Identifying the Real Enemy

When it comes to spiritual growth, it's important to develop the habit of writing things down. Whether you use an iPad or another digital device, it’s crucial to categorise your notes so you can easily access and expand on them later. Let me mentor you on this: While physical books are wonderful (and I have many myself), I recommend using digital tools for note-taking. Why? Because if your physical book is lost or damaged, all your notes are gone.

Let me share a story with you. Once, a lady in Margaon had written down all my notes in a notebook. She accidentally left her book on a bus, but, by God's grace, the conductor brought the book to my meeting. This taught me the importance of preserving our notes in a way that they’re not easily lost.

When you categorise and organise your notes digitally, you can always add to them, modify them, and make the message truly yours.

Now, back to the message. When you deal with your spiritual enemies, the power of God will begin to flow in your life. This brings us to the second point: identifying the real enemy.

As I mentioned earlier, your father-in-law or mother-in-law is not your enemy. Tell someone, "Your brother and sister are not your enemies." The people in the church are also not your enemies.

Apostle Paul gives us insight into this in Ephesians 6:12 (AMPC): “For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.”

Notice the term “despotisms.” Let me explain this. We are not just dealing with people or physical issues; we are contending with spiritual powers—master spirits that have been influencing generations.

What you are battling today may be the same spirits your grandfather struggled against. Let me explain this further, sir. Many people don't fully grasp this concept. They think that because they are born again and living under the New Testament, these issues no longer apply. But the New Testament itself begins with a genealogy—the “Son of...”

When I first started reading the Bible, I opened the first chapter of the New Testament and thought, “What’s the problem?” At that time, I was reading the King James Version (KJV), and it began with “begats.”

Let me ask you: How many of you have skipped that page?

But the main issue here is “Whose son are you?” This isn’t just about physical lineage; it’s about understanding the spiritual influences that have passed down through generations. For example, if your grandfather struggled with anger, you might find yourself battling the same spirit. Recognising this can help you deal with these spiritual enemies more effectively.

Allow me to explain: King Saul was very insecure despite being the king. His insecurity extended to those around him, leading to reckless decisions. In his misguided zeal, he killed the Gibeonites, with whom Joshua and the children of Israel had made a covenant (Joshua 9:15). This covenant was binding, but Saul, in his impulsiveness, broke it, bringing severe consequences upon Israel.

Later, when David became king, Israel experienced three consecutive years of famine. In the first year, there was famine. In the second year, the famine persisted. By the third year, David knew something was wrong. So, he fasted and prayed, seeking God's guidance. God revealed to him that the famine was a direct result of Saul breaking the covenant with the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1).

In response, the Gibeonites demanded seven descendants of Saul to be handed over for execution. These seven individuals were put to death. But here’s the pressing question: What was the fault of these seven? This scenario introduces us to the concept of generational curses and bondages. In the spiritual realm, master spirits can hold families and individuals in bondage for generations due to the sins and actions of their ancestors. The consequences of Saul's actions were visited upon his descendants, illustrating how spiritual forces can influence a family line.

This is what happens in the realm of the spirit: master spirits can hold entire families and individuals in bondage for generations.

One day, I was flying to Mangalore. Now, everything seemed fine at first—until the plane started to shake just a little. I thought, “Okay, no big deal.” I started praying, and my prayer life really grew on that plane. The turbulence was just warming up, but I was ahead of the game, whispering, “Blood of Jesus! Blood of Jesus!”

Then, out of nowhere, the plane shook harder, and I noticed the air hostesses still strolling up and down the aisle, completely unfazed. I have to say, I really admire the cabin crew. Their job might look glamorous, but in moments like these, it’s clear they’ve got nerves of steel.

But then, things got really bad. The plane started bouncing up, down, and rocking sideways. And there I was, with my eyes tightly shut, praying, “Oh Jesus, Father God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, help!” Don’t laugh—it was serious!

At that point, the air hostesses finally buckled themselves in, and by the looks on their faces, I knew we were in for some serious turbulence. That’s when it hit me: if these seasoned professionals were strapping in, it was time to really pray. Thank God we landed safely at Mangalore that day!

Now, just imagine the disciples on that boat during the storm. These were seasoned fishermen, not first-time sailors. If they were terrified, you know it wasn’t just any storm—it was one of a kind.

Now that the storm is over, the disciples are probably catching their breath, thinking it’s time to relax. But little do they know, Jesus is about to reveal the real enemy behind the storm.

Tell someone, “Maybe you are going through a storm, or maybe you’ve just come out of one, but do you really know who the enemy is?”

Turn with me to Mark 5:1-4 (NKJV):

This man wasn’t just living in the tombs—he was bound by something far worse than chains. He was naked, tormented, and uncontrollable. The townspeople had tried everything to restrain him, but nothing worked.

When Jesus approached him, He asked, “Who are you?” The man replied, “I’m Legion.” A legion, in the ancient Roman military structure, was a term used to describe a unit of the Roman army that consisted of several thousand soldiers. Typically, a Roman legion was composed of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. 

This means that there were nearly 3,000 to 6,000 demons in him! These demons knew Jesus was coming, and they were the ones behind the storm that had just rocked the boat.

Look at someone and say, “Identify the enemy behind your storm.”

Sometimes the real enemy isn’t what you see on the surface—it’s what’s lurking beneath. Just as Jesus exposed the true cause of the disciples' storm, He can help you uncover the spiritual forces at work in your life.