THERE ARE MANY ADVERSARIES

"A wide door for effective work has opened for me, and there are many adversaries." (I Corinthians 16:9).

Most of us think when God opens a "wide door" it means the path is clear and we can waltz right through it. No, actually when God opens a wide door it means Satan begins to line up his entire arsenal to block it.

No victory happens without opposition.

Sometimes the adversaries even come in the form of well-meaning friends and family. Sometimes the adversaries come in the form of the demons of negative self-talk who whisper in your ear, "You don't have what it takes." Sometimes the adversaries come in the form of trying circumstances that are strategically placed by Satan himself to trip you up and cause you to doubt. He doesn't want you to win.

But the victory is already yours. It is just as sure as if you were watching a replay. You will find that Satan is on the losing side if you will play the game until the final whistle. Trust God. You aren’t fighting for victory. You are fighting to claim the victory that has already been given. You are going to win the game, but you do have to play it. The devil is going to lose but he isn’t going to forfeit.