What Is Our Greatest Enemy and How Do We Defeat It?

There’s an enemy lurking and seeking to destroy us.  It’s sneaky and can overtake us unawares. This vicious enemy is weariness, complacency, and apathy and is perhaps are greatest spiritual foe. It can weaken and even destroy individuals and a nation. It can weaken us so that we  become sitting targets and victims of the world, flesh and the devil.

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We can be very active in spiritual works and ministry, but fall prey to this enemy at the same time. Religious activity devoid of heart, love, passion and the Spirit can leave us like an empty spiritual shell. Europe and America are full of beautiful old churches and cathedrals and denominations that are cold, empty and devoid of spiritual life. The same thing can happen to individuals.

Let me give an example of what I mean by asking a simple question. We may have fallen into the snares of weariness, apathy and complacency without even knowing it. If the answer to this question is yes, then we may be a victim who needs to take a serious look at the state of his or her spiritual life. The question is this: How would your life change today if you knew Yeshua were coming tomorrow?

Most exert great effort to prepare our homes when we know that company is coming to visit us. Why don’t we attach the same priority of effort to our spiritual homes with regard to Yeshua? He could come anytime. Let me explain.

First, we don’t know when Yeshua is coming back. Second, none of us knows we’re going to die. Either way, you could be standing face-to-face with Yeshua in an instant!

Why do we often put a higher priority on our physical well-being than on are spiritual well-being? This is because we are all spiritually lukewarm to one degree or another. This is largely because many of us live in a rich, soft, affluent, materialistic, self-absorbed, comfort-driven and pleasure-seeking society. We’ve never had to live without, suffered physical lack or be persecuted for our beliefs. Because we have been conditioned to this status quo for so long, we tend to think that things will go on like this forever. The problem is that a study of history and the Bible tell us that such periods of peace and prosperity are usually the exception and not the rule, and all such periods are usually short-lived. They come to an end and give way to regime changes often involving much suffering and privation.

Now let’s get back to the main question. Do we really live our lives as if today may be our last, and tomorrow would be our judgment day before King Yeshua where we will have to answer for every idle word we’ve spoken, and will be judged for all that we’ve done while living our human lives? Will Yeshua view us as a good steward of what he’s given us or a foolish steward for wasting our time on stuff, in the long run, that doesn’t hold any value? It all gets back to our individual relationship with YHVH-Yeshua, the God of the Bible.

Why do so many of us have so little passion for Yeshua, and so little sense of urgency about living for him knowing that he might come tomorrow, or this may be the last breath we take before we meet him in person?  It’s because apathy, complacency and weariness have overtaken us. This spiritual sickness has been common to believers down through the ages.

In 1 Peter 3:1–14 we read,

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Likewise, John in Revelation 3:14–22 writes of the Laodicean church,

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

We need revival to awaken us spiritually. Only the fires of privation and persecution will bring revival to most people. That’s the sad truth as born out by the history of Elohim’s people as recorded in the Bible. Very few people can keep the spiritual fires burning in their lives, their level of spiritual zeal high, and have a solid, and strong walk with YHVH when times are easy. The Scriptures are full of prophets who tried to warn Elohim’s people to repent of sin and turn back passionately to Elohim or else judgments would come. Almost without exception, the people refused to listen and instead mocked, laughed at, scorned, ridiculed, exiled, imprisoned or killed those messengers from Elohim.

Persecution is coming and is needed to help mature the body of Yeshua. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:11–17,

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

So again, we ask the question, if you knew Yeshua were coming tomorrow, what would you do differently today?

Why are some of you not hearing this message? Why are some of you mocking this message in your heart calling it alarmist? Do you think you’re ready to meet Yeshua now? If so, you need the demon of pride cast out of you! You’re also listening to the lying spirit of self-righteousness and self-delusion. Why are you justifying your lukewarmness by comparing yourself with someone else and saying, “I’m not as bad as that guy”? Do we think this kind of reasoning impresses YHVH? Is this the excuse you will tell King Yeshua on judgment day?

So why are you lukewarm in your relationship with YHVH Yeshua? (Let’s be honest. We’re all lukewarm to one degree or another! We all have room for improvement.) What idols do you have in your life that are preventing you from pursuing a passionate, daily relationship with him through Bible study and prayer? Do you really think that you’ll hear his voice in the hard times when you’ll need to hear him to survive when you’re not even spending much time with him now? How much time each day do you spend praying for the needs of others? If not, how can you expect anyone to pray for you in your very life depends on it?

The stuff — judgments and persecution — coming down on this generation is huge and is imminent. Only prayer, knowing his word, hearing the voice of Elohim and knowing how to battle spiritually will save you. If you’re not training for the hard times to come now, how do you expect to survive when they do come? Only a foolish solider goes to war without proper training and gear.

Now is the time to prepare spiritually for the coming hard times. Now, not tomorrow, is the time to tighten up your life, to repent of the sins of apathy, complacency and lukewarmness, and to put away any spiritual idols that are keeping you from seeking YHVH-Yeshua with all your heart. Now is the time to rearrange and to reprioritize your daily schedule and to seek Yeshua with all your heart through Bible study, prayer, meditation on the word of Elohim, praying in the Spirit, fasting, intercession and reaching out to those who are spiritually lost and by discipling the spiritual babes YHVH has sent your way.  When you to these things out of passion and love for Yeshua, you will hear those words on that day, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

 

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