Understand the enemy

 

Ephesians 6:11-14

When we entered World War 11, one of the goals of the leaders of our military was to understand the enemy.  We had two major adversaries, Germany and Japan, both of them wanted to conquer us, both had been preparing for this war for years, and Japan had hurt us with a sneak attack on our fleet at Pearl Harbor.  Both, our military leaders, and our intelligence group were scrambling for any and all information on our enemies; it was imperative that we understood both their strength and weaknesses.

I’ve agreed for many years with my dear friend Ken Ryan that as Christian soldiers we are either ignorant of God’s word or we just do not believe what He has said.  In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world. (Or, do we?) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  How many Christians outside of the four walls of the building we call a church, never engage this thought; today the enemy of my soul, my heart, and mind has a plan to steal from me, to kill me or my family if he can and to destroy all that I love. 

Or do we wage war as the world?  I must confess it is easy to forget who’s we are and believe the battle is with the democrat’s or the republicans, with your neighbor or with your wife, but that is not what God’s word says.  Beginning in Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” 

Have we got so apathetic, so ignorant that we believe the battle is going to be won by our might?  A day does not pass that I’m not bombarded with emails that tell me I need to engage the enemy, and who is the enemy, our congress, our president, the President handlers, but is that in keeping with who God calls our enemy?  I am in no way saying these people are not under the enemy’s control.

Many of my dearest brothers, and sisters, in Christ, and I are guilt of waging war as those who have no hope that should break our hearts, it has mine.  The Holy Spirit has convicted me of hiding my light, of acting and looking like the world.  What if we took every thought captive as our Father in heaven has ordered, would we send out emails that slander those who God has placed over us?  So I’m not totally misunderstood, I am not saying that we should not be engaged in the political battle, I am saying before you act on any email, talk to Jesus and see if it would bring glory to His kingdom. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Our enemy is the devil, and the apostle James shares this insight; “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)  The apostle Peter has this to say on that subject, “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Have you wondered what life would look like from heavens view, I live in the USA and often believe that it is my home, but once more that is not in keeping with the Word of God, the Bible states that we are strangers and aliens on planet earth, we are just passing through, our citizenship is in heaven.  If only we would believe who’s we are, and that He is mighty to save.  I also keep wondering has God’s judgment come on the United States, we told Him to stay out of our schools, our government, and many who go by the name Christian live as if God was dead.  Are we reaping what we have sown?

From the Back Porch

Bob Rice