Enemies (2)
‘I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry out’ (Romans 7:18, NIV).
The reality of enmity is undeniable. Enmity is the reason why someone wants to oppress, disgrace, dominate, hate, cheat, demote, afflict, intimidate, dehumanize, enslave, imprison, bewitch, rob, embarrass, steal or destroy another fellow. A person who manipulates and controls others spiritually to do what they would not do ordinarily is nothing but an enemy.
A person who takes another man’s life is a strong enemy. A person who is not happy about the progress of another is an enemy. The devil is every man’s archenemy. He programmes hatred, wickedness, revenge, and so on, into the hearts of people and set them against each other.
Apart from the devil and his agents, man’s greatest enemy is sin, which resides in his nature. Sin will do a greater damage to a man than any other enemy will do. Sin is a destroyer. Sin’s greatest mission is to separate man from God forever. Our greatest problem is the problem of sin. Just like Paul said in our Opening Text, it’s the nature of sin that hinders man from doing the good things he desires to do. Instead he finds himself doing the exact opposite of his intentions.
But should we continue to excuse sin while we continue to pamper our sinful nature? No! We need to stand against the voice of the flesh and crucify it. The flesh wants to constantly express itself in our thoughts, words and actions but we must subject it to Godly discipline. The flesh always wants to fight for its right. It wants to prove it knows better. It likes to talk without caution. It magnifies the faults of others while ignoring its own. It cares for itself only. It hates to be corrected. It abhors being mistreated.
It gets upset when it is not noticed. It gets angry when it is not recognized. It wants to take the glory that belongs to God. It wants all attractions to come to her. It wants to take what belongs to a group for himself alone. It cooks up hatred, pride, greed, vengeance, bitterness, malice, gluttony, immorality, dishonesty, sense of entitlement, evil speaking, prayerlessness, and so on.
It hates fasting or long prayers. The flesh is an enemy that must be dethroned in our lives. Until we understand that it’s our greatest enemy, we will keep adoring and treating it like our best friend ever. I pray; May flesh be dethroned in our lives. In Jesus name!
Today’s Corporate Prayers: My flesh, you shall not destroy me. In Jesus name!
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OLUWAGBENRO BLESSED is a writer, musician, an evangelist, a teacher and student of the Bible. He, alongside his wife Nike, coordinates the GraceToday Foundation. Together with their team, they reach out to millions of souls everyday via various social network platforms with God’s words of grace, healing and restoration. Lots of testimonies are being received to God’s glory.
