I looked up the definition of enemy and found the following on Google:
A person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
A hostile nation or its armed forces, especially in time of war.
A thing that harms or weakens something else.
In Matthew 12, it is written:
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand.
It is foolishness to expect or anticipate truth or affection from your enemy. Their mandate will not change, as long as they are enslaved by or subscribed to satan.
The book of John 8 captured this quite clearly.
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires
So, it may come in whatever form but the mandate is always the same. Your enemy will lie, misdirect, recruit, collude or pretend. Anything to keep you away from experiencing the fullness of life as God intends for you.
All in the name of keeping you oppressed and well on the "wrong path". Even in their rejoicing, they will present it to you as sorrow. Showcasing only non-truths as it is their nature, and also for your intended demise.
Basically, your enemy cannot love you.
Loving their own is also not their strongest forte either. Love to your enemy is a self serving tool or mere currency, for some exchange or gain. Your enemy has no empathy or sincerity of positive emotions towards you. They are enslaved by their father of lies; actively against any good thing for you.
They find joy and a sense of purpose in blatant wickedness. As long as you are deterred, harmed or weakened in anyway, you enemy rejoices. They rejoice in having seemingly hard-pressed backdrops serving to juxtapose their puffed-up parades.
This is in line with the nature and model of their father, satan. The enemy is not divided against himself or his kingdom. Not at all. Jesus taught on this principle in the gospel according to John; as mentioned above.
Only the Spirit of God can deliver your enemy and make them to perceive the absurdity of their selfishness and wickedness. Paul, the Apostle of Christ said in Hebrews:
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
So don't be too focused on trying to reason, negotiate or make your enemy to feel some fuzzy or honorable way towards you. Only the word of God penetrates His creation and judges it. God's word will convict. God creates peace and causes calamity.
Anyway, in most cases if not all, your enemy is just amused and placated in seeing you squirm, oppressed or hurt. Off course within sight or earshot, they attempt to mask this. They can play shoulder to cry on. Can act ear to listen. Offer a hug or pat on the back. Oscar winning kind of stuff. Jude even said:
"These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm, shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted twice dead."
A life filled with waterless clouds and shepherds that only feed themselves. Can you imagine that deception. That fruitlessness and uselessness? Things and people occupying spaces in your life, with no intention to ever deliver what the position occupied calls for. That is just... no words.
But when God says enough and shines forth, the stench just creeps out. A Moses is dispatched. A Jesus comes down. A Holy Spirit is released. Something yields!
The Lord said: "They have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."
So, find other ways to positively occupy yourself. Positively building ways. Nurturing ways. Have no fellowship with the things of darkness. Light cannot mingle with darkness. Light repels darkness. Light exposes things of darkness.
Don't idolize the enemy's pursuits or prodding. Your peace; Jesus was already chastised for it. That is something to value. Paul, the Apostle also wrote that:
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
King David once said:
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
What a king. What an example.
So, guard your thoughts and mostly your expectations from relationships. Specifically those with enemies. Any loving parent would warn and direct their child against false friends or companions. How much more then with God? Do you really think He would conceal such from His beloved children?
We are taught in the word to have the love of God and the patience of Christ. To be of good courage and move away from malice. To not oblige when enticed by wickedness. To not sin in anger. To ask for wisdom where we lack any. Finally, we are encouraged to not grow weary in doing good. Hold fast to your faith and such teachings.
Jesus, struck Paul on his way to Damascus; all the way from heaven. To finally make him to perceive the wickedness and futility of his ways. The scales finally fell off of his eyes and he became one of the most dedicated Apostles of Christ.
So, you can't keep reasoning with your enemies.
Unless your prospering has some sort of benefit to them; your enemies will not give you an ounce of goodness. Expect little to nothing in the way of wholesome fellowship. A dog under the table, getting no dropping whatsoever. Jesus will reveal Himself to those who persecute Him through His children. He strikes and descales the eyes. He convicts and vindicates.
Here is a thought: Is a child of God an enemy to one subscribed to satan? Is a child of God "actively opposed or hostile to someone or something" - as per definition of enemy?
I would say no. I have heard it being taught to hate the sin and not the sinner - not sure yet if this is biblical. The word teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves. To do good and forgive as we are forgiven. Even in conflict, Matthew teaches practical levels of conflict management and intervention; before throwing in the towel on a brother.
Paul, in the book of Ephesians writes:
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
The above scripture is quite complex. A simple instruction but complex nonetheless. A child of God is aware of the grace received, through faith, to be called a child of God. To be saved and of the kingdom of light.
Walking in goodness means that you do want to spread the good news of God. You want to invite others into that wonderful knowledge of and life in Christ. No sensible person, having found a working model of an abundant, fulfilling and everlasting life, would not want that for others. Or at least share the model with others to consider.
Unless off course that person is not really convinced of the said new life and model.
So, Paul's words "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them" are not easy to do. He wrote this instruction under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
There is knowledge and truth in these words, as uneasy as they may seem. Be mindful therefore to strive and to do as instructed; when the relevant situations arise.
You cannot assume that everyone is a child of light, walking in goodness, righteousness and truth. You can hope so; but don't assume.
"It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5
It has been also taught to test the root before eating of the fruit. Gulping down everything on offer is hardly wise. I am not promoting cynicism or finger pointing here; but remember:
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will."
One of Paul's well known teachings to the Romans.
The gates of hell will not prevail. The Egyptians you see today, tomorrow they shall be no more.
The Lord God Almighty's will shall prevail. Now and forever more...
Amen
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