God bless you and greetings in the name of Jesus Christ who taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
Although God promised His people victory over their enemies throughout both the Old and the New Testaments (Exodus 15:6; Deuteronomy 20:4, Psalms 18:3; 41:11; I Corinthians 15:51; I John 5:4), our enemies will not be utterly destroyed until the devil and death are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10, 14-15). Until then, we will face opposition and hatred from those who rebel against God (John 15:18-19).
It is the Word of God that we believe and the power of God that we operate that appropriates our victory. It takes walking on the Word and walking by the spirit to be more than conquerors in this world. We often need to not only know what to say, but how, when and where to say it, as we fight valiantly for the truth.
When Paul was at Philippi, he was confronted by a possessed damsel. He waited for the right time and place to handle the situation. Despite the consequences that ensued that landed him in prison, he was valiant for the truth in bringing deliverance to the damsel.
Acts 16:16-18:
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
When Paul confronted Elymus in Acts 13, he recognized his enemy, knowing what that enemy wanted to do. He was valiant for the truth, leading the deputy into the family of faith.
Acts 13:7-12:
Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
This enemy of the truth was intent on always perverting the right ways of the Lord, and Paul handled the situation. When Paul addresses the doctrinal error that the Galatians were falling into, he was not received as graciously as he should have been. In Galatians 4:16, Paul asks, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”
The Galatians had been bewitched into thinking that the law was still appropriate (Galatians 3:1). Paul knew they were affected and fought for them against the error that was being promoted. He wanted them to grow up right, and like a father teaching his children, he felt he needed to change his voice.
Galatians 4:17-20:
They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
God’s people face enemies. Sometimes we may even become, as the modern proverb states, our own worst enemy. When we do not control our thinking, we may return to being alienated and enemies in our mind (Colossians 1:21). Tomorrow, I’ll give you a list of enemies of the truth. As I put the list together, I asked myself, “Am I an enemy to myself or to anyone else in any of these categories?” After answering honestly, I am ready to proceed ― valiant for the truth.