What is the biggest problem we are experiencing in our country? What is the context of the big problem we are facing? Can we identify the real enemy?
What about a problem you’re facing at work or at home? Who is behind this?
In the past four decades of ministry, I have heard stories about who people consider their enemy. In some stories, as an independent observer and perhaps more informed about the situation, I calmly listen to this or that story of the alleged enemy – the one or those who cause problems.
It can be a real or imaginary enemy. We are people. We have human limitations. So, at one point or another, we get puzzled or get into a rut of desperate desire to find out the real enemy.
In fact, according to our Ghanaian cultural thinking, “no one dies of natural causes”. There must be an enemy that forced our beloved to join the ancestors. And so “ye ko bi sa” – let’s go look for who the real enemy is.
We wander in the dark, trying to find the real enemy. Some of the rumors about these searches are fueling conspiracy theories about why the death occurred. Who is the enemy.
In another area of national life, we want to know who or what are the real enemies contributing to our economic decline and the hardships we are going through. Here it is extremely important to identify the elements of our national economic architecture, which must be considered in the short and long term in order to bring relief and we can live in dignity.
But what caught my attention last Sunday was Pastor Ekou Aka’s sermon on the subject: “Who is the real enemy?” He may have been thinking about the life of a member of the Church at home, at work, in the Church, and in the community.
First, who is the real enemy in the positive and beautiful experience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, which turned into a sour and bitter impact of pain and suffering? Adam blames Eve; and Eve blames the serpent. But it is instructive to note that God did not accept any of these excuses and shifting of responsibility. Who is the real enemy here?
Maybe it’s their own moral values and personal choice of Adam and Eve?
Next, think of King Saul, who was given the opportunity to rule over his people. But, unfortunately, he could not significantly affect people or leave a lasting legacy.
God rejects Saul, and His judgment upon him is this: “And Samuel said, Though you are small in your eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you as king over Israel.
Why didn’t you listen to the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on prey and do evil in the sight of the Lord? And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:17, 19, 20a ESV).
The prophet Samuel confronts King Saul as he approaches the mission to which God sent him. Somehow Saul felt he had done a good job. He was genuinely wrong in judging his performance. Samuel speaks of God’s evaluation of his actions: “Which is more pleasing to the Lord, your burnt offerings and sacrifices, or your obedience to His voice? Listen!
Obedience is better than sacrifice, and obedience is better than sheep’s fat. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as idolatry. Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, He also has rejected you as a king” (1 Samuel 15:22 & 23 NLT).
Who is the real enemy of King Saul’s success? God: “Obedience is better than sacrifice” always and everywhere in our lives and ministries. And for Him “rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft.” Stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols and consulting with them.
Here we learn that in order to receive God’s approval and experience God’s presence, power, and success, obedience and submission to Him and His Word is essential.
In our Christian journey through life, we desire true Christian spirituality and the benefits of it. Indeed, we must “hold on to the truth in love, becoming like Christ in all things” (Ephesians 4:15). But our daily experience is not neutral.
And so we must strive day by day to become more and more like Christ. The Bible teaches us: “Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God turn you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know the will of God for you, which is good, acceptable, and perfect” (Romans 12:2 NLT).
When we carefully consider and meditate on the biblical text of Romans 12:1 and 2, we can choose what is the real enemy for our “more and more Christlike” one.
What do we say about the curse of giving in to temptation from time to time? What is the real enemy here in order for us to gain victory over this or that sin and not succumb to it? The Bible gives us some clues, including the following: “Let no one say, ‘God is tempting me,’ in the time of temptation, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But every man is tempted when he is seduced and seduced by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when fully grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:13-15 ESV). Who is the real enemy in this biblical text?
In times of temptation and trial, we must keep hope and rely on God’s provision in order to survive positively: “A temptation has come upon you that is not common to the human race. God is faithful, and He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond your strength, but when you are tempted, He will give you relief, so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The truth is that we face conflict or spiritual warfare in every area of our human endeavor. It’s unavoidable. And the apostle Paul teaches how we can manage to live a victorious Christian life through all this: “Be strong in the Lord and in His might. Put on all the armor of God so that you can stand firmly against all the strategies of the devil. For our wrestling is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and powers of the invisible world, against the powers that be in the dark world, and against the evil spirits in the high places” (Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT). .
Yes, spiritual conflict or spiritual warfare will arise in our lives and work, and even when we are doing our best to serve Christ and His Kingdom: “Therefore put on all the armor of God, that you may stand against the enemy in the time of evil. Then even after the battle you will still stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13 NLT).
This is the real enemy! And the apostle Peter instructs us: “Be sober; Be carefull. Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him with firm faith” (1 Peter 5:8&9a).
The Lord Jesus is our supreme example of how to stand up to the enemy and see him flee and turn away from us (see Matthew 4:1-11).
In our consistent obedience to Christ and in the power of Christ, we defeat the real enemy.
The author is a consultant on authentic Christian spirituality and discipleship and a former CEO of the Scripture Union.