Understanding Your Enemy
1 John 4:4 (VOICE) My children, you have come from God and have conquered these spirits because the One who lives within you is greater than the one in this world.
Understanding your enemy is a key to being victorious. When our military goes into war, they would be foolish if they had not studied their enemy. We have soldiers that learn their enemy's language, study their behaviors, know the history of their culture and more so they can know who they are fighting against. If you have ever seen a war movie, you know the battles are not won by chance. It's due to a relentless pursuit of victory over their target, no matter what it takes. If you've played sports, you also know that understanding the position of the players will give you an advantage.
When I was in junior high I played soccer for the first time. Prior to this, I didn't have much structure in teamwork. One thing against me was, I did not understand my position. I did not know what area of the field I was supposed to be covering. All I knew was I wanted to win and to win, I needed to kick the ball in the opposing teams net. So my purpose that first game was scoring points! I was fast, aggressive, and fearless of the other team. I had it all figured out, so I thought! What I ended up doing was running up and down the entire soccer field, chasing this ball all by myself. It was the middle of summer and St. Louis heat was at its best. I exhausted my body, rather than scoring any points for my team. As the season went on, I learned more about my position and how beneficial it is to work alongside my teammates, instead of trying to win the game alone, against players with years of experience. The other players had mastered many more skills than just running and kicking - I had a lot of room for growth! Praise God, it was just a soccer game and not a combat course.
As I get older these few things are important factors in life: understanding your enemy, knowing your position and working as a team. You must know who you are up against, know your position and understand how to work with others. God has given us authority, rules and guidelines to follow for the purpose of keeping things in order and maintaining our peace. We have authority OVER the enemy! We are children of the Most High God! We are to work together as one body in Christ! When we come together in the body of Christ, we are uniting under the name above all names, Jesus Christ. He is our healer, comforter, our peace, our provider and so much more! Do you have the passion to pursue Him with everything you've got!? Are you allowing Him to be your everything? Or are you looking at flawed humans to meet your needs? I promise you, only He can be your everything. No matter what you are facing today, know that you have an enemy that wants to distract you from your victory. Remind the enemy who you are in Christ and come together with other believers to stand alongside you and pray through to the victory!
2 Corinthians 10:4 (AMP) The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
John 10:10 (AMP) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
1 Corinthians 1:10 (VOICE) My brothers and sisters, I urge you by the name of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed, to come together in agreement. Do not allow anything or anyone to create division among you. Instead, be restored, completely fastened together with one mind and shared judgement.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NLT) Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Colossians 2:9-10 (NLT) For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
1 Peter 2:9 (AMP) But you are a CHOSEN RACE, a royal PRIESTHOOD, a CONSECRATED NATION, a [special] PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
