Alternate Tuesday
7.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Equip Time
RECOGNIZING THE ENEMY SCHEMES & WINNING
Intro – The enemy (the devil) is not creative—he is predictable. Scripture shows us consistent patterns that once recognized, gives us the edge to walk triumphantly even he rages around us. The bible never says we are immune from the enemy’s attacks, but warns us to spot, identify, expose and avoid them. Why does he resort to tricks and not might?
Gen.3:1-5 – 1Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘Youa shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Satan (devil, accuser, liar,) does not begin with force against eve, he begins with questions to distorts the truth.
Key Revelations
Gen 3:1 – “Did God actually say…”
�The enemy’s greatest weapon is not power. It is perversion of truth! Deception!
The symbols used to describe the devil suggest one who has no right or power to achieve a desired result.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Col.2:15
NIV - And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
AMP - When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.
In Roman culture: defeated enemies were paraded publicly
Gen.3: 6 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,b she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Lust of the Flesh - and that it was a delight to the eyes
Lust of the eye - when the woman saw that the tree was good for food Lust of the eye
Pride of life - the tree was to be desired to make one wise
1Jn.2:16 - For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Symbols, Systems, Objects Use to Depict the Enemy
The Serpent — Deception & Subtlety: He doesn’t start loud—he starts subtle. �Rev.12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
The Dragon — Chaotic Power & Global Opposition: Violent opposition to God’s purposes, , systemic/global evil, orchestrate persecution of God’s people.
Rev.12:3 - And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth
The Wolf — False Leadership & Destruction From Within: Deceptive instructors, Spiritual intrusion, Concealed motives in the community. Working from inside the systems.�Matt.7: 15 - “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits.
The Angel Of Light — Deception Disguised As Good: False righteousness, attractive deception, attractive lies. It looks and feels right, but a hook lies at the end. It becomes grave in our belly.
The Accuser / Prosecutor — Legal Attack. Exploits guilt, uses condemnation
Rev.12:10 -And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothersb has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
“Does Job fear God for no reason?” Job1:9-11. attacks your legal standing with God, and makes us feel we must work to deserve it, and touts us when we fail.
Other Symbols used for the Devil?
Biblical Patterns of the Enemy's Attacks
5. He Seeks To Devour Through Pressure And Fear – He Capitalizes on suffering, losses, grief, internal pressure and fear.�1Pet.5:8-9 - “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
It is just a roar, using your anxiety, fears, grief and insecurity to run scatter. He isolates you, so that you are vulnerable, outside of the corporate cover and anointing.
6. He Steals, Kills And Destroys – Jn.10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…”
Greek progression:
/klepsē/ — steal (subtly remove)
/thysē/ — kill (terminate life/function)
/apolesē/ — destroy (ruin completely)�He doesn’t start with destruction—he starts with stealing small things; Joy, Peace, Discipline, Clarity.
How To Put Up A Fight
It is not to defeat him (he is a defeated foe), It is stand against his schemes so that you are not deceived and fall for his schemes.
The Authority of The Believer
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