Enemies Of The Soul
Submitted by Pastor Steve Clark
March 24, 2025
We easily name the world, the flesh, and the devil as the three primary enemies of the Christian life and rightly so.
After all, Satan doesn’t show up announcing his presence and his intent to destroy your life, and neither do fleshly temptations present themselves as the destructive “old man.” There are types of enemies that can infiltrate the heart of a Christian and specifically a Christian actively serving the Lord starting with…
1. Discouragement
Ga 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The pull of discouragement can come from many sources—like comparison, a lack of fruit, spiritual setbacks in your life or the life of a friend, backsliding in your own walk with the Lord, or simply a difficult season. But whatever the source, Satan can use discouragement to cloud your thinking and make you more vulnerable to temptation, and if you’re not careful, defeat.
2. Doubt
Eph 6:16-17 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Satan’s fiery darts of doubt are loaded with all kinds of poisons, and sometimes, it is doubt.
Question: Have you ever doubted if God is using you to make a difference? Have you ever had a doubt about your salvation or if what you have believed is true? (Is heaven real, the Bible, time spent in prayer?) The answer to every form of doubt is always the same: Use the shield of faith and sword of the Spirit.
Here’s a fact: God uses His Word in our lives to build faith! Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
3. Division
Pr 6:16, 19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him… and he that soweth discord among brethren.
To me, the enemy of division is one of the most serious because we, in the flesh, do it to each other. It’s no wonder God hates it! Division hurts the people involved because churches become distracted by it, and young people who watch may be turned away from serving in ministry because of it.
Consider – If you are finding yourself assaulted by any of these enemies today, don’t give up! It may be that the very reason you are encountering opposition is because you are effectively serving the Lord!
