Who is the Enemy?

I was never taught this. If I had, it would've saved much heartache. Rather, I made some poor choices & often blamed the "enemy." The enemy got way too much credit.

Here's what I mean: I fear that often we ascribe too much credit to the "enemy." In my circumstance & in many of yours this person/being would be the Adversary, the Devil, the anti-Christ, Satan, the Prince of this World.

Here is what I see happening: For example, I see a believer make a choice to pursue something. This may be a business venture, a new profession, a girl/guy, a path, etc. With some prayer they set out on the journey. But then sometimes conflict or opposition or uneasiness or realized mistakes surface & who is to blame now? Well of course, the "enemy." I hear it often, "The enemy is really attacking us. He sees how important our mission is & he doesn't like it, so he is fighting it."
I hear what your saying & the Bible says that the adversary is seeking to kill & destroy. But, sometimes I think that we give him credit simply because we didn't think things through or because God may be revealing sin in our hearts & He wants us to repent before we move forward.

Mike & I talked about this the other day & it seems to reveal much pride in the person who thinks or says "how important is my mission."

It is simply a matter of perspective. One perspective blames the "enemy" for our discomfort; this perspective is an outward view--it doesn't take responsibility. The other perspective sees "indwelling sin" as the enemy & takes responsibility over personal sin.

Now, I already here the rebuttals & don't have time to address them all--a brother's gotta work! But, just hear me out when I say that maybe the source of conflict is God-sent & instead of blaming the "enemy", ask God to reveal indwelling sin & to grant you repentance. It is often a war of the desires of the Spirit vs. the desires of the flesh. Because, let's face it--each of us have a dangerous companion that is at home within us. Often the war is within not without.

I should've waged war against indwelling sin a long time ago. You can either blame everyone else for your defeat or you can repent, walk in the light, & have fellowship with one another & God Almighty.

Comments?