You Need To Own It! – Part 2

PART 2: YOUR OWN ADVERSARY 

If you have not yet done so, please read part one HERE.

In part one, we looked at owning your own altar. No one will cultivate an intimate relationship with The Lord for you. You have to own it. 

In part two, we will examine why you need to own the fact that you have an adversary. 

Judges 3:1-2 (KJV) "1 Now these [are] the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;"

After the leadership and life of Joshua and the elders ended, the Hebrews forsook the Lord and His Word. The previous generation had fought hard to possess the promised land. They knew about conflict and sacrifice. They also appreciated what they had gained because it cost them something. 

This new generation knew nothing of the struggle or enemy that was always lurking near. If they were ever going to be what The Lord wanted them to be, He had to change this. 

THEY NEEDED AN ADVERSARY!

Yes, you read that right! They needed an adversary. It was the only way that they could learn some essential spiritual lessons. 

Every child of God has an adversary called satan (No, I don't capitalize his name), but we must know the personal aspect of this dynamic. He's not just some obscure opposition or force out there somewhere. He makes this warfare personal. He will attack anything that he thinks will work towards deterring you from seeking The Lord—your health, family, occupation, mind, emotions, etc. 

Maybe we're all in agreement about the fact that the devil is a real enemy. But, have you ever considered that you NEED this adversary? 

DAVID NEEDED A GOLIATH

David needed the lion, the bear, and Goliath. Each fight prepared him for the next. 

1 Samuel 17:34-37 (KJV) "34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered [it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught [him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee."

For most of David's life, he fought against the Philistines. These early battles helped to shape the king and man of war he would become. 

PAUL NEEDED A MESSENGER

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV) 

"7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

According to Paul's admission, he needed a thorn in the flesh to prevent pride in his life. God had blessed him with many revelations, and it would've been easy for Paul to become prideful. So, to combat this, God gave him a "messenger of satan." 

JESUS NEEDED JUDAS

Jesus needed an adversary. Jesus needed a Judas to accomplish the will of His Father. Jesus personally chose Judas, knowing full well that he would be the catalyst that would send Him to the cross. Our Savior committed no sin or crime worthy of execution, but still, he had to die, and there had to be an enemy to connect the dots and complete the plan. 

ISRAEL NEEDED ENEMIES

Reread the passage from Judges.

Judges 3:1-2 (KJV) "1 Now these [are] the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;" (emphasis mine)

The Lord intentionally left enemy nations in the promised land to prove and teach Israel. There's a funny thing about faith-it can't be transferred between people. Each believer must cultivate their faith as they walk with God. You and I need our own adversary for this to happen.  

As a husband, father, and pastor, I find myself too often trying to spare the ones I love from having to go through difficult things. I tend to want to fix everything. Unfortunately, it's like helping the new butterfly out of the cocoon. It has to fight its way out to complete the development of its wings. 

Similarly, it is in these conflicts and struggles that every believer learns how to overcome, and the Bible is plenteous in promises to the overcomer. 

Romans 12:21 (KJV)

"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

1 John 2:13 (KJV)

"...I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one..."

1 John 2:14 (KJV)

"...I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."

1 John 4:4 (KJV)

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

1 John 5:4 (KJV)

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith."

1 John 5:5 (KJV)

"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Revelation 2:7 (KJV)

"...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

Revelation 2:11 (KJV)

"...He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."

Revelation 2:17 (KJV)

"...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]."

Revelation 2:26 (KJV)

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:"

Revelation 3:5 (KJV)

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

Revelation 3:12 (KJV)

"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name."

Revelation 3:21 (KJV)

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

Revelation 21:7 (KJV)

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

The simple fact that there are so many direct messages specifically to overcomers indicates that some will not overcome. An unknown number of professing believers will collapse along the way. They won't have the stamina or strength to say along with the Apostle Paul, "I finished my course." 

Also, there would not be encouragement to overcome if there wasn't anything to overcome. These verses give the impression that something or someone is trying to defeat me—an obstacle impeding my progress. 

We as Christians must own the realization that we have, and will have, battles that only we can fight. 

How many times have we despaired over a particular battle we're facing? Could The Lord have allowed this struggle to arise to do something extraordinary in us? 

What obstacle or enemy in your life do you need to "own"? Do you need to conclude that this thing is mine and for my good? 

Romans 8:28 (KJV) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose."