HOW TO DEFEAT YOUR ENEMIES

HOW TO DEFEAT YOUR ENEMIES

Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation- Psalms 119:98-99 (KJV).

The words adversary, enemy, and foe have one thing in common; opposition! However, these three words are strikingly different in meaning. Your adversary competes or fights against you; your enemy usually hates and desires to harm you; and your foe may be your adversary or your enemy. However, unlike adversary or enemy one does not usually know his foe. In other words, your foe is your flourishing adversary or enemy; flourishing because you are not aware of that person’s opposing schemes. Nevertheless, the weapon to defeat any of them is the same – divine wisdom! Divine wisdom will make you wiser than your enemies.

Enemies are always with us; it does not matter whether we have done wrong or not. The truth is that adversities or animosities also afflict the innocent, although they cannot conquer that person. Thus innocence neither prevents nor cures opposition. In fact good and righteous deeds attract more deadly enemies than wickedness. No wonder Satan and his cohorts greatly hate God and any persons who delight to serve and worship Him. Studies have shown that there are four principalities; eight powers; and one trillion demons on the organizational structure of the Dark kingdom, and all these forces seek to attack God’s kingdom on earth. The more wickedness a demon is able to wreak on earth; the higher that demon’s promotion in the demonic realm. This means that wickedness is the hallmark of enemies. People who are both prayerful and  live holy are their worst enemies, and their main targets.

It is impossible to enjoy any forms of blessings or victories without the real involvement of God. By God, you can run through countless and fiercest troops and leap over walls, even skyscrapers! Of course a person can attain success or victory outside God; but we ought to remember that that kind of success or victory is just a shadow! Real enemies usually do not waste their efforts in contesting or fighting against shadow success because it is a vapourized package.  All that is needed to diffuse vapour is wind or heat, and almost everyday nature causes them to operate. Thus all that your real enemies need to do is to control the elemental forces of nature to operate against you. This explains why the devil and his cohorts always try to influence human affairs through the elements.

It therefore goes without saying that you need divine wisdom to defeat your enemies. Divine wisdom is the right application of the right knowledge. This kind of wisdom “is profitable,” in the words of Ecclesiastes 10:10, “to direct”. Thus the right knowledge profitably directs. The Bible contains the directions to deal with any kind of opposition. To understand these directions, you need to identify and meditate on a particular direction that deals with your opposition. You need however to pass God’s meekness test. “He guides the humble (meek) in what is right and teaches them his way” – Psalm 25:9(NIV). Humble people through Jesus Christ surrender their lives to God, the only wise Supreme Being. Besides, God is the only teacher of righteousness and holiness, both of which make a person invincible to all forms of opposition. Invincible persons meditate on God’s word always, and do them.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of right your writing.

borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

PEOPLE TO AVOID

PEOPLE TO AVOID

Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people –

2 Timothy 3:5(NIV).

Godliness denotes righteousness, holiness, saintliness, goodness, piousness and devoutness, among others. It is thus great to be a godly person because godliness is a great virtue. Besides, godliness with content is a great gain. It may therefore appear that all godly people are assets. Consequently, a person may be tempted to desire a godly person as a friend, mentor, role model, wife, husband, leader, or business partner. However, a mere godly person can be dangerous!

Real godliness has both form and substance. The form denotes appearance and countenance of a godly person. This appearance is mostly deceptive. Persons who have only a form of godliness are beautiful on the outside but stinks on the inside. They glory in their appearance and are only known after the flesh. Besides, they are not integrated in that their words are miles apart from their actions. In fact, their words and deeds are two parallel rivers. Such people usually eloquently preach virtues but practice vices. Like, empty barrels, they make the most noise! Besides, they are usually people pleasers and yearn for societal acceptance by compromising on godly virtues. On the other hand, the substance of godliness is the inward make-up of a godly person. Persons having godly inward make-up may appear ordinary or ugly on the outside but glitters on the inside. Such persons simply harbour hidden gems. Their true worth is discernibly measured in gold. They potently possess both the real form and substance of godliness. They are usually known after the Spirit. It goes without saying that they are people of integrity (character).

People who have only the form of godliness are dangerous! They are dangerous because they consciously or unconsciously serve as agents and employees of the Devil. The Devil is no respecter of persons; he only respects divine power. However, persons with only the form of godliness by their attitudes deny the reality of divine power to deal with all situations. They are usually dominated by fear and easily succumb to devilish attacks and maneuvers. Therefore, meddling with such persons is to naively quench one’s faith and expose oneself to unnecessary spiritual attacks. It is more like an eagle flocking with chickens; it becomes a cheap prey to a chicken hawk. But real eagles soar heights. Besides, they keep the company of only eagles.

Today, many so-called Christians have clothed themselves with godliness but by their attitudes they deny God’s power in His word. They profess the power of God yet they deny its efficacy in all human endeavours. They thus believe more in hollow human philosophies such as economic, legal, medical and political theories than the word of God. In other words, they easily conform to the standards of this world than that of God. Their god and appetite are respectively what they should be ashamed of and their belly! Besides, they are carnally minded. Consequently, they refuse to totally surrender their lives to the leadings of the Holy Spirit and divine guidance. “…Have nothing to do with such people.” We are wrestling with powers, not flesh and blood. God has thus given us the Spirit of power. Therefore, to put on a form of godliness and deny its power is to surrender to the evil powers. Such persons are clearly enemies of God; wisely avoid them! To be equally yoked with such people is to commit spiritual suicide. Wise up!

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of right your writing.

borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

THE IDOLATRY OF LEARNING

Always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth - 2Timothy 3:7(NIV).

      Learning is central to the acquisition of any forms of knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Knowledge, wisdom and understanding are the sacred secret keys of any forms of prosperity. Knowledge enhances speedy and stability in any adventure; wisdom is fundamental to profiting from any forms of knowledge; and understanding makes knowledge both concrete and visible to an average person of ordinary intelligence. Certainly, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold” – Proverbs 3:13-14(NIV). However, not every kind of learning guarantees acquisition of the knowledge of truth (Jesus Christ). The highest form of learning is knowing and abiding in the knowledge of the truth. Real learned persons know and abide in the knowledge of the truth. Without knowing and abiding in the knowledge of the truth, lengthy learning is lethal because its knowledge becomes a grievous nuisance, and its wisdom is reduced to a practical foolishness.

    

     We live in a deceptive world. Good success in this world is all about overcoming deceptions. The more deceptions a person overcomes; the greater the heights that person rises in life. One of such deceptions is that all forms of learning guarantees good success. But this is a fatal false! It has for example been said that there are three main learned professions on earth namely- Law, Medicine, and. Clergy. This is not wholly true. Perhaps, this deep-seated perception keeps on ranging because it takes a lot of learning to become a lawyer, a medical doctor, and clergy. Lawyers are, for example, mostly referred as the learned people because it requires both great discipline and industry to become and remain one! However, only real lawyers are learned lawyers. If mere learning were to be the sole criterion for measuring greatness professors might positively transform this world. Many so-called learned people and professors across the globe are at best living frustrated lives. They may overtly appear better in the eyes the public but only God knows what they are suffering within! Their belly and mind are full of turbulent tumors and turmoil! They are bereft of real peace and fulfillment.

    

      Real learners through Jesus Christ know God. Knowing God is the highest form of learning. People who know God through Jesus are real learned people. Real learned people always wax strong and do exploits. Thus uncommon strength and exploits are proofs of real learning. Their wisdom builds, their understanding establishes whatever they build and through their knowledge their establishments are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Besides, by their wisdom and knowledge they, respectively, prevail through power, and muster strength always. This means that real learned persons are strong in all circumstances and situations. No wonder Apostle Paul soberly confessed, “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” –Philippians 3:8, 10 (NIV). Garbage is a product of idol learning.

   

      Idolatry is anything that turns a person from the knowledge of the truth. For J.P. Timmons, “…We should be careful to define idolatry also. It is not just the worship of graven images, sticks and stones. It is these but much more. Anything can be idol. In America, most people’s idol is money, sex, entertainment or sports. Whatever you spend the most of time doing and thinking about, is your god”. True! Today, many people are preoccupied with acquiring all kinds of academic qualifications but have little or no delight in knowing their Creator. They worship garbage learning instead of God through Jesus! Academic logos and human wisdom are their greatest pursuit. But real learning does not come from certifications and award of academic degrees. Knowing Jesus is the key! The rests are offshoot. Do you really know Jesus? Is he the centre and the focus of your life? Judge yourself!

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Persecutions are Promotions. borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com