🛡️⚔️ AGAPE LOVE BIBLE STUDYWednesday • September 2, 2026KNOW WHO THE REAL ENEMY ISPeople Are Not the Enemy

Sarah Skaggs

Sep 2

7 min read

🛡️⚔️ AGAPE LOVE BIBLE STUDY

Wednesday • September 2, 2026

KNOW WHO THE REAL ENEMY IS

People Are Not the Enemy

📖 Theme Verse

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”— Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

🌅 GOOD MORNING, DEAR FRIENDS!

Yesterday we began our September Bible study:

🛡️ PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

Standing Strong in a Spiritual Battle

We introduced the armor God has given us and learned that our strength doesn't come from ourselves.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”— Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)

But before we begin examining each piece of armor, we need to understand something extremely important about the battle.

We need to know who the enemy is—and who the enemy ISN'T.

Sometimes the person standing in front of us can feel like the enemy.

The coworker who mistreats us.

The family member who hurts us.

The person spreading gossip.

The person who disagrees with us.

The person who betrayed our trust.

The person who seems determined to make life difficult.

But Scripture reminds us:

“WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD.”

People may hurt us.

People may make wrong choices.

People are still responsible for their actions.

But as Christians, we must be careful that we don't become so focused on fighting people that we forget there is a spiritual battle taking place.

📖 TODAY'S SCRIPTURE READING

Ephesians 6:10–182 Corinthians 10:3–51 Peter 5:8–9James 4:7–8John 8:42–44Matthew 5:43–48Romans 12:17–21

✝️ THE ENEMY WOULD LOVE TO MAKE US FIGHT EACH OTHER

Think about how effective division can be.

If the enemy can keep families fighting...

Churches divided...

Friends offended...

Marriages bitter...

Christians attacking one another...

People holding grudges...

And believers consumed with anger...

then our attention is no longer where it belongs.

Instead of praying, we're arguing.

Instead of forgiving, we're replaying the offense.

Instead of sharing the Gospel, we're trying to prove we're right.

Instead of loving people, we're labeling them as enemies.

That's why Paul's words are so important:

Our struggle is not ultimately against flesh and blood.

🌿 PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS

Now, this doesn't mean we pretend harmful behavior is acceptable.

Biblical forgiveness doesn't mean remaining in an unsafe situation.

Love doesn't mean allowing someone to continually mistreat you.

Grace doesn't mean there are never consequences.

And recognizing a spiritual battle doesn't remove personal responsibility.

Sometimes healthy boundaries are necessary.

Sometimes we must speak truth.

Sometimes wrongdoing needs to be addressed.

But even while dealing with someone's actions, we must guard our hearts from hatred.

We can confront wrong without allowing bitterness to control us.

🛡️ ONE OF THE ENEMY'S FAVORITE WEAPONS IS DIVISION

Jesus said:

“…Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”— Matthew 12:25 (KJV)

Think about that.

A divided house becomes weak.

A divided church becomes distracted.

A divided family becomes wounded.

A divided friendship becomes vulnerable.

That's why we need discernment when conflict begins.

Before immediately reacting, ask:

“What is really happening here?”

Is pride involved?

Is there misunderstanding?

Is someone wounded?

Is gossip feeding the conflict?

Is anger controlling my response?

Am I assuming someone's motives without actually knowing them?

Could the enemy be using this situation to create division?

Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is refuse to participate in unnecessary conflict.

💜 DON'T LET OFFENSE BECOME YOUR PRISON

Someone may genuinely have hurt you.

I'm not minimizing that.

Words can wound deeply.

Betrayal hurts.

Rejection hurts.

Being mistreated hurts.

But if we're not careful, what someone did to us can begin controlling what happens inside us.

We replay the conversation.

We imagine what we should have said.

We become angry every time their name is mentioned.

We tell the story repeatedly.

And eventually the offense occupies space in our hearts that belongs to God.

Romans 12:21 says:

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Don't allow someone else's wrong behavior to determine the condition of your heart.

Give the offense to God.

⚔️ THE BATTLE OFTEN BEGINS IN THE MIND

Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us about:

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God...”

Pay attention to the thoughts that come during conflict.

“Nobody cares about you.”

“You'll never forgive them.”

“Get even.”

“They probably meant to hurt you.”

“Everybody is against you.”

“You need to make them pay.”

Stop.

Don't automatically accept every thought that enters your mind.

Bring it before God's Word.

Ask:

“Is this thought true?”

“Does this thought agree with Scripture?”

“Will acting upon this thought make me more like Jesus?”

We don't have to entertain every thought that knocks on the door of our minds.

🌻 JESUS TAUGHT US A DIFFERENT WAY

Jesus said:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”— Matthew 5:44 (KJV)

That's difficult.

But that's Kingdom living.

Anyone can love people who love them.

Anyone can be kind when everyone is kind to them.

Jesus calls us higher.

That doesn't mean pretending wrong is right.

It means refusing to allow hatred to become our response.

Prayer changes the way we fight our battles.

Instead of:

“Lord, get them!”

We begin praying:

“Lord, work in their heart—and work in mine too.”

🛡️ BE ALERT, BUT DON'T BECOME AFRAID

Peter tells us:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”— 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

But don't stop reading there!

The next verse says:

“Whom resist stedfast in the faith...”— 1 Peter 5:9 (KJV)

We're told to be alert.

We're not told to be terrified.

Awareness is not fear.

Our September study isn't going to teach us to see a demon behind every inconvenience or blame the enemy for every poor decision.

It is going to teach us to remain spiritually alert while keeping our confidence firmly in Christ.

✝️ RESIST THE DEVIL—DRAW NEAR TO GOD

James gives us simple but powerful instruction:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”— James 4:7 (KJV)

But notice what comes first:

SUBMIT TO GOD.

Before resisting...

Submit.

Before fighting...

Draw close to God.

Before worrying about what the enemy is doing...

Pay attention to what God is doing.

Then James continues:

“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”— James 4:8 (KJV)

That's where our focus belongs.

💜 TODAY'S REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Is there someone I've begun viewing as my enemy?
Am I carrying an offense I need to surrender to God?
Has conflict distracted me from prayer?
Are my thoughts about another person based on facts or assumptions?
Is there a relationship where I need healthier boundaries without hatred?
Have I allowed bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness into my heart?
How would Jesus want me to respond?
What can I pray for the person I'm struggling with?

🙏 TODAY'S PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for reminding me that my battle is not against flesh and blood.

Lord, forgive me for the times I've treated people as enemies.

You know every hurt I've experienced.

You know the words that wounded me.

You know the disappointments, betrayals, misunderstandings, and conflicts I've carried.

Give me wisdom.

Help me know when to speak and when to remain quiet.

Show me when boundaries are necessary.

Give me courage to stand for truth without hatred.

Protect my heart from bitterness.

Protect my mind from assumptions.

Protect my relationships from unnecessary division.

And when the enemy attempts to use conflict to distract me, remind me where the real battle is.

Help me submit myself completely to You.

Teach me to resist evil while still loving people.

And above everything else, keep my eyes upon Jesus.

My strength is in You.

In Jesus' precious name,

Amen.

🌼 TODAY'S ARMOR CHALLENGE

IDENTIFY THE REAL BATTLE

Take a page in your journal and write:

THE PERSON IS NOT MY ENEMY.

Now think about a conflict you're currently facing.

Write:

What happened?

How did it make me feel?

What thoughts have I been entertaining?

What does God's Word say about my response?

What can I pray about this situation?

Then pray:

“Lord, help me see this situation through spiritual eyes instead of reacting only through my emotions.”

📖 TODAY'S SCRIPTURE TO REMEMBER

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood...”— Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

Write those words somewhere you'll see them today.

Especially if you're dealing with a difficult person.

Before reacting, remember:

THE PERSON IS NOT THE ENEMY.

🛡️ ARMOR CHECK — DAY TWO

Before ending today's study, ask yourself:

Am I standing in God's strength?

Am I guarding my thoughts?

Am I allowing bitterness into my heart?

Am I praying before reacting?

Am I treating people as people Jesus loves?

Am I staying rooted in God's Word?

🌟 TODAY'S ENCOURAGEMENT

You don't win a spiritual battle by destroying another person.

You don't win by having the last word.

You don't win by proving someone wrong.

You don't win by holding onto anger.

Sometimes one of the greatest victories is being able to say:

“What happened was wrong, but I will not allow it to make my heart wrong.”

Forgiveness doesn't change what happened.

But it can change what happens inside you next.

Let God handle justice.

Let God heal your heart.

Let God give you wisdom.

And keep walking in peace.

🌻 CLOSING THOUGHT

As we begin learning about spiritual warfare, remember this throughout the entire month:

DON'T FIGHT PEOPLE WHEN GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO LOVE PEOPLE.

Stand against deception.

Stand against temptation.

Stand against bitterness.

Stand against fear.

Stand against anything that pulls you away from God's truth.

But when you look at another person, remember:

That is someone Jesus died for too.

So put on your armor.

Guard your heart.

Watch your thoughts.

Stay prayerful.

Love people.

And keep your eyes on Jesus.

Tomorrow we'll continue building our foundation with:

🛡️ BE STRONG IN THE LORD

What to Do When You Feel Too Weak for the Battle