2 Corinthians 2:11 – “in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”  NASB

1 Peter 5:8 – “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  NASB

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.”  NASB

In the last devotional we listed our objectives. Now it would be well for us to begin the journey of considering the Keys to Victory.  The first step is to Identify the Enemy, the Problem or the Need.  It is impossible to effectively fight an enemy, solve a problem, or meet a need that we cannot or do not recognize or identify.  An unidentified enemy cannot easily be defeated.  That type of enemy can: slip into your camp undetected, learn your strengths and weaknesses, uncover your strategy, steal your good, and spy out your defenses. 

If we cannot identify the enemy that enemy can walk about freely and sabotage everything.  We will see the results of the enemy’s work but fail to recognize the enemy.  In the Vietnam war, the Viet Cong did not come in with VC stamped on their clothing or foreheads.  They dressed like all the other Vietnamese, worked on our bases, and stole from us.  They would then build booby traps or fire the stolen ammunition back at us at night or on another day.  The enemy was often unrecognizable to the casual observer.  Only those who knew enough about the enemy and their tactics could recognize them.

To identify the enemy, it is imperative that we know something about him.  We need to learn the characteristics, tactics, goals, and objectives of that enemy.  We have to know where to look and what to look for.  In the text verse in 2 Corinthians 2:11b we read, “…for we are not ignorant of his (Satan’s) schemes.”  We must never give him an advantage.  We must always apply the principles of God’s Word and walk in love.

In WWII one of the major reasons we were able to defeat Hitler’s forces even though they often had superior weapons and training was because we knew more about them than they did us.  We had inside information as to their every move.  We knew their strengths and weaknesses.  We had inside information.  That is a picture of us in the Body of Christ.  We, through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, have inside information.  We understand the tactics, devices, schemes, and tools of the enemy.  We can exercise the Gift of Discerning of Spirits and recognize the enemy.  That is a decided advantage.

I read a report by a medical expert that stated that there are sometimes health problems that the medical profession cannot explain.  They know that there is a problem and it is internal, the eyes cannot see it, but the body can feel it.  The doctors simply do not know the underlying cause.  It is in that type of situation they will sometimes order exploratory surgery.  That exploratory surgery is done as a prelude to corrective surgery or treatment.  However, you cannot have corrective surgery ‘until’ you have identified the problem to be corrected.  You do not simply start removing body parts hoping to find the source of the problem.

I suggest that we consider some key passages of scripture:  John 10:10 informs us, “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy.”  In John 8:44 we read, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.”  

Then in 2 Corinthians 11:14, we are informed that the devil transforms himself masquerading as an angel of light.  His identity and his tactics are revealed in Revelation 12:10 as we are told that he is the “accuser of the brethren.”  The devil’s tactics and strategy are amplified in Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 

Our enemy is the devil and he is the source of our problems and his plan is to steal from us often in creating a need, confusion, and a sense of defeat.  We are more than conquerors and we need to identify the enemy so that we can enforce the victory of Jesus on the Cross.

We will take this another step in the next devotional.  Until then we pray that the LORD will bless you richly and open your eyes so that you can see with spiritual eyes and walk victoriously.

Blessings in Jesus’ Name!