January 29th

January 29th

So we walk by faith in this journey, recognizing that circumstances may not be what they seem. We also have to apply that to who the real enemy is when we are faced with hard things. It is so easy to pin things on the enemy that we see, instead of the spiritual enemy that we can’t see.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2 things about this: First we have to get over the fact that we don’t want to blame a spiritual enemy because maybe that just might mean that the human enemy in front of us gets off scot-free. Second, if we just blame the human, we never deal with the spiritual enemy.

So let’s talk about the first point. We don’t want our enemies to get off, we want them to pay. Two things: God said HE will judge EVERYONE, and He said that vengeance is HIS. So, when we have that attitude, we are essentially saying that we don’t trust God, we don’t take Him at His word. We don’t’ think that His judgement or vengeance is good enough.

The other problem is: that is exactly what Satan wants. He wants us to take it out on the human for a couple of reasons: so that human doesn’t hear the message of the gospel from us (forgiveness) and he doesn’t want us to have the freedom and healing that comes to US when we forgive. So when we decide we want the seen enemy to pay, we are playing into the devil’s schemes. That is exactly what he wants, and we suffer when we do that, maybe even more than the other humans.

Now on to the second point. When we just blame the human, we never deal with the true spiritual battle. When we are preoccupied with incorrectly targeting the humans then we are not fighting the spiritual battle against satan and so he wins against us that way too.

Hebrew 10:30-31 For we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also said, “The LORD will judge his own people.” It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 Peter 4:5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Nobody escapes judgement. They will either be covered by the blood of Jesus and forgiven or they will not and will pay dearly for their sins.

Jude 1:14b-16 … “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

Believe me, they will get what is coming to them. And if they someday repent and get saved before the judgement, then even better, mercy reigns. The real enemy will still get what is coming to him and he will have lost one more soul to the winning side!

Jesus, I need help remembering to recognize the real enemy behind the circumstances and situations in my life. Help me to do that and to remember that you will use it all for good. Show me how to pray for my human “enemies” so that they may be saved and your will is done. Thank you for your grace and mercy that saves me and help me remember to pray for that same grace and mercy for my human enemies.