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Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Psalm 55:12-14 “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.”

As residents of planet earth, an experience that everyone undergoes is that of pain. Physical pain comes and physical pain goes, but emotional pain tends to linger in our lives and many times goes unnoticed by the one in pain. One of the things about pain is that the level of hurt is determined, usually, by the significance of the relationship. Pain inflicted by a parent, spouse or a leader can sting more than that which is inflicted by a stranger or even a child. I was at the gym this morning and this lady who drove a very fancy pearl colored, two door Mercedes Benz walked in with me and when we got to the locker room, she stopped and was looking at an advertisement for a 12-week transformation on the wall. I said to her, you don’t need that you are already transformed physically and you look great. She obliged with a thank you, but said, my daughter just told me this morning my butt jiggles when I walk, so what are you actually doing at the gym? I smiled at her and said, at least you have a butt for people to look at, I am still trying to find mine.

Every person has experienced a painful word, cutting remark or an emotional scar that has left us walking with a limp, because of the words someone has said. The Bible reminds believers that are battle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities and rulers in heavenly realms. So, Paul is saying, it’s not the person that is your enemy, it is the spirit of anti-Christ that is your enemy. Paul then goes on to tell us in Ephesians 6 to put on the whole armor of God so we can wage war against these spirits. All great stuff, all truth, all easier said than done for most people. David says, if any enemy was coming against me, I could handle that, in another words, I expect an enemy to attack me, but when it is a friend, a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, a daughter, a son, a Pastor, a coach, a teacher, or a neighbor, I did not see that coming. We expect those close to us to take care of us, not harm us, that is why we are so caught off guard when they do something to us we never expected.

So why do we hurt those we say we love, why do we stab those in the back who we claim to be in fellowship with? I believe it is because we do not understand our authority as human beings. The word authority has many definitions in the Greek, but one of them is to grant permission. When we as human beings, knowingly or unknowingly grant the enemy permission, he uses us to hurt other people. Most people have no idea that they are an access point for the enemy in your life, which is why our battle is not against flesh and blood. However, if they cannot deny the enemy access in their life, then you have to deny them access to your life, if the enemy is using them to harm you. The only authority the enemy has on the earth is that which we give him, because the only authority on the earth is people.

The days of passive Christianity have to come to an end. Love is not a doormat, love does not tolerate injustice, love does not cow tail and run, love does not tolerate darkness; love is courageous, love is strong, love is determined, love is loyal, love is fierce, love is powerful, God is love. Until we cease to give the enemy access to our lives, by what we allow in our eye gate and ear gate, he will continue to use the access he has been granted to hurt others through us. I don’t know about you, but I put my foot down, I drew a line in the sand, I said enough is enough, I have decided it is no longer access granted, but access denied. That is love and love wins!!!!!!!!!!!