”But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. “ (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Greetings again my Brethren. Last month we looked at how God uses the uneducated most often over the educated. You know, all of that book learning often gets in the way of the simplistic understanding and receiving of the Gospel message. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21) “God by the foolishness of preaching” is what He uses to save us not the wisdom of the world. We need to remember that. Too many Bible Schools and Seminaries have adopted the ways and programs of the modern education and higher institutional learning to teach a simple message. My friend it will not work. Maybe that is one reason why the Church is so feckless. So, this month we are going to look at the “enemy.” Now when you think of the “enemy” Satan comes to mind. Now I will be honest I am not a big fan of blaming Satan for everything that happens. He gets blamed for many things that he should not get credit for. You know Satan cannot be after me and you at the same time. It is either you or me he can buffet. He is not present everywhere and cannot get into our minds and make us do things beyond our will. A liar, yes. The father of all lies, yes. Evil, yes. The sponsor of all evil, yes. But he is not as powerful as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I think it would be good to define what the “enemy” is before we proceed. The “enemy” can be Satan, but most often it is man or a man that is doing evil things maybe sponsored by Satan directly or out from the evil in their heart. In the KJV of the Bible the word “enemy’ is used 107 times. Strongs #G2190, usually translated “foe.” So, the “enemy” of Christ or our “enemy” is anything that is a foe. Death can be our “enemy.” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26) I can be your enemy for writing this newsletter. Paul again helps us in Galatians, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16) Children of the devil or Satan can be your “enemy.” “Children of the devil can be our “enemy.” Luke writes, “And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10) As you can clearly see we all are not the sons or daughters of God. Only those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a join heir with Christ, are a son or daughter to God the Father. All else are enemies of God the Father. There is a huge difference between Creaturehood and Sonship. The Bible nowhere even suggests or teaches that all men are brothers in a great family with God as a common Father over all. It sounds good, but it does great harm at once to the great truth such as the sinfulness of man, the absolute need for salvation, the necessity of faith in the work of Christ on the cross, and the plan of redemption in general. Creaturehood has to do with creation of man while Sonship date from the new birth in Christ. Adam the federal head of the human race and Christ the spiritual head of all who enter into the new birth. We can even become an ”enemy” of God. James shares, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) We automatically become an “enemy” of God when we reject the truth of the Gospel. And of course the big one, Satan or the devil can be an “enemy.” Matthew writes, ”He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.” (Matthew 13:37-40) As I said, I am not a big fan of blaming Satan for everything that happens to us. I believe we are our greatest “enemy.” James tells us, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:13-15) Not the devil or Satan my friend, but the lust from our old man, our flesh causes us to sin. One thing for sure God will use these “enemies” and more to reveal to us our critical need to be saved and go on to a greater walk with Him. Even Satan does not get a pass. God will use anything in our lives that will reveal our need to have Christ formed in us.
More next month as we continue to look at the many diverse instruments God can use to communicate with us. Are you there my friend? In tough situations and circumstances? Have you heard His voice? Listen closely and you will. Written by David Stahl
