The Enemy's Fire
Joy Haney

Burned
•	From the beginning of time, people have been burned and devastated because of disappointing and marred relationships. 
•	Biblical figures who were burned include Joseph, whose brothers rejected him; as well as David who was hated and persecuted by Saul. 
•	Judas burnt Jesus by betrayal. 
•	Steven tried to help people, but they did not understand him. 

Job
•	Job was burnt by Satan. 
•	He was a very wealthy man in Bible days who lived in the land of Uz. 
•	He and was considered to be the greatest man of the East.
•	He became involved in a contest that developed between God and Satan. 
•	All his riches did not keep Satan from trying to destroy him. 
•	God was meeting with the sons of God and Satan came also among them. 
•	"And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth?" (Job 1:7-8).

Satan’s Agenda
•	John 10:10 says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." 
•	Satan, who is the enemy of mankind, always comes to destroy. 
•	Every chance he can get he will try to break up marriages, bring depression, and cause rebellion in children. 
•	He only wants to kill, steal, and destroy. 
•	His fire always burns, demolishes, and consumes.
•	That is the business of the enemy and his helpers. 

The Enemy’s Fire
•	Fire has been a destructive force down through the ages. 
•	Thousands of acres of trees have been destroyed because of it. 
•	Homes, cities, automobiles, and countless lives are blackened and done away with because of fire. 
•	Blazing infernos caused by war bombs have destroyed the peace of nations, leaving in their aftermath ruin and rage.
•	The enemy's fire is no respecter of persons. 
•	It rains on the just and the unjust. 
•	It comes unwelcomed and uninvited. 
•	Sometimes it comes when it is least expected. 
•	It is not on your schedule. 
•	You did not invite it. 
•	You may not have even been aware it was on its way. 

Underserved Burns
•	The very people with whom you are involved can at some point turn on you.
•	This happened to Joseph in his association with his brothers. 
•	He did them no wrong, just excited jealousy in them, until they turned on him and tried to destroy him.
•	Life sometimes will extend to you a hurtful experience. 
•	Many times it becomes too big for you to handle.

The Power of Christ
•	When the fire comes, determine in your heart that you are not going to let it destroy you. 
•	You will fight and win because you are not alone. 
•	"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Rev. 1:18). 
•	Remember when you get burnt this is the kind of power you have on your side.

The above article, “The Enemy’s Fire” was written by Joy Haney. The article was excerpted from chapter one in Haney’s book, How to Forgive When It’s Hard to Forget.

The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.