“For the good that I would do, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” (Romans 7:19-20 KJV)
Until the enemy within is defeated the enemies without would seem to be strong and powerful.
Whether you’d agree or not, a man that is born of a woman is full of trouble, and he has enemies. The first enemy of humankind is the devil. He sought for a means to pull man down from the position of dominion God placed him. But thanks be to Jesus Christ who restored humankind.
There are two kinds of enemies – the enemy within and enemies without. We are commanded to love our enemies, but we must never embrace the enemies within and our spiritual enemies (Eph. 6:12).
Your physical enemy could be that mean boss or colleague, but your enemy within is that part of you that does not want you to do God’s will or make progress in life.
Laziness is an enemy within, likewise lust, procrastination, and other weaknesses common to the flesh. As mightily used by God, Paul had struggles with his enemy within until he got rid of it.
What is your enemy within?
Sin is your first enemy within, followed by those destructive habits. The only way to overcome sin is through the death of the Cross – crucify your flesh – and to overcome those habits, discipline is needed.
When your flesh isn’t crucified, sin would always knock you down because you won’t be able to do those good things your soul desires – to obey God, stay sexually pure, abstain from fornication or adultery and several others – but you’d find yourself rising and falling into it.
Meanwhile, the death of the Cross is the only way to destroy the power of sin over your soul. Going to church alone without having this experience won’t help either. In fact, trying to be religious, cool, calm, and collected won’t help you.
Paul’s victory over his enemy within was found in Gal. 2:20. When “I” (self) becomes crucified, only then would Christ live in you so that through your will, mind, and emotion, His life would manifest in you.
This is the first step you should take after you’ve confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
And to overcome those habits, self-help principles aren’t enough, you need the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. Your enemy without will be able to harm or defeat you when you haven’t conquered your enemy within.
