Your Enemy

We all have an enemy. We actually have real enemies. The Bible tells us our enemies are Satan and demons, the world, and the flesh. This is important, because it doesn’t matter if you’re playing high school sports or entering the ring in the UFC; to have a chance of winning, you need to know your enemy. With this week's guest Gary Black, we’ll do a deep dive on Satan and demons and learn how to fight our enemy.

Further reading on spiritual warfare: Bondage Breaker by Neil AndersonThe Adversary by Mark BubeckSpiritual Warfare by Karl PayneThe Handbook For Spiritual Warfare by Ed Murphy And this link Gary mentioned in today's episode: Going Deeper In Understanding Spiritual Warfare

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LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10E7: “Two Words: Your Enemy”

Who is your favorite movie or television villain (The Joker, Darth Vader, Green Thanos, Voldemort, etc.)? Why? Has anyone ever introduced you to the concept of spiritual warfare? If so, how did they describe it? What were your main takeaways? Satan (aka “the Devil” or “the Enemy”) has a number of descriptions listed throughout the Bible. If someone asked you to describe Satan, what words would you use? “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.” -Charles Baudelaire. What are your thoughts on this statement? Are there any other misconceptions about Satan you’ve heard? Read John 10:10 and 1 Peter 5:8-10. Scripture is clear on what Satan’s intent is. What do we learn about him based on these two passages? Why is it critical for us to know our opposition? Read Genesis 3:1-7, Matthew 4:1-11, and John 8:44. Satan’s primary strategy has been consistent throughout the course of history. He creates confusion and division by planting seeds of doubt in our minds and in our hearts. However, Jesus shows us one of the most effective ways we combat Satan’s lies is with God’s truth. What lies has Satan tried to sell to you? What were the consequences of buying into these lies? Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. This passage highlights a sobering reality: As long as we’re alive, we’re in a fight whether we want to be or not. In light of this, how can we be more proactive than reactive when it comes to spiritual warfare? Which of the following has been the toughest battle for you spiritually during this season:

- Anger- Ego / Pride - Guilt / Shame- Hopelessness / Despair - Isolation- Misplaced identity (i.e. career, sports, etc.)- Passivity- Rejection- Temptation- Thought patterns- Unforgiveness Read Romans 8:35-39, 1 Corinthians 10:13, and Ephesians 2:11-22. These verses remind us that we fight from victory, rather than for victory. Why is this perspective so important for us as followers of Jesus? How should this change the way we engage with the world around us? What are some of the resources or tools we have available as we wage war with the Enemy? Prayer is arguably one of the most overlooked aspects of spiritual warfare. Print a copy of this “Armor of God” prayer based on Ephesians 6:10-20. Make a commitment to read through it and pray over it this week. Athletes and coaches are known for studying their opponents’ game film. For an interesting take on one author’s portrayal of what this looks like in the spiritual realm, grab a copy of C.S. Lewis’ classic book, The Screwtape Letters or listen to the audiobook.