We address sin, but we don’t attack people.
We don’t fight against flesh and blood.
Remember who the true enemy is. It’s easy to get distracted by what’s on the surface and forget that the fight is spiritual.
“The devil tries to convince us that the fight is against each other because if we fight against each other, we never come against him. We have to remember who we are truly fighting.”
- Pastor Christina B. Lynch
When we lose focus of who our opponent is, we end up wasting our energy taking shots in the dark, attacking the air, and fighting the wrong battles, all while our true enemy goes unaddressed. Don’t waste your energy.
Fix your focus. Fight the right fight.
This message is for me too. It’s so easy to misdirect our anger and get into heated debates. It’s easy to go back and forth with people on the internet. But truly, these arguments lead to no gain. Those the enemy uses for his purposes are victims too, whether we want to hear and believe it or not.
I’m NOT speaking against the need for accountability. God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Being a victim of the enemy’s deception does not exempt anyone from the consequences of being used by him. What I am saying is that in our pursuit of justice, let’s not allow the anger, disgust and disappointment we feel to keep us from praying for our enemies. WAIT! I know many of you are rolling your eyes right now but don’t stop reading please. Let me finish. Our flesh doesn’t want to hear it. Tbh, I didn’t really want to type it. But there’s a reason why Christ tells us in Matthew 5:44-45 to pray for our enemies, because He knew we wouldn’t naturally desire or choose to do so in our flesh. You don’t feel like praying for those who hate you...but it’s so necessary. God is the only One Who can change their hearts and bring them to repentance. God can change anyone! Remember, Paul was once Saul. So while addressing the sins, let’s not attack the person or throw them away. Don’t become like those who oppose us. The standard is to reflect Christ. The end goal is always repentance. The mission is still to win souls.
Some scriptures to keep in mind during this time:
“But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.”
Titus 3:9-11 HCSB
“Stay away from all the foolish arguments of the immature, for these disputes will only generate more conflict. For a true servant of our Lord Jesus will not be argumentative but gentle toward all and skilled in helping others see the truth, having great patience toward the immature. Then with meekness you’ll be able to carefully enlighten those who argue with you so they can see God’s gracious gift of repentance and be brought to the truth. This will cause them to rediscover themselves and escape from the snare of satan who caught them in his trap so that they would carry out his purposes.”
2 Timothy 2:23-26 TPT
“For every soldier called to active duty must divorce himself from the distractions of this world so that he may fully satisfy the one who chose him.”
2 Timothy 2:4 TPT
“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”
2 Timothy 2:4 ESV
“If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.”
Matthew 10:14 HCSB
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.”
Ephesians 6:10-13 HCSB
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:44-45 HCSB
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.””
John 13:35 NLT