Everyday I sleep with the enemy. I eat, drink, go out, work and even go to church with my enemy. Before you conclude who it is and wonder if Sally and I are having problems, let me tell you who that enemy is… ME.

I’m writing this blog not to destroy my own reputation or confuse you who I really am, I just had a a word from God to remind me that I can’t go on with life and tell everyone I’m winning my everyday battle without any help from anyone. Yes I know God will never let me be tempted beyond what I can bear and He will always give me a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13), but He also said I need support from my friends (brothers in faith actually).

Ecclesiastes 4

9 Two are better than one,because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Why do I consider myself an enemy? Beacuse I can’t escape this body. Works of the flesh is attached to it.

Romans 7

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Who will rescue me from this body? Answer is Jesus.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (NKJV)

The underlined statement is essential to overcome my daily battle against my flesh. Let’s all be honest, we get tempted almost everyday. We win when we listen to the Holy Spirit. We lose everytime we deny we hear Him and pursue what our flesh tells us to do. We may have the Holy Spirit in us but doing the right thing doesn’t become automatic, we always have to make a choice, a decision everytime we get tempted. That’s why living in the Spirit is not enough, we should follow the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Don’t pretend to be a “tough Christian”, the temptation of sexual immorality, adultery, fornication, alcohol, nicotine, drug addiction, anger, hatred, lying, cheating, gossip, retaliation, religiousity, idolatry, materialism and idleness is always around us 24/7. If you will make a scoreboard of how many times you lose in your spiritual battle everyday, you may be surpised of the result!

Sometimes as much as we want to follow the Holy Spirit, we are overwhelmed by the intensity of temptation. I say environment is a big factor. But just like our flesh, we can’t escape society. The kind of friends we have will magnify whichever becomes the majority, the flesh? or the spirit?

1 Corinthians 15:33-34

Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”  Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.

I guess this answers why we lose the battle more often that winning over it. We hang out with the wrong people. To face the world, we need allies, people who will help us stand when we fall and help us keep our stance! If we think joining Victory Groups are just mere fellowship then we are missing the point. This is accountability, this is where we discuss about strategies and tactics how to win everyday battle, our struggles should be opened to our leaders so we can identify it’s weakness and find a way to silence the enemy. The enemy might not leave, but if it is silenced, it cannot do it’s work. It will be powerless.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

If you find yourself sleeping with the enemy, it’s a good sign to make a decision to be with God’s people and start  attending a victory group, or to some, start getting into a victory group AGAIN. By the way, have you ever dreamt of yourself doing all the nasty things you’ve been doing before? Does that prove you’re sleeping with the enemy?

Don’t get beaten, fight back! Because THE BATTLE IS REAL!

Jun Gomez is one of our leaders in Victory Greenhills and is also a Discipleship Coach. He is happily married and all his kids loves and serves Jesus.