There is no doubt about the fact that every person on earth has one or more enemies. It is also the desire of everybody to find ways to triumph over their enemies. As Christians, how do we go about engaging our enemies? Let us first consider the account in 1 Corinthians 6:19. “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” When the spirit of God dwells in us, we will profess His nature and therefore be unable to commit sin, behave abnormally, or hurt our fellow humans. This is because; it is the spirit that controls the physical. See Matthew 4:1.
The first step anyone should to take towards triumphing over his or her enemies is to correctly identify them. Unfortunately, more than 2,000 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven, most Christians still do not know who their real enemies are. This is the reason for God’s lamentation in Hosea 4:6. It accounts for why many Christians have lost their battles against their common enemy- Satan and its numerous agents. According to Ephesians , “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Our real enemies are not human beings but principalities and powers. Whenever we defile our bodies, the spirit of God leaves us. It is at this point that principalities and powers take over the control of our minds. Let us reflect on Matthew 12:43-45.
Man was created in the image and likeness of God. All cases of sin, sickness, poverty, disappointment, and anti-social behaviours such as quarrelling, fighting, stealing, drunkenness, anger, hate, jealousy, and lying are all influenced by diverse evil spirits residing inside of the persons concerned. We have had several opportunities to witness the manifestations of spiritual wives and husbands in people. Let us also consider the following scriptures to get a deeper understanding of the workings of principalities and powers in the lives of humans. Luke 13:11-13, John 3:8-10, Mark -26, Mark , Acts , Matthew 16:8, Matthew 8:31-32, Matthew 12:22, Matthew 12:43, Matthew 15:22, and Matthew 17:18.
It is also important to understand that spiritual battles are not fought with hands, guns, or bombs. See 1 Samuel and Zechariah 4:6. Even the physical battles we fight are programmed in the spirit realm. In all our battles, we should rely on the assurances of God as recorded in 2 Chronicle 20:15, Nehemiah 4:20, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 20:1-4, Psalms 60:12, and Psalms 118:6-7. God was very direct in Exodus 14:13-14: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Owing to either lack of faith and feeling of guilt, most Christians have refused to hold their peace in the presence of their enemies. They panic at the slightest attack and call their Pastors.
In relying on God for our defense, He has given some conditions. We should consider the record of Job 2:3. “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.” It is recorded in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” It is clear that God does not fight for those who are outside His canopy. Ephesians has a guide on how one can come under the canopy of God. “Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Verses 13-18 of Ephesians 6 states that, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
Finally, we do not need to fear our enemies- spiritual or physical. Since God has no respect for Satan and its agents, He ignores them to bless us even in their presence, as was the case of King David, which is recorded in Psalms 23:5-6. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Remember, the Psalmist promised to dwell in the house of God (to be under His canopy) not for one month or twenty years. He said “Forever.”
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