If you have not read part one, it is important that you read it first, or you may find this post difficult to understand.
In the last post, we discussed the need to understand how to play
The Great Game. I like to look at it that way, because of the challenges involved. It is only a game you get to play one time, which gives you all the more reason to understand the rules of the game.
I mentioned that the reason why so many Christians are frustrated and losing is because they haven't taken the time to read the directions.
I know, reading the directions is boring. Believe me, I'll be the first to admit that reading the directions to the game is something I like least. But if you don't take the time to read them, you will not do well with the game.
In this post, we will be looking at understanding the opponent.
The first thing that is necessary for us to understand is that the opponent has read the directions to the game, and has read them well.
How embarrassing to know that the opponent has studied the directions so intently, and yet, we have a vague understanding of them...probably for some of us because we've watched others play the game, and we try to imitate what we've seen without fully knowing what we are doing.
Here's the irritating part about our opponent. He knows the directions so well, that when we step out of the boundaries, he blabs about it every time! But at the same time, his knowledge of the rules is so advanced, that he cheats all the time!
This is a great reason why we need to understand the directions to the game!
Let me give you an example. Did you know that Satan is illegally claiming possession of earth? It is so irritating when I sit in church and I hear this phrase, "The world is the devil's territory!"
Really?
Study the directions!
Somebody mentioned that I needed to clarify what the directions are, because I wasn't clear about it in the last post. The directions to the game is the Bible.
Let me turn to the section entitled Rights to territory.
1. Adam and Eve forfeited their dominion over all the earth to the opponent when they fell for his lie.
(We find this in Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:1-19; Luke 4:6-7.)
2. Jesus regained dominion when he took upon himself the sins of Adam and all of his descendants.
(We find this in Colossians 2:13-15.)
3. The Christian must occupy the territory that was rightfully gained by God until Jesus Christ returns. (We find this in Luke 19:13)
So here's the situation, and giant reason why the opponent is winning when he shouldn't be! He is claiming rights to a territory that belongs to Jesus Christ!
An example of this is definitely soulwinning. This is the most exciting part of the game, but a part Satan cheats the most with!
I will cover this more in another post. But for now, I want to focus on two things: Who the opponent is targeting, and Why.
Recently I wrote an article entitled The Tempter's Targets. If you click on the title, it will take you to that article. It is an excellent article that will define the targets themselves, and it is good for every Christian to know what they are.
The opponent targets two types of people, but in different ways. He targets the saved and the lost, obviously, but it's interesting how he does this. He targets the saved in order to target the lost. So how does he do this?
We find answers to this in 2 Corinthians 4:3 and 4. It says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
What an amazing verse! There is so much more than meets the eye, but, we see plainly that Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers, because if he doesn't, they will get saved. But now the question remains; What is the blindfold?
I'll tell you the answer and then explain. The blindfold is the Christian who is not walking by faith in Jesus Christ.
There are many Christians who get saved, and leave their grave clothes on. They go on and pay no attention to the available gifts that they have in Christ, and as a result they continue walking and acting like the world, and it creates a blindfold for those who are lost.
Satan does not want us to pay attention to the fact that we are a new creature, and that old things are passed away and that all things are become new. Because if this happens, it will reveal the light of the glorious gospel through that Christian who recognizes his new abilities and features. You see, Satan doesn't want you to read the directions to the game...in fact, he will lead you to believe that you understand how the game works and that you don't need to read them. He will let you gain a few points here and there, and even let you pass go to collect $200 on occasion. Because a good lie is wrapped in truth. He'll use just enough truth to run circles around you; and he'll even call you a cheater falsely!
Dear Christian, read the directions, and understand your opponent. He is a distinguished opponent who has mastered The Great Game, he is also a deceitful opponent who will cheat but will call you a cheater as much as he can; but here's the best part, he is also a defeated opponent...don't let him win when he's already lost!
There is more to this little series to come!
If you have not read part one, it is important that you read it first, or you may find this post difficult to understand.
In the last post, we discussed the need to understand how to play
The Great Game. I like to look at it that way, because of the challenges involved. It is only a game you get to play one time, which gives you all the more reason to understand the rules of the game.
I mentioned that the reason why so many Christians are frustrated and losing is because they haven't taken the time to read the directions.
I know, reading the directions is boring. Believe me, I'll be the first to admit that reading the directions to the game is something I like least. But if you don't take the time to read them, you will not do well with the game.
In this post, we will be looking at understanding the opponent.
The first thing that is necessary for us to understand is that the opponent has read the directions to the game, and has read them well.
How embarrassing to know that the opponent has studied the directions so intently, and yet, we have a vague understanding of them...probably for some of us because we've watched others play the game, and we try to imitate what we've seen without fully knowing what we are doing.
Here's the irritating part about our opponent. He knows the directions so well, that when we step out of the boundaries, he blabs about it every time! But at the same time, his knowledge of the rules is so advanced, that he cheats all the time!
This is a great reason why we need to understand the directions to the game!
Let me give you an example. Did you know that Satan is illegally claiming possession of earth? It is so irritating when I sit in church and I hear this phrase, "The world is the devil's territory!"
Really?
Study the directions!
Somebody mentioned that I needed to clarify what the directions are, because I wasn't clear about it in the last post. The directions to the game is the Bible.
Let me turn to the section entitled Rights to territory.
1. Adam and Eve forfeited their dominion over all the earth to the opponent when they fell for his lie.
(We find this in Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:1-19; Luke 4:6-7.)
2. Jesus regained dominion when he took upon himself the sins of Adam and all of his descendants.
(We find this in Colossians 2:13-15.)
3. The Christian must occupy the territory that was rightfully gained by God until Jesus Christ returns. (We find this in Luke 19:13)
So here's the situation, and giant reason why the opponent is winning when he shouldn't be! He is claiming rights to a territory that belongs to Jesus Christ!
An example of this is definitely soulwinning. This is the most exciting part of the game, but a part Satan cheats the most with!
I will cover this more in another post. But for now, I want to focus on two things: Who the opponent is targeting, and Why.
Recently I wrote an article entitled The Tempter's Targets. If you click on the title, it will take you to that article. It is an excellent article that will define the targets themselves, and it is good for every Christian to know what they are.
The opponent targets two types of people, but in different ways. He targets the saved and the lost, obviously, but it's interesting how he does this. He targets the saved in order to target the lost. So how does he do this?
We find answers to this in 2 Corinthians 4:3 and 4. It says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
What an amazing verse! There is so much more than meets the eye, but, we see plainly that Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers, because if he doesn't, they will get saved. But now the question remains; What is the blindfold?
I'll tell you the answer and then explain. The blindfold is the Christian who is not walking by faith in Jesus Christ.
There are many Christians who get saved, and leave their grave clothes on. They go on and pay no attention to the available gifts that they have in Christ, and as a result they continue walking and acting like the world, and it creates a blindfold for those who are lost.
Satan does not want us to pay attention to the fact that we are a new creature, and that old things are passed away and that all things are become new. Because if this happens, it will reveal the light of the glorious gospel through that Christian who recognizes his new abilities and features. You see, Satan doesn't want you to read the directions to the game...in fact, he will lead you to believe that you understand how the game works and that you don't need to read them. He will let you gain a few points here and there, and even let you pass go to collect $200 on occasion. Because a good lie is wrapped in truth. He'll use just enough truth to run circles around you; and he'll even call you a cheater falsely!
Dear Christian, read the directions, and understand your opponent. He is a distinguished opponent who has mastered The Great Game, he is also a deceitful opponent who will cheat but will call you a cheater as much as he can; but here's the best part, he is also a defeated opponent...don't let him win when he's already lost!
There is more to this little series to come!