7 BIBLICAL TRUTHS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR ENEMY
By: Dr. Mike Jones
Permit me to start this teaching by saying there’s a big difference between Christianity and other religions. Christianity stands alone because of the way she treats her enemies.
The thing in the Christian Church we have the guard against is when Christians get angry, lash out at another person, and call it righteous indignation, causing hurt or harm to the person that mistreated them.
We’re prompted in God’s Word (Romans 12:1-2), “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your (spiritual) or reasonable service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Paul admonishes us as believers to exercise love to both conditions – when someone does “good” or “evil” to us. When you read Romans 12, verses 9-13, this speaks more of our love as expressed toward other Christians. When you read verses 14-21, this expresses our behavior of Love toward our enemies. Don’t think, “Love your enemies” is a New Testament doctrine. The same truths were taught as Old Testament principles. Some of Apostle Paul New Testament passages were taken from the Old Testament. Let’s look at a couple of them: Proverbs 20-22 – Do not say, “I will recompense (or repay) evil”. Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
Proverbs 24:29 – Do not say, “I will do to him, just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
Don’t ever forget that your flesh will try to find a way to excuse you from following God’s obedience to His word, to handle the problem alone.
1) Overcoming Your Enemy is the Key to Your Victories
Jesus told His disciples in St. John 16:33, The things I’ve told you that the world will do to you, I’ve told you so that when they happen you won’t be fearful and afraid, surprised at what’s happening: you will have peace in your heart because I will be with you. You will suffer in the World for my name sake, but cheer up, I’ve defeated the world.
In Revelation 1:3, the Lord promises a blessing to everyone that reads the book. One major blessing we get from the book of Revelation is God’s instruction on how we overcome the devil by the testimony about what the blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus, and the authority of Jesus did for us over 2,000 years ago, when He went to the cross in our stead.
And if you’re willing to fight the good fight to faith, and a hold on eternal life, Jesus said He will grant you the privilege of sitting with Him on His throne, even as He also overcame, and is now sitting down with His Father in His throne.
So, how do you overcome your enemy with victories? By following the advice the Apostle Paul gave us in Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” This means, if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him something to drink: for in so doing thou shall heap coals of fire on his head. (Simply stated, he will feel ashamed of how he’s treated you.)
Lastly, take a look at St. Luke 10:19, “Jesus said, Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you …(TO BE CONTINUED)
(Adapted from 7 Biblical Truths You Should Know About Your Enemy; all Scripture references are taken from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)