Know Your Enemy

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against a spiritual wickedness in high places.

During this season, there has been so much going on around us. In times like these, it is easy to become distracted. However, we have to be very intentional about focusing on the things of God. Satan’s greatest tactic is to keep us distracted. If he can get us enthralled in what is going on in front of us, then he can gain ground in the spiritual realm against us. 

Many of us have been captivated by all of the turmoil happening in the world. We must remember that we are spiritual beings who are having a natural experience. We are in this world but not of this world. Our spiritual well-being determines our eternity. Therefore, we have to be careful not to lose sight of what is most important. The most important thing is that we must prepare to see the King. We cannot afford to spend our time and energy on carnal matters. In 2 Corinthians 4-6, we are told that our weapons are not carnal. We can’t fight spiritual battles with fleshly weapons. We can’t use our physical strength or words to fight an unseen enemy. We are not each other’s enemy. We all have the same adversary and his goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. When we allow him to engage us in fleshly battles, we give him the green light to do just that: steal, kill, and destroy. How does he do that? When our eyes are fixed on each other, then he can sneak in and do his work. When we use our words to argue or verbally attack one another, we are wasting the opportunity to speak life and the word of God over each other. If I am fighting with you, I can’t be praying for you. He knows that there is power in our tongues and that we have been given the authority to speak over all things. In warfare, armed forces create diversions. This allows them to advance onto the territory of their adversary. In the same manner, Satan advances on us. 

Every time I think about the fact that many are oblivious to the concept of spiritual warfare, it is very unsettling. There is a whole battle that is occurring in the spiritual realm. There are forces of darkness actively working and orchestrating the schemes of the enemy against us. Yes, these forces are playing puppet master and working behind the scenes to take us out. We are not each others’ enemies.  Due to us not being able to naturally see these forces, we tend to see each other as the executors of sinful acts and wrongdoing. However, there is a spirit behind every action. We have to train our spiritual eyes to see this way. We have to learn the word of God and hide it in our hearts, so we will not sin against God and one another. We are soldiers in the Army of the Lord. How can we be soldiers if we don’t know what or who we are fighting? How can we know the tactics of our opponent if we aren’t aware of his existence? How can we prepare if we don’t study the battle plan the Lord has laid out for us in His word? How can we be victorious if we aren’t aware of the weapons our God has provided?

There is only one enemy and his name is Satan; not Mary, John, Jill, Kelly, Joe, Donald but Satan. My friends, we CANNOT win spiritual battles in our flesh. Satan is a spirit and the only way we can defeat him is in the Spirit. 

Know your Enemy! Win the Battle!

Let us pray: 

Dear Father,  We thank you that we have an advocate in you. We thank you that you are the one who causes us to triumph. Lord, help us to know that we all belong to you which makes us all your children. Teach us that we are mighty in you for the pulling down of strongholds and destroying the traps the enemy may set in our lives. Help us to keep our eyes and minds fixed on your principles. Help us to remember in times of disagreement that you created us to walk in unity and that we are not each other’s enemy. Give us the wisdom to recognize the ploys of the enemy and how to walk in the Spirit, so we may have the victory that comes from only you. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.