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Hand in Hand Proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ August 2008 Hand In Hand Ministries Publication
Do you
really know who your enemy is?
By Pastors Roger and
Dianne Wilson, Mississippi
Have you ever been in a situation where someone
attacked you verbally or physically and you did not know the reason why? Was it in a doctor's office, grocery
store,
 or
on the phone? Maybe it was at home by your wife or husband, a
child or close friend or even a church member. Maybe it was from
your boss or coworker, maybe even your pastor. An argument out of
control and words were said that were not Christ like. It seemed as if
you were hit out of the blue.
If we are not prayed up, praised up, and fasted up, full of the Word of God, and in continual relationship with JESUS, we will
react in certain ways.
Galatians 5:16 says,
"This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall
not fulfill the lust of the flesh". Sometimes
even when we are close to God, we can be caught off guard, not
recognizing our real enemy, especially if this attack is coming from a
loved one. Look at all of the killing today, and all the crazy
things; road rage, blackmail, revenge, lack of job promotion, jealousy
of one's mate, petty disagreements, a divorce or brake up. On and on and
for no reason at all.
Satan sits back and laughs at what he caused the
people to do and more so if they were Christians, for this is a mockery
to God. The jails, prisons and reformatory schools are full of the
results of people walking after the flesh, and not submitting their
lives to God. Satan uses them to say or do things that hurt and
anger us, and to get us to retaliate and not handle it in the SPIRIT and
in LOVE. We or they strike back verbally or physically.
We think it is the person who is talking and doing
this to us, when really it is the devil and his demons using the flesh
and mouth of the person to attack and intimidate us to sin, by saying and doing things that are not
Christ like. This always causes confusion. If we are not careful to walk
in the Love and in the Spirit of the Lord, we too will lash out and
fight back.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, against rulers of
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(Our
foes are not human but satan uses demons and humans to do his dirty
work).
The jails, prisons, correctional institutions,
and reformatory schools are full of those who have failed miserably
by striking back in the flesh, when they should have recognized their
enemy and walked in Love and in the Spirit. They were warring against
flesh and blood when it was the devil and his demons they were really fighting
against.
You war in the spirit by bowing our head and knees in prayer to God
about the people, circumstances and situations, not by striking back
with your flesh and tongue.
James 4:1 From whence
come wars and fighting's among you: Come they not hence even of
your lusts that war in your members? They did not see who
their enemy really was.
Matthew 10:36 says "And
a man's foes shall be they of his own house hold". Also means
church family.
Ephesians 5:1-2 says,
"Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; And walk in
love as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an
offering and a sacrifice to God, a sweet smelling savor".
Proverbs 15:1 says,
"A soft answer turns away wrath". If we
walk in the flesh, we will miss the high call of God and miss the mark
of His purpose to be a witness in spite of the attack and persecution.
So think and pray, and submit yourself to God and do not operate in anger
and the flesh. Stop the devils trap. Speak
softly and walk in love and peace to the person or persons whom the
enemy is trying to use. Recognize who your enemy really is and stop him
in his tracks. Walk in the Spirit of God and Love and you will bring
Glory to God.
PRAYER
Precious Heavenly Father, I come to you in adoration
and worship, and give you all honor, glory, and praise! Thank you
for all you have done in my life and all you are doing now, and for the
things you
are going to do. Just for who you are. I come to you asking
you to forgive me for all the times throughout my life I did not walk in
your Spirit and in Love. Those times when I came under attack, not
realizing it was my enemy working through them, and I
reacted in my flesh whether physically or verbally.
Lord please also heal all the hurt and pain, wounds
of division, strife and emotional scars of the heart and the mind,
confusion and misunderstanding I may have caused. Wash me clean
with your precious blood. Lord please give me more grace,
discernment, wisdom, knowledge, love and understanding and self control
that I may walk in Love and in the Spirit and not in the flesh at all
times. Remind me that satan and his demons are my real enemies
when attacks are waged against me. Help me to remember that you Jesus walked in love at
ALL times, even to the cross where you died for this very sin of walking in the
flesh.
Thank you for helping me to become more like you and
not allowing satan and his demons to use me to attack others or to
retaliate in any fashion, word, thought or deed. Lord keep me humble to love all
people who come my way and to always walk in the Spirit and in Love and
not in the flesh. I also pray for all parties involved to be saved
and learn to walk in your Spirit, I ask all these things in your precious Holy name, the
name above all names, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Thank you, Amen.
Written by Dianne Wilson  
Copyright © 2008 All rights reserved
Word of Life Ministries Statement of Faith We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only
infallible authoritative Word of God. We believe that there is one God,
eternally existent in three persons: Father,
Hand In Hand Publication is an Internet Ministry of Faithful Christians joining hands together all around the world, for the sole purpose of promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Son,
and Holy Spirit. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son
of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, was
crucified, died, was buried, resurrected, ascended into heaven, and is now
seated at the right hand of God. We believe in the personal salvation of
believers through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We believe in the personal
resurrection of the dead, the eternal happiness of the saved, and the eternal
punishment of the lost. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit,
by whose indwelling we are enabled to live a Godly life, with all the Gifts of
the Holy Spirit operational in the Body of Christ today. We believe in the
Christian's hope, the soon coming return of the Lord Jesus Christ.