The believer's war-Relationships

 BY Argie Simonis

No matter what we do in our daily lives, there will always be someone who will irritate us, someone who will oppose us or cause us obstacles and difficulties. It can be in our workplace, in our friendly or even in our family environment. Behind all these "annoying" people, there is someone else, our real enemy, who incites them against us. There is a spiritual warfare that exists daily and we as believers must know it.

Many Christians have adopted the view that all the problems and adversities we face in life are exclusively in the physical realm and do not realize the spiritual nature behind them. In other words, they see things only on a superficial level and consider them as normal or natural.

The truth is that there is a battle raging every day in the spirit world.

This battle is for your heart and for the heart of every other person on earth.

God with His love tries to influence people and draw them to His righteousness and to Himself, so that they can live fully with Him, so that His blessings can be manifested in their lives.

The devil, on the other hand, is fighting to steal people's hearts away from God. He wants to fill their hearts with rubbish and corruption. And although most Christians recognize it to some degree, they do not realize how intense the war really is and how much they contribute to it through their actions.

So when you ignore this spiritual reality, you passively accept what comes against you. The choices you make, the things you say, the actions you take, and what you believe about what is happening around you determine whether God or the devil dominates your life. Satan can do nothing that is not in your will. He can do nothing without your cooperation and consent. But you have to recognize that you are in a battle.

Some people choose not to believe this, but whether they believe it or not, this battle is going on daily. Only when you realize this will you be able to resist and confront the devil and his methods. In the Word of God we read:

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

Paul also writes:

"Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." 

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:10-12

This refers to demonic forces. There is a chain of command, a power structure in the demonic realm, and here these different levels are listed. But beware that it says you are not fighting against flesh and blood. Many things that happen in your life are not just "natural" or "normal".

It is not your partner at work, it is not your neighbor and it is definitely not your husband or wife who is the problem. If you are not careful you can be negatively influenced and the devil can come and use it against you. If you can recognize this, you will be saved from many afflictions, sufferings and broken relationships. Of course, this does not mean that the person used by the devil to come against you disclaims any responsibility. He certainly has a responsibility that allowed satan to use him, but understanding this reality will help you to forgive much more easily. It will help you not to get angry or bitter with the person and to be able to walk with forgiveness. This way the relationship can be restored much more painlessly.

Sometimes we have to engage directly with the enemy. A typical example is of Jesus who rebuked Peter. We read the story:

"He said to them, But whom say you that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 16:15-17

After this, Jesus began to talk about what was to happen to Him:

"From that time forth began Jesus to show to his disciples, how that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from you, Lord: this shall not be to you.

But he turned, and said to Peter, Get you behind me, Satan: you are an offense to me: for you mind not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Matthew 16:21-23

It is the same Peter  who, shortly after the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recognized Jesus as the Son of the living God, tries to prevent Him from the way of the cross. Certainly Peter was shocked by this rebuke, but Jesus was not addressing Peter, but the devil who influenced him to speak these words, which in fact were against the will of God.

This rebuke may seem harsh, but be sure that there will come a time when this tactic will have to be applied. Whether you recognize it or not, the devil can speak to you directly through other people. On one hand we have the devil who tries to discredit God and prevent you from walking in your calling and on the other hand the Holy Spirit gives testimony to your heart and tries to make you open up and receive His Word. It is a spiritual war and in order to be victorious, you must know who you are and the power you have as a believer.

"Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke 10:19

Amen!