What Your Enemy Is Afraid You'll Become

Devotional

Day 1: The Enemy Fights for Your Territory

There is a spiritual battle over the areas of your life that matter most.
Every person has a “territory”—your relationships, marriage, children, finances, career, and spiritual life. The enemy’s goal is not just to attack you personally, but to gain a foothold in these areas, seeking to destroy what matters to you. Just as in Mark 5, where the demon begged Jesus not to send him out of the territory, the enemy is relentless in his desire to remain in the places that shape your life and future. Recognizing this ongoing battle is the first step to standing guard and refusing to let the enemy have any ground in your territory. [17:07]

Mark 5:1-10 (ESV)
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.

Reflection: What is one area of your life—your “territory”—where you sense the enemy trying to gain ground? How can you begin to pray specifically for God’s protection and presence in that area today?

Day 2: You Cannot Change What You Choose to Tolerate

Breakthrough comes when you refuse to tolerate what is holding you back.
Many of us find ourselves in a “storm”—a season where our marriage, finances, or spiritual life feels stuck or under attack. It’s tempting to just endure or accept these struggles, but real change only happens when you decide not to tolerate the enemy’s presence in your territory any longer. Like pushing through the turbulence on a flight to reach blue skies, you must choose to fight through, trusting God for victory on the other side. Don’t settle for less than God’s best; take a stand and refuse to let the enemy remain in any part of your life. [23:20]

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

Reflection: What is one struggle or negative pattern you’ve been tolerating in your life? What step can you take today to resist it and invite God’s power to bring change?

Day 3: The Enemy Fights for Where You’re Going

The enemy attacks not just your present, but your future potential.
The enemy’s attacks are not only about your current situation—they are about your destiny. Just as the demon-possessed man in Mark 5 was afflicted by a legion because of his potential, and as Herod and Pharaoh tried to destroy Jesus and Moses as infants, the enemy sees what you could become in God’s hands. He tries to stop you before you reach your calling. Your struggles may be evidence of the great things God has planned for you. Don’t let the enemy’s attacks define you; instead, press forward, knowing your future is worth fighting for. [24:24]

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Reflection: Where do you sense God calling you to grow or step out in faith, but you feel resistance or fear? How might the enemy be trying to keep you from your God-given future, and what is one way you can move forward today?

Day 4: Fight Back—Don’t Be Passive

You must actively fight for your territory and refuse to let the enemy win.
It’s not enough to simply hope things will get better; you are called to fight back against the enemy’s schemes. This means praying boldly, declaring God’s promises over your life, and refusing to let the enemy have your marriage, your children, your finances, or your future. The enemy is aggressive, but you have spiritual authority in Christ to stand your ground. Take up your “fight back gloves” and declare that the enemy cannot have what God has entrusted to you. [29:35]

Ephesians 6:10-12 (ESV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “fight back” for your territory today—whether through prayer, speaking truth, or taking action? Who can you ask to stand with you in this fight?

Day 5: Fight for the Local Church—Our Shared Territory

The local church is a vital territory we must all protect and strengthen.
While each of us has personal territory, there is one territory we all share responsibility for: the local church. The enemy is working to close churches and weaken the influence of God’s people in our communities. But rescued churches rescue people, and a strong church brings hope to a nation. The answer to our world’s problems is not found in politics, but in God’s house. We are called to pray for, support, and fight for the health and future of the local church, knowing that together we can make an eternal difference. [33:47]

Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Reflection: How can you personally support and strengthen your local church this week—through prayer, serving, giving, or encouraging others? What step will you take to help protect this shared territory?

Sermon Summary

Every one of us has a territory—those areas of life that matter deeply: our families, marriages, relationships, finances, careers, and spiritual lives. Just as in sports or war, where the battle is always about territory, so it is in the spiritual realm. There is an enemy who is not just after us as individuals, but after the territory God has entrusted to us. The story in Mark 5, where Jesus confronts a legion of demons in a man, reveals a profound truth: the enemy was not as concerned about leaving the man as he was about staying in the territory. The demon begged Jesus not to send him out of the area, showing us that the real fight is always for territory.

This is why we see so many struggles in the areas that matter most—our children, our marriages, our finances, our spiritual lives. The enemy’s strategy is to remain in the territory, even if he has to leave the individual. He wants to keep a foothold in the places that shape our lives and our futures. But the battle doesn’t stop there. The enemy doesn’t just fight us for where we are; he fights us for where we’re going. He sees the potential in us, often more clearly than we see it ourselves. That’s why the attacks can be so fierce, especially when God is preparing to do something significant through us.

Many of us have stories of hardship, near-misses, or overwhelming odds. Instead of seeing these as evidence of God’s absence, consider that the enemy is threatened by what God might do through you. The greater the potential, the greater the opposition. But we are not called to be passive. We must fight back—standing firm in prayer, faith, and action, refusing to let the enemy have our territory.

This call to fight is not just personal. There is a territory we all share: the local church. The enemy is working hard to close churches and diminish the influence of God’s people. But together, we can push back, supporting and rescuing struggling churches, because rescued churches rescue people, and rescued people can transform a nation. The answer is not found in politics or government, but in God’s house, among God’s people, fighting for the territory He has given us.

Key Takeaways

1. The Enemy Fights for Your Territory The enemy’s primary concern is not just you, but the territory you influence—your family, relationships, and spiritual life. He seeks to remain embedded in these areas, even if he must leave you personally. Recognizing this shifts our focus from isolated struggles to a broader spiritual battle for the spaces that shape our lives. Stand guard and be intentional about protecting what God has entrusted to you. [17:07]
2. Your Potential Attracts Spiritual Opposition The enemy often attacks not because of where you are, but because of where you’re going. He sees your God-given potential and tries to derail it before it can flourish. The intensity of your battles may be a sign of the impact you are destined to have. Don’t let adversity convince you to give up; instead, let it remind you of the significance of your calling. [24:24]
3. You Cannot Change What You Tolerate Breakthrough comes when you refuse to accept the status quo in your territory. If you tolerate dysfunction, brokenness, or spiritual apathy, nothing will change. But when you decide to fight back—through prayer, faith, and action—you open the door for God to bring transformation. Don’t settle for less than God’s best in your life and your territory. [23:20]
4. The Local Church Is Our Shared Territory Beyond our personal battles, we are all responsible for the health and future of the local church. The decline of churches is a spiritual crisis that affects entire communities and generations. By supporting, praying for, and investing in the church, we fight for a territory that can rescue and restore countless lives. The hope for our nation is found in a vibrant, unified church. [33:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:02] - Introduction and Personal Story
[04:05] - Church Rescue Mission
[05:10] - Family and Baseball Stories
[07:36] - The Soccer Team and Territory
[11:32] - Territory in Sports, War, and Life
[12:05] - Defining Your Personal Territory
[12:37] - Mark 5: Jesus and the Demon-Possessed Man
[14:16] - The Real Battle: Not the Man, but the Territory
[17:07] - The Enemy’s Focus on Territory
[18:06] - Airplane Story: Facing Fear and Storms
[22:50] - You Cannot Change What You Tolerate
[23:49] - The Enemy Fights for Your Future
[29:03] - Fight Back: Taking Spiritual Authority
[30:02] - The Local Church: Our Shared Responsibility
[33:10] - Rescuing Churches, Rescuing America
[34:22] - Closing and Call to Action

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Fighting for Your Territory"**

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### Bible Reading

**Mark 5:1-13 (ESV)**
1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.
2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain,
4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.
5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.
7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”
8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside,
12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.”
13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

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### Observation Questions

In Mark 5, what did the demon-possessed man do when he saw Jesus, and how did he address Him? (Mark 5:6-7)
According to the story, what was the demon’s main request to Jesus after being commanded to leave the man? (Mark 5:10)
In the sermon, what areas of life did the pastor describe as our “territory”? [12:05]
What did the pastor say about the enemy’s focus—was it more on the man or the territory? [17:07]

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### Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the demons were so desperate to stay in the territory rather than just leaving the man? What does this reveal about spiritual battles in our lives? (Mark 5:10)
The pastor said the enemy fights us not just for where we are, but for where we’re going. How does this idea change the way we view our struggles and opposition? [23:49]
The sermon mentioned that “you cannot change what you tolerate.” What does this mean in the context of our spiritual lives and the areas God has entrusted to us? [23:20]
Why did the pastor emphasize the importance of fighting for the local church as a shared territory? What are the consequences if we don’t? [33:10]

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### Application Questions

The enemy wanted to stay in the territory, not just the man. Are there areas in your life—family, marriage, finances, relationships, or spiritual life—where you sense the enemy is trying to keep a foothold? What specific steps can you take to “stand guard” over these areas this week? [17:07]
The pastor shared stories of people who faced intense opposition or hardship, suggesting that the enemy attacks where there is great potential. Can you identify a time in your life when you faced unusual resistance? Looking back, do you see how it might have been connected to your potential or calling? [24:24]
“You cannot change what you tolerate.” Is there something in your territory—maybe a pattern, habit, or relationship—that you’ve been tolerating but know needs to change? What would it look like to stop tolerating it and start fighting back through prayer, faith, or action? [23:20]
The pastor talked about fighting back and not being passive. What does “fighting back” look like for you personally? Is there a specific area where you need to take spiritual authority or action this week? [29:03]
The sermon highlighted the decline of local churches and called everyone to take responsibility for the health of the church. What is one practical way you can support, pray for, or invest in your local church this month? [33:10]
The pastor said, “The answer is not the White House. The answer is God’s house.” How does this perspective shape the way you think about hope for your community or nation? Are there ways you can be more involved in the life of the church to make a difference? [33:47]
Think about your “territory” as described in the sermon. What is one area where you feel God is calling you to be more intentional or protective? How can the group pray for you as you take steps to guard that territory? [12:05]

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Sermon Clips

The enemy's fight isn't necessarily with you. The enemy is always fighting, help me out, for our what? Come on, help me out. What is it? He's always fighting for our territory. That's why some of us have kids in here that aren't serving God. Some of us have grandkids that aren't serving God. Some of us have our finances that are a mess. Some of us have our marriages that aren't going well. Why? Why is that happening? Because he's not as much concerned with you as much as he's concerned with the territory. He's always coming after the territory. [00:17:41] (32 seconds) #EnemyFightsForTerritory

The enemy doesn't just fight you for where you are. The enemy fights you for where, help me out, your, oh man, this is my favorite part, Pastor Chris, because I love this. He fights you for where you are. He fights you for where he knows you're going. He sees your potential. He sees what you could become. He doesn't just fight you for where you are in your current territory. He fights you for what he sees you could become and you could do if you just went all in and surrendered everything. [00:23:33] (32 seconds) #EnemyFightsYourPotential

I think the enemy sees more potential in us than we see in ourselves. He sees what you could become. Some of us, man, you've been through a rough life. You had a rough upbringing. You had a rough time growing up. You almost died at childbirth. Teenage years was rough. Betrayal of mom, abandonment of dad, abuse, this, that, the other thing, whatever it is. And you could stand on one side and go, oh my gosh, look at everything that's gone through my life. Where is God? I look at the other side, and I think, man, what does the enemy see in your potential that he keeps trying to take you out? [00:27:56] (30 seconds) #EnemySeesYourPotential

He doesn't just fight you for where you are. He fights you for where you're going. All of us face that in our life. Every one of us face a fight every day of where we are and where we're going. And I'm going to tell you this. I don't know what your battle is or what your issue is. I don't know what your territory is. My battles are different than your battles. We could go around this room. All have different things going on in our life. But I know that the answer comes down to this thought process. He doesn't just fight you for where you are. He fights you for where you're going. [00:28:35] (33 seconds) #FightForWhereYoureGoing

I think that's the answer right there, you guys. I think we have to fight back. We can't just sit idly by and do nothing. We have to fight back. And I don't know what's going on in your life, but I'm telling you that whatever's happening in your life, whatever's going on in your life, we got to fight back. And we got to say, man, I'm not going to let you do that. And we got to come to a place where we say, hey, enemy, get your hands off my marriage. Get your hands off my finances. Get your hands off my kids. Get your hands off my grandkids. Get your hands off my future. Get your hands off my career. Get your hands off, and we fight back. [00:29:19] (39 seconds) #StandAndFightBack

We cannot sit idly by. Now, what I'm going through and you're going through are completely different. But there is a territory that we all share that is just as much as your responsibility as it is mine. And that's the territory that the enemy's trying to take. He's taking the territory of the local church. [00:29:58] (21 seconds) #ProtectLocalChurchTerritory

Fight for your territory, whatever that territory may be. You got to fight, but help us with prayer. Help us with your kingdom builders that we can fight for the local church. You got your own territory. I got mine. But together, there's one that we are all responsible for. It's the local church. We can't let it die in America. [00:33:32] (25 seconds) #RescuedChurchesRescueAmerica

We believe with all of our heart that rescued churches will rescue people. And rescued churches will rescue America. The answer is not the White House. The answer is God's house. That's the answer. I don't care if you like the president or don't. None of that matters. I don't care who's the president. They ain't going to solve this problem. This problem's ours. We got to fight for the local church. [00:33:59] (26 seconds)

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