Know Your Enemy: Resisting Temptation in Faith

Last week we talked about knowing your enemy, the way that we understand who he is and what he does to get us to follow him instead of Jesus. Satan plants all kinds of weeds in our life and it is up to us as to whether we water and grow what Satan planted or as Barney Fife would say, “Nip it, Nip it in the Bud!”

We talked about how Satan lies to us. Usually it isn’t a big lie, like Jesus isn’t real, but more like, Jesus could never love you. Lies that cause division. Lies that separate homes. Lies that split churches. He hits us when our guard is down and we are frustrated, mad or jealous. He tells us lies that fuel our frustrations, jealousy and anger.

Satan will even lie to you about being your enemy. He wants you to think that he is your friend…until he tells you that you are worthless. How many of you have fallen into temptation only to regret it soon after? Ever hear that voice in your head tell you that you can’t do anything right? That is Satan. Not only does God want you to know your enemy, He wants you to “no” your enemy.

Jesus gives us a great example in Matthew 4.

Has anyone ever fasted? No show of hands on this one. Anyone every fast for more than a couple of days? Anyone ever fast for more than a week or month? Can you imagine how physically and mentally exhausting it would be to go without food for more than a few days, let alone 40? I mean Jesus was probably at his weakest, physically. Might have been a little hangry. At least He was by the time Satan tried the 3rd time.

Jesus told Satan “no” without ever telling him “no”. In 3 temptations Satan wanted Jesus to “prove He was the Son of God”, “stroke His own ego” and to take the easy way. Prove He is the Son of God by performing a miracle on command to satisfy His body’s desire. Stroke His ego, you can jump and you are so important that angels will come and protect you and keep you from stubbing your toe. And taking the easy way, just bow down and you don’t have to be crucified. Jesus shows us the way out and if we follow His guiding, we will be able to say “No” to the enemy. First one….

1. The Truth will set you free!

Matthew 4:4, 7, & 10

John 8:31

There was a young pastor that went to visit Evelyn, one of the ladies from the church that had become homebound. She had lost her husband several years ago and he really took care of her. Her health, overall, was pretty good, except she didn’t see well enough to drive and her mind was sharp as a tack. She watched church services on Facebook live and supported the church financially.

During the visit, Evelyn offered the young pastor a drink and he politely said, “No Thank you. Can I have some of the peanuts that are on the coffee table?” “I suppose so” They sat there and talked, every once in a while, he would grab some peanuts and eat them without interrupting the conversation. He asked if the church could do anything for her, like yard work, or fix anything that was broken and she said that everything was good but thanked him for the offer.

As they talked, he said, “Oh I am so sorry, I have eaten all of your peanuts, let me buy you some more.” “No thank you, I can’t eat peanuts they are too hard. My family likes to buy me big bags of chocolate covered peanuts and all I can do is suck the chocolate off.” I usually get a lot more in the bowl before I throw them away.

Sometimes the truth will not set you free. Last week, I told you that Satan plants seeds of doubt like he did with Eve, “Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree in the Garden?” And got Eve to doubt what had been said. He didn’t do that with Jesus. Satan brought up scriptures word for word to try to get Jesus to fall for his schemes. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Do you know where that is from? Psalm 91. Scripture that we can hold onto as a promise from God, Satan will try to use to trip us up.

God is not a genie in a bottle that we can just call on to get us out of a situation that we got ourselves into. You can’t shoot fireworks off in your house and catch the house on fire, rub the lamp and expect God to put everything back to its original state. Most of the time we will live with the consequences of our actions. We use the truth to keep us from falling into the temptation of setting of fireworks in the house. Does that make sense?

Here's another one to help you “No” your enemy.

2. I am the Lord’s.

Romans 8:31-34

Psalm 100:3

Romans 14:7-8

I love some of the Chuck Norris jokes out there. Let me share just a few with you.

• Death once had a near-Chuck-Norris experience.

• Chuck Norris and kill to stones with one bird

• When the boogeyman goes to sleep at night, he checks under the bed for Chuck Norris.

• Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door

• When Chuck Norris turned 18, his parents moved out.

• Chuck Norris starred in all the Star Wars movies, his was the force.

• Chuck Norris can strangle you with a cordless phone.

• Chuck Norris can kill your imaginary friends

• Chuck Norris is the reason people want to know, “Where’s Waldo”

• Chuck Norris was bit by a Copperhead, 3 hours later the snake died.

• The Dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.

So many of these one-liners that show how tough Chuck Norris is. Or at least that is what they are portraying. Can you imagine having someone like Chuck Norris on your side when fighting a battle?

I remember being in Desert Storm and wanting to be really good friends with the guys in my unit. Even though I was “in charge”, I treated them like equals, because I knew that the better of a relationship that I had with my Marine Corps buddies, the more likely that would do everything they could to protect me and they knew that I would do anything to protect them and bring them home safely.

Psalm 100:3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Remember the story of the lost sheep. How the Good Shepperd will leave the 99 to find the one and bring them back to the flock. And thinking about being sheep, sheep can’t protect themselves from the predators, they have to rely on the shepherd for protection.

We are the Lord’s and the closer that we can stay to Him, the more He will protect us. The closer we are to God, the more He will be able to protect us. Satan can not move you away from God. You do that on your own. So, stay close and know that God call you His own.

Let me give you one more.

3. I must give God all of me.

Matthew 4:2

James 4:7-10

When I think about my walk with the Lord, I usually see many areas that I can really improve on. God isn’t just God when times are tough. He isn’t just God when times are great. He should be God all the time, in every area of my life.

When I got married, Cheryl not only became my one and only. In life, she is not just the person that I am married to, but she is the rest of me. The bible says that the 2 become 1. If we are one, I am not complete without her. So, all of me, is hers and all of her is mine. She drew the short straw. If I keep part of me from her, I am not only hurting my relationship with her, I am disobeying God. Sometimes she really makes me frustrated. Sometimes she doesn’t let me buy whatever I want. God doesn’t give me all that I want either.

God gave up His Son so that I can be forgiven of my sins and go to heaven. I can’t love God and hold hands with Satan. I can’t love God and do things that are against His Word. I can’t love God and do my own thing. I can’t love Cheryl and plan an affair and think that it is all good. I must give her all of me and I must give God all of me. He doesn’t just want an occasional conversation. He wants to walk with you and show His love to you. But you can’t serve two masters. It is God or Satan.

Out of everything we do, giving God all of ourselves is the most important. There is a saying that goes like this, “If the Lord is not Lord of all, He is not your Lord at all.” Do you really want to defeat the enemy? Do you really want to “No” your enemy? Allow God to be God of all. Know the truth and the Truth will set you free. Know that God is on your side, fighting for you. When you feel like you can’t go on, God’s grace is sufficient.

No-ing Your Enemy