Welcome To The War: Know Your Enemy
WELCOME TO THE WAR
There are four questions every believer has to answer:
- Who is your enemy?
- What are your enemy’s capabilities?
- What are your enemy’s tactics?
- What are your TTP’s / battle drills?
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.” — Genesis 3:15 (NASB)
There is a war.
And you are in it.
WHO IS YOUR ENEMY?
“The great dragon… that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world…” — Revelation 12:9 (KJV)
“You were the anointed cherub who covers… You were blameless in your ways… until unrighteousness was found in you… Your heart was haughty because of your beauty… I cast you to the ground…” — Ezekiel 28:12–17 (NASB)
“Now the serpent was more crafty… ‘Has God really said…?’ … ‘You certainly will not die!’” — Genesis 3:1–4 (NASB)
“Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” — 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NASB)
WHAT ARE HIS CAPABILITIES?
“He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.” — Genesis 3:15 (NASB)
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” — Romans 16:20 (KJV)
“The devil… was cast into the lake of fire… and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” — Revelation 20:10 (KJV)
He is defeated.
ALL the devil has is deception.
WARFARE IS WON IN THE MIND
WWII deception and Gulf War leaflet campaigns proved this:
The enemy doesn’t always have to be destroyed—
he has to be convinced.
Genesis 3 is the same battlefield.
Eve wasn’t overpowered.
She was persuaded.
HIS TACTICS (THE DEVIL’S PLAYBOOK)
6 Leaflets of the Devil
- Lie with the Bible
- Temptation with Bible lies
- Accusations with Bible lies
- Demonic influence
- Affliction and oppression
- Church division
(John 8:44, Revelation 12:9, Matthew 4:1, James 1:14, Revelation 12:10, Job 1:9,
2 Corinthians 4:4, Luke 22:3, Luke 13:16, Job 2:7, 2 Corinthians 4:3,
2 Corinthians 11:13–14, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, Romans 16:17, 2 Peter 2:1)
1. LIE WITH THE BIBLE
Questions God’s Word (creates doubt)
“Indeed, has God said…?” — Genesis 3:1
Distorts / exaggerates God’s command
(God said they could eat from every tree except one — Genesis 2:16–17)
Directly contradicts God
“You certainly will not die!” — Genesis 3:4
Reframes sin as good
“…good for food… delight to the eyes…” — Genesis 3:6
Appeals to pride
“…desirable to make one wise…” — Genesis 3:6
Promises Godlike status without submission
“…you will become like God…” — Genesis 3:5
Attacks God’s character
(Implies God is holding something back)
2. TEMPTATION WITH THE BIBLE
Physical / Provision
“Command that these stones become bread.” — Matthew 4:3
Pride / Testing God
“Throw Yourself down…” — Matthew 4:6
Power / Compromise
“All these things I will give You…” — Matthew 4:9
“Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” — James 1:14
3. ACCUSATIONS WITH BIBLE LIES
“They will… kill you thinking they are serving God.” — John 16:2
“…the accuser… accuses them day and night.” — Revelation 12:10
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” — Job 1:9
4. DEMONIC INFLUENCE
“…the god of this world has blinded the minds…” — 2 Corinthians 4:4
“Satan entered Judas…” — Luke 22:3
“…the gospel is veiled…” — 2 Corinthians 4:3
5. AFFLICTION AND OPPRESSION
“Whom Satan has bound for eighteen years…” — Luke 13:16
“Satan… struck Job with severe boils…” — Job 2:7
6. CHURCH DIVISION
“False apostles… disguising themselves…” — 2 Corinthians 11:13
“Satan disguises himself…” — 2 Corinthians 11:14
“The tempter might have tempted you…” — 1 Thessalonians 3:5
“Watch those who cause divisions…” — Romans 16:17
“False teachers among you…” — 2 Peter 2:1
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
“He is a liar and the father of lies.” — John 8:44
“…who deceives the whole world…” — Revelation 12:9
THE PROMISE
“…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18 (KJV)
HOW WE FIGHT (BATTLE DRILLS)
1. Elders / Mentors / The Gathering
Acts 20:28–30 (NASB)
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”1 John 1:7 (NASB)
“But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
2. Warfare Prayers / Worship
Psalm 23:4 (NASB)
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”Psalm 27:1–3 (NASB)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?
When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.”Matthew 6:13 (NASB)
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”James 4:7 (NASB)
“Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
3. Believe the Truth vs Lie
John 14:6 (NASB)
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.’”John 8:44 (NASB)
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.”1 John 2:14 (NASB)
“I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”1 Peter 5:8–9 (NASB)
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”
4. Obey When You Don’t Want To
James 4:7 (NASB)
“Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”James 1:22 (NASB)
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
5. Abide in the Word of God
1 John 2:14 (NASB)
“I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”John 15:7 (NASB)
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
6. Choose To Love (Communion / Forgiveness)
1 John 1:7 (NASB)
“But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”Matthew 5:23–24 (NASB)
“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”1 Corinthians 11:29 (NASB)
“For the one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not properly recognize the body.”
7. Do The Mission / Trample The Devil Underfoot
Romans 16:20 (KJV)
“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”Matthew 16:19 (NASB)
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”