Knowing your Enemy

Part 1

Introduction - Sin is like driving your car on an oil slick - that first spin is fun until you realize you have no control of when or how you stop.

I'm not telling you "Not to sin" - "you know not to sin" - However, sometimes sin looks exciting and you don't realize initially until its too late and you have already given into the temptation. this in such a way so you can clearly see the results of it. Sin always hinders your faith, and it helps the dark side - leaving you wishing you weren't where you are - even though it looked abundantly awesome going into it.

We need to know the tactics of the devil so that he cannot trap us in the sin that so easily besets us

Hebrews 12:1

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Hierarchy of the Evil Side

Principalities

High Ranking demonic princes

Powers

Powers refers to executive-level demonic spirits who carry out the will of principalities.

Rules of the Darkness of this world

These are specialized demonic rulers who control the world system of darkness — everything blinded, corrupt, hidden, or enslaved.

Spiritual Wickedness in high places

Wicked spiritual beings operating in the upper realms
They corrupt leadership, institutions, and anything intended to be holy
They attempt to influence churches, pulpits, ministries
They stir false religion, false doctrine, and counterfeit spirituality

When someone responds to you in a sinful manner (foul speech, ugly looks, or worse), it’s the spirit behind them that we wrestle with, not the people themselves

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Your enemy roars to see if you will accept fear

Fear Tolerated is Faith Contaminated

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Don't subscribe to the devils email list

When Satan walks about – where does he go?

To and fro – up and down – Don’t be the one he can devour – (Give no place to the devil)

Job 2:2

And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

The Devil is called the Wicked one

Wicked means twisted

1 John 3:12

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Satan as 3 modus operandi

Don’t partner with the Devil because John 10:10 is his end game

John 10:10

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…

Are we able to resist all temptations?

1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The Devil is full of Sin

The Devil sinned from the beginning

1 John 3:8

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Don’t give place to the Devil

How do you give place to the Devil?

Steeling
Corrupt communication
Lying - If you lie, your faith will have little power

Ephesians 4:27-30

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

1 John 2:16-17

¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The Devil sets snares - Snares are something that you might not see

If you are not using your faith - you cannot receive from God

Matthew 21:22 - Faith is required to believe, believing is required to receive

²²And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.