Our Adversaries

Philippians 1:28, KJV: “And in nothing terrified by your adversaries…”

In Paul’s encouragement to the believers at Philippi, he warned them that they would suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ. Not in the sense of normal human adversities, but specifically because of the world’s hatred of Jesus. So, who are our adversaries in life?

Not necessarily Satan. I John 4:4 “…greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” Satan is our adversary, and he can cause great problems for us, but he is not more powerful than God and cannot overcome us.

Not ordinary people. Hebrews 13:6 “…The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man can do to me.” Men can create difficulties for us, too, but not personal hurt. They cannot neutralize our testimony. Only we can do that, by allowing our emotions to get out of control.

Our adversaries: “a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” Matthew 10:36

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers. Psalm 55:12-14

We must know the enemies or our faith, not to judge them; not to be bitter against them, but to glorify God in our resistance to and defeat of their tactics through the filling of the Holy Spirit and application of Bible Doctrine to every situation we face.

The enemies of our faith are sweet, lovely legalistic friends. Not the foulmouthed, rebellious criminal in the streets. We can spot him a mile away. He’s not interested in us or anything we do. He just wants us to leave him alone as he pursues his pleasures. He is no threat to our faith.

The enemies of our faith are well meaning parents, children, lovers, spouses who are interested in our happiness and well-being. They are alarmed at our insatiable need for Bible teaching. They are concerned that we are dropping some of the old taboos. They’re bored to death with our constant talk of God’s grace. The recorded messages are driving them up the wall. They accuse us of not having minds of our own. They can’t understand our motives: “If you don’t have to do certain things to stay saved, then WHY DO YOU DO THOSE THINGS?!”
Their priorities are not our priorities. Our enemies are our loved ones who speak sweet, loving phrases expressing human good. The objective is to distract us from the doctrine which guards our soul.

They are jealous of the doctrine we love. It is the most important thing in our lives.

They are afraid of the doctrine we love. It has changed who we are.

They despise the doctrine we love, and feel totally justified in using any means at their disposal to distract us from it.

If a believer is serious about growing in grace, learning Bible Doctrine and showing forth the Spirit of Jesus Christ in the world, he will suffer insults, ridicule and ostracism in society and in his household, because these are not natural human behaviors. We are different. The world sees us as weird fanatics; a label I gladly wear. These sufferings are oppressive and deeply painful, because they are caused by people we care about. Indeed, if we didn’t care about them it would not hurt. That is the whole point.

There are other kinds of undeserved suffering inflicted on the believer in the devil’s world, by society in general and by hostile governments. All these sufferings are the result of the Angelic Conflict which rages continually in the spiritual realm and constantly competes for the souls of humankind.

We are not alone in this controversy. That is Paul’s encouragement in his epistle to the Philippians, as he explains the humble attitude of submission exhibited by our Lord in His mission of atonement. We work together with the operating assets we have been given. In spite of insults and oppression, God’s will is done in us and we experience a profound joy that no worldling can even imagine.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians 2:1-2

"If there is..." (1st class condition, and there is). This is unity of the faith; soul-rapport, the reciprocal love of mature (and maturing) believers. Feasting together on the Word of God, sharing in the Mind of Christ, loving the brethren, evangelizing our assigned territory. Learning humility, like our LORD. The resulting joy is far greater than the suffering, for us as it is for Him.

"intent on one purpose." Just stay the course. Some of those enemies will eventually see Jesus in you and will want the stability and confidence you have. Then they'll be willing to learn. What a blessing!