“Do you know that guy over there?” It was a typical hot, muggy day in Vietnam and my twin brother Roger was walking through the village with his PF (Popular Forces) “honcho” (platoon leader). Visibility to the local population in the Pacification Program was a priority.

As they walked through the village, they observed a Vietnamese male wearing a long coat and trying to appear inconspicuous. His counterpart indicated he was not familiar with him, so they turned and proceeded in his direction. Seeing them approaching, the man whirled to face them while at the same time attempting to raise the AK-47 he had concealed under his coat. Fortunately for Roger, his muzzle caught on the hem of the coat, slowing his effort to raise his weapon and fire. Roger raised his weapon and fired point-blank, eliminating the threat.

They subsequently learned this individual had been sent to “assassinate” them because their combined action unit (Marines and local militia) was seriously impacting the ability of the Viet Cong to openly operate in the TAOR (Tactical Area of Responsibility). This was not a typical operation for the Viet Cong. They attributed it to the fact that reconnaissance units had observed a Caucasian collaborating with enemy units in their area.

We all like to be noticed, hopefully for doing good. This was a case where the enemy recognized that Roger’s leadership was impacting them in a negative way. As I reflected on that memory, it reminded me of a story in Scripture. In the Book of Acts, we see Paul arriving in Ephesus and for a period of two years he wrought a powerful ministry of miracles and conversions. Then some Jewish leaders sought to tap into that movement.

“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize [know, KJV], but who are you?’ And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (Acts 19:13-16, ESV).

Scripture makes it clear that the demons knew who Jesus was. We see a number of instances where they acknowledge who He was. On one occasion, He came off of a ship only to be confronted by a demon-possessed man. “And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me’” (Mark 5:6-7, ESV). The fact that the demons knew Jesus was a given. He was the Son of God, and that’s a big deal. But in our passage the demon said he “recognized” (or knew) who Paul was. Why? Because Paul was making inroads into the kingdom of darkness.

After the sons of Sceva got whooped, the Ephesian believers built a bonfire to destroy the books and items that allowed demonic influences into their lives.

So, the question I ask myself is this. Do the demons know who I am? Am I involved in a ministry that is taking ground from the enemy? There are two possibilities here. One, the demons know my name, and hopefully the prince of darkness does as well. The other would be to hear the Lord say, “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). As Men of Valor, we should be pressing in on that first option. We have multiple promises of victory. No weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).

And how do we overcome? “And they have conquered him (the accuser of the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Revelation 12:11, ESV).

I want to love King Jesus so deeply that I have no fear of the enemy. He has no power over me until I am finished with what I’ve been called to do (see Revelation 11:1-7). I want to be on the devil’s top 10 “Most Wanted” list.

What say ye, Man of Valor?