We have an enemy that is bent on destroying us. He hates God and exists to contradict God's agenda. Of course we're speaking of Satan, whose end is already sealed. Though God created him as an angelic being to serve His purpose, he became lifted up with pride and was cast out of heaven (see Isaiah 14:12-15 & Ezekiel 28:13-17)
Ever since his expulsion from heaven and a third of the heavenly host that went with him (see Revelation 12:4), the devil and his angels have been the enemy of God and man. But he's already a defeated foe and he is resigned to his fate. Hell is a place that God has prepared for the devil and his angels; St. Matthew 25:41. People will go there as a result of rejecting Christ and His sacrifice on the cross to pay for our sins.
THERE IS ANOTHER ENEMY. This enemy also seeks to destroy us at every turn. This enemy is in cahoots with Satan. Like a skilled tag team they work to pin us down for the final count. It is the enemy of self; IT'S ME! The desires, lusts, mentality, excuses, feelings, and pride that dwell in me is my enemy.
We spend much of our time fighting the devil, and certainly we must stand against him daily. We even exhaust ourselves thinking about people that we see as enemies; But Christ says, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you St. Matthew 5:44. But how often do we consider that the real problem is our own selves? Each of us has to own our choices and decisions. Although it's true that some things are beyond our control, we have to control what we can. And it all starts with allowing Christ to have access to work in us.
Temptation can be overcome when the "enemy of self" is brought under subjection. James 1:13-15 says, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
In this key passage about temptation, notice that Satan is not even mentioned. What's critical to understand is that our own sin nature is what causes us to go after those things that are contrary to God's will. The Word of the Lord tells us that "there's no good thing that dwells in the flesh" Romans 7:18.
The failure to properly identify the enemy of self leaves the real problem unaddressed. By not understanding that the sin nature that dwells in each of us will lead us to stray from the things of God, we will never attend to the real issue. It's easy to blame people for our shortcomings; to make excuses and play the victim. The challenge is to choose to surrender to the Lord, and die daily, so that the life of Christ can be manifested in us.
So what's the answer? How can we win and live a blessed life when society promotes self? When the culture encourages us to pacify and pamper "self"? Jesus gives us wisdom in St. Luke 9:23-24 - If any man will pursue Me, let him (deny himself), and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.
From the heart and hand of Pastor Reginald Reaves
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