How The Enemy Targets Relationships In Families, Marriages, And The Messianic Community: Spiritual Warfare In Modern Times For Messianic Believers
Introduction: The Spiritual Battle for Relationships
In the midst of the spiritual warfare that Messianic Jewish believers face, one of the most potent areas of attack is the realm of relationships. The enemy knows that relationships, especially those in the family, marriage, and the Messianic community, are foundational to the strength and unity of God’s people. He seeks to divide, weaken, and destroy these vital connections, knowing that fractured relationships weaken the body of Messiah and hinder the fulfillment of God’s purposes on earth.
From the first family in the Garden of Eden to the present day, Satan has targeted families and marriages because they reflect the very image of God’s covenantal relationship with His people. This chapter will explore how the enemy targets relationships within families, marriages, and the Messianic community, and how we, as believers, can stand firm in God’s Word to protect and restore these vital connections.
Spiritual Warfare In Modern Times For Believers In Yeshua
1. The Family as a Battlefield
God established the family as the first institution to reflect His divine order. In the book of Genesis, we see God’s intention for family relationships—husband and wife, parents and children—each fulfilling a unique role within His creation. The Torah outlines God’s commandments for families to live in peace, honor, and unity.
In Genesis 2:24, God instituted the covenant of marriage, declaring:
> "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)
Marriage was created to reflect the unity and covenantal relationship between God and His people. The family was designed to be a place of nurturing, support, and spiritual growth. However, the enemy has consistently sought to attack the family structure, knowing that strong families are essential for the well-being of the Messianic community and the advancement of God’s kingdom.
Satan’s strategy is simple but effective: to disrupt the peace and unity in the family through division, anger, unforgiveness, and selfishness. Ephesians 6:12 (although written by Paul, this general principle applies to all believers and is rooted in the Tanakh) reminds us that the battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil that seek to cause destruction in our relationships.
The enemy might stir up conflicts between spouses, sow bitterness between parents and children, or create generational rifts that cause lasting damage. Proverbs 15:17 teaches us that peace in the home is more valuable than material wealth:
> "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred." (Proverbs 15:17)
Peace, love, and unity in the home are vital for the emotional and spiritual health of the family. Therefore, it is essential to be vigilant in guarding against any seeds of discord the enemy may try to plant.
2. The Battle for Marriages
Marriage, as the most intimate relationship in a family, is particularly targeted by the enemy. God designed marriage to be a reflection of His covenant relationship with His people, characterized by faithfulness, love, and mutual submission. In Malachi 2:15, the Lord speaks to His people about the sanctity of marriage:
> "But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth." (Malachi 2:15)
The enemy’s primary strategy against marriages is to sow division, foster selfishness, and provoke anger. When these seeds are allowed to grow, they can lead to bitterness, infidelity, and even divorce. The root of many marital struggles lies in pride, unforgiveness, and a lack of understanding of God’s design for marriage.
Genesis 3:16 reveals the consequences of sin that affect marriage:
> "To the woman He said: 'I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.'" (Genesis 3:16)
From the fall of humanity, the marriage relationship has been subjected to the forces of sin, resulting in power struggles, pain, and conflict. These challenges are a part of spiritual warfare, and they require believers to actively apply God’s Word to maintain a strong and united marriage.
Ephesians 5:33 (again, not from Paul’s writings, but a biblical principle seen in many places in the Torah and Tanakh) emphasizes the role of mutual love and respect in marriage:
> "Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." (Ephesians 5:33)
Yeshua’s blood, shed for the forgiveness of our sins, is central to the restoration of marriages. His sacrifice enables us to forgive one another, heal the wounds of betrayal, and rebuild trust. Marriages that are rooted in the love and forgiveness of Yeshua can withstand the enemy’s attacks, bringing glory to God and displaying His love to the world.
3. The Messianic Community: Unity in the Midst of Attack
The Messianic Jewish community faces a unique challenge in the spiritual battle over relationships. The enemy often targets believers in the body of Messiah, seeking to sow division and disunity among the brethren. In Psalm 133:1, we are reminded of the beauty and blessing of unity:
> "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1)
Satan’s goal is to create division, confusion, and strife within the community of believers. He knows that a unified body of believers is a powerful force for advancing God’s kingdom. When relationships within the Messianic community are strained, the testimony of Yeshua’s love and reconciliation is weakened.
One of the ways the enemy attacks the Messianic community is by stirring up doctrinal differences, misunderstandings, and personal offenses. These attacks can lead to division, competition, and even outright bitterness between believers. James 4:1 highlights the source of quarrels and fights:
> "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?" (James 4:1)
The enemy plays on our fleshly desires and pride, using them to create conflict in the Messianic community. However, the Torah offers a path of peace and reconciliation. Leviticus 19:17-18 commands us to avoid hatred and instead seek reconciliation:
> "You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:17-18)
Unity in the Messianic community requires believers to walk in humility, love, and forgiveness. Matthew 18:15-17 provides the biblical process for reconciliation within the body:
> "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother." (Matthew 18:15)
When we follow this biblical process, we can heal the wounds of division and maintain unity in the community. The enemy will continually seek to destroy relationships, but we can stand firm in God’s Word and rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us in love and reconciliation.
4. Yeshua’s Blood: The Power of Reconciliation
Yeshua’s blood is the ultimate weapon in the battle for relationships. His sacrifice on the cross reconciles us to God and to one another. Ephesians 2:13 speaks of the peace brought by Yeshua’s blood:
> "But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah." (Ephesians 2:13)
Through His blood, we are forgiven and empowered to forgive others. Yeshua’s blood brings healing to broken relationships, whether within the family, marriage, or the Messianic community. By applying the power of His blood, we can overcome the attacks of the enemy and walk in love and unity.
5. The Holy Spirit: Empowering Us to Build Strong Relationships
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the preservation and restoration of relationships. He empowers us to love unconditionally, to forgive freely, and to seek reconciliation with others. In Zechariah 4:6, we are reminded that it is not by might or by power, but by God’s Spirit, that we accomplish anything:
> "So he answered and said to me: 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)
The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to resist the enemy’s temptations to sow discord. He guides us into all truth and helps us to discern the schemes of the enemy. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can overcome relational strife and maintain unity within the family, marriage, and Messianic community.
Conclusion: Standing Firm in the Battle for Relationships
The battle for relationships is real, and it affects every area of our lives—our families, our marriages, and the Messianic community. However, as Messianic Jewish believers, we are not left defenseless. We have the Torah, the blood of Yeshua, and the Holy Spirit to guide us
