Slewfoot And His Bag Of Tricke

Slewfoot and his bag of tricks Or the enemy’s tactics

You have an enemy “the devil”

1 Pet 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

There’s a war going on

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Rom 7:21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

1 Pet 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Tricks of the devil

a. Gal 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

Gal 5:20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

Gal 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

b. Eph 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

Eph 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Eph 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

c.Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

James 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Doubt;worry;fear; pride;lying;murder;back stabbing;evil thoughts;trouble makers.

Overcoming the enemy

a. Eph 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Eph 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

Eph 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Eph 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

b.Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

c. PRAYER in the Bible involves the dialogue between God and people, especially His covenant partners.

Old Testament Israel is a nation born of prayer. Abraham heard God's call (Gen. 12:1-3), and God heard the cries of the Hebrew children (Ex. 3:7). Moses conversed with God (Ex. 3:1-4:17) and interceded for Israel (Ex. 32:11-13; Num. 11:11-15). By prayer Joshua discerned sin in the conquest community (Josh. 7:6-9), but was tricked when he did not discern God's opinion by prayer (Josh. 9). God also spoke to the Judges to deliver His people when the people called out to Him for deliverance. David's spiritual acumen is seen in his prayers of confession (2 Sam. 12:13; Ps. 51). Solomon fulfilled the promises made to David after praying for wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-9) and dedicated the Temple in prayer (1 Kings 8). God worked miracles through the prayers of Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17:19-22; 18:20-40). The writing prophets noted that genuine prayer calls for accompanying moral and social accountability (Hos. 7:14; Amos 4:4-5). Isaiah's call reflected the intense cleansing and commitment involved in prayer (Isa. 6). Jeremiah's dialogue and intercession frequently voiced reservation and frustration (Jer. 1; 20:7-18), teaching honesty in prayer. The Psalms teach variety and honesty in prayer are permissible; they proclaim praise, ask pardon, seek such things as communion (63), protection (57), vindication (107), and healing (6). Psalm 86 provides an excellent pattern for prayer. Daily patterned prayer becomes very important to exiles denied access to the Temple (Dan. 6:10).

New Testament Jesus' example and teaching inspire prayer. Mark emphasized that Jesus prayed in crucial moments, including the disciples' appointment (3:13), their mission (6:30-32), and the transfiguration (9:2). Jesus displayed a regular and intense prayer life (Matt. 6:5; 14:23; Mark 1:35).Luke taught that Jesus was guided by the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22; 4:1,14,18; Luke 10:21; Acts 10:38). John reported that Jesus sometimes prayed aloud for the benefit of those present (John 11:41-42). He also reported Jesus' prayer of intercession for the first disciples and future believers (John 17). Both prayers display Jesus' unity with the Father and desire to give Him glory (John 11:4; 17:1).