TACTICS OF THE ENEMY

Part Two

What made the forbidden fruit so enticing to Eve? Many of us know the story and have likely pondered it at some point. I have several questions, such as: Why didn’t Adam intervene to stop her? He was the one to whom God gave the command. Also, why didn’t Eve leave well enough alone? They were in Paradise with God, for goodness' sake! What more did she need? Perhaps it was the thrill of the forbidden act itself, or maybe it was the power she believed she would gain. I could spend all day combing through scripture to understand Adam and Eve’s motivations, but I believe the truth is they initially had no inward motivation to rebel against God. I’m sure they were perfectly enjoying paradise. Here’s what we do know: the serpent brought something external into their perfect world -the temptation to sin. Right before the first act of sin was committed the enemy’s tactics are revealed.

In Genesis 3:6 (KJV), it states, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

Three things stood out to Eve and tempted her to act: first, that the tree was good for food; second, that it was pleasant to the eyes; and third, that it was a tree to be desired to make one wise. Genesis chapter 3 begins by informing us that the serpent was more crafty than any other beast, and clearly we can see why. I, too, would likely have fallen for the same trick and unfortunately fallen for much worse. Who doesn’t desire good food, beautiful things, and a level of status and power? While some people may truly be humble and not desire much, let’s be honest—most people strive to live well. By society’s standards that is. I live in the U.S., and many have risked their lives traveling from different countries in pursuit of the “American Dream”—which, these days, that “dream” feels increasingly laughable. The point is that most of us desire material comfort, but 1 John 2:15 warns us: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself sitting at the feet of the Father, like a small child, asking “why?” questions all day, much like my three-year-old twins. I’m just grateful that Jesus has more patience than I do!

After pondering the question, “Why is it that if a man loves the world, the Father is not in him?” The Holy Spirit reminded me of 2 Corinthians 4:4, which reveals that Satan is the “god of this world,” blinding the eyes of unbelievers to prevent them from understanding and accepting the gospel.

The real question is: What can this lowercase "god of this world" offer us anyway? 

1 John 2:16 states, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world."

There it is! Satan's tactics are exposed right in that one verse. He tempts us in three main ways:

1. The lust of the flesh

2. The lust of the eyes

3. The pride of life

That’s all he can offer. In contrast, our uppercase God can give us eternal life and good fruit—love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Is your spirit leaping for joy? Our God is so good! Satan’s offer is temporary and empty, while God's offer is eternal and full.

The word “lust" in a biblical context often refers to a strong desire or intense craving. The Cambridge Dictionary defines lust as “a very strong sexual desire” or “a very powerful feeling of wanting something.”

Isn’t that interesting? The enemy only offers us an illusion. Think about anything you once craved—a new job, a new house, a new car, or that vacation. The excitement was always short-lived. It never truly satisfied you, and soon after, you found yourself craving and chasing after something else the devil had cleverly dangled in front of you. Please understand that I’m not saying God doesn’t want us to have nice things or enjoy our lives; however, most of the time, we desire things to fill a void that only Jesus can fill.

This is why we NEED Jesus. He is the only one who can defeat Satan and help us resist his temptations.

In Matthew 4:1-11, we read about the temptation of Jesus. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, the devil approached Him when he was hungry, tempting Him with a physical need. Matthew 4:3 (KJV) states, “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread,” seeking to make Him fall into the lust of the flesh.

The lust of the flesh is often difficult to fight against because it typically addresses a physical need. I love how Bobby Schuller’s blog "Hour of Power" defines it: “The lust of the flesh simply means wanting to gratify our body’s desires at the cost of morality and what’s good for our soul.”

Anytime we look to food, alcohol, drugs, or adultery to fill a role meant for Jesus, we have fallen into the enemy’s trap.

Jesus demonstrated how to fight back by speaking the truth to destroy the lies. In Matthew 4:4 (KJV), He responds, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

The devil, relentless in his efforts, tries another tactic. He takes Jesus to the top of the temple, tempting Him to throw Himself down in an attempt to force divine intervention, using the “Pride of Life” to tempt Jesus into making a grand display of power.

The pride of life refers to our craving for status and power. Many people fall into this trap because, deep down, they desire to be their own god. We can become obsessed with ourselves and our own importance, talents, and accomplishments. It’s important to stay prayerful because this temptation is sneaky, especially if we have become more disciplined over our physical desires. I personally struggle in this area and must continue praying for a heart of humility.

Once again, Jesus fights back with Scripture. However, the devil, refusing to accept defeat, pulls out his final trick: “The Lust of the Eyes.” He tempts Jesus by offering Him the kingdoms of this world, saying in Matthew 4:9, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”

No wonder Satan fell from heaven like lightning; because he clearly lost his mind thinking that God in the flesh would ever worship him!

In His authority, Jesus quickly puts the enemy in his place. In Matthew 4:10 (KJV), He responds, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

With all his tricks exhausted, the devil leaves defeated, realizing he’s not as clever as he thought.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father,  

We thank You for the truth of Your word. Please expose the lies, plots, and schemes of the enemy and empower us to pick up our swords and fight. Cleanse our minds and hearts of all unrighteousness and increase our desire to walk in the Spirit so that we may resemble You more and more each day. We plead the blood of Jesus over every aspect of our lives and ask for Your protection. Amen.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in theology. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned during my personal bible study time. I encourage you to take everything back to the Lord in prayer. If you have any questions regarding accuracy, please conduct your own research or seek wise counsel from the leaders in your church or a respected figure within your community.