For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12 NLT
During Saul’s reign, the Israelites and the Philistines were at war. The book of 1 Samuel is filled with stories of various battles that occurred between the two nations as they each fought for dominance in the land of Canaan.
But when Saul decided to kill David, his entire focus changed. He was no longer focused on subduing or defeating the Philistines. Instead, all his energy was geared towards finding out where David was so he could kill him.
I encourage you to read 1 Samuel 23 and as you do, take note of the number of times Saul is said to have pursued or sought after David.
Four times! Can you imagine the number of resources that Saul wasted trying to find the location of one man (who meant him no harm) that could have been spent fighting the real enemy?
Know the real enemy
My friend, like Saul, we sometimes get distracted from fighting the real enemy. The enemy is good at using other persons to distract us from our purpose. Pretty soon, we’re in conflict with everyone around us, even those who love us best.
When the enemy’s not trying to destroy our relationships, he’s attacking us in other ways. He will keep us so busy doing everything else, we don’t have time to do what God has called us to do.
That’s why, as Christians, we need to remember that our enemy is not physical (Ephesians 6:12). He is a spiritual being and so we need a special type of weaponry to fight him.
Fight the real enemy
Once you realize who the real enemy is, use the resources that God has given you to fight him. You see, Saul never got this lesson. Had he been a modern ruler, he would probably have been impeached for the misuse of the country’s resources.
He spent much of his life and resources pursuing David. He lost sight of the real battle and his own purpose.
My friend, don’t be like Saul. Don’t make it your life’s mission to do battle with the people around you, especially not at the expense of fighting the real enemy.
God has given you all the resources you need to succeed in the battle you’re engaged in. He has given you His whole armor, won’t you put it on today?
Prayer
Father, I’m thankful that You have given me all the resources I need to defend against the enemy of my soul. Help me to identify the real enemy and not to spend time doing battle with the people around me. In Your name, I pray, Amen.
Pause for Reflection:
- Do you often find yourselves in battle with the people around you?
- What resources have God given you to fight the real enemy? (See Ephesians 6:10-17.) How can you begin using those tools today?
- Write an action plan outlining how you can fight the real enemy.
Other actions you can take:
