“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8
There was a famous Chinese General about 500 years before the Lord’s birth named Sun Tzu. He was a powerful and successful General, but what he’s most noted for is a series of papers he wrote on military strategy which have been compiled and translated into a book entitled, “The Art of War”.
Strategists all over the world still read this book. Militaries still incorporate principles from this book. I also think it interesting to note that some of Sun Tzu’s writings from this book became the philosophical basis of what is now know as Asian Martial Arts.
I tell you all this because it was Sun Tzu who taught the following principle in “The Art of War”: “Know your enemy before going into battle”.
Brethren, the life of a Christian IS a battle: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph 6:10-11.
We should know something of our enemy before going into battle! 1 Peter 5:8 is a warning to every Christian soldier:
–Be sober: Don’t be drunken – don’t be distracted from keeping your watch – be sober-minded – be smart!
–Be vigilant: Be awake to the wiles and the power of the evil one – be on guard! And how can you be? “KNOW YOUR ENEMY”!
–Why do I need to know my enemy?
As a roaring lion he walks about, seeking whom he may devour! Do you think he wants to devour you? No? Then you don’t know your enemy!!!
Any good army needs to be briefed on strategy…may this post brief you on “Satan’s strategy”. My desire is for you to know your enemy before going into battle! I truly believe many fall prey to the devil because they just don’t know who they’re really up against.
I’m going to take you back to the “Book of Origin” or the “Book of Beginnings” – GENESIS – for our briefing on Satan’s strategy…he’s had the same plan ever since the Fall of Man, so not much has changed.
Gen 3:1-5, “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (vs2) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (vs3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (vs4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (vs5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
STRATEGY #1: Satan tries to cause DISCREDIT of God’s Word
In verse one, the devil plants doubt in God’s Word, producing a discredit to what God says!
“Yea, hath God said” / “Can God really be trusted” / Is God’s Word a credible source after all?”
It’s not wrong to have questions about God’s Word, but it’s a strategy of Satan to question the validity of God’s Word! Be very, very careful when you hear or read these phrases from someone:
“A better rendering of the text should say this…”
“It would have been better if the Bible had said…”
Really? How do YOU know what would be a “better rendering”? It’s the strategy, “Yea, hath God said”!
Don’t allow Satan to cause any discredit of God’s Word in your life. God has said, He is truly credible, and He can be trusted!
STRATEGY #2: Satan tries to cause DIVISION among God’s workers
A great example of this is when the devil tried to implement this strategy in the Church at Corinth: 1 Cor 1:10-13, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (vs11) For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. (vs12) Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (vs13) Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”
What was going on in the church at Corinth is the same thing that goes on in many Independent Baptist churches today!
Contentions – debating, strife, quarreling, can’t get along!
Clicks – cell groups forming within the congregation!
Clicks breed jealousy, division, pride, and a haughty spirit (see again 1 Cor 1:12)
If folks in the same church can’t get along with each other – if there’s debating, strife, and quarreling – AND if they splinter off into little “cell-groups” or clicks, then they didn’t know their enemy! Satan has implemented his strategy that will “tear us up” in the battle!
Battles have a funny way of bringing an army and a platoon of soldiers together. While engaged in the battle, those soldiers begin looking out for one another and bearing one another’s burdens. The battle cultivates within them a caring attitude for their comrade at arms. A “battle-worn” platoon, many times, will be a unified platoon. So why isn’t it like that in churches?
Stay tuned…our briefing is not over. There’s more to know about YOUR ENEMY! Part 2 will be on the way.
BE PREPARED AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH!
