Overcoming Our Enemies

 

Our greatest enemies are the ones we must fight from within. We battle the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. We have three powerful enemies that wage war against us in our attempt to live the Christian life.

The world is filled with powerful minefields that can sabotage our lives. James writes, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4). We are to beware of this world and to understand that it is not our friend but our enemy.

Our second powerful enemy is ourselves. This refers to the flesh as our sinful nature that is constantly tempting us and pulling us in the wrong direction. We are to beware of our flesh. James explains, “But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” James 1:14-15).

Our third enemy is Satan. He is not omniscient nor omnipresent, and neither is he omnipotent; however, he is certainly powerful enough to trap us if we are not relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter warns, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

The roadblocks that the world, the flesh, and the Devil put in our path are many, but here are some of the most common. Fear, hopelessness, guilt, shame, and regret.

Fear inhibits our lives and impedes our ability to live for God. It ties us up, so we cannot believe we will succeed. When the ten spies gave their reports about the Promised Land, ten of them were overwhelmed with fear. They made the people’s hearts melt with fear (Deuteronomy 1:28). Joshua and Caleb had different spirits because they trusted in the Lord and were fearless.

Hopelessness is the typical result of being beaten down by the world, the flesh, and the Devil. It is when you feel defeated and have no way out. That is a lie, of course, but your mind tells you it is true. When Hagar ran away from her mistress, Sarai, she found herself in a hopeless situation. The Lord spoke to her and gave her hope.  She said, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).

Shame and guilt run together. The antidote for overcoming guilt and shame is forgiveness. God’s wonderful gift of forgiveness cleanses away all shame and guilt. God’s forgiveness removes our sin as far as the East is from the West (Ps 103:12.

Finally, regret is a result of feeling like your life has been wasted. Joel 2:25-27 states that God can restore what has been lost. There is no regret when we trust God, no matter what has happened in our lives. The Holy Spirit wants to help you subdue your enemies.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. s and desires.

David’s Prayer

King David wanted to build a House for the Lord. The Ark of the Covenant was housed in a Tent, and David wanted a more dignified place for it. David discussed his thoughts with Nathan, the prophet, and Nathan affirmed David’s desire. However, during the night, the Lord spoke to Nathan and gave him a message for David. The next day, the prophet delivered the message. The message was so overwhelming that David went into the tent of the Lord and simply sat before the Lord (2 Samuel 7:18). David sat before the Lord as a recognition that God is God. Even before we hear the words of his prayer, we can see something of the impact the word of the Lord had on the king.

David’s prayer begins, “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (2 Sam 7:18). The Lord had taken him from being a humble shepherd with his father’s sheep to being the king over his people. The Lord had been with him and had delivered him from his enemies. David’s response was: “Who am I that you should do all that for me?” This should always be our attitude of humility for what the Lord has done for us.

John Newton’s hymn is the most well-known in the world, and it begins in much the same way: “Amazing Grace!” Here are some of the words: “How sweet the sound,  That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found,  Was blind, but now I see.”

David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.” That was the start of it. But David thought that to be a small thing in comparison to what the Lord’s promise to him was now.

What the Lord had now “brought about” was to speak his promise. This involved “a great name” for David and a blessing for mankind. David’s knowledge was caused by the greatness of God’s act of revelation.” Nathan told David that the Lord would establish his house, and it would endure forever. David’s response was, “How great you are, Sovereign Lord!” David continued, “There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears” (2 Sam 7:22). David’s conclusion of who and what God had done was, “You are great, O Lord God.” 

David’s prayer was shaped by his praise. “Do as You Have promised” (2 Sam 7:25). This is what we pray when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, “Your will be done.” When we don’t know what to pray, pray “Your will be done” (Matt 6:10) — “Do as you have promised.”