You Have An Enemy…
I’m going to go ahead and forewarn you before you dive into this article, it’s probably going to make some of my readers very uncomfortable. I know there are many of you who come by and read the blog, and you’re not Pentecostal, and some maybe not even professing Christians, and from time to time the more intense material makes you feel a little out-of-pocket. Well, this is going to be one of those if there ever was one, but I hope you’ll stay with me till the end of the thought.
We live in a world where one of our greatest desires is that others might like us, love us, and provide their approval. Whether we admit it or not, no one really likes the idea of having enemies, but some of us may have resolved ourselves to the fact that they do exist. I’m not naive enough to believe that everyone likes me, or loves me, and I’m sure there are some that plane just couldn’t care less if I dropped off planet earth, but that doesn’t mean I’m okay with it or like it that way.
So with all that said, the fact to know that every one of us that wants to live upright before our God, has an enemy… well, that can be somewhat disconcerting. And then to think that this enemy wants to actually destroy us, well, then that even makes it more uncomfortable.
Jesus was talking to Peter and told him, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” (Luke 22:31) Jesus, who was 100% God and knew everything was telling Peter, “the Devil himself is after you. And he wants to deploy such havoc and harm on you, that you will be put to a test that is equal to the sifting of wheat through a sift.” Jesus was telling Peter that Satan wanted to destroy him, and if the conversation ended there, how horrible it would be. But there was more that Jesus said to Peter, “But I have prayed for thee, that they faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen they brethren.” (Luke 22:32)
Wow, the Christ himself tells Peter that He is praying for him, and he believes Peter will make it through this test, and in the end will be able to encourage others through His testimony. Can you imagine the swirl of emotions? From the fear and anxiety of knowing Satan himself wants to destroy you to the immediate joy of knowing the Lord believes you can come out of it testifying of God’s faithfulness. And Jesus tells him the key to all of it is his faith.
Friends, I know what I’m talking about. There is a plan against us all, to make us give up, to make us trust in other resources, to make us lose our testimony, to even turn our backs on God and give into sin. Afterall, the Bible tells us that anything that is not of faith, is sin (Romans 14:23). Even myself have been fighting challenges and temptations, but thank God through the leading of the Holy Ghost I’ve realized that a trap was set before me. A trap to make me look elsewhere and depend on self.
You and I have an enemy, but thank God, through the blood of Christ and the sacrifice of Calvary, we have the victory. And the Holy Ghost is praying for us and through us, so that we might come through it with shining testimonies. (Romans 8:26) We cannot fall prey to the enemy’s ploys to deceive us and make us believe a lie. We cannot allow him to make us believe that it’s not worth trying to overcome. After all, “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4)
So, hopefully this will encourage someone out there. Take authority in the name of Christ, not your authority, but in His… and declare that you will continue to stand, and even if there is a plan of the enemy of your soul, on the other side of this, you will stand with a testimony. Don’t give in to the plans of the enemy, or his traps, but trust in the God that has already given you the victory.
So, yes, you have an enemy, but if you will trust in the God of your salvation, you will come out victorious. Praise God!!!!! And so will I!!!!!!
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.”
- John 10:10 -
