Warrior Challenge Day 4

A Warrior Knows the Real Enemy

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 6:10-12

Warrior, once you know where your strength comes from, what you’re fighting for, and who the battle belongs to,  it’s imperative that you know who the real enemy is. Without this intelligence, you won’t know where to aim your attacks, and you’ll miss the true target.

All too often it feels like people are the enemy. We receive a lot of our battle wounds from people. But it’s all camouflage for the real enemy.

God’s Kingdom warriors know that people are not the problem: the flesh, the world, and the devil are. Sin affects all of us, and outside of Jesus, people are prone to follow their base instincts — their flesh. They’re doing the best they can to survive in a broken world, but their flesh leads them to use all the wrong strategies that perpetuate the very brokenness they’re trying to avoid.

Sin affects the systems of the world. Outside of the lordship of Jesus, the world tends to oppress and enslave people rather than help them. Rulers and governments will create laws that hold people down and keep them from being free, perpetuating unjust treatment of those who can’t fight for themselves.

Then there’s the devil and all he does to trigger and influence people and systems to do all the damage he can. He works to keep us enslaved in our pain and unhealthy patterns. He lies to us, telling us that we must protect ourselves by using unhealthy strategies. But we end up hurting others and ourselves in the process.

That’s why Jesus came. He came to break the power of sin, to set us free from our enslavement to the flesh, the world, and the devil. His death on the cross broke sin’s power to rule you. He brought you into His Kingdom of freedom and life as a son, a daughter. He set you apart as His Kingdom warrior.

You are not a survivor. In Christ, you are a VICTOR who is a warrior in the battle to help set others free as Christ has set you free.

Now that you’re aware of the true enemy, you can set your sights on the real target (2 Corinthians 2:11). You can pray for people and love them as Jesus calls you to, even when they persecute you. You can pray and work for change in the systems of government, justice, healthcare, etc., without demonizing people. You can learn to recognize and stand against the enemy of your soul and proclaim that you have and will continue to overcome, in Jesus name.

TRAINING QUESTIONS:

→ Is there an obstacle or challenge you’ve overcome that God is asking you to share with others, for the sake of freedom?

→ Who is someone who feels like your enemy, but is really just camo for the real enemy? Would you pray for that person right now?