The ‘enemy’ is a word that has different interpretations to many people whether in the spiritual or natural form. However, naturally, an enemy is perceived as a person ‘who bears another ill will and actively works or fights against him’ – Websters Dictionary of the English Language. This definition though secularly acceptable is spiritually unwise. But sadly, this position has gained ground in the hearts of Christians which should not be so.
Prayers are made against one’s enemies and disagreements often result in people labelling another as an enemy. More deceptive is the fact that an enemy is perceived as being recognisable by known behavioural display of such ill intentions. But the scriptures disagree with this position. The first truth that it teaches is that our enemy is a spiritual being and not a physical one.
“ For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies – the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.
So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks and when it is all over, you will still be standing up” Ephesians 6.12-13. Living Bible
A very timely and critical advice that makes the difference between the defeat or success of your life. Note that the scripture speaks of spiritual beings as the enemy not people. It is the influence s of these wicked spirits upon people that affects us so that we unfortunately consider them as the enemy.
Also, because we have followed a wrong position, the mode of our warfare will also be faulty. Many spend time and resources fighting people when they can apply a fraction of that time dealing with the root cause of the symptoms – “the wiles of the enemy” Ephesians 6.11. The former path often leads to defeat and huge losses both physically and spiritually. The latter ensures a victory.
Therefore recognising your true enemy is critical to your victory as it determines the nature of your warfare and weapons.
“For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood) but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds” 2 Corinthians10.3-4. Amplified Bible.
This is what the story you are about to read illustrates – that failure to recognise the enemy is deadly and dangerous.
On the 30th of December 2009, a Jordanian doctor, Dr Human Khalil Abu Mala – al – Balawi (quite a mouthful) walked into the CIA, Korst Base in Afghanistan without any security check and few minutes later, the CIA Station Chief and seven intelligence officers were killed while many were injured. He was a suicide bomber for the Taliban, a terrorist organisation. So how does a person walk unhindered into a heavily guarded US compound is the pressing question. The answer lies in the knowledge of who is your enemy. Dr Balawi is what you will call a triple agent in intelligence circles. (Recall our favourite character, James Bond 007). He had a complex relationship spanning two countries and one organisation.
He had to be a very intelligent person to have been an agent of the US and Jordan as well as a staunch member of the Taliban. He was a ‘friend’ to both countries. Incidentally, the Taliban is considered an enemy of the US. While fraternising with the American and Jordanian agents, he was working actively for the Taliban. He lured the agents of these two countries into a fatal trap by sending mis-information to them.
That faulty perception is what caused the death of eight top intelligence officers and many people injured. They didn’t recognise the ‘true’ enemy. They were therefore using the wrong weapons – friendship and fraternity. It was costly. They let their guard down and the ‘enemy’ struck a low blow that could not be countered.
The reports stated that Dr Balawi had endeared himself to the CIA that they began to see him as one of them and as a consequence didn’t subject him to the usual strict protocol of security checks. I watched on TV, the video he made for broadcast after his suicide attack and he stated resolutely that he never for one moment considered the option of crossing over to the American side. He said that the Americans must be crazy to think he will ever betray the cause of the Taliban and that was why he was happy to go on the suicide mission.
Very Insightful! He maintained his stand till the end (suicide) while the Americans were the ones on shifting sands. How sad. Well, you may think that you have it all figured out but I hope for your physical and spiritual wellbeing that you really know your enemies because the Americans thought they did. They accepted Dr Balawi as a friend but through it all, he considered them as the ‘enemy’. Who was the last man standing (technically speaking)? Certainly Dr Balawi, as he chose his manner of death whilst the Americans were caught off guard in death.
So who are our real enemies? Again the scripture teaches us who they are and their mode of operation.
“Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” Ephesians 6.11 NKJV
In another place, it speaks about those
“Whose minds the gods of this age has blinded...” 2 Corinthians 4.4 NKJV
And the result of the deception is stated in 2 Timothy 2.26
“... and that they may come to themselves and escape the snares of the devil having been taken captive by him to do his will” NKJV
Our enemy is the devil and his demons that operate by influencing the minds of people to carry out his will which takes the form of wrong outward behaviours. Our warfare is a spiritual one to rid ourselves and others of such influences in whatever form they take. Therefore our weapon of destruction is not physical but includes love, prayer, faith, salvation in Christ, righteousness, forgiveness, the Word and obedience. That is what will break the enemy’s hold upon our lives and stop the unending cycle of hate and ungodliness that exists in the world. These influences come from an ignorance of the truth that produces deception, lies and error that makes people like Dr Balawi and the CIA agents unsuspecting victims. In the end, it is not about them alone but all of us are victims if we do not renew our minds. That is the real tragedy.
The enemies we should take up arms against are not people but those subtle vices and pressures that we give into “...weights and sin which so easily ensnares us .... Hebrews 12.1 NKJV. They create a gulf between us and God and open us to the wiles of the devil. Don’t be caught off guard chasing after people and leaving your flanks unprotected. Get involved, as we are all connected whether in the cause or the consequences of our enemy’s action. Pray for evil influences to be broken over the lives of people in the world. Do not be restrictive in prayer as we often are. Be connected spiritually against the forces of evil.
I always warned that reading about the attacks in Pakistan was not for enlightenment purposes but for us to pray for them and us. It seemed so distant. Now we have Boko Haram on our soil. Again I warn, it is not about it occurring in Maiduguri and Bauchi, we need to pray that it stops and does not spread. We are all connected.
The FINAL WORD
“Be careful- watch out for attacks from satan your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart. Stand firm when he attacks. Trust the Lord...” 1 Peter 5.8-9 Living Bible.
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