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Know Your Enemy….
That famous phrase has been used countless times over the years. Mostly
because it is true. If we are aware of a threat and know well enough to
counter it, then we are far more likely to succeed in overcoming it. This
July 4th, we once again celebrate a time when a would-be nation stood
against an enemy for rights to govern itself. Back then, much of the success
of our forefathers was dependent on their knowledge of the enemy.
While this term has certainly had its hold in the secular world, it also
rings true in the spiritual world. Our walk with Christ is fraught with
challengers on all sides. What we sometimes fail at is knowing our enemies
in the spiritual realm. It is simple to identify a person or thing that is
immediately threatening you. A man with a gun. Someone yelling at you. These
types of situations we pin down quickly as threats. In the spiritual world,
however, things are not so cut and dry. Good thing we had some decent
writers to help us with that in scripture.
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he points out some of our worst enemies:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers,
against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of
wickedness..." (Ephesians 6:12). Just before that in Galatians 5, he points
out other possible enemies of the spirit—idolatry, strife, outbursts of
anger, disputes, dissensions and factions. What is made very clear to me in
these words, as well as others, is that although we know that these things
have more to do with ideas and actions people do, we most always find
ourselves fighting the person. God calls us to a spiritual warfare that has
so much more to do with what is on the inside than what is displayed on the
outside.
We have a better picture of our enemy through scripture, but now what? How
do we go about waging war against these powers and forces—against strife,
against disputes? Doesn't even spiritual war call for us to have "disputes"
with people? Not according to Christ. Thank God that along with the lists of
enemies, there comes our weapons! In Ephesians 6:17, Paul proclaims that our
sword... is the Spirit! Great!... What does that mean? Well, look again to
Galatians as Paul describes what the use of the Spirit looks like. "The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no
law." (Galatians 5:22) We are called to fight tooth and nail against our
spiritual enemies, but it is not a battle that looks like any other. The
tools of war for the Christian are the most unconventional that exist.
Battle powers with faithfulness. Strike out at factions with love. Put to
death strife with goodness. And silence disputes with peace.
In Christ,
Jacob
jwinslett@fayettepcusa.org
Home: 678/817-7380
Cell: 770/733-3713
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Adult
Chancel Choir |
Awakening Praise Band |
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June and
August, will rehearses
on Wednesdays at 7pm,
and sing at the 11am Liturgical Service on Sundays
NOT MEETING IN JULY |
Rehearses
on Tuesdays at 5:30pm,
and sings/plays at the 8:30am Awakening Service on Sundays
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Youth Praise Band |
Children’s Choir |
Handbell Choir |
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Meets at
4:15pm on Sundays when there is a Youth meeting
at church
NOT MEETING
JUNE - AUG |
A part of the ReFuel Kid’s Club rotation; meets at
7pm on Wednesdays.
NOT MEETING
JUNE - AUG |
Meets from
6pm-7pm on Sundays
NOT MEETING
JUNE - AUG |
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