Who Is The Enemy?

II Timothy 4: 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 


If there were ever a time this is true it is today!  People want to be the final authority.  If you don't agree with them, then you are wrong!  If you bring the Bible into it, they say 'well I don't believe that'.  As sad as that makes me, that is their right, to not believe.  But it is not their right to discount my belief.


We hear so much about tolerance, when is the last time you saw someone who didn't believe in God being tolerant of someone who did?  When is the last time you saw someone who believes in same-sex marriage being tolerant of someone who didn't?


Tolerance - willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs or practices of others.  Christians are accused of being intolerant and in many cases that is true but where is the tolerance for what a Christian believes.  It doesn't exist.  I know that isn't news to you.  So what is my point?


Our reaction to their intolerance is important.  God wants us to stand for His word, but when it is done with words of hate, how much will someone listen?  If you are put in a situation where you need to stand, you need to be 'prayed up' because you need God to give you the answers.  If you, or I, answer on our own, we will likely do more harm than good.


Proverbs 15:1 tells us 'A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger'.  When someone is shouting you down or telling you how ignorant you are for trusting God, that is when it is very important to truly trust God.  Do not react in anger.  Loving an 'enemy' is hard. 


But as I watched the movie War Room this weekend I was reminded far too often we forget who the real enemy is.  It is not the person who is opposed to what we believe.  It is the spirit that is directing him/her.  It is the devil.  He alone is our enemy.  When you take a stand, take it against satan, remember the messenger is controlled by the devil.  The DEVIL is the enemy.


Pray every day that God protect you and your family from the enemy.  Pray every day that God will defeat satan as he comes against your life.  Saw a post from a church in Nashville, Restoring Hope that I really like.  It said 'I'm M.A.D. - Motivated Against the Devil'.  He is our enemy, he is who we should fight, he is the one that wants to destroy us.


So many people allow him to use them but they are not the enemy - they need prayer.  Pray for them, pray for deliverance, pray for power but most of all pray that satan be destroyed in their lives