Question 1

How do my enemies try to hurt me?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:1-4, 6, 13The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. . . . The woman was convinced. . . . So she took some of the fruit and ate it. . . . Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”Our enemies try to hurt us by tricking us into sin.2 Chronicles 32:10, 15“This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you think you can survive my siege of Jerusalem? . . . Don’t let him fool you like this! I say it again—no god of any nation or kingdom has ever yet been able to rescue his people from me or my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my power!”Our enemies try to hurt us by confusing us about right and wrong, good and bad. They will try to divide us from those who support us.Ezra 4:1-5The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel. So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.” But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.” Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne.Our enemies will try to hurt us by trying to talk us into compromising our faith and convictions.Joshua 17:16The descendants of Joseph responded, “It’s true that the hill country is not large enough for us. But all the Canaanites in the lowlands have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shan and its surrounding settlements and those in the valley of Jezreel. They are too strong for us.”Judges 4:3Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.Our enemies will try to use intimidation and oppression to stop us from taking a stand for what we believe.Judges 16:5The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice Samson to tell you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”Your enemies will try to find your weak spot so they can use it against you.Lamentations 1:7In the midst of her sadness and wandering, Jerusalem remembers her ancient splendor. But now she has fallen to her enemy, and there is no one to help her. Her enemy struck her down and laughed as she fell.Our enemies will try to hurt and humiliate us. When we seem to be defeated, they will rejoice.

Question 2

Where can I turn when I feel overwhelmed by those who are against me?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 3:1-2, 5O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” . . . I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.Psalm 43:1Declare me innocent, O God! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars.Psalm 59:1-2Rescue me from my enemies, O God. Protect me from those who have come to destroy me. Rescue me from these criminals; save me from these murderers.Psalm 71:1-5, 14O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free. Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors. O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. . . . But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.Psalm 119:134Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; then I can obey your commandments.Psalm 140:1-2O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.Psalm 143:9Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.Psalm 144:11Save me! Rescue me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should turn to God because only he can always help us. Although our enemies may think they have us trapped, they underestimate the power of the God we serve.Deuteronomy 33:27The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’Psalm 18:48You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.Psalm 46:1God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.Psalm 91:1-4Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.Isaiah 51:12“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?”When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should seek God’s protection. He is strong where we are weak. He is our haven of safety when we are vulnerable and under attack. We can be encouraged that we have the very power and presence of God defending us.2 Samuel 5:17-19When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”Psalm 5:8Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should seek God’s direction and instructions. We may be out of options, but he is the God of unlimited resources.Joshua 6:2-10The Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” So Joshua called together the priests and said, “Take up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram’s horn.” Then he gave orders to the people: “March around the town, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the Lord.” After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the Lord, blowing the horns as they marched. And the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant followed behind them. Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!”When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should respond in obedience to God. We may not always understand why he leads us where he leads us, but if we follow, we will be victorious.Deuteronomy 20:1“When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!”1 Samuel 14:6“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”2 Samuel 22:1-3, 40David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. . . . You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.”Ezra 8:31We broke camp at the Ahava Canal on April 19 and started off to Jerusalem. And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way.Psalm 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?Matthew 10:28-31“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should trust God for the outcome. Evil cannot defeat God, and if we are on his side, we need not fear.

Question 3

What does loving my enemies mean?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 5:43-44“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”1 Peter 3:8-9All of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.Showing love to one’s enemies sounds unreasonable unless we realize that we were God’s enemies until he forgave us. When we love an enemy, we see him or her as Christ does—a person in need of grace. Getting to that point takes prayer and the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts. When we pray for someone, it cultivates compassionate feelings for that person. This is how we can refrain from retaliating when someone hurts us, and this is how God can turn an enemy into a friend.Jeremiah 29:7“Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”Matthew 5:43-48“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”Luke 6:27-29, 35“To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. . . . Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.”Acts 7:59-60As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.Romans 12:19Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.Loving our enemies means not taking revenge. In fact, Stephen, the first martyr, loved and forgave his enemies even as they were killing him.Luke 10:36-37“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”Romans 12:20-21Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.Loving our enemies includes helping them when they are in need. Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan is a strong example of this. At the time of Jesus, Jews and Samaritans were enemies, so the Samaritan in Jesus’ parable had good reason to leave the Jewish man to die. Instead, he spent time, effort, and money on caring for the man’s injuries and finding him food and shelter. Jesus was careful to make the point that, in loving our neighbors as ourselves, even our enemy is our neighbor.Matthew 6:12-15“Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”Matthew 18:21-22Peter came to him [Jesus] and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.1 Corinthians 4:13We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.Sometimes, enemies do terrible things to us. Surely, we think, God’s command to forgive must have a limit. God doesn’t require us to trust those who would hurt us, but he does call us to love them. God’s love and forgiveness for us has no limit, and we were once his enemies! We should strive to live with that same love. This does not mean, however, that we should accept evil or even seem to approve it by our silence (see Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1). This includes verbal, physical, and sexual abuse by a family or church member. “Turning the other cheek” does not mean passively accepting abuse. Those sinful actions need to be confronted and reported to authorities who can intervene and friends and counselors who can help. We can forgive our enemies and people who hurt us while also creating and maintaining healthy boundaries that protect ourselves and the vulnerable.Genesis 45:5-15“Don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt. “Now hurry back to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all the land of Egypt. So come down to me immediately! You can live in the region of Goshen, where you can be near me with all your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. I will take care of you there, for there are still five years of famine ahead of us. Otherwise you, your household, and all your animals will starve.’” Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph! Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.” Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same. Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him.Job 31:29-30“Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way? No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge.Proverbs 24:17-18Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble. For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.Control of our actions is important, but if “loving our enemies” never reaches our hearts, then we have missed the point.Luke 6:27-29, 35“To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. . . . Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.Romans 12:19Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.God calls us to respond to our enemies with prayer, kindness, and gentle words. Instead of revenge or ill will, we should show forgiveness. This is what Jesus would do, and this is how we shine his light in the world.Isaiah 53:7He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.Matthew 5:44“I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”1 Peter 3:9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.At times, our best response to opposition will be no response at all. By repaying evil for evil, we stoop to fighting on their terms, and we separate ourselves from God’s righteous power. We should pray for those who oppose us and try to love them. No matter how much opposition we experience, we must continue to do right and trust God.

Question 4

Can an enemy be turned into a friend?

Accepted Answer

Acts 9:1-6Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”Acts 26:9-11“I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.Galatians 1:23All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!”Paul (previously known as Saul), the man who wrote half the New Testament, was once a violent enemy of the church, but God changed his heart. Often, enemies of God become believers in God! When that happens and who it happens to are often impossible to predict, but in almost every church around the world are believers who once actively opposed God, God’s people, and God’s way of living. Just like Paul, God changed their hearts.1 Peter 2:12Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.Few events are more wonderful than an enemy becoming a friend. With love, forgiveness, prayer, and kind words, God can use us to turn some of our enemies into our friends.

Question 5

Are spiritual enemies—powers of darkness—trying to get me?

Accepted Answer

Daniel 10:12-13He said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.”Matthew 4:1Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.1 Peter 5:8-9Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.The Bible clearly teaches that human beings are involved in a spiritual battle with the devil and his forces. Far from excluding us from this spiritual battle, faith puts us right in the middle of it. We are in a battle for our very souls. We must recognize that and prepare ourselves, or Satan will take advantage of us.Matthew 13:39The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil.Ephesians 6:10-12A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.1 John 2:16The world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.Satan is alive and active, and his legions of demons are always on the attack. A battle rages in the spiritual realm—a battle we can’t see but one we will experience if we seek to serve God. We need to rely on God’s power, not our own, so we can stand strong and resist temptation. Most of all, because we do not always know or understand the evil that is threatening us, we need God’s guidance and power in facing an unknown enemy. We can have peace knowing that God has already won the battle over death and has the power and desire to save us.

Question 6

How does God do battle for me?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 15:3The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!2 Chronicles 20:15“This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”Isaiah 42:13The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; he will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout his battle cry and crush all his enemies.Ephesians 6:10-18A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.Revelation 11:15“The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”The purpose of evil is to defy God and wear down believers until they are led into sin. This gives Satan pleasure and greater power over the earth. But God is a warrior. A battle rages in the spiritual realm, and as believers, we are right in the thick of it. God is always ready to fight on our behalf, always ready to come to our defense. In addition, he provides us with armor so that we can fight alongside him. If we want to join in God’s eternal victory, we must join him now in these battles.

Question 7

How does Satan try to defeat me?

Accepted Answer

Luke 22:31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.”Romans 6:12Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.3 John 1:11Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.Temptation always strikes at our weak spots. Our weak spots are those areas that we refuse to give over to God. They are joints in our spiritual armor where the enemy takes aim, the areas where we compromise our convictions for a few moments of pleasure. In those areas of weakness, we must ask God for the most help so he can cover our vulnerable spots with his strength. We must understand our weaknesses so we can arm ourselves against Satan’s attacks. To discover our weak spots in the heat of the battle would be disastrous. Instead, we must discover them before the fighting begins. With a strategy to protect our points of vulnerability, we will be prepared for any of the enemy’s attacks.

Question 8

How should I respond to Satan, the ultimate enemy?

Accepted Answer

Ephesians 6:10-18A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.2 Corinthians 10:4We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.2 Thessalonians 3:3The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.2 Timothy 4:17-18The Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.James 4:7Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.1 Peter 5:8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.We cannot fight the devil alone. We must use the armor God has given us. While we are to pray for our human enemies, our spiritual enemies—the devil and his demons—are another matter. We must resist and fight against them, for the battle for our very souls. The devil’s goal is to conquer our hearts and turn us against God. We must fight with all our strength and every available weapon God provides us. We cannot defeat evil while we live on this earth, but we can resist it. If we do, we will be victorious both in this life and in eternity.

Enemies