Sermon Tone Analysis

You can listen to this sermon by visiting http://www.pastorrickypowell.com/life_matters_with_pastor_/2009/09/enemy-recon-understanding-your-satanic-adversary.html

*Series*: Battle University1,

*Sermon*: *ENEMY RECON*

*Scripture*: Genesis 3:1-13

*Speaker*: Pastor Richard Powell,

Senior Pastor, Fort Caroline Baptist Church

Jacksonville, FL

The Battle of Antietam in 1862 lasted for 12 hours and ranks as the bloodiest day of the Civil War.

One historian wrote, “/At last the sun went down and the battle ended/, /smoke heavy in the air, the twilight quivering with the anguished cries of thousands of wounded men./ “ The battle claimed more than 23,000 men killed, wounded, and missing in one single day.

General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate Army decided to take a dangerous gamble that morning.

Knowing that Union General George McClellan was a slow, cautious man, Lee figured that he could divide his already-outnumbered army, send part of it to capture the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry, and then reunite it -- all before McClellan attacked.

Lee issued Special Order 191, which detailed his plan.

Though militarily a draw, the mediocre Union General George McClellan was able to end the brilliant Robert E. Lee’s thrust into Maryland, forcing him to retire across the Potomac.

How was this possible?

One of Lee's officers wrapped a copy of Special Order 191 around three cigars and accidentally dropped it in a field near Frederick, where a Union soldier found it.

It was passed up the ranks to McClellan, who instantly realized that he could destroy Lee’s divided army piece by piece.

In any battle, one of the keys to victory is found in knowing and understanding the enemy.

In some respects, we are no match for our adversary, Satan, whose wiles we are told to be wary of.

But as with General McClellan, our enemy’s plans have fallen into our hands.

His schemes are detailed for us in the Bible, but especially in Genesis chapter 3. (/i/.)

Though Adam and Eve lost their first skirmish with Satan, we can learn from their experience how to be prepared for our battles and how to know that ultimate victory is ours.

Genesis 3:1-13

In our military, each branch of service has “Readiness Units” that are always prepared at a moment’s notice to go into battle.

Their bags are packed, their weapons cleaned, their ammunition stocked, their rations supplied, their jets in top mechanical working order, and their training complete.

Why?

Because no one knows when our national security may be threatened.

Likewise, the battles of life often come without warning, or at least, with little notice.

Therefore, we must be at a state of readiness for the battles of life.

Abraham Lincoln used to say, “/I want to live my life so that when I am called, I’m ready/.”

I suppose we could say in reference to the spiritual battles of life, “I want to prepare my life so that when a temptation comes, I’m ready.”(/ii/.)

God had given Adam and Eve everything they needed to live a godly and victorious life.

God had created them and placed them in a perfect environment.

They enjoyed a sinless relationship with God.

Yet they were defeated in their first battle because they were duped by their enemy and they doubted God's goodness.

What can we learn about our enemy from their experience?

What would God have us to learn in the debriefing room today?

/First, God wants us to learn that.../

*I.

Satan Disguises His Person* (Genesis 3:1).

Here for the first time in Holy Scripture we encounter that mysterious creature the Devil.

Three chapters into the first Book of the Bible we see the Devil in the Garden of God tempting its inhabitants.

Three chapters before the end of the last Book of the Bible we see the Devil in the Lake of fire and brimstone being tormented.

His evil influence can be seen on every page in between.

In Genesis 3 he is introduced without any explanation about his prior history.

He just appears on the scene as the serpent.

But do not be fooled!

He is in disguise.

Satan wisely used a creature that Eve would have been acquainted with instead of appearing as himself.

Eve would not have had any aversion to or fear of a serpent.

As far as she knew, this was just another one of God's creatures.

Though Eve was deceived, we can know two important truths about this one who comes disguised in his person.

*First*...

*A.

He disguises his person by disguising his character*.

For some reason Eve was not alarmed that the serpent spoke with her.

She had no inclination that he wanted to hurt her.

I don’t know about you, but I am afraid of snakes!

A friend once said to me when we found a snake in my yard, “Don’t worry, that snake won’t hurt you.”

I replied, “Maybe not, but it will make me hurt myself while trying to get away from it!”

There were no vibrating rattles to warn Eve of impending danger and no venomous fangs to frighten her.

Little did she know that this creature was disguising his real character.

He was more dangerous and deadly than any rattlesnake or viper that has ever slithered on Earth.

Satan’s character is described for us in the Book of Revelation chapter 12, verse nine.

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9).

As the great dragon he is a monster.

As the serpent he is treacherous and deadly.

As the Devil he is the slanderer.

As Satan he is our adversary.

As the one who deceives he is the seducer and father of all lies.

/So the first important truth about this one who disguises his person is that he disguises his character.

The second truth is that.../

*B.

He disguises his person by disguising his craftiness*.

Genesis 3:1 says, “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.”

The word cunning means sly or crafty.

He smartly hides behind a mask.

Satan doesn’t come to you in a flaming red jumpsuit with a pitchfork in his hand.

He doesn’t have horns on his head and a pointed tail.

In 2 Corinthians 11:14 the Apostle Paul warned about false teachers who wanted to slip into churches undetected in order to teach their damnable heresies.

These false teachers wanted to appear as educated men who only wanted to share their enlightened view of spiritual matters.

But they didn't print up business cards that read, “/Dr.

Liberal False Teacher/.”

If they had done that, the church would have recognized them for who they really were and would have kicked them out!

Paul says don’t be surprised that some people will try to fool you in the name of religion.

They learned their trick from the devil.

“And no wonder!

For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

He comes craftily disguised so as not to alarm you to who he really is.

He wants you to think that he is someone who can be trusted; He is someone who is here only to help you.

He wants you to believe that he has your best interests at heart.

But don’t fall for his trickery!

You had better learn to recognize Satan behind that beautiful woman looking out at you from the pornography you view.

You had better learn to recognize Satan behind that guy who offers you drugs.

You had better learn to recognize Satan behind that temptation to do what you know deep down is wrong, no matter how seemingly insignificant.

There is a classic “Twilight Zone” episode from 1960 that I love.

I’ve only seen reruns!

An American on a walking trip through central Europe gets caught in a raging storm.

Staggering through the blinding rain, he chances upon an imposing medieval castle.

It is a monastery for a brotherhood of monks.

The reclusive monks reluctantly take him in.