Submitted by Dr. Dan Coflin, Pastor of River of Life Church
In Biblical days, high walls and massive gates to protect the inhabitants from invaders surrounded the towns. When the gates were destroyed or the walls were broken down the enemy had access to terrorize, to steal from, and destroy those who lived there because their defenses were compromised. The city of Jerusalem had experienced such distress when the Babylonians broke down the city walls and burned the gates. The entire population of the city was exiled for 70 years. When the Jews returned, one of their greatest needs was to secure the city.
“Then said I unto them, you see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” (Neh. 2:17).
Nehemiah was able to organize the people to rebuild and secure the city from their enemies. “So, the wall was finished, and when all our enemies heard thereof, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was a work of our God” (Neh. 6:15,16).
Today, people and families are very much like the walled cities of old. Their enemies have entered in and robbed them of peace, prosperity, and security and many of these victims do not even recognize the identity of their adversaries.
The Bible shows us that our real enemies are not people (Eph. 6:12) but unseen forces that come against us with thoughts, feelings, fears, and judgments. These enemies of God and man attempt to deceive people and divide them with lies and accusations, fostering hatred and contempt for one another and bringing blame and provoking hostilities that ultimately lead to the destruction of relationships, partnerships, and even to physical harm of property and life itself. Our jails and hospitals are filled with those who have injured others or themselves and blame everyone but the true manipulators who remain unseen.
So how do you fight an unseen foe? The Bible tells us that our weapons are not physical, but they are mighty and powerful (2 Cor. 10:4). Our unseen armor is not something we can manufacture ourselves. Truth, righteousness, good news of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God are our only defenses (Eph. 6:14-17).
These things are not of our own making. God gives them to us, but we must be willing to receive them.
Some people will refuse to receive what God has so freely given because they did not obtain them by their own strength or wisdom. To gain victory over our enemies we must first humble ourselves and acknowledge that our victory is not because of our strength, but because of God’s love. Our ability to receive from God begins with humbling ourselves before him, then submitting ourselves to him we can receive what only God has to give. We receive his truth and righteousness; his peace and salvation and these things change us.
God empowers us to walk in love, even towards those who count us their enemy. If we live in the love of God and we are free from offense and from judging others or believing lies or accusations, we can then cast down vain thoughts and exalted imaginations that try to get us to act on them and fulfill the will of our unseen adversaries.
God becomes a “wall of fire” about us and his glory fills our lives (Zech. 2:5). We can keep our cities (families, homes, businesses, ministries and country) safe and secure from every work of the enemy when Jesus is Lord and we choose to humbly receive from him the power that overcomes every evil work (1 Jn. 5:3-5).
May you be clothed with the unseen armor of God and kept safe from the lies of the enemy. May your lives be filled with joy and your homes with the blessings of God as you choose to walk in love and humble obedience to the Word of God.