Spiritual Warfare: The Enemy's Tactics
The Enemy’s Tactics
Check out Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 8:1 & 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Spiritual warfare, is as real as wars fought in the flesh and is about the enemy getting you to believe a lie!
Listen, we must be wise for without wisdom we will surely fail. The enemy has had generations to practice his craft of lying. We think we are in a war but the truth is, there is no war when we realize the lie we have been following is a lie. In Genesis 3:1-6 “The 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. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
See, the first tactic the enemy will use is the reconstruction or twisting of God's Word. He says "did God say" then He follows up with half-truths by telling them they won't die. So often the best lie is wrapped in partial truth because it is so easy to believe. As believers, we need to seek God's Word for clarity. The enemy wants his lie to take root and for us to create room in our minds to entertain it. We must not even allow partial truths to creep into our life study and turn us away from God’s whole truth.
Spiritual warfare is a reality that Paul knew all about and he continually fought the devil of condemnation. That was the thorn in his flesh! It was a messenger from Satan sent to remind him of His past but Paul wrote this scripture in Romans 8:1 “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
The enemy continues to use the same tactics over and over: lies wrapped in partial truth, condemnation, and threats. Our battle though, is won when we refuse to listen to the voice of the enemy trying to whisper in our ear. Our victory comes when we drop to our knees in prayer and it is good to remember Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6, “Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives. We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.”
When we learn to go to war in prayer we will see God manifest in the flesh and that teacher or boss that was against us now all the suddenly is for us. So today remember these truths:
1. Realize it's not truth unless God said it.
2. Victory only comes when you go to war with praise and prayer
Make up your mind, what's it going to be? A life of being defeated or are you going to learn how to go to war from your knees?