People Are Not Your Enemy, Satan Is

The real culprit behind the evil of our society is not people, but it is Satan and His evil regime. When we fail to realize that, we fight and war with each other.

Ephesians 6:11-12- Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Beloved, as I look at this world in which we live, my heart, while grieved, cannot help but be encouraged. While I sympathize with the families of those who have suffered as a result of the pandemic, and all of the other tragedies occurring in our world, I, like my brother Job, can honestly say that I know my redeemer lives, and one day, I shall see Him face to face.

- Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. 26 – And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God: 27- Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Beloved, we can dress it up, cover it up, and even ignore it. We can point fingers and blame each other, but it does not change the truth. We are not one another’s enemy. We are not fighting against flesh and blood; but daily, we are wrestling against spiritual wickedness in high places. There is only one enemy and one murderer, and his name is Satan. Though his host of demons are also our enemy, they are not in charge, they are subject to the will and orders of Satan himself. They are influential, intimidating, dominating, possessive, cruel, evil, and relentless. They do not die. They have been around since the fall. And their agenda has never changed. They are spirits of darkness and they are unseen to the natural eye; and their agenda is to do just what we see unfolding before our very eyes on a daily basis, and that is, kill, steal, and destroy.

- Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Beloved, until we utterly understand that we are not each other’s enemy, we will continue to lose the battle; And the tragedy is, the battle has already been fought and the victory won by Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago. Jesus defeated our enemy at calvary and won the victory for us; and beloved, until we realize that, we will continue to fight each other in attempts to win a battle that has already been fought, and already won. Christ conquered death and all the powers of the enemy.

- Colossians 2:6:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

- 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

In the meantime, while we are at war with each other, people are dying all around us; some, at the hands of sickness and diseases; some from natural causes, and some, at the hands of murderers. Beloved, I am so convinced that until we wake up and realize who our real enemy is, we will continue to experience defeat in this invisible battle, a battle that has already been won; and we will continue to lose our love ones, that is, our children, our parents, our friends, our neighbors, and the list goes on and on.

Therefore, we cannot continue to ignore that Satan and his demonic regime are our real enemy, not people. People are only host for these evil spirits to do their bidding, that is, their evil deeds, in the earth. For these demonic powers and wicked spirits to operate in the earth, they need a mind to implant their thoughts and a body to carry out those thoughts. Unfortunately, because many choose to ignore the reality of the underworld, people get blamed for the evil deeds of Satan and his demonic regime. As a result of this smart tactic of the enemy, we usually end up fighting each other and not the wicked spirit. Beloved, hear me when I say this, evil has no face; it is a spirit. You cannot put a face on evil, and Satan and his regime know this. They not only know this, but they thrive on this, and advance their kingdom through their being successful in this undetected method of operation. When you and I try to put a face on evil, we fight the people and not the spirit operating from within the people. This beloved, advances Satan’s kingdom. He knows that a divided kingdom cannot stand; and so, if we are fighting each other, it will not be long before we devour one another.

Jesus gives us a perfect example on detecting Satan working behind the scenes within a person. He shows us how to rebuke the spirit in the person and not the person themselves.

- Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Beloved, I am very much aware that not everyone believes in the battle between light and darkness; but ignoring or doubting the truth, does not change it. We are in a war with a spiritual enemy that we cannot see. This demonic, foul, tormenting enemy of all of mankind, desires to sift us all as wheat. So, we can ignore it and pretend that it does not exist, or we can wake up and gird up our loins for the battle. How? you say. How can we fight an enemy that we cannot see? I am glad you ask. Asking that question tells me that you want to fight back.

Beloved, although the battle has been fought and the victory won, we are fighting a relentless enemy, he refuses to take down; and try as we might, our guns won’t do it, our intelligence won’t do it, our money, fame, fortune, popularity, will not do it; nor will our retaliation and vengeance upon each other. Fighting and dividing ourselves off from one another, will not help us to experience the victory of an already won battle. We must remember, the real culprit in all this hate, violence and division in our country and world, is Satan and his cohorts; and beloved, the only way to defeat our spiritual enemy is with spiritual weapons.

- 2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical {weapons of flesh and blood}, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5 {Inasmuch as we} refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the {true} knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ the {Messiah, the Anointed One}, 6 Being in readiness to punish every {insubordinate for his} disobedience, when your own submission and obedience {as a church} are fully secured and complete.

Beloved, our real enemy is Satan. If we continue to try and put a face on evil, we will continue to fight each other. Here me as I conclude. Evil has no face; it is a spirit; And unfortunately, men yield themselves over to the influence of that spirit with every act of evil they carry out. It is for that reason that I recall to your attention the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2.

- Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of {all} the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies {presenting all your members and faculties} as a living sacrifice, holy {devoted, consecrated}and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable {rational, intelligent} service and spiritual worship.

- Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), {fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs}, but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind {by its new ideals and its new attitude}, so that you may prove {for yourselves} what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect {in His sight for you}.

Beloved, God bless you always!

Let us pray: Father God, we thank you for the victory that your Son, Jesus Christ obtained for us at Calvary. And while we know that this victory is secure, we also know that our enemy, the devil, continues to go about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. It is for that reason that we take daily care to put on the whole armor of the Lord, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. And Father, because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, we will endeavor to maintain peace with all men, and to love our brothers and sisters with the love of God that has been shed abroad upon our heart by the Holy Ghost.

In Jesus name we pray

Amen

l