Articles
"Know Your Enemy"
“Know your enemy” is an essential component of military engagements and the spiritual warfare in each Christian’s duty call. But unfortunately, as in conflicts between nations, misidentifying the real “enemy” sometimes has tragic consequences in spiritual combat, as does a failure to understand his/her modus operandi.
For the soldier of Christ, the real enemy is often misidentified as “Satan” or “sin,” or even as “some specific sin.” Though Satan is definitely fighting for the other side (cf. Eph.6:11-12), and sin is certainly part of his arsenal whether in general or specific terms, these are not the Christian’s deadliest or even most dangerous foe. No, the most decorated soldier for the opposition is…
“Self.” There is likely no more fit application of “I’m my own worst enemy” than in the realm of spiritual warfare. Misidentifying the primary “enemy,” and not understanding our own spiritually destructive motives and tactics, often causes us to waste ammunition “fighting the wrong enemy,” or the “wrong battles,” and may prevent us from conquering the true enemy. Please keep reading for an explanation.
Though some want to be victorious in the spiritual conflict of “life,” they seem to spend most of their time fighting “with” God rather than “for” Him, cf. Acts 5:39; and thus wind up “aiding and abetting the enemy.” They constantly doubt and criticize His leadership and officers (secretly internally or publicly externally), countermand His orders, refuse to engage where, when, and how He directs, and are often AWOL. Few armies can be successful with such soldiers, and most armies expel them… and so will God, John 15:2,6.
But the “real enemy” for each solider of Christ is “Self.” Listen to Jas.1:13-14 on this point, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt any one. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” These verses clearly deny that God tempts us, and nor do they name “Satan” or even “sin” as the real enemy. Instead, it plainly identifies “me” as the primary combatant upon whom I should set my sights. Why is this? Most of us struggle with “submission”- which is a key component of any good soldier. “My” will, desires, and pleasures must give way to God’s will, desires, and what pleases Him. Failures in these areas will leave us conflicted, confused, and incompetent at best as soldiers, Jas.4:1-3. Furthermore, such lack of submission will actually make us the “enemy of God,” Jas.4:4. About such things Jas.1:16 warns, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”
With the true “enemy” correctly identified, we also need to “know your enemy” regarding his/her faults, weaknesses, vulnerabilities, tendencies, and capabilities. All too often we make it too easy to sin by putting ourselves in dangerous positions. We go to the wrong places, with the wrong people, where wrong things can and do happen. Then we’re surprised we failed to do the “right” thing! We should know better than such, for Rom.13:13-14 tells us plainly, “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality; not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh (think “my” flesh) in regard to its lusts (think “my” lusts/desires).” Have these people, places, and things “helped” me to surrender to my fleshly desires and sin previously? Then are they likely to “encourage” me to righteousness or sin this time? “Know you enemy”… the enemy is you! Fight with your strengths (cf. Eph.6:10) rather than providing food, fuel, and ammunition your weaknesses!
Most of us don’t have a “sin problem.” Sin is merely the result of a “me” and “my” will, desires, and pleasures problem… which is a lack of submission to God problem. Buck up, soldier! Your Commander in Chief deserves (and expects) better from you.
