Battle Training Part 1: ID the Enemy

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When our oldest son, Reese, turned 6 years old, we celebrated with a Superhero Training Camp. We began training with a simple question, "What makes a superhero super?" Answers were flying from every direction - "muscles, a disguise, weapons, and a superpower!"

This is one area kids, no doubt, have more knowledge than any adult! We spent the rest of "Training Camp" creating disguises, learning to use "bat"arangs, chasing villains, breaking boards, learning to work smart, and working as a team. Honestly, this party was a blast; I'm sure I had more fun than the kids!

In real-life, we prepare for many things, but, unless we are wrestlers or military, it's rarely for battle; yet, battles seen and unseen surround us at all times. Thankfully, a full armor with superpower proportions has been provided to all of us. Throughout the next 3 posts, we will have a Superhero Training Camp of sorts, where I will provide 3 vital tips for every spiritual battle you will ever encounter:

Battle Training Part 1: Identify The Enemy

Battle Training Part 2: Fight the Good Fight

Battle Training Part 3: Accepting Victory

 

Our focus during Battle Training will be on Ephesians 6:10-17. Let's read it together.

"... be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor so that you will be able to resist in the evil day...  Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God."

A friend, a Vietnam Vet, reminisced about his time in battle, noting his deep struggle in not knowing “which person was Charlie”… in other words, he had great difficulty identifying the enemy leaving him with little confidence in when to shoot or when to ceasefire.  Our battle is often the same; without a true identification of the enemy, it's alarming and confusing; therefore, we tend to hang on to anger and resentment toward certain people or things thinking they are the enemy. Oh, how exhausting this is - swinging in midair at nothing.

If someone walks up and kicks you in the shin – it is pretty easy to identify the enemy.  But in our lives, the enemy can be less apparent and a bit vague.  If you lose a job due to downsizing, you can possibly blame "management", but that doesn't quench our desire for blame because it's too nebulous. If you lose contact with an adult child, leaving you deeply wounded – are they truly the enemy even if they've made really bad choices?  Spiraling health is so frustrating… we may feel wronged and angry, but at what exactly and against whom?  What about the death of a loved one?  What about the death of a lot of loved ones?  Is there someone to blame for that?
 

Identifying the Enemy

The enemy is ALWAYS satan – not to say that others can’t make bad choices that hurt us or that we should use satan as a crutch for bad choices we make, but Eph 6: 12 tells us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of the darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 
The enemby is ALWAYS satan.

Identifying the Enemy's Handiwork

Even if we know this is true, do we really know and recognize satan’s handiwork as it unfolds in our lives?
 
Satan is a liar, and he will do anything in our weakness to take the focus away from God. Satan’s lies are rarely bold-faced; they are more commonly slight variations of truth, altered only a tiny bit so we will hardly recognize it.  
Satan uses slight variations of truth so we are less likely to acknowledge it.
What are some lies he might tell us?
  •  Hanging out in a bar is not a sin… besides you’ve been sober a long time – you can handle going this one time, and one drink doesn’t hurt anything.
  •  But you really love him… surely when God said don’t have sex outside of marriage he meant for people who didn’t really love each other… this is different.
  • You are worthless… Why would God forgive your sin?  When Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sin, He meant a lot of types of sin, but are you sure He meant that type of sin?
  • What if you had been a more responsible son, would He have taken your mother?
  •  Oh, you’re on vacation, splurge.  Eat ‘til you drop – who doesn’t do that on vacation?
  • I know you and your husband decided you don’t have the money, but who is he to say you can or cannot buy something?  Go ahead and get it – you deserve it.
  • Did God really say you couldn’t have the fruit off of that tree?  Did He really mean it? (Genesis 3)
That conniving little jerk!  LIES, LIES, AND MORE LIES.  Satan is always the enemy.

Now that we know who the enemy is and understand some of his ways, next time let's discuss our defense and offense.

2 thoughts on “Battle Training Part 1: ID the Enemy”

  1. Pingback: Battle Training Part 2: Fight the Good Fight – Run the Race Together
  2. Pingback: Battle Training Part 3: Identifying the Victory – Run the Race Together

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