Know the Enemy

We've never been party-people but [many years ago] Mister Bill and I went to a costume party: he was dressed as "Wild Bill Hickok" (lawman, cattle rustler, gunslinger), and I was dressed as Annie Oakley. Imagine the laughter when this rifle-toting, sharp-shooter woman asked for a glass of milk! There's a record in Scripture when Joshua was met with a group of imposters who duped him into believing they were from a far country seeking an alliance with God's people - they "acted craftily and set out as envoys, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wine skins worn-out and torn and mended, and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled." (Joshua 9:4-5, NASB). As humorous as this sounds, these are the same tactics used on us by Satan! These Gibeonite neighbors came disguised in much the same way Satan disguises himself in order to deceive us. How easily, like Joshua, Believers are deceived when we forget "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12, ESV). Some of the best spiritual advice I've ever been given is ... know your enemy! Then, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11, ESV). Don't be foolish enough to think you can outsmart Satan - he's been at this from the beginning. Be wise - trust God to the battle but always ... know the enemy!