From the moment we enter into this troubled world, we are surrounded by what I call ‘The Enemies of our Life’. There is a territory surrounded by insurmountable circumstances that we can never fully control. As we live, we must first know what these enemies are and secondly we must learn to defeat them.
In the book of Ephesians (6:12) we learn about our true enemy.
The Verse reads
“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.
It is important to know our enemies, because only then can we be properly empowered to defeat them. As we learn about these enemies, it is even more important to know our Friend. James said it this way;
“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.“
His grace is sufficient for us
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Break Free and Fight
If we allow it, Satan will keep us imprisoned by his deceit. We must understand that Satan is after our minds, our hearts, and ultimately our souls. His strategy is to confine us within prison walls, but often these walls exist only in our minds. It’s one thing to be trapped in a physical prison made of iron and bricks, but the true battle takes place in a prison not made by human hands. Imagine fighting an unseen enemy in unfamiliar territory—how could you even begin to fight such an opposition?
The good news is that God, the Master Planner and Builder, has already revealed our true enemy and how to defeat him. With this knowledge, we can break free and fight through the power of our anointing. Consider Ephesians 6:12, where the Bible tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but rather with;
“principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Satan is our true enemy
Many times, we fight against each other, not realizing that we are waging the wrong war. Consider a husband and wife who constantly battle one another, unaware that they share a common enemy. What they fail to see are the demons and forces of separation working against both of them. Yet, they fight each other mercilessly, blind to the real culprit behind their conflict.
Now imagine if the husband understood that his wife is not his enemy, and if the wife recognized that her husband is truly her ally. The same applies to friendships and family relationships. How often do we engage in family conflicts, unaware that there is a common enemy working to tear apart families, communities, and friendships?
It would be wonderful if we could recognize that Satan is our true enemy, the mastermind behind the enemies of our life. The Bible describes him as a thief, killer, and destroyer. Lucifer, the serpent, is desperately wicked and works tirelessly to defeat us. Yet, despite this, as long as we stay connected to the True Vine and rooted in the Rock, Satan can never snatch us from God’s hands.
See Also : The Armor of God is Our Protection
God is our Friend
We often become overwhelmed by the knowledge of our adversary, forgetting the powerful presence of our Friend who protects us from the enemies of our life. The Bible reminds us that the Lord of Hosts, our Friend, will never leave us nor forsake us. As the songwriter declares, “What a friend we have in Jesus!”
Imagine having a Friend who is with you every step of the way. This Friend will stand by you in life and death, accompany you to the park, and be with you on the subway. Now, imagine that this Friend is all-powerful, knows everything, and has total control over all circumstances. How much more confident would you be in facing life’s challenges with such a Friend by your side?
Today, I have good news for you. For those who are broken, this news is the Gospel. The Friend we speak of is Jesus, and the one He walks with is you. You must hold this truth dear in your heart.
This knowledge will empower you to face life’s difficulties from a place of faith, not fear. The Bible tells us that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all. No matter how numerous our trials may be, we have a Friend who will deliver us from every single one.
How do we fight our enemy?
In the book of Ephesians, we are taught about the weapons of our warfare. The Scripture states:
“Finally, my brethren, 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 do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12, NKJV)
These verses remind us that our struggle is not against physical enemies, but against spiritual forces that seek to undermine our faith and strength. Therefore, we must equip ourselves with God’s armor to stand firm and fight effectively in the spiritual battle.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
When we engage in battle, it’s crucial to learn how to fight rightly. Fighting right involves having the correct spiritual mindset and choosing the right battles. This means we do not fight against flesh and blood—our brothers and sisters—but rather against Lucifer and the diabolic forces that oppose the knowledge of God within us. I emphasize the knowledge of God because the only way Satan can defeat us is by distorting our understanding of this truth.
As we fight, we will come to realize that as long as we hold on to the truth within us, the external lies and the enemies of our life can do us no harm. The circumstances we face may seem strategically positioned by the enemy, but we must never forget that God is in complete control. For instance, when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt, he didn’t complain or suggest that God had forgotten him. Instead, Joseph chose to recognize that God was still in control of his situation.
Joseph’s comment was;
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” -Genesis 50:20
Joseph’s method of victory was FAITH.
The master key to spiritual victory is to trust in the WORD of God. This is precisely what Joseph did when his brothers sold him into slavery. He placed his trust in the God within him rather than the situations surrounding him. Joseph was fully equipped with the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6.
Imagine if Joseph hadn’t known the WORD of God; he would have had no foundation for his trust—nothing to lean on. Picture the enemy tormenting him with fiery darts of lies and deceit. Yet, Joseph remained resolute, trusting God through it all.
This is Joseph’s story, but what about the Apostles? Many were martyred for the sake of the Gospel, yet they were victorious in fulfilling God’s purpose. Stephen was stoned to death, yet he died while preaching the Gospel. Paul was beaten and imprisoned, but he remained steadfast in his mission. Jeremiah faced ridicule and considered quitting, but the WORD of God burned like fire within him, compelling him to continue.
All these servants remained faithful in the most challenging circumstances because they never wavered in their walk with God. This is our victory, my friends: when we walk with God and place our trust in Him. As we do so, we remain secure in His Presence, and nothing can separate us from the love of our God.
10 Scriptures that speaks about defeating our enemy
5. "No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord."
"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts."
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
30. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart…”
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
20. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
"This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chron. 20:15
“For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.” Ps. 18:39
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
