We will talk specifically about child labour. As we said in the introduction, the enemy knows the importance of our work among children. He knows the potential of a young life saved. Those involved in working among children are therefore particularly in his sights.

External and internal fighting

There are the struggles we have to wage outside the people of God, when we have to face the opposition of the unbelievers. It is in prayer and with faith that these victories are achieved.
But we can also encounter opposition within God’s people. They manifest themselves in conflicts:

– with parents and children (disruptive children, careless parents…)
– with other monitors (lack of mutual love, patience, generational conflict…)
– with managers (lack of consideration, investment …)

We may finally have to fight in our personal and family sphere.

The enemy’s strategy

The enemy has a strategy described in the Word of God: “Your adversary, the devil, prowls like a roaring lion, searching for whom he will devour.” (1 Peter 5.8). He is on the lookout, waiting for the right moment: “The devil walked away from him until a favorable moment.” (Luke 4.13), in order to find an access in our hearts, if we do not watch.

How does he do it?

1) It infuses us with thoughts: discouragement, feelings of inferiority or worthlessness, resentment, oppressions, fears …

2) It seeks to seduce us by the search for popularity, success, a dishonest gain, concealment … “Peter said to him, Ananias, why did Satan fill your heart to the point that you are lying to the Holy Ghost, and you have withheld part of the price of the field?” (Acts 5: 3).

3) It harasses us with personal problems: family, children, health, work, money … We are not talking about possession by demonic spirits. Jesus and the apostles drove out the demons of people who came to them to be healed or to listen to the gospel. “Then, having called his twelve disciples, he gave them the power to drive out the unclean spirits, and to heal all sickness and infirmity.” (Matthew 10.1).

There is no example of a possessed Christian in the Word of God. Believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that is in you, that you have received from God …?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

But a Christian can be harassed: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked you, to sift you down like wheat. But I prayed for you, so that your faith would not fail.” (Luke 22.31-32)

A Christian can give access to the enemy: “If you get angry, do not sin; that the sun does not set on your wrath, and do not give access to the devil.” (Ephesians 4.26-27); “As soon as the piece was given, Satan entered Judas.” (John 13.27).4)

4) He resists us. When one teaches the Word of God, one may feel resistance, opposition; the audience seems airtight, closed.

Our strategy

1) With regard to conflicts within god’s people, they are often mentioned in the Bible. Entire chapters deal with the reasons for these conflicts and instruct us on how we should respond according to the Lord. “Now, the works of the flesh are manifest, they are …enmities, quarrels, jealousies, animosities, disputes, divisions, sects…” (Galates 5.20). “Having purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to have a sincere fraternal love, love each other ardently with all your heart…” (1 Peter 1:22). Let us examine our hearts,our motivations, pray, praise and unload on the Lord.

2) Let us accept the discipline of our Lord. A disciple who does not follow his Master in obedience and submission will not achieve much in his work. He’ll do damage and hurt others. Let’s take a step back and consider God’s family. It is important to see beyond our small rivalries with each other. It is essential, vital, to maintain a climate of peace and love in the church. The resentments have moved so quickly! They sadden the Holy Spirit, prevent the fulfillment of our prayers and play the opponent’s game.

3) Let’s take care of each other. People are more important than programs and projects. One can always pray that the Lord will act mightily; however, if we do not obey him and submit to each other in love, the Holy Spirit is limited in his action. The spirit of judgment, rivalry, criticism and bad feelings towards others sadden the Holy Spirit.

4) Let’s be flexible in our relationships with others. We cannot impose our way of thinking about others, however good it may be to us. However, we must not give up when our fight is right; we must do everything we can to ensure that children are not left behind by the church (she will have to report to God for the children he has entrusted to her), so that a good understanding is established with the parents, so that a climate of collaboration exists between the monitors, all in love and respect, with patience (knowing how to wait) and in a spirit of peace.

5) Let us rely on the Word of God,feed our thoughts and certainties, in order to be able to resist as Jesus did when he was attacked: “The tempter, having approached him, said to him: If you are the Son of God, order that these stones become loaves. Jesus answered: It is written: Man will live not only on bread, but on every word that comes out of God’s mouth.” (Matthew 4.3)

6) Let us not listen to the enemy,let us not be persuaded by his seductive speeches. We can be easy prey for him if we struggle with our reasoning alone. It will play with our feelings, our impressions, it can lead us into a logic that will seem to stand from a human point of view, but which will have no biblical basis.

7) Let’s work in the way of God. How important it is to remain in Jesus when he is served, to listen to his instructions, to be subject to the directions of the Holy Spirit! We work in a spiritual field, even if it involves social, human, practical, playful. If we want a spiritual result, we must use:

– spiritual means, which we find in our communion with Jesus: “Stay in me, and I will remain in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit on its own, if it does not remain attached to the cep, so you cannot, if you do not remain in me. I’m the cep, you’re the branches. He who remains in me and in whom I live bears a great deal of fruit, for without me you can do nothing.”(John 15.4-5)

– and spiritual weapons, those of God: “Shut up with all the weapons of God,so that you can stand firm against the devil’s wiles…” (Ephesians 6:11-18)

Conclusion

In conclusion, what is victory? It is not to suffer, but to be active in the way of God:
– fight the good fight (don’t get the fight wrong)
– complete the race (persevere and finish)
– keep the faith

“I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.”
(2 Timothy 4.1-18)

If we fight according to God’s rules, victory is absolutely certain!

Some key verses

Read these verses by observing the context in which they were written:
– 1 Stone 5.1-9
– James 4.1-7
– Ephesians 6.1-13
– 2 Timothy 4.1-18