"Who's The Enemy?"

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35

Our brothers and sisters in the Lord are not our enemies. Even if they were we are to love and pray for them (Matthew 5:44). David (who was a type and shadow of Christ) said that he fasted and prayed for his enemies when they were sick- he denied his own self for their sake (Psalm 35:13). And Jesus Himself prayed for the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him - His enemies (Luke 23:34).

The Bible tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12) So there is some "fighting" we must do (spiritual warfare), but not against each other. We have a very real enemy who is out to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10a) ("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 6:12) As long as we are busy fighting against each other, then we won't lock shields together and join arm in arm to fight against him. And if we aren't fighting against him then he can go unhindered about the business of destroying people's lives without anyone to stand in his way.

I know that not everyone, or every "group", who calls them self a Christian is a true brother or sister in the Lord-- there has to be recognition of that fact and what is wrong and in error has to be dealt with so that others will not fall into the same deception. But those who are of the family of God, those who have been bought with the blood of Jesus, those who have given their lives to Him--- are not our enemies and we need to recognize that fact and start operating as the "body of Christ"- each member supplying to the next, each one doing it's part, each one receiving from the Head (which is Christ) and functioning as a whole "person". This is not a time for there to be divisions among us.

Have a great day. One can put a thousand to flight... two can put ten thousand to flight. (Deuteronomy 32:30)