Know Thy Enemy Part 1

[RV]

A few years ago I learned a valuable lesson. I was reading about soldiers who weren't able to discern who they were fighting against. Since they didn't know everyone that was fighting on their side, they were not able to discern who was on which side. The result was that the soldiers were fighting and killing people on their own side. They weren't able to determine between friend and foe. Nowadays, it is called "friendly fire" but for the soldiers who actually hurt or killed members of their own side, it is demoralizing and devastating not to mention that it's a fantastic way to lose.

The result is that the enemy was able to survive while the soldiers slaughtered their own. The words "know thy enemy" would have changed everything. Soldiers wouldn't have been fighting soldiers on their own side but, instead would have confronted the real enemy. It may have made a significant difference in the war. It may have dramatically changed the outcome. It's difficult to fight against an enemy when you really have no idea who the enemy is.

Now if we open the Bible to the book of Ephesians Chapter 6, we see that it talks about putting on the "whole armor of God". It does not tell us to put on some or even a little of the armor, it tells us to put the "whole armor" of God on. If anyone was asked to fight the angel Gabriele, Michael or the Lord Himself, he/she would quickly decline saying that there is no way that a mere mortal being could fight much less win a confrontation with beings like that. We just aren't capable of fighting a being who has that kind of supernatural power, yet people arrogantly think that they can somehow fight the devil and win. I've even heard the ignorant claim that they will have "lots" of friends and/or company in hell. I'd love to know what facts they are using!

It is one of the reasons that uniforms are routinely adopted for armies. If you know what the uniform for your side looks like, it is easy to tell the uniform of the opposing army. If one is in civilian clothes as terrorists are, it is more difficult to determine.

The Bible does NOT tell us to fight the devil, the Bible tells us to "resist" the devil, a very different concept. God is the only worthy adversary for the devil and we are no match for the devil's cunning, stealth, prowess, intelligence, intellect or strength. Human's are sinful, arrogant, haughty, self-centered, self-assured, depraved, single-minded, weak and mortal.

[T Hunt]

A few years ago I learned a valuable lesson. I was reading about soldiers who weren't able to discern who they were fighting against. Since they didn't know everyone that was fighting on their side, they were not able to discern who was on which side. The result was that the soldiers were fighting and killing people on their own side. They weren't able to determine between friend and foe. Nowadays, it is called "friendly fire" but for the soldiers who actually hurt or killed members of their own side, it is demoralizing and devastating not to mention that it's a fantastic way to lose.

The result is that the enemy was able to survive while the soldiers slaughtered their own. The words "know thy enemy" would have changed everything. Soldiers wouldn't have been fighting soldiers on their own side but, instead would have confronted the real enemy. It may have made a significant difference in the war. It may have dramatically changed the outcome. It's difficult to fight against an enemy when you really have no idea who the enemy is.

Now if we open the Bible to the book of Ephesians Chapter 6, we see that it talks about putting on the "whole armor of God". It does not tell us to put on some or even a little of the armor, it tells us to put the "whole armor" of God on. If anyone was asked to fight the angel Gabriele, Michael or the Lord Himself, he/she would quickly decline saying that there is no way that a mere mortal being could fight much less win a confrontation with beings like that. We just aren't capable of fighting a being who has that kind of supernatural power, yet people arrogantly think that they can somehow fight the devil and win. I've even heard the ignorant claim that they will have "lots" of friends and/or company in hell. I'd love to know what facts they are using!

It is one of the reasons that uniforms are routinely adopted for armies. If you know what the uniform for your side looks like, it is easy to tell the uniform of the opposing army. If one is in civilian clothes as terrorists are, it is more difficult to determine.

The Bible does NOT tell us to fight the devil, the Bible tells us to "resist" the devil, a very different concept. God is the only worthy adversary for the devil and we are no match for the devil's cunning, stealth, prowess, intelligence, intellect or strength. Human's are sinful, arrogant, haughty, self-centered, self-assured, depraved, single-minded, weak and mortal.

We can only go up against the devil with God on our side. The disciples said that even the demons obeyed them IN JESUS NAME.

Luke 17:
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

Alone we are nothing, but with God we are his servants and his soldiers, fighting his battle in his name.

But as for telling friend from foe he says this.

1John:
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

We are from God and while we are nothing, God is greater than the evil one.

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

As Gods soldiers we have almost a 6th sense when it comes to telling friend from foe, if only we will listen too it.

John 10:
and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice."

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one."

[RV]

We can only go up against the devil with God on our side. The disciples said that even the demons obeyed them IN JESUS NAME.
Alone we are nothing, but with God we are his servants and his soldiers, fighting his battle in his name.

But as for telling friend from foe he says this.

We are from God and while we are nothing, God is greater than the evil one.

As Gods soldiers we have almost a 6th sense when it comes to telling friend from foe, if only we will listen too it.

So, are you saying that we are more important to God than His disciples?

What was the purpose of Jesus telling the disciples that the devil was going to "sift them like wheat"? Weren't the disciples with Jesus? Didn't the disciples have a close relationship with Jesus? Didn't the disciples witness the miracles of Jesus? Didn't the disciples hear and obey God's voice?

Are you a better listener for God's voice than His disciples? If following Christ is easy and people just need to stop and listen, what was the purpose of putting on the whole armor of God? How could the devil sift the disciples like wheat? What does that say about us?

You quoted the scripture about "testing the Spirits", how would one test them? When would one test them? What sort of test would one use? By what measurement would one determine which Spirit did / did not pass the test? Would our humanness affect the outcome of the test? What part does faith, prayer and the word of God play into the test?

It is a little more difficult than what a lot of people think.

[T Hunt]

So, are you saying that we are more important to God than His disciples?

What was the purpose of Jesus telling the disciples that the devil was going to "sift them like wheat"? Weren't the disciples with Jesus? Didn't the disciples have a close relationship with Jesus? Didn't the disciples witness the miracles of Jesus? Didn't the disciples hear and obey God's voice?

Are you a better listener for God's voice than His disciples? If following Christ is easy and people just need to stop and listen, what was the purpose of putting on the whole armor of God? How could the devil sift the disciples like wheat? What does that say about us?

What did I say that was against God's word or anything the disciples said? Show me with scripture...

You quoted the scripture about "testing the Spirits", how would one test them? When would one test them? What sort of test would one use? By what measurement would one determine which Spirit did / did not pass the test? Would our humanness affect the outcome of the test? What part does faith, prayer and the word of God play into the test?

Jesus literally answers that in the quote I posted...
"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God."

It is a little more difficult than what a lot of people think.

Yes it is.

[RV]

What did I say that was against God's word or anything the disciples said? Show me with scripture...
Jesus literally answers that in the quote I posted...
"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God."
Yes it is.

First of all, I did not say ANYTHING at all about you saying ANYTHING against God nor scripture. You said that all people need to do is "listen" to God. I was just pointing out that it's not that simple. You quoted the scripture about hearing His voice, I was merely saying that you first have to be His sheep to hear His voice. Hearing His voice does not come naturally nor does it just happen when we want it to.

Secondly, you claimed that all one needs to do is test the Spirits and I said that it's not that simple. I asked a series of questions, (which you were unable to answer By the way). The questions were not for me to answer but, for you and those who read your comment.

The Devil is quite intelligent and will claim all sorts of things to deceive many into believing that they are following God when in fact they are following the Devil. All one has to do is look around, watch the news or read the newspaper to see that many think that they are "good", "doing good", etc.