Enemies

When I hear the word enemy my mind always thinks of war. For many, the word enemy may bring a specific person to mind they had or are having a conflict with. Sometimes we view people we have never met as the enemy based on ideology or their behavior. Other times our enemy is bold, unapologetic, and in our face. However, the worst-case scenario is not knowing we have an enemy at all.

When we do not know our enemy or perhaps that we even have one, they become all the more dangerous. If I am unaware that someone is out to do me harm, they have a massive advantage simply because I cannot defend or prepare for their attack. This person could pretend to be my friend or fly completely under the radar so I do not even know they exist.

Example

One example would be the CCP. They declared war on us decades ago while we saved them from Japan in WW2 and brought them into the world stage through capitalism. Meanwhile, they have robbed and attacked us with every unconventional means at their disposal and have opposed us both militarily and politically.

They have stolen military secrets, technology, and everything you can think of causing this country great harm. And yet greedy American businesses and our politicians continue to make deals with them as if they are our friends. This more than anything else has enabled the CCP to become a serious threat to us and a world power. Perhaps greed along with stupidity is fueling this, and it is not unreasonable to think that we will pay a severe price in the not-so-distant future.

So we must use common sense and realize that someone pretending to be our friend may not be friendly at all. In this case, they stated as much many times yet people ignored reality in favor of wishful thinking or greed.

Definition of Enemy

enemy – (noun) Merriam Webster

Synonyms: adversary, antagonist, foe, hostile, opponent

Identifying Our Real Enemy

The Bible is very clear about who our spiritual enemy is. It is not a human being, but rather a fallen angel who God created beautiful and powerful.

We are told directly in scripture that as believers, we have a real enemy and are in a spiritual war.

10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:10-12

This is one of those verses many of us have read or heard so many times that it may not wake us up as it should. And just like America has done with her enemies, perhaps we have been doing the same thing spiritually through our habits and sin. While sin is always against God it also serves the god of this age who is our enemy opposing all that God is and stands for. Sin can render us useless as a tool for Christ, hinder others from taking the gospel seriously, and be a stumbling block for other believers, to say nothing of the damaging effect on our life.

This war is for the mind and what people hear and believe. The ideas we hear and learn about that oppose the scripture are intentional attacks on truth and if accepted, ignored, or taken lightly can carry devastating eternal circumstances.

Price Tag

And yes, I speak from plenty of personal experience when it comes to sin and its horrible effects. I would warn any young Christian or those who have not given in to temptations not to go there. Like my old pastor used to say, “Sin keeps you longer than you want to stay, takes you farther than you want to go, and makes you pay a price much higher than you thought you`d have to pay.

And he was right. The best way to beat bad habits is to never start them in the first place. The world says you have to experience all of these vices and sins as though they are a rite of passage. If they are, it is a path to hell and not to anything good. We are to be in and not of the world which means we do not get to do everything our hearts may desire. No, is something we must learn to say to others as well as ourselves.

Exposing our Enemy

Without a doubt, scripture tells us that our enemy is the Devil, Not only is our enemy identified but his methods and intentions are described throughout the Bible to warn and prepare us. If we are to have any success in any war, we need to understand something about who we are up against. The Bible describes Satan who was once called Lucifer and the highest created being God had made.

Some things to consider:

We are not instructed to speak to the Devil or speak foolishly as though we have control and power over him or any other demon.

8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things, they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them!
Jude 8-11

Attributes of the Devil – Know Your Enemy

• He along with all the demons are created beings

• He accuses all followers of Christ. Rev. 12:10, Zac. 3:1

• He is under the Sovereign authority of God

• He is powerful

• Unlike the cartoon character images we see, Lucifer is beautiful and glorious in appearance.

• Satan is Influential – the entire world is under his sway and influence.

• Cunning – He doesn’t play fair and can be extremely sneaky using slight deviations from the truth to get us off course.

• Deceptive – He does not reveal the consequences of his temptations and doctrines, He also hides his true identity and intentions. 2 Cor. 11;14

• Works to Hide, distort, hinder, and remove the word of God and the truth from those who hear it. Matt. 13:19, 2 Cor. 4:4

• Liar – he is a liar and the father of lies, there is no truth in him

• Thief – He steals the word of God planted in an unbeliever’s heart.

• Murderer

• Relentless 

• Tempter

• Wants to be worshipped in Place of God

MORE TO COME…

“And if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

2 Corinthians 43,4

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your fathers desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. “

John 8:42-44

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.”

Matthew 4:1