Who Is The Devil?

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8-9

Subject: Satan – His Tactics and How to Defeat Him

INTRO:

Grace and peace today in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

A few months ago on Interstate Highway 24 (I – 24) between exit 11 and exit 24 (between Clarksville and Springfield) there were quite a number of pot holes. Some of them were pretty wide and deep.

As you know hitting a pothole can cause all kinds of bad issues with your vehicle. Pot holes can cause bent wheel rims, alignment problems, shock and strut issues and even internal tire damage. If the pot holes are large enough they can cause you to lose your muffler and even damage the underbody of your car along with creating some potential transmission problems.

During the day time pot holes are usually not hard to miss. But during the night time you can be upon one before you are aware of it. I remember last winter as I would travel some at night I had to memorize where they were located so that I could avoid them. Every so often, you would forget and then you would feel the jerk and wonder if there would be any lasting damage.

Again, it’s important to know where there are potholes and their depths. You have to keep aware. You have to make sure you are watching. If you don’t you might find yourself with not only a damaged car but an empty wallet as well.

Have you ever heard about a man named Sun Tzu? He lived around 500 BC or around the same time as Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.

Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, philosopher and military strategist. He is famous for writing the book, The Art of War. His book, The Art of War has been one for the most read books relating to strategy of warfare for the past 2,500 years. Each of its 13 chapters were dedicated to explaining different aspects of warfare.

Sun Tzu’s book is still required reading in many parts of the world including here in the United States. It is still being used by the KGB in Russia. Sun Tzu’s tactics were commonly used by the Vietcong officers during the Vietnam War and they helped the Vietcong defeat our forces more times that we would like to admit. Many of the Vietcong officers had committed the entire 13 chapters to memory.

Impressed by their tactics and learning about the book, The Art of War, the United States and other Western Countries starting studying it and seeing if they could use some of Sun Tzu’s strategies and tactics. During the Gulf War in the 1990s, both United States Generals, Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. and Colin Powell employed principles gleaned from Sun Tzu’s book related to deception, speed, and striking one's enemy's weak points.

Today, the book is listed on the Marine Corps Professional Read Program and is recommended reading for all United States Military Intelligence personal. It is also required reading by those who want to be in the CIA or any other secret service organization.

Over the last 50 years the book, The Art of War has found its way into the world of finance, business, sports and video games. Its principles and strategies have been used by lawyers to help them be better negotiators and win their cases more often in court. New England Patriot Football Coach, Bill Belichick is known for not only reading the book, but, using its lessons to gain insights in preparing for upcoming games. And today, many of the strategic video games have been designed by people who use Sun Tzu’s book as a resource.

Now, what has all of this to do with our subject this morning? Let me take one quote out of Sun Tzu’s book and I think you will be able to put it together. Listen to this:

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” – The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Let me read that again:

– If you know the enemy

And know yourself

You need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

-If you know yourself

But not the enemy,

For every victory gained you will also suffer defeat

-If you know neither the enemy

Nor yourself

You will succumb (lose) in every battle.

He also gives us this piece of advice as well:

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”