a time of rejoicing." We have our "shoutin' times" but we want to let you know about the time in the trenches as well. There isn't much "shoutin' time" in the trenches of spiritual warfare. The Bible tells us to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." This we will do, by God's grace, and with your prayers.