I was standing in worship 2 nights before launching on World Race Gap Year 2018 as an alumni squad leader.
I was overcome with joy as the Father’s love washed over me, when all of a sudden I was struck with a different emotion.
A mixture between sadness and anger.
Below is the video clip that ran through my head.
God gave me eyes to see what was happening in the spiritual world around me, and He spoke;
So many people see the enemy and pursue to kill, thinking they have good intentions ‘to fight for the Kingdom of God’, but they don’t know what the enemy looks like. They don’t know who the real enemy is. If they will move in closer and unmask the one they think is their enemy, they will find the ones they are pursuing are just hostages. The REAL enemy does this so that we will take out our own while thinking we are ‘doing it for God’. If he can distract you with thinking you have the right enemy, you will do his job for him and he will get away because you were never pursuing the real enemy.
Ephesians 6:12
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
It is so easy to look at the world around us and see so much bad happening.
All you have to do is turn on the news to see hate and pain happening all around.
And while we are so focused on;
sexual/racial discrimination, our opinion of the president, should we or should we not drink Starbucks and eat at Chick-Fil-A, who the next celebrity is that goofed up, should we shop at target or travel to mexico, should we drink alcohol and dance if we are Christians….. the list could go on forever
The REAL enemy just stands back and laughs because we are fighting ourselves!
We are looking at each other and deciding what is good, bad and otherwise according to our perspective and/or interpretation of what we think truth is.
We are attacking other humans simply because they have a different opinion or belief as us.
But that’s actually not what God tells us to do.
He tells us to love Him, love our neighbors, love OUR ENEMIES and that He is our defender.
Matthew 22:37-39
“Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.“”
Matthew 5:43-48
”You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”
Deuteronomy 32:4 (KJV)
“He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgement; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
Deuteronomy 32:4 (GNT)
“The Lord is your mighty defender, perfect and just in all his ways; Your God is faithful and true; he does what is right and fair.
God tells us over and over that He will protect us and defend us.
That He is our refuge, shield, shelter and fortress.
The only thing He tells us to do is to love Him and love others.
The people around us are not our enemies!
The person who cuts you off in traffic. The stranger you encounter that has different beliefs. The family member who drives you crazy. The man or woman you see on the news that murdered hundreds. The waiter that gives you really terrible customer service.
ALL OF THEM are children of God.
EVERY SINGLE ONE is made in the image of God Himself.
They are not the enemy.
They are simply the hostages.
Hostages to the real enemy, who tries to disguise them as being against us.
But what if we moved in closer?
What if we got close enough to take off the mask?
What if the only thing that saves them from being held hostage by satan is the love of Christ through us?
What if we took the time to get to know someone, love them, help them understand their true identity in Christ and walk in freedom, no longer being a hostage to darkness?
They aren’t the enemy.
They are our brothers and sisters.
They are children of God.
What if we ALL united together as ONE ACCORD to fight the real battle against the real enemy?
revival.
All anyone wants in life is to be loved.
