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In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:4-5 NASB

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. John 1:6-9 NLT

We are made to be a reflection of Jesus to our world.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24 ESV

Our world needs to see Christians who are like Christ.

We need God to Refine His Reflection in our lives.

This is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Isaiah 58:6-7 NLT


Religion without relationship will always result in a distorted reflection of Jesus to our world.

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8 ESV

We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine. - D. L. Moody

The LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NLT

To live the simple Gospel is to allow God to refine His reflection through the crucible of life.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. Proverbs 17:3 ESV

I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver
and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” Zechariah 13:9 NLT

So I advise you to buy gold from me gold that has been purified by fire. Revelation 3:18 NLT

Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
Psalms 139:12 ESV

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4

This little light of mine...

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 ESV

We are given and called to carry a different kind of light.

You have to Know the light to show the light.

You can know light exist and still stumble in the dark.

As to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:6-7 ESV

Zeal without knowledge is like fire without light. - Thomas Fuller

No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Luke 8:16 ESV

In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others. - Brennan Manning, Abba's Child

To hide the light is to hoard the light, and ultimately to choose darkness instead of light.

Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
Psalms 139:12 ESV

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:5 NASB

Light is to darkness what love is to fear; in the presence of one the other disappears. - Sir Francis Bacon

Very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. Mark 16:2-6 ESV

The hope of Jesus is not only the truth we carry, but ironically it’s the truth that carries us.

Hope in Jesus connects more with the heart than the head and is realized when we worship.

The dragon hates worship

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. Isaiah 14:12-14 KNJV

Then the devil took Jesus up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ’You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’” Luke 4:5-8 NLT

Our choosing to come close to God moves His heart and changes ours.

And while I was still saying these words in prayer, and putting my sins and the sins of my people Israel before the Lord, and requesting grace from the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Even while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at first when my weariness was great, put his hand on me about the time of the evening offering. And teaching me and talking to me he said, O Daniel, I have come now to give you wisdom. At the first word of your prayer a word went out, and I have come to give you knowledge; for you are a man dearly loved: so give thought to the word and let the vision be clear to you. Daniel 9:20-23 BBE

This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer. Mark 9:29 ESV

Trying to fight without consistent divine encounter is foolish and futile.

We can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:19-23 NLT

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:15-16 NLT

The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!” At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 NLT

Clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. Psalms 47:1 NKJV

Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. 1 Chronicles 16:29 NLT

It is an honor to come in to the presence of our King and worship before His throne!

The heart of a warrior is born out of worship.

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. Psalms 95:6-7 NLT - (David)

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalms 63:3-4 ESV

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Psalms 141:2 ESV

Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! Psalms 134:1-2 ESV

Worship isn’t about personality it’s all about passion

Worship isn’t just how we celebrate victory, worship is how we win the victory.

When you have Jesus, you have the best thing that life can offer.

Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

You were designed to carry the most precious, powerful gift of all - the Hope of Jesus - and the dragon wants to disrupt your delivery.

Gifts - always come in boxes.

God’s word talks about containers too. WE are designed to CARRY.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

Literally, we are the containers for the BEST of the BEST. The Holy Spirit.

John 14:16-17  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

REVELATION 12 This is about the attempts of Satan to prevent the increase of the church. Word picture

Revelation 12:1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.

Israel bringing forth Jesus.

Revelation 12:3-4 Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, tossing them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.

12:13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

12:17 And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

When he didn’t defeat the church, he waged war against the inhabitants of the world.
We are the descendants.

Ways the Dragon tries to steal, kill, destroy the promise of Hope:

The dragon will try to disrupt the delivery of the Truth to you.

Luke 8: 5-15 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.  Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

The dragon will try to delay, destroy and disfigure your hope and faith before it becomes mature.
The dragon wants to kill your promise of hope EARLY.
75 percent of venture-backed startups fail (Harvard Business School study)

Key reasons for that entrepreneurs experienced business failure:

• > Lack of focus
• > Lack of motivation, commitment and passion
• > Too much pride
• > Taking advice from the wrong people
• > Lacking good mentorship (life groups)

The dragon will try to get you to disguise or decorate your hope and faith so others don’t discover it.

2 Timothy 1:7-8 Do not be ashamed of the gospel

• > Even Timothy had to be reminded and encouraged
• > VS 1 Cor 1:27 God chose the foolish things to shame the wise.
• > Even a simple box can carry the most profound power. Life-changing potential.

“I have this conviction, not only should everyone get to hear about Jesus, but everyone should get to have a relationship with a true God follower at least once in their lifetime.” -Ron Barnard

DISGUISE

• > The dragon will also try to make up disguise and decorate the TRUTH.
• > The Bible says not to worry about what you eat or drink or wear.

Jesus’ example: didn’t need adornment, He didn’t have perfect eyebrows or muscles

Isaiah 53:2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

What you carry needs to be shared, discussed, and delivered. We are called to carry the message of Hope well, facing the Dragon and delivering anyway.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT

The Devil’s in the Details

Attention to the smallest of details can make the biggest difference.

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Proverbs 11:3 ESV

It’s the seemingly minor mis-steps, or compromises, that will cause you to lose your way.

Miracles and ministry won’t keep you on track, it takes following Jesus one step at a time to do that.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. Matthew 26:14-16 NLT

Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”
The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” John 13:21-27 NLT

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. John 12:4-6 NLT

A lack of integrity and humility in the details of everyday life betrayed Judas long before Judas betrayed Jesus.

When we compromise on one conviction it makes it more difficult stand on every other conviction.

The enemy loves to make your issue bigger than it has to be by convincing you to keep it in the dark.

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Proverbs 14:12 NLT

Our free will leave us bound if we don’t surrender our free will to God.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say, but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” but not everything is constructive. 1 Corinthians 10:23 NIV

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

The most important step is the next step.

GOD IS IN THE DETAILS.

An intimidated warrior is an easily discouraged, demoralized, and defeated warrior.

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:17-18 ESV

Right-Size

But I said to you, ‘Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! The LORD your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt. And you saw how the LORD your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place.’ “But even after all he did, you refused to trust the LORD your God, who goes before you looking for the best places to camp, guiding you with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. Deuteronomy 1:29-33 NLT

Our perspective will always reveal what lens we’re looking through.

Don’t underestimate my God!

David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” 1 Samuel 17:41-47 NLT

Our enemy loves to compare until we choose to compare him to God!

Realize

Realize the victory God has already given and walk in it!

Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!” Judges 6:11-12 NLT

Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The LORD said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Judges 6:14-16 NLT

Who’s commentary on your situation will you believe?

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

Remember

Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” Mark 8:14-21 ESV

We disarm discouragement when we remember to remember the faithfulness of God.

Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 ESV

Rest

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

Resting in Jesus doesn’t mean doing nothing, but doing the right things, with the right hope, and the right help.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” James 3:13-16 ESV

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 ESV

Our best efforts at reasoning and deciding are always off when we have the wrong reference point.

“Geometry is from the eternal mind of God. The share in it accorded to men is one of the reasons that Man is the image of God.” - Johannes Kepler

“The laws of nature are put within the grasp of the human mind because God wanted us to recognize them. He created us after his own image, that we could share his very thoughts.” - Johannes Kepler

The ultimate outcome of a right lived life is a life that’s lived in right relationship with God.

The math doesn’t work when we put ourselves at the center.

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?’” Luke 9:23 ESV

The “give-me” gospel is a self-centered, Godless gospel.

The dragon delivers all sorts of diabolical brokenness, but the doorway to deception is always self.

“Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees” Matthew 3:10 ESV

“But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.” 1 Corinthians 11:31 ESV

Repentance isn’t just turning away from sin, but turning away from self and to God.

“Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all.” John 3:29-31 ESV

The root of sin is self-centeredness; conversely the root of holiness is Christ-centeredness.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 KJV

“I wanted to become a theologian. For a long time I was restless. Now, however, behold how through my effort God is being celebrated in astronomy.” - Johannes Kepler

“I have consummated the work to which I pledged myself, using all the abilities that You (God) gave me; I have shown the glory of Your works to men, but if I have pursued my own glory among men while engaged in a work intended for Your glory, be merciful, be compassionate, and forgive.” - Johannes Kepler

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelation 12:11 ESV

The Gravity of Grace is great enough to hold you close to God!

We can’t afford to ignorantly adlib like a soldier who doesn’t know the fight or foe.

Though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV

The enemy always has his most success when he causes us to forget who God is.

Another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. Revelation 12:3-4 ESV

All the descendants who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 12:17 ESV

Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. Daniel 7:2-3 ESV

7 Kingdoms = Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, An End-Time Kingdom

Forgetting God is like forgetting to breathe, it won’t be long before your soul starts to die.

In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. They set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, and there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the Lord carried away before them. And they did wicked things, provoking the Lord to anger, and they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this.” Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” 2 Kings 17:6-13 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the Lord. For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.” And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home and lived at Nineveh. And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place. 2 Kings 19:32-37 ESV

There’s no greater weapon in the war that we’re waging than an absolute trust in our conquering King.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:13-14 ESV

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Romans 4:3 NIV

The most powerful, right, and righteous choice we can ever make is to simply believe God.

Jesus is not afraid of the dragon, but the dragon is definitely afraid of Him!

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:15-18 ESV

Knowing God is God, and knowing God as God, is the knowledge the heart needs to defeat the dragon.

Our adversary is equally happy as our buddy or our bully.

The best intel we have is battle tested material from the life of the Messiah.

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.. Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT

Not only is the devil a liar, but he loves to dupe us into spreading his deception as well.

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 NIV

Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Colossians 3:9 MSG

A partial truth is a complete lie. Mary Barnard

An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. Proverbs 17:4 ESV

It’s time to turn and face the dragon with a fresh conviction about discerning and delivering truth!

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist. Ephesians 6:13-14 NIV

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:15-17 ESV

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. Psalms 86:11 NLT

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 ESV

When truth is marginalized the truth that matters most gets talked about the least.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 ESV

The dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. Revelation 12:16 NLT

Correct the deceived, hate the deception and oppose the deceiver.

The best intel we have is battle tested material from the life of the Messiah.
————————————————————————————————————————————
Jesus didn’t just tell us how to fight, He showed us how to fight.

Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. For forty days and nights he was tested by the Devil. Luke 4:1-2 MSG - (He was tested in every way. Heb 4:15)

He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry. Luke 4:2 MSG

Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Luke 4:3 NLT

One of the enemy’s most obvious tactics is to test us when we’re tired.

Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to really live.” Luke 4:4 MSG

Jesus said, "The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. John 4:34 MSG
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For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, They're yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I'm in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they're yours, the whole works. Luke 4:5-6 MSG

We are called to think, desire and discern differently!

Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.” Luke 4:7-8 MSG

We take our directives from our deified savior not the damned to hell dragon.
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For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, If you are God's Son, jump. It's written, isn't it, that 'he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone’? Luke 4:9-11 MSG

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Luke 4:12 MSG

Jesus made it clear He didn’t come to be the dragon’s subject but rather the dragon slayer.

That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity. Luke 4:13 MSG