Beat the Enemy at His Game
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. ~Matthew 4:10
Military strategists are intellectual, read-up, strategic, cautious, and courageous. They know that enemy threat is always imminent and that the best defense is many times a good offense. They know how to anticipate the enemy’s actions and how to mount a counteroffensive movement against them. They also know that there are tactics and weapons that are proven against the enemy. In effect, they know that they must beat the enemy at his game. This morning, would you consider with me how Jesus teaches us to beat the enemy at his game?
There is the work of temptation.
Temptation comes from the devil. It begins when the devil attacks us in areas of appetite, avarice, and ambition. Breaking this down further, he attacks us in areas of lust, desire, greed, covetousness, truthfulness, pride, and self-glory. The work of temptation is when the devil appeals to an area where our defenses are down, our willpower is weak, and our soul is not disciplined. He attacks us where we are vulnerable and ill-prepared. We are blindsided. We are deceived. We are thinking only of the moment and not the long-term implications. Through temptation, the devil seeks to make us succumb to sin. Can you think of areas in your life where you are vulnerable and exposed to temptation right now?
There is the wickedness in temptation.
James says that "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin...." Temptation leads to sin. Sin is always a grievous offense against a holy and righteous God. Sin is wickedness. There is no such thing as a small or large sin. Some sins are more grievous, but as a whole, all sin is wickedness. When we succumb to temptation, we have failed God. When we succumb to temptation, the devil has a foot in the door in our life and seeks to take over more space. One sin leads to another sin. One sin leads to repeated sin. If sin is not dealt with remorse, repentance, and rapidity, we can develop a calloused conscience towards the wrong that we have committed. Sin is always wicked.
There is the weaponry against temptation.
Jesus was tempted in the three areas that I mentioned earlier. He was shown the glory of this world and promised that all of it would be given to Him if He bowed to the devil. The devil seeks to tempt you to sell out God and gain the glory of this world. The glory of this world looks appealing, but we must always remember it is fleeting, temporal, deceitful, unsatisfying, and always has small print that we do not see. How did Jesus beat the devil at his game? First, Jesus took a heroic stand. He told the devil, "Get thee hence, Satan." By this, He told the devil to get out of His face. Don’t give the devil the space or opportunity to sell you. Slam the door in his face! Second, Jesus quoted Holy Scripture. God’s Word will never fail us in the hour of temptation, provided that we quote it accurately and in faith. Third, Jesus had just completed a season of intense prayer. We must be vigilant in heated supplication. The same weapons that Jesus used are still available and strategic for our victory.
There is the win over temptation.
The devil went away after Jesus applied the proven weaponry. We have the promise that God will with the temptation also make a way for us to escape it. These weapons enable us to beat the enemy at his own game.
Don’t be a Christian who is easily blindsided by the enemy. Determine today to beat the enemy at his game!
Have a victorious God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Galatians 4-6