Category: Enemy

Power of Faith

6/21/2026

Genesis 14
In my younger years, I eagerly accepted the offer to borrow a boat and go fishing. After receiving directions, I set off to the best fishing spot on the lake. There is no way to explain the thrill of the wind on your face powered by the whine of a boat motor under your control. I found the special fishing hole and dropped the anchor to enjoy some fishing. Eventually, I realized that the fish were not biting, so I started the motor and headed for shore. The problem was the boat handled poorly. As I turned a corner I saw the problem: I was dragging the anchor that I had forgotten to pull up into the boat. Genesis 14 records the continual drag of human sin by providing the account of the first war. It was a conflict that pitted people groups against each other based on power, control, and money. Sodom, the city that Lot had moved to had been conquered, and then it raised a failed rebellion against its oppressor (1-16). Hearing this, Abram stepped in, rescued Lot, and defeated the invaders. As he returned, he was greeted by two kings. One king praised God for bringing about the defeat (17-20), and one sought to use the situation to gain an ungodly influence over Abram (21-24). Abram displayed the power of his faith by pursuing the invaders and allowing God to use him to defeat the enemy. Abram also displayed the power of his faith by discerning the difference between righteous, God honoring friends and self centered, ungodly acquaintances. Our enemies may be internal problems or external pressures, but still we are called to live by faith and allow God’s power to be displayed through us. The company we keep will corrupt our faith, like the drag of a boat anchor, or build our faith. True faith accesses and uses the transformative power that God gives us to live for Him.

For More See GENESIS

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Spiritual Battle - Complacency and Self Confidence

5/7/2023

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Ephesians 6:10-13
On April 15, 1912 the British passenger ship, the Titanic, sank after hitting an ice berg off the coast of Canada. The ship itself was a masterpiece of the current technology. The safety features of water tight compartments made it seem that it was supposedly unsinkable. The problem is that it was sinkable. As the boat hit the iceberg it dented the side of the ship in a way that caused the seams in the metal hull to open and allow the sea water to rush in. The end result is the tragic loss of life that is remembered still to this day. The most difficult thing about this event is that the captain had been informed of icebergs in the area but chose to ignore the warnings given. Complacency and self confidence sank the Titanic. Are we not much the same? We hear the warnings of temptation and sin from others and Scripture, yet we think that it can’t happen to us. We believe that we are spiritually strong, yet, like the Titanic, that can also be our weakness. We can become complacent and spiritually self-confident in our response to spiritual temptations, threats, and trials that are real battles in our spiritual life. Paul understood this as he wrote to the believers in Ephesus. In Ephesians 6, Paul closes out the book by describing one final way the believer is to respond to life. In reality this is probably the most important. Paul explains the spiritual battle (13) and the reality of the enemy, Satan (12). He reminds his readers, and us today, of the need for God’s protection (11) and God’s power (10) to withstand Satan and the spiritual battles. Just like an iceberg, the battles we face each day contain much more below the spiritual surface. We need to be aware of spiritual complacency and self-confidence. These issues can sink us just like the Titanic.

For more see EPHESIANS or TEMPTATION

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Dispute Resolution

9/21/2020

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What do you do if a misunderstanding escalates into a full blown dispute? Something was said or done quite innocently or even unknowingly and it seems like gasoline was just thrown on a fire. There was a huge explosion and now nothing is the same with pieces of a relationship blown up and scattered all over the place. Where do you begin as you try and patch these broken relationship pieces back together? There are a number of helpful tips that we find in the pages of Scripture. The following are offered as tools to use in the midst of a dispute.

First, try using a mediator. Some cultures find this to be very valuable in avoiding the shame of face to face conflict. A mediator is a wise person that is called in an attempt to reconcile two parties who are in the midst of a conflict. Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and sinful humankind (1 Timothy 2:5). We need to model our lives after Christ and be that peace making party. If we are personally involved in an unresolved conflict it is always a good idea to call in a wise elder for counsel and help. They can speak with the wisdom of age and the wisdom of an outside perspective. Ultimately we need to use Christ as our mediator and pray about the situation, our involvement, the other party and ask God to help bring a resolution that would honor Him.

Next, we need to watch out for words of gossip and attitudes that seek to destroy the other person. Gossip is simply uncontrolled conversation that is not true. By using gossip we ultimately seek to tear the other person down and make ourselves look better. Gossip pridefully betrays a confidence (Proverbs 11:3 & 20:19). When we gossip it makes the problem worse (Proverbs 26:20) by spreading it to the larger community and involving others. Gossip in many ways is like a mold that grows on a piece of food. It will continue to destroy what is good unless it is cut off and removed. We need to correct our attitudes of pride that lead to gossip because others and God will see it for the sinful contamination that it truly is.

The third tool is to pray. We often think that prayer is just our conversation with God about us, but God desires that it be so much more. Have you prayed for your enemy, the one you are in conflict with? Romans 12:12 challenges us to be persistent in prayer even for our enemies. Jesus said that we are to love our enemies and pray for them (Matthew 5:44-45). In some ways, this is the easiest solution and yet it is the most difficult. Why? Well, there is part of us that thinks we are better than the enemy and we portray that to God when we pray. We want God to destroy the enemy rather than see them restored. We need God’s perspective and that can be gained through prayer.

Fourth, we need to act righteously toward our enemy. In Romans 12, Paul challenges his audience and even us today with three practical steps. The first thing he says highlights our sense of justice for being wronged. Paul says that we should not try and correct the injustice by turning around and acting unjustly (Romans 12:17). Our attitude and consistent desire should be one that constantly seeks to live in peace with others (Romans 12:18). Finally, Paul emphasizes the value of acting in a way that is contrary to conflict (Romans 12:20). When we can show grace and give to an enemy what is not deserved that is when we have truly understood God’s grace that He has shown to us.

May God give us the courage and the grace to be problem solvers not problem creators.

For more see CONFLICT RESOLUTION

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Power of Faith

Spiritual Battle - Complacency and Self Confidence

Dispute Resolution

Pastor Ken

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