The Enemy of our Souls

Introduction

Battles are won and lost, not because of the military strength of the army, but on their knowledge of the weakness of the enemy. The hierarchy of armies sit down to study both the might and weaknesses of their enemy. Knowing what to expect from the enemy can prepare the soldier to be more successful. The enemy of our souls uses his tactics to defeat us too. Temptation, used in a cunning way, can defeat the strongest saint unless he is aware of Satan’s tactics.

The battle plan

The devil revealed his battle plan in the Garden of Eden when he tempted Eve to surrender to his alternative way to eternal life. “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). There was a reason why he wanted Eve to think about what God has commanded. He knew that once she began to question the word of God, he could disarm her of the very weapon that would defeat him, that is, the word of God itself.

She began to talk to him about God and eternity. So we see that the first occult practice took place in Eden. The discussion about all things spiritual might appear to be harmless, but Satan was already a master orator who had convinced a third of the angels to follow his version of eternal truth. Eve ought to have upheld God’s word rather than question it, for in doing so she was actually questioning the truthfulness and holiness of God.

It seems that as she thought about the reliability of God’s word, her mind became fuzzy and added a clause that He did not mention. “And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” (Genesis 3:2-3). Then once she stated something that was contrary to Scripture, he was able to introduce his lie. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). Basically he is saying, “God does not want you to eat the fruit because He does not want you to become like Him.” Yet believing his lie would make Eve like him! She found his notions appealing.

The battle engaged

Eve’s mistake was that she listened to Satan and rationalised the intended sin. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food” (Genesis 3:6). There was no doubting the fact that God made everything “very good” (Genesis 1:31), therefore the fruit of this tree must have been good for food. But why this tree, were there not enough trees in Eden to eat of if she was hungry? “And that it was pleasant to the eyes” (Genesis 3:6). Again, there is no problem here, for she could have sat and admired the beauty of the tree as much as she wanted. “And a tree to be desired to make one wise” (Genesis 3:6). This is exactly what Satan intended her to believe. He wanted her to trust in a mystical tree whose fruit contain the elixir of life rather in God’s word. It seemed obvious to her that God was holding her back from something that would give her eternal youth. God may have said the truth, but He had not told her the whole truth.

Once sin is rationalised then it is extremely difficult to turn back from the inevitable disaster that will follow. Satan convinced Eve that God was telling her the whole truth about eternal life, but he neatly hid the facts about the consequences of disobeying God. She indeed did have her moment of pleasure when it seemed she had found the wisdom of eternity and shared her new found knowledge with Adam. “She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6). But it only lasted a moment, for very quickly guilt and condemnation flooded their souls. “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:7). The consequences of their disobedience would affect the rest of their lives and the lives of all their descendants.

The battle continues

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). His battle plan has never changed, because he knows that his tactics work just as well today as they did in Eden. He knows exactly how to attract us away from God and His word. Once the “Sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) has been laid down, he has defeated us. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Lay God’s word aside and sin will replace it.

We must be vigilant and on guard against schemes to destroy us. He is very aware of our weaknesses, therefore it would do us well to be aware of them too, and make preparation for the attacks that are sure to come. The Lord Jesus Christ is our grand example of how to deal with the devil (see Matthew 4:1-11). He never conversed with Satan over the temptations he presented like Eve did, instead He used the very weapon that the devil wanted Him to cease using, that is, God’s word clearly stated without any compromise. “It is written” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10) ought to be on our lips too when Satan comes with appealing temptation. This means that we must familiarise ourselves with what Scripture actually says rather than merely accepting it from the mouth or books of men.

Conclusion

© 1/1/2010