Do You Know Who the REAL Enemy Is?
We desperately want to be heard and understood. When that doesn’t happen, we scream louder, hoping our voices will be heard. We get into arguments, and sometimes we say things we regret, things that hurt others so deeply, that it’s hard to restore relationships.
This is exactly what’s happening across the U.S.A. these days. But there’s a better way. And there’s a bigger picture.
Healing relationships needs to start with the understanding that the person who offended us or hurt us is not our enemy. It doesn’t matter what atrocities they committed or how vile they are.
Why is it so easy for us to forget that people are not our enemies?
Who Are We Really Fighting Against?
The apostle Paul answers this question very clearly in Ephesians 6:11-12.
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 rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
The devil and all his minions are the enemy. Once we recognize this truth, it sets us free and completely changes how we approach people problems. A paradigm shift happens, which allows us to be united as brothers and sisters in Christ to defeat our real adversary.
I’ll give you a personal example. My husband and I went away for a weekend to visit our daughter in college. We rented a hotel room that turned out to be awful. It smelled like smoke, was run down, and we were mad that the hotel had advertised something it was not. I don’t know if it was the atmosphere of that room, or an argument that we’d had, but I walked out to the car feeling anger towards my husband.
But God, in His still quiet voice, reminded me of what was really going on. “Your husband is not your enemy. The evil one is trying to get between the two of you. Don’t let him. Don’t believe his lies.”
Once you know who the real enemy is,
that truth sets you free
and completely changes the battle.
A paradigm shift happens, which allows you
to be united with brothers and sisters in Christ
to defeat our real adversary.
Immediately things clicked in my brain. I quickly agreed with the voice of God and told the enemy to shut up! Then I turned to my husband and cheerfully said something like, “I love you! Nothing you say will change that. The enemy is trying to put a wedge between us, but I refuse to give him that power. He’s not going to win. We are. I love you!”
He looked at me sort of confused, but then smiled in agreement. That immediately ended the bitter feelings between the two of us. Despite the horrible hotel room, we had a very pleasant weekend because we both understood who the real enemy was. We stopped agreeing with the enemy. We stopped giving the devil power when we recognized the real force that was at work behind the scenes. Seeing that truth and acting on it ended the conflict.
The Enemy’s Real Purpose
We need to understand that the devil’s sole purpose is to destroy anything that comes in his path, especially relationships.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
But Jesus came to change all of that, and through His death and resurrection, the devil no longer has power over us. At my women’s Bible study a few weeks ago, we figured out that Jesus, who rules the earth, is like an apartment landlord; He holds the keys to sin and death. Satan is like the bad renter who trashes the apartment!
Let’s not give the devil power by agreeing with the lies he spews into our minds. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)
The Real War Room
Ephesians 6:12 is what the movie War Room is all about; recognizing that we’re not dealing with battles against people, but against powers, principalities, and spiritual darkness. So, our battle needs to be fought not with harsh words and fists, but with prayer. Our war room needs to be our prayer room, or our prayer journal, or anywhere we choose to pray. Our prayers are the weapons we need to use to defeat the real enemy.
If you haven’t seen it, put it at the top of your movie list. The Kendrick Brothers have elevated their movie making skills and are now producing Hollywood-caliber films. This one will not disappoint, and it’ll beautifully illustrate the point I’m trying to make here.
For Your Quiet Time
1. Have you been angry lately? Is there a person or a group of people who are the target of your anger?
2. Meditate on Ephesians 6:11-12. Ask God to plant this truth deep in your heart.
3. When you are ready, ask God to forgive you for any wrong doing and release your sins/surrender your attitude to Him. Ask Him to show you what it would look like to approach this issue from a Kingdom perspective.
4. Then ask Him for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s living waters to fill the void of all the places that used to hold anger. Or you can ask him an open-ended question and see what you hear: Father God, what would you like to give me in exchange for the ____ that I just surrendered to You? Sit in silence and wait for His reply.
Receive This Blessing
With words from the Apostle Paul, I bless you with the ability to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3) I also pray that the Lord will take you higher and show you an even bigger picture, from His Kingdom perspective, of what’s going on in your life. I pray that when you see this truth, you will be set free.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him,
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him,
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.”
(John 8:31-32)
Internalizing these verses (Ephesians 6:11-12 and John 8:31-32) is the beginning of true healing for relationships, my friend.
Bible Verses For Further Study
To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:20)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (Romans 12:14)
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23:34)
But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27)
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
Photo Credits –
1. Man yelling: Max Sat <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/96092563@N08/48061330426″>Le cri</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a>
2. Woman shielding her face: DiariVeu – laveupv.com N03/30912911791″>gettyimages – violència masclista via photopin (license)
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