Know The Stratagem Of Our Enemy!

KNOW THE STRATAGEM OF YOUR ENEMY!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I. PEOPLE NEVER PLAN TO FAIL, THEY FAIL BECAUSE

THEY NEVER DEVELOPED A PLAN.

A. Without a plan people drift where ever the current flows.

B. Without a game plan how can you evaluate where you are as compared to where you need to be?

B. We need to clearly articulate our values and belief system to define our overall purpose and establish a COURSE of ACTION.

C. Then we must follow our plan. Adapt it where needed, and set clear goals.

D. Long term goals and short term goals must be evaluated and we must press on against all obstacles.

E. Without a Course of Action (COA) we will be DOA, dead upon arrival.

Habakkuk 2:2 And the Lord answered me, and said:

write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

II. THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE TO KNOWING YOUR OPPONENTS PLAN.

A. Did you read about the college football program that painted their opponents locker room pink? They wanted to send a message to those against them.

B. Several years ago a college football program hid microphones all around their opponents locker room. Before the game, and at half time, there were spies

listening to their opponents game plan and strategy so they would know how to counter whatever the coach planned.

The coach had an advantage by having someone listen to the other teams plan, and then developing a plan to counter their attack.

He knew the game plan, the stratagem and thus used it to help them gain advantage over the opponent.

C. We would do wise to study and know our enemy’s plans against us, and prepare our hearts for his attack!

D. Remember the A TEAM on TV?

They would always say: "I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!"

III. DO WE HAVE A STRATEGY?

DO WE KNOW OUR ENEMIES STRATEGY?

A. Strategy:

***The science and art of command exercised to meet the enemy’s combat under advantageous conditions.

***A science of making plans.

***A careful plan or method, clever stratagem. ***Modus operandi

***A stratagem toward goals.

***A style toward attaining a goal.

B. YOU CAN NOT WIN MANY GAMES WITH A CHANGING GAME PLAN.

IV. GOD HAS A STRATAGEM FOR LIFE!

OUR ENEMY HAS A THREE FOLD STRATAGEM!

Have you prepared for battle?

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to STEAL, and to KILL, and to DESTROY: but I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

A. KILL: (To kill is breaking God’s commandment.)

***To deprive of life ***To slaughter

***To put to an end ***To defeat

***To cause to stop ***To cause extreme pain

***To tire to the point of collapse ***To waste

***To hit so hard a return is impossible

***To take a life ***To eliminate

B. STEAL: (To steal is breaking a commandment!)

***To take from another wrongfully as a habit or regular practice

***To sneak in gradually or unexpected

***To take without the right or leave with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully

***To take away by force without permission

***To seize, gain, or win by trickery

***A fraudulent or questionable deal

1. Sin is trading treasures for trinkets that sparkle pretty, but are useless! Perhaps we have wrongful priority systems?

2. LISTEN TO MY SAD STORY?

I lived in the most south western corner of Virginia.

Our county was rich in history. I started collecting arrow heads.

I studied them, and over some time I had a beautiful collection.

I had bear points, rabbit points, bird points, I had scrappers, I had a hammer and wedge, I had a wonderful collection of Indian history.

When I started pastoring, I proudly hung my collection in my office at church where others could enjoy it.

I loved sharing the memories and the history with people.

My collection was impressive and I had turned down some large monetary offers for my collection.

Let me tell you about my collection now?

I have a few arrow heads now.

My wonderful collection which was to go to my sons was stolen right out of the church, right out of my locked office.

Some woman broke into the church, her muddy shoe prints were left in the hall way and my office, and she stole my collection.

Down through the years I gave many arrow heads away.

Some of the people I had given an arrow head to, heard I was robbed, and they brought me the arrow heads I had given them.

3. TODAY ALL I HAVE OF MY ARROW HEAD COLLECTION WAS

WHAT I GAVE AWAY?

4. Where you bank can protect you from stealing?

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.