Introduction – The Old Man with No Enemies
A reporter once sat down with a man celebrating his hundredth birthday.
He asked, “Sir, when you look back on a full century of life, what are you most proud of?”
The old man smiled and said, “Well, I don’t have an enemy in the world.”
The reporter’s face lit up. “What a beautiful thought! What an inspiration to us all.”
The man leaned closer and, with a twinkle in his eye, added, “Yep. Outlived every last one of them.”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live life without enemies?
Sometimes we wish for that—no conflict, no one criticizing or opposing us.
But Scripture tells us that one day, when Jesus Christ sits on His throne and rules with perfect righteousness, that world with no enemies will indeed come (Isaiah 11; Revelation 21).
Until that day, though, we live in a world where enemies are real, and conflict is part of our journey.
And the way we think about “enemies” will shape how we live as disciples of Jesus.
Today I invite you to walk with me through God’s Word and discover:
1. Who the real enemy is.
2. Why our fiercest battle is inside us.
3. How to live in victory while we wait for Christ’s kingdom.
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Section 1 – We Have Met the Enemy…and It Isn’t Flesh and Blood
Let’s begin with Paul’s words in Ephesians 6:11-12:
> “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Notice carefully: Paul does not say some of our battles are spiritual. He says the real fight is not against flesh and blood at all.
Think of the people you’re tempted to call “enemy.”
A boss who blocks your advancement.
A family member who wounds with words.
A classmate who ridicules your faith.
Paul is saying: That is not where the real war is being fought.
There are unseen powers—fallen angels, demonic strategies—set against God’s people.
The book of Revelation calls Satan “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10).
Peter warns that he prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
When someone gossips about you, yes, their words hurt. But the deeper reality is a spiritual adversary exploiting weakness, sowing division, trying to break trust in God.
This is why Jesus could pray from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
He recognized that behind the soldiers’ nails and the crowd’s mockery was the prince of darkness.
Application:
That neighbor who bristles at your faith? Not the real enemy.
That politician you can’t stomach? Not the real enemy.
Even that church member who seems to oppose every initiative? Not the real enemy.
Our struggle is deeper—and that truth changes how we fight.
Instead of striking back in the flesh, we put on the armor of God:
truth, righteousness, gospel peace, faith, salvation, Scripture, and prayer (Ephesians 6:13-18).
We don’t fight people; we stand firm in Christ.
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Section 2 – We Have Met the Enemy…and He Lives in Us
But there is another adversary we must name, one even closer than Satan.
This one travels with you everywhere.
You can’t move to another state to escape him.
You can’t outgrow or outlive him.
It is you—the fallen self.
Paul confesses in Romans 7:18-24:
> “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing;
for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not…
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Can you relate?
You promise to speak gently, but irritation erupts.
You vow to forgive, yet the grudge resurfaces.
You plan an early morning devotional, but the pillow wins.
This is the enemy within.
Satan can tempt, but self is the handle he grabs.
As Adventist thought often frames it, our greatest danger is not the external foe but the cherished sin and stubborn pride inside the heart.
Let’s be honest.
Every day we stand at a crossroads:
Will I surrender or cling to my way?
Will I choose purity or convenience?
Will I forgive or nurse resentment?
Will I love or stay aloof?
No one can fight those battles for you.
Parents can pray, pastors can counsel, but the decisive choice is yours.
As one writer put it, “You can outlive every enemy except yourself.”
Remember the 100-year-old man?
He outlived all external enemies.
But none of us can simply “outlive” self.
We must die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31)—surrendering every morning to Jesus.
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Section 3 – Christ Meets the Enemy and Wins
How then do we win?
Not by gritting our teeth or making bigger promises, but by yielding to Christ.
1. Clothe Yourself with Christ
Paul’s armor is really a picture of Jesus Himself.
Belt of truth—Christ the Truth (John 14:6).
Breastplate of righteousness—Christ our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6).
Shield of faith—faith in Christ, not in willpower.
Sword of the Spirit—the Word that testifies of Christ.
The armor is not a checklist; it’s a relationship.
2. Pray Without Ceasing
Prayer is not a last resort; it is the battle itself.
In prayer we invite heaven’s armies to fight what we cannot see.
3. Love and Forgive
Jesus commands: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who despitefully use you” (Matthew 5:44).
Forgiveness disarms the enemy within.
You cannot harbor bitterness and remain in unhindered fellowship with the Father.
4. Rest in God’s Presence
Psalm 23:5 promises, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
Notice—God doesn’t always remove the enemies.
He gives peace in their presence.
The table of fellowship is set not in the absence of conflict but right in the middle of it.
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Section 4 – The Great Controversy and the End of All Enemies
Seventh-day Adventists understand this struggle within the larger great controversy between Christ and Satan.
From Eden’s garden to the final judgment, every skirmish is part of that cosmic conflict.
Sabbath each week is a down payment on the final victory.
It reminds us that the war does not end with our effort; it ends with God’s triumph.
When we rest on the seventh day, we declare, “I trust the Creator and Redeemer to finish what He began.”
Revelation 21 looks ahead to the day when:
> “There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
No more inner war.
No more outer enemies.
But until that dawn, we live as soldiers of light.
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Section 5 – Practical Take-Home Steps
Before we close, here are practical invitations for the week:
1. Morning Surrender
Begin each day with a simple prayer:
“Lord, today I die to self and live in You. Clothe me in Your armor.”
2. Enemy Prayer List
Write down the names of those who trouble you.
Pray blessing over them.
Ask God to reveal any bitterness He wants to heal.
3. Scripture Arsenal
Memorize Ephesians 6:10-18 or Romans 8:31-39.
When temptation strikes, speak the Word aloud.
4. Sabbath as Warfare Rest
Let Sabbath be more than a pause.
Let it be active trust that the war belongs to the Lord.
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Closing Appeal – Victory Over the Enemy Within
Friend, you may feel surrounded—by critics, by pressures, even by your own thoughts.
But Jesus has already won the decisive victory.
At Calvary the serpent’s head was crushed.
At the empty tomb death was defeated.
Today He invites you to His table—a table He sets in the presence of your enemies.
Will you hand over the fight?
Will you let Christ rule the battlefield of your heart?
The day is coming when the old man’s dream will be true in the highest sense.
There will be no enemy left—not Satan, not sin, not even the stubborn self.
Only the eternal fellowship of God and His people.
Until that day, stand firm.
Put on the whole armor of God.
And remember: the greatest enemy is already a defeated one—beginning with the enemy within.
