The Real Enemy
We are in a war for our lives and more so our souls. What’s going on in the nations and the world today is an all out assault on mankind and the freedom of truth which God ordained for His children. No matter what it looks like our God is in control and He is still our hope and strength. The victory already belongs to the army of God. Lies and a false narratives are devices the enemy has used and will continue to use. If nothing else he hopes to sow confusion in our minds. Which can lead to illusions and ultimately delusions.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. II Timothy 2:3
For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? I John 5:4,5
Believe In His Love The word ‘believe’ in the verse above is an action verb. It’s not only to do with head belief. It’s a heart knowing that moves a person to act on what they truly believe. We are motivated by truth through faith. If we know we’re born of God then we know our Father is for us-not against us. No matter how the enemy attempts to slander Him.
Doubt
In the beginning, the serpent brought doubt to Adam and Eve by accusing God of not having their best interest at heart. The devil convinced them they were more wise than their Creator. Just like them we often question the goodness of God. And we don’t have to go through all the trials Job went through before we start believing the enemy’s lies.
Job’s patience is well known among Christian circles but we often ignore the fact that over time, as his troubles seemed unending, Job began to doubt the character of God. In chapter 33 Job says he has done no transgression, yet in the next verse he declares that God is his enemy! So you see how a little weariness combined with doubt can bring about confusion and skew your perspective quickly.
Pride
When we entertain doubt of ‘who’ God truly is then fear will drag us down into the pit of self-pity and despair. We’ll consider Him as our real enemy and then believe He is not good or just. Like Job we’ll begin to complain and blame God for every troubling circumstance in our lives. Most likely we’ll see ourselves as innocent and become self-righteous.
Job 34
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
9 For he hath said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10 Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
Yes, God allows trials in our lives but His Word promises us “all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose”. (Romans 8:28) As children of God we need to trust ‘if he brought us to it then He will bring us through it’. We will come out victorious because we put our confidence in Him and His Word. The Word tells us that we will have many afflictions or troubles but God will deliver us out of them all.
It is unreasonable to strive with a God of infinite wisdom, power, and goodness. He acts with perfect justice, wisdom, and goodness, beyond what we can perceive. God speaks to us by conscience, by circumstances, by others, and by the Word of God. When He directs us by the dictates of our own consciences, he opens the heart, so that conviction finds its way in. The purpose of these admonitions are to keep us from sin, particularly pride.
Truth If we’re going to defeat the enemy, first we must know who he is. More so- who our God is. John 8:44 speaks of the original liar and murderer-the same one who accused God of holding back good things from Adam and Eve. He’s the same one who accused Job of only loving and serving God because of all the things he possessed. And the same wicked one that whispered in Judas’s ear, telling him to betray Jesus. And yet, the devil didn’t know his own plot would be his eventual demise.
The Enemy Is Already A Defeated Foe
8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. I John 3
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12
Let's always remember who the real enemy is-Satan the father of lies! He is the accuser of the brethren. And the slanderer of our Holy & Good Father God.
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