The gig of the enemy has always been to get you out of peace. Ever notice that things are going well when you are in peace, but as soon as something hits your emotions, you are out of peace? This isn’t done by accident. Everything in your life is a test to see how you will react. The enemy goes around like a roaring lion seeing whom he can devour. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” What the enemy uses are evil thoughts. They can come from you, or even another person. When these thoughts come, you either accept them or reject them. When you begin to get lots of revelation, the enemy begins to whisper to you as well so you don’t believe the revelation you are getting. Paul explained it this way. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by THE ABUNDANCE OF REVELATIONS, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, A MESSENGER OF SATAN TO BUFFET ME, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
When you are in peace, the joy of the Lord is your strength. There is nothing more dangerous to the kingdom of darkness than a person who is walking in complete peace. Look at the three temptations of Jesus. Each one was designed to get Him out of peace. The three targets were His health, wealth, and His emotions. Do you understand why self-control is a fruit of the spirit? Without it, your life would be on a path of destruction. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, SELF-CONTROL. Against such, there is no law.” Interesting that Paul talks about walking in the spirit before and after these verses. “I say then: WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and THE SPIRIT against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, PEACE, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self–control. Against such, there is no law. And THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with its passions and desires. IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Living in peace is living in the spirit.
I pray that your eyes of understanding be enlightened to peace. It is the greatest weapon we have against the enemy. Love can always be questioned by the enemy to get you out of peace, but nothing will be impossible for you when you have peace with God. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Don’t let the enemy steal your peace. Be blessed, my friends.