Re: A man has only one enemy.

ClemsonTiger1988®

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A man has only one enemy.

May 22, 2024, 5:11 AM

Years ago I would read the Psalms and consider my enemies when King David wrote such as Psalms 139:

"20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

David answered the question in the last two lines of 139.

Paul said it differently with much more obvious intent in Galations 5:

"17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

My friend, there is only one high place in this world, it's the throne of God's Holy Spirit. It's God's throne in this world resides; The heart of a believer belongs to God. One who doesn't know that war is going on within is losing the war.

That is the best question I ever remember being asked here. Thank you.

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Well done. The most difficult thing for me to remember is that we do have an enemy, and that it is none of us. Some remain part of the rebellion, some do not, but we remain brothers and sisters, accountable to the Creator only.

This is no excuse, but it does become harder to remember in an increasingly tribal culture. The enlightenment definition of Truth/man/state is, imo, being replaced by the opposite one (oppressor/oppressed), so it feels more like a human battle. But that is no excuse because the Truth remains anyway: "It is not against flesh and blood ..."

This might be manufacturing a distinction where there isnt one - feel free to comment on this - but we can become adversaries if not enemies. The same guy who paraphrased Locke by writing "We hold these truths ...", also wrote "The tree of Liberty must from time to time be refreshed by the blood of tyrants and patriots." Both of those can be true at the same time, just like grace and truth (mercy and justice) in the thread below. Keeping it straight, being true to truth without seeing another as the enemy, is no easy thing. At least for me.

who are your enemies?

Re: who are your enemies?

The gamecocks and ohio state***

Re: The gamecocks and ohio state***

and of course, those filthy wolfpacks.***

Re: and of course, those filthy wolfpacks.***

A man has only one enemy.