Conquering Your Enemy

An enemy is someone who opposes someone else and tries to do harm to them.

“An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse” John Gay

Generally, an enemy could refer to persons, objects, ideas, images, sounds, words, forces or anything that hinders and destroy the growth, peace and freedom of something. The presence of the enemy is to steal, destroy and kill the stability your have enraptured in your families, schools, offices, churches, relationships and every sector of one's life.

Let us deal with the enemy.
SIGNS OF AN ENEMY
1. The enemy makes us doubtful. “Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea driven and blown about by the sea. People like that; unable to make up their minds and undecided in all they do, must not think that they will receive anything from God” James 1:8

2. An enemy tempts us to sin. Temptation means encouraging one to sin. “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.”1 Chronicles 21:1

3. An enemy is envious. Jesus Christ was arrested out of envy. “He knew very that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy”. Matthew 27:18.

4. An enemy is jealous. “So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David”. 1 Samuel 18:9.

5. An enemy is tricky. “Don't make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don't make it the centre of your life”. Psalm 62:10

6. An enemy does not appreciate anything good. “But Saul sent the troops back to get bed so I can kill.” 1 Samuel 19:15.

7. It aims at killing. “Then Saul sent troops to watch David's when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him,” If you don't escape tonight, you will be dead the next morning”. 1 Samuel 19:11.

8. An enemy steals, kill and destroys. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” John 10:9a

HOW DOES THE ENEMY TEMPT US?
Situations that give the enemy the dog chance to tempt and destroy out of sin. And this could be seen in areas like;

A. Adopting easy ways in life. “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it”. Matthew 7:14

B. Passionate about materialistic things in the world. “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin? Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits a person who does the tempting”. Matthew 18:7

C. Taste for earthly desires. “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” James 1:14-15.

STEPS TO CONQUER YOUR ENEMY
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” John 8:44

Summing it all up, if Satan is the father of the unsaved by the natural birth, we must have a supernatural birth in order for God to be our Father!

1. The first step to conquer the enemy, is to desire for a spiritual rebirth by the power of Christ Jesus. Desiring for the spiritual rebirth requires doing away with the old life and clinging to the new life by the power of Christ Jesus.

In certifying yourself as a “Born again” in order to conquer the enemy, you must believe in the Lord Christ Jesus. “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47

In that same vein one must learn to fully surrender his or her life to God. James 4:7 says” Submit yourselves to God, resists the devil and he will flee from you”.

Where are you? Are we in Adam or in Christ? “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Cor. 15:22).

Do you want to surrender?
Then say this” God Almighty, by the authority given to Christ Jesus, I now place my body, soul, spirit and my entire life under your protection. My Lord and personal saviour come into my life.

Teach and put me in your perfect will. From today, I choose to surrender all the days of my life. Direct my life in the way that you want my life to be. I thank for accepting me in the Mighty name of Christ Jesus. Beloved there you go, with faith and believe a new chapter of life have been opened to you.

QUOTE: “To see what is right and do not do it is want of courage” Confucius

2. Putting On New Self
a. Treasure the things in heaven rather than on earth. For Christ has appeared in your life. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. “ Colossians 3:1-4

b. Kill every earthly attitude in you. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5

c. Get rid of the past which you had lived before. “In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Colossians 3:7-8

d. Avoid lies in all aspects of life and put on the new self. “ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” Colossians 3:9-10

e. Never deny Christ. “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.” 1 John 2:22

f. Accept the Son of Man and let his words abide in you. “No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you” 1 John 2:22-24

g. Practice and meditate on the word. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” Joshua 1:8

h. Be humble, sober-minded and watchful. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful.” 1 Peter 5:6-8

i. Rejoice and pray without ceasing in all situations. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

j. Have a thankful heart. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

k. Seek for protection from God through his angels. . Angels are ministering spirits sent by God to protect and deliver messages to his children. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

l. Do well always and think positively. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

QUOTE: “A character is a by-product; it is produced in the great manufacture of daily duty” Woodrow Wilson

3. UNDERSTAND THE HOLYSPIRIT
Who is the Holy Spirit?
a. He is God himself: Genesis 1:3,26
b. He is the third person in the trinity
c. Another comforter of the same kind : John 14:15-20

KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is;
a. The comforter: 1 John 14:16
b. The counsellor: Isaiah 11:2, Romans 8:16, Psalm 16:7

c. Our helper: Romans 8:26
d. Provider of strength: Philippians 4:13, Isaiah 11:2, Eph 3:16

e. Our intercessor: Romans 8:26
f. The Advocate: 1 Corinthians 2:9-11, 1 John 2:20,27, John 16:13

g. The standby: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
h. Our Teacher: 1 John 2:21
i. The Inspirer: Philippians 3:3
j. Our Fortress: Galatians 5:17
k. Our partner in fellowship:2 Corinthians 15:14
SIGNS OF HOLYSPIRIT
Holy Spirit does appeared or manifest in these forms;

The dove; John 1:32, Genesis 1:2, Matthew 10:16
Water; Isaiah 44:3, John 7:38, 39
Oil; 1 Samuel 16:13, Isaiah 61:1, Acts 10:38
Wind; Ezekiel 37:9,14, John 3:3-8, Job 37:21
Fire; Acts 2:3
Clothing; Judges 6:34
Quote: “Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit, and you reap a character. Sow a character, and you reap a destiny”. Charles Reade

4. SEEK AND PRACTICE THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a. Ministry gift is your calling into an office but the Holy Spirit can actually be desired: Any good work (preaching, teaching, singing, giving, ushering, evangelizing, supporting financially, helping the needy etc.) one finds him or her self-doing is a gift from the Holy Spirit. “And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.” Hebrews 5:4

b. Desire for the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is the recreated human spirit:” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:22-23

c. Live in the spirit and provoke not one another. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:25-26

d. Walk in the power of the spirit: “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” Psalm 63:1-3

5. FELLOWSHIP CONSTANLTY WITH GOD
Fellowship is sharing together between persons. Therefore human fellowship among God's people as a way of overcoming evil intentions commands us to;

Be devoted to one another. “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” Romans 12:10

Live in harmony with one another. “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly” Romans 12:16

Accept one another. “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” Romans 15:17

Instruct one another. “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,1 that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another” Romans 15:14

Use your gifts for one another. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” 1 Peter 4:10

Share with one another. “For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over and whoever gathered little had no lack.” 2 Corinthians 8:13-15

Greet one another in peace. “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” 2 Corinthians 13:11

Serve one another in love. “13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” Galatians 5:13

Be kind to one another. “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone” 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Forgive one another. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Carry one another's burden. “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2

Look to the interest of others. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Admonish one another. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

Encourage one another. “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

Pray for one another. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” James 5:16

Quote: “Do not write God off when there is still grace and hope. Continue to cling to God and see who laughs at the end tail of it all” Ebenezer Zor

Having read this message, want to be born again? Say this prayer with faith; Heavenly father, from today I surrender myself to you. Forgive and cleanse me from all my sins. I invite you to take absolute control of my life. Beloved if you have prayed this prayer, you are born again and welcome to God's family.

Developing Your Christian Life
1. Find a believing church to attend
2. Study the word of God daily
3. Enjoy the fellowship and workmanship of God
4. Practice the word of God
5. Have faith in the word
PRAYER
Dear Father, your word is irreplaceable and undiluted. Today I wear the conquering spirit for the rest of the days ahead in the mighty name of Christ Jesus. Amen.

Author's mob/ what Sapp: +233246646694
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Church: Miracle Rock Church Int.
Resident Pastor- (Kasoa Branch): Rev. Romeo Gyimah
General Overseer: Bishop Charles Abban