Just Three Plays!

Stop being defeated by an enemy that has only three plays! Yes, the enemy of your soul operates with only three tactics -- temptation, deception and accusation.

In the world of sports, any football, basketball, soccer or baseball team can will a game if they have the opponent’s playbook. They know what to expect. They understand which players to block, tackle or foul. The competition becomes less about chance and more about strategy. And there’s no doubt that when a playbook is compromised, the power of the win is shifted to the team with access to secret information.

In the life of the believer, we are equipped to WIN in terms of spiritual warfare. We have TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, SALVATION, and THE WORD OF GOD! Top that off with the Holy Spirit and your constant access to prayer, and you are well equipped to defeat Satan and his armies (Ephesians 6:10-18). After all, he will never have a new plan or strategy. He can only steal and destroy. He cannot create anything new.

Be warned, people of God. The enemy is well aware of his limitations, so don’t underestimate him. He’s a genius at using his weapons, so we must be trained and skilled in using our own. Knowing and understanding how our enemy works leaves us with no excuse. He will tempt us to sin. He will cause things to seem different than they really are, and he will use guilt to keep us captive. Don’t fall for it! Do not participate! He has only three plays. Read the Word of God and know what his plan involves.

Here are a few examples...

• The Word of God tells us we are tempted with our own lusts (James 1:13-15). Truthfully, our flesh plays a bigger part in our temptations than the enemy does. Yet, he will entice us into situations that heighten our temptations. Living a righteous and holy lifestyle protects us. As we flee even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22-24), we restrict the enemy’s access to our most sensitive and vulnerable areas. Holiness simply leads us to avoid or strategically enter areas of temptation. For instance, if you’re going out for the night and want to restrict the possibility of lust and sexual sin, own the atmosphere. Take control of the situation. Go out in a group instead of individually. This is part of the fight.
• Deception is an area where the enemy attacks believers more than any other method. He will literally take a situation or event and create a “truth” in your mind that is not based on fact or reality. Think about it... How many times have you been afraid of something that never happened? How many times have you perceived that someone was angry with you when they never were? Too often, Satan uses fear, offense and misunderstanding to cause division and isolate God’s people from those who truly love them. This is why discernment is so important! We must learn to cast down thoughts and imaginations that are not of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-6), rather than allowing them to fester and create false realities. Even more, we need to TALK (Matthew 18) to one another. Communication is part of the fight.
• Accusation is the tool the enemy uses to incite guilt, depression and loneliness. It is an evil tactic, though very effective. Satan is a master at bringing up one’s past or making them feel as if they are just not “good enough”. How often we forget that grace and mercy are what they are BECAUSE we’re not good enough. They can’t be earned, yet God chooses to love us in spite of. Condemnation does not belong to us (Romans 8:1)! God is faithful, with new mercies every morning. When we confess our sins, they are forgiven (1 John 1:9). Knowing the Word of God is imperative. Study and fellowship reinforce the Father’s heart toward us. They are part of the fight.

We battle temptation with righteousness. We battle deception with discernment and truth. We battle accusation with the Word of God.

Don’t lose to an opponent with only three plays! AMEN.