Identifying And Overcoming The Enemy

The Pulpit On Sunday

As Christians, it is essential we take advantage of our consciousness of the overcoming nature of God which we have received through Christ to conquer the enemies that are bent on oppressing us. The enemy as we ought to know has clear three missions; to deceive, steal and finally to destroy.  

Of course, like other persons out there, we are not out-rightly immune from the attacks, challenges and persecutions of the enemies. Nonetheless, we are immune from defeats and destructions. In the book of John 16:33, Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We have already been programmed to conquer and nothing else. This must always reflect in our dispositions.

From the above scripture, it is certain that believers are only guaranteed of victory and not excluded from battles of life, be it financial, health, marital, material and so on. Suffice to say that our prayers could not adequately stand when it is aimed at preventing the enemies from showing up. Hence, the endless night tears, “why me” over the oppressions of the enemy against our desires are manifestations of babes in Christ. The bible in Romans 8:37 says that “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loveth us.”

In the contemporary world, every good position usually attracts strong opposition. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, similar arrangement applies. Our position in Christ is phenomenal, and would logically attract the opposition; the enemy. Nevertheless, God as the seat of wisdom provided a way of escape and victory. To conquer, it is fundamental that you first discover your makeup. If not, ignorance may rob you of the victory that is already predetermined.

Incidentally, to identify who you are remains the preliminary to actualizing the victory already programmed. Yes, a good fighter must first and foremost properly recognize his composition and that of the opponent vis-à-vis the strengths. As we know, it is no exaggeration to conclude that we are stronger than the enemy and strategically positioned to win and win all over. Ephesians 2:6 says, ”And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 1:21 explains clearly our specific location, “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come”. Alleluia!  

Remarkably, this is the first step towards emerging victorious in any battle including the spiritual battles, if not, you end up underestimate yourself, and shoot fearfully, and finally get defeated.  I Corinthians 9:26 captioned it excellently,” I therefore so run, not as uncertainty, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.

Now, having succeeded in identifying who you are and your strengths, the next in line is the enemy. Who then are these enemies that are determined to deprive us joy, peace, health, prosperity, promotion, progress, conception and others? Our actual enemies are not human beings we often point at, rather they are the agents. It therefore means that if you succeed in countering the agents without identifying the principals, you would remain in continuous battle since all that the principal (principalities) needed to do is to re-assign another agent where the first one is overpowered. 

Importantly, the actual enemy only uses human agents who could be an uncle, aunt, grandparents, in-laws, relatives, siblings or friends to execute any of its missions. This therefore implies that a deliverance from the attacks of an agent of the enemy has not totally freed one from the captivities since the master who is the actual enemy is left untouched and unknown. These accounts to several deliverances people embarked upon and still remain in bondage.

No wonder, Ephesians 6:12, says “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual darkness in high places”. 

Sadly, many a times, all our efforts are targeted on the agents without putting into consideration the existence of the principals. Interestingly, the moment you deal with the principals, that’s where and when perpetual miracles spark off.

Similarly, every battle has its techniques. The instrument you use to fight in the sea differs from that of the land and on the air. Hence, instruments of warfare in the spiritual realm are entirely different from that of the physical. 

Thus, in spiritual battles, what do we fight against? Simply, we do not fight against the power of Satan as the scripture emphatically declared that all powers in heaven, in the earth and beneath have been given to Jesus. In view of this, one would not be wrong to conclude that Satan has no power. What then does the devil use to cause all the havocs we see? Ephesians 6:11, aptly answers the question; ”Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand against the wiles (tricks) of the devil.”

This therefore means that the devil uses nothing else but tricks to put people in bondage. Recall that when Satan confronted Jesus after the fasting, it attempted to use same tricks against the Lord but lost out appallingly due to whole armour on Him (God’s wisdom). In  6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

You will notice that the scripture essentially reiterated on believers on the need to have the ‘armour of God’ so that they will not end up just fighting a battle but a good fight of faith. 1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

It continues from 6:14 ”Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” 6:17,” And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.” 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

From the above, our fight should be targeted against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.(Ephesians 6:12). These are the names permissible to be mentioned while in the place of prayer and not the persons we bombard, bind and loose. When the principal(ity) is taken care of, its agents  will naturally align accordingly. Nevertheless, to embark upon it, to put on the whole armour of God is nonnegotiable. To do this, you must be in Christ which is the way to the Father. When you receive Christ, you have basically received all in Him. John 1:16, “And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

However, to effectively do exploit with His fullness, you need to diligently study the scriptures to know the fullness you have in you. You can only make use of what you know as you cannot give out what you do not knowingly possess. Ephesians 3:19, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of Christ; Colossians 1:9,” For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; Colossians 2:9, “For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of Godhead bodily.”

The Amplified version explains it appropriately, “[that you may really come] to know practically, through experience for yourselves the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience); that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God and himself]”. As you strive to unveil the fullness of Christ in you, His glory will force thing to align with your desires.