The Reality of Our Enemy

The Reality of Our Enemy
by Eric Lambert

Satan wants you to doubt God. If the devil is successful in getting you to think contrary to what the scriptures say about you, then the battle is already half won. No one can convince you that you are what they say you are. You must first believe that you are what they say before they say it to you. You have already engaged in a battle with the words that they bring to you in your mind. If you believe the lie that is hatched in your mind, then you will believe the lie the person speaks to you.

For example, when Goliath confronted the children of Israel they hid in the trenches. He said to the children of Israel, “Send me out someone that may fight against me. If your champion defeats me, then we Philistines will serve you, but if I defeat your champion, then you will serve us. Send me out a man.” The Bible says they were all afraid because of his appearance. No one had tested him in battle, nor did they know the capabilities of this giant. There was no one around that said I saw him win every battle he ever fought or for that matter, any battle he ever fought. Goliath may have simply frightened all of his enemies by his appearance without ever being tested. That’s why the Bible tells us not to believe every spirit.

Just because the devil comes against you doesn’t mean he’s going to beat you. You are listening to the ravings of a lunatic rather than standing on the promises of God. Goliath said, “I will defeat your champion” and everyone just said, “Well, I guess we are going to lose if we try to fight him.” I wish the children of God had Caleb with them. Caleb had no fear for his enemies. In fact, at eighty years of age, Caleb told Joshua that he wanted his land now and that he was well able to fight for it.

When the enemy comes against you, he doesn’t remind you that Jesus beat him on the cross; that with his stripes, you are healed; that by his blood, you are washed; that with his resurrection, you are justified; that with his ascension, you are glorified.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he (Jesus) made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:15).

Satan comes at you and tells you that you can’t win in the situation that you are facing. He tells you that you are always going to be poor; you’re always going to be sick because it was in your family. He doesn’t tell you that you’re in a new family. He doesn’t tell you that you’ve been adopted. He doesn’t tell you that you have a new bloodline. You believe his lies because they come at you where you live. When the enemy hits you where you live, move to a higher place. And if he hits you on the next level, move to another level. Eventually, you will be seated in heavenly places; a place where he can’t reach you anymore.

As Christians, we must learn how to move in the spiritual. Without this knowledge, we will forever be at the mercy of Satan. He is a lying, scheming, deceiving, egotistical enemy. Satan cannot tell the truth; he doesn’t want the truth; he does not want you to know the truth at all.

He is angry that he did not have enough sense to keep his position in heaven; he’s angry that you and I have tapped into what he used to have (the anointing). As a result, he consistently tells us that we do not have a right to walk in the newness of life that God has given to us. Satan wants us to worry because worrying hinders faith. He wants us to be sick because sickness destroys God’s temple. He wants us to be defeated because he’s defeated. He wants us to be sad because he’s mad. He wants us to be disgusted because he’s been destroyed. The Word of God is clear when it says, “I [Jesus] am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.” Jesus did not come to keep you in bondage. He came to give you life. He came to put a spring in your step, joy in your spirit, hope in your heart, and praise in your lips.

As you read these words, purpose in your heart that you will rise above the snares of the devil and walk in the realm of God’s peace.

When the enemy brings negative or bad things against you, walk in the peace of God. When you feel like you can’t make it, walk in God’s peace. Victory begins in the mind!!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In his latest book, Ingredients for Prayer: A Practical Approach for Maximizing Your Time with God, Rev. Lambert, details what he believes is the true purpose of prayer in contrast to the ‘give me syndrome’ of prayer that so many with financial woes seem to have. By using “The Lord’s Prayer” as a framework, he examines pieces of this prayer model to show ways to connect with God, like understanding the mind and will of God and becoming dependent upon and receiving the peace of God. Rev. Lambert says having a God-centered and not self-centered focus on prayer helps you to know that “[p]rayer is not about you. It is about the will of the Lord being done through you. To make supplication means that you should bring your request to the Lord; however, you must be sure that your request does not go against the will of the Lord.”

Rev. Eric A. Lambert Jr. responded to God’s call to Jesus Christ in 1971. From that time he was active in Christian ministry, serving in a variety of capacities at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Smith Sr. In 1987, after God’s leading, Rev. Lambert established Bethel Deliverance International Church in 1987 with seven committed believers, just north of his hometown of Philadelphia. In addition to pastoring, Rev. Lambert is fulfilling his apostolic calling, having planted a number of churches and developed pastoral relationships with both new and seasoned pastors. He remains committed to spreading the love of God to those who do not know Him while stabilizing and fortifying believers. This is evident not only in his church but in the messages of his books.

For more information about Ingredients for Prayer: Maximizing Your Time with God, visit http://ericlambertministries.com.