You don’t have to behave like your enemy to know him, but to defeat him, you need to know him.
2 Corinthians 2:11 – Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
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In professional sports, teams watch footage of the opposing team, seeking to discover their strengths, weaknesses, patterns, and idiosyncrasies. After Patton gave Rommel a sound defeat, it is said that Patton of Rommel, “I read your book.” My friend, Satan doesn’t have a book. He works very hard to keep himself and his devices hidden. But it’s impossible to stay hidden in the dark when the lights have been turned on. It is the entrance of God’s Word that brings light. If you want to recognize Satan and his devices, study the Word of God. Know it intimately. Rightly divide the Word. Discover how the Lord always defeats Satan. Read God’s book. It’s called the Word of God, the Bible, the Scriptures. Make it a major daily portion of your life. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Knowing God’s Word intimately is one of the paramount tools God has given you to defeat Satan. You don’t have to study the enemy to know his devices. You don’t have to follow him around to know what he is attempting to do. You don’t need tests and trials to determine if you are ready to defeat him. What you need is the Word. We see this principle and pattern put to work in the early part of the ministry of Jesus Himself. When Jesus was about 30-years old, He came to John to be baptized where He said it was necessary that He fulfill all of righteousness. We are talking about (at that time), the “only begotten Son of God.” After being baptized, Holy Ghost came upon Him, and Father said He was well pleased with His Son. Jesus was born, but you need to be born again. Have you been born again? If so, you need to be baptized, not to be saved, but to fulfill all of righteousness and follow in obedience to Jesus. Have you been baptized? if so, well. If not, get busy.
It was at this point that Jesus was led of Holy Spirit to a place where Father knew Satan would come against Him and face his first big defeat by Jesus Himself. In the wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus three times with the three greatest temptations he can bring; the lust of the flesh (hunger), the pride of life (show me what you can do), and the lust of the eyes (look at what you can have.” In all three temptations, Jesus used the most powerful tool He had . . . the Word of God. At each temptation, Jesus used the phrase, “It is written.” He was talking about the written Word of God. If Jesus had to use this method, then you and I MUST imitate Him, for by so doing, we can overcome every device Satan has.
Manna for Today – 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Isaiah 54:17; Psalm 91
My Second Miler by Dr. Beechard Moorefield 