Our number one enemy as
Christians is Satan, and he is everywhere in today's world. The enemy shows its
face in the form of sins, temptations, and virtually any other area where you
can be led astray. Whenever you feel the urge to lie, cheat, steal and commit
other immoral acts - that is Satan at work. You must do your best to avoid
these acts.
Satan uses people around us to
manifest his antics, unfortunately, we always see those human agents as the real
enemy. One good thing about the devil is his antics bring us closer to God. Without
the devil, many of us would have no business to do with God.
The best way to handle our
enemies, physically or spiritually is to follow the scriptural directive. We
should also be conscious of the Presence of God in our life. He has vowed never
never to leave us and never never to forget us. David the Psalmist said “Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil
for thou ye are with me”.
Let us examine the Bible and see
the assurances given by God concerning our enemies:
Exodus 23:22 But if you shall indeed obey his
voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an
adversary to your adversaries.
Leviticus 26:6 And I will give peace in the
land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid
evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
Deuteronomy 20:1 When you go out to battle
against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, and a people more than you,
be not afraid of them: for the LORD your God is with you, which brought you up
out of the land of Egypt.
Psalms 17:7 Show your marvelous loving
kindness, O you that save by your right hand them which put their trust in you
from those that rise up against them.
Psalms 138:7 Though I walk in the middle of
trouble, you will revive me: you shall stretch forth your hand against the
wrath of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me.
Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways please the
LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of
the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the
enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a
standard against him.
Matthew 5:43 You have heard that it has been
said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which spitefully use you, and persecute you;
1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or
railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto
called, that you should inherit a blessing.
There is a culture going on in the Body of Christ, it is the
culture of cursing the enemy asking for his death. But I always say, if that
prayer is answered, how would God prepare a table before you in their presence?
This is why Jesus asks us not to curse the enemy (the human agents) but to pray
for him.
One day, I was in the Presence of God and I asked “Daddy, why
should I be praying for my enemies who are after my life?” His response stunned
me. “Whenever you are praying for your enemies, you are asking me to judge them
and whenever you are cursing them, you are asking me to bless them!”
A critical study of the Bible reveals that enemies are the
catalysts of our progress and success if we know how to handle them. There is
no one in the Bible whom we are talking about today who was without the enemy
but God gave them victory. Unarguably, the enemies help us better than our so-called
friends. These are my reasons:
Those who benefitted from the enemies:
1.
Cain
made Abel popular and we are still talking of him till today (Heb.12:24)
2.
The
Flood brought the best of Noah out for the world to see (Gen.8:20ff)
3.
Satan
brought the best out of Job (Job 42:8ff).
4.
Goliath
brought David to the palace (1 Sam. 17).
5.
It
was the enemy who brought Joseph to his place in destiny (Gen.50:19&20).
6.
Peninnah
brought the best out of Hannah and God rewarded her with one of the greatest
prophets in Israel (1 Sam.1)
7.
King
Saul helped David to write most his Psalms.
8.
Apostle
Paul wrote most of his letters while in prison.
9.
Challenges
brought the best out of Daniel and the three Hebrew boys.
10. Judas helped Jesus to accomplish His
Mission .
11. Potipha’s wife linked Joseph to his
helper in prison.
12. Apostle John wrote the Revelation
while he was being punished for his faith in Jesus Christ.
In Genesis 50:19-21 told his brother that their plan to harm
him was used by God to make him. May this be your portion in Jesus name. I see
you recording victory over every enemy of your life. The more they try the more
they fail. Their arrows shall always be frustrated for your sake.
We should learn from this young man. He not only focused on
God while the storm from the enemy lasted but he was not ready to take his own
pound of flesh. The reason why many remain the victim of the enemy is their vow
to fight back or to revenge once they are out. Quit thinking of fighting the
enemy, vengeance is of God, let Him avenge for you and your victory will be
made manifest. NEVER AGAIN WILL ENEMIES REJOICE OVER YOU.
Pastor Bayo Oladeji
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