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[The following article is an edited transcription of our audio teaching, Tactics of the Enemy by Dan Gallagher.]
Welcome to this teaching titled “Tactics of the Enemy, a study of Proverbs 7.”
Before I get into the meat or the substance of this teaching, I would like to address why this teaching is being done now, in October of 2008. At the end of October each year, in the United States of America, we celebrate a holiday called Halloween—it was also called All Saints Day. It really is a day of the dead. It has pagan roots, but that is a whole other teaching. It is at this time of the year that children dress up in various costumes and go from house to house and do what we call Trick or Treating. They knock on your door and ask for a treat that is candy, which is usually given. The idea is that if they do not get candy then they would do some kind of trick on the homeowner. This holiday is in fact a very dark holiday. It has a lot of satanic and pagan roots. Many of the kids dress up as goblins, demons, and different things like that.
God does not want us to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (schemes).
This teaching is being given now because I believe that Satan’s devices and schemes are all around us, and that there is a rise occurring in his activities. It does not take a long time watching the television to see the shows that are promoting the state of the dead—are they really alive? For instance, a show is on television in the U.S. called Ghost Whisperer. Even on the channel called the Discovery Channel, which is generally devoted to scientific type endeavors, we have a show called Ghost Hunters, which is devoted to investigate “paranormal activities.” We also have shows devoted or targeted directly at our children. Recently, my wife, Lori, and I have had the privilege and blessing of spending a lot of time with three of my grandkids. I was watching a show called Dora and Diego. It seemed to be an innocent enough little show until all of a sudden a witch (ice-queen) came on the scene promoting spells and charms. What it promoted was that they could have control over the environment. Witchcraft is all about that. The movement of Harry Potter is really old news now; in fact, it is probably passé. It is promoted pretty much as harmless, but Harry Potter promoted wizardry, witchcraft, charms, spells, and control over others and the environment.
My point is that this stuff is prevalent. It is permeating the atmosphere of this age. These things that I just mentioned are only some of the aspects of Satan’s devices. Consider sex, violence, rebellion, murder, mayhem, and all the cruelty that he promotes. It does not take any one of us long in looking at the television, movies, books, video games, or the Internet to see that he is heavily promoting his schemes. These are all targeted primarily at our youth.
What is the answer? Well, I believe that God provides us with an answer. First, He tells us that He does not want us ignorant of Satan’s devices. He also tells us in Corinthians that we are not to be ignorant of spiritual matters. Understanding satanic activity and the devices of Satan certainly qualifies as a spiritual matter.
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Print Friendly & PDF
[The following article is an edited transcription of our audio teaching, Tactics of the Enemy by Dan Gallagher.]
Welcome to this teaching titled “Tactics of the Enemy, a study of Proverbs 7.”
Before I get into the meat or the substance of this teaching, I would like to address why this teaching is being done now, in October of 2008. At the end of October each year, in the United States of America, we celebrate a holiday called Halloween—it was also called All Saints Day. It really is a day of the dead. It has pagan roots, but that is a whole other teaching. It is at this time of the year that children dress up in various costumes and go from house to house and do what we call Trick or Treating. They knock on your door and ask for a treat that is candy, which is usually given. The idea is that if they do not get candy then they would do some kind of trick on the homeowner. This holiday is in fact a very dark holiday. It has a lot of satanic and pagan roots. Many of the kids dress up as goblins, demons, and different things like that.
God does not want us to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (schemes).
2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
The word “devices” is in the plural. The NIV reads:Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11
…in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
The NIV translates “devices” as “schemes.” Satan certainly has many devices and many schemes, and they are all around us all the time. Throughout the world, we are seeing a rise in witchcraft and a rise in cultic activity. I was recently in a couple of very large national bookstore chains, and noted that they had entire sections devoted to occultism and to the witchcraft movement called “Wicca.” They are actually selling taro cards, charms, and amulets, and some of the stores even have these under lock and key because people have a tendency to steal them.…in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
This teaching is being given now because I believe that Satan’s devices and schemes are all around us, and that there is a rise occurring in his activities. It does not take a long time watching the television to see the shows that are promoting the state of the dead—are they really alive? For instance, a show is on television in the U.S. called Ghost Whisperer. Even on the channel called the Discovery Channel, which is generally devoted to scientific type endeavors, we have a show called Ghost Hunters, which is devoted to investigate “paranormal activities.” We also have shows devoted or targeted directly at our children. Recently, my wife, Lori, and I have had the privilege and blessing of spending a lot of time with three of my grandkids. I was watching a show called Dora and Diego. It seemed to be an innocent enough little show until all of a sudden a witch (ice-queen) came on the scene promoting spells and charms. What it promoted was that they could have control over the environment. Witchcraft is all about that. The movement of Harry Potter is really old news now; in fact, it is probably passé. It is promoted pretty much as harmless, but Harry Potter promoted wizardry, witchcraft, charms, spells, and control over others and the environment.
My point is that this stuff is prevalent. It is permeating the atmosphere of this age. These things that I just mentioned are only some of the aspects of Satan’s devices. Consider sex, violence, rebellion, murder, mayhem, and all the cruelty that he promotes. It does not take any one of us long in looking at the television, movies, books, video games, or the Internet to see that he is heavily promoting his schemes. These are all targeted primarily at our youth.
What is the answer? Well, I believe that God provides us with an answer. First, He tells us that He does not want us ignorant of Satan’s devices. He also tells us in Corinthians that we are not to be ignorant of spiritual matters. Understanding satanic activity and the devices of Satan certainly qualifies as a spiritual matter.
1 Corinthians 12:1
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
Proverbs is a book of wise sayings and we believe that Solomon, who was “the wisest man” on the face of the earth, wrote Proverbs. I believe that many of the Proverbs are directed at youth, or what God calls the “simple fool.” It really is just an unlearned or simple person who just does not know any better.Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
Proverbs 2:1
My son, if you accept my words…
Proverbs 3:
My son, do not forget my teaching…
Proverbs 4:1
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction…
Proverbs 5:1
My son, pay attention to my wisdom…
Proverbs 6:1
My son…
Proverbs 7:1
My son…
These are wise sayings directed to the simple fool, the young, or the unlearned, so that they could know what Proverbs 2:9 says.My son, if you accept my words…
Proverbs 3:
My son, do not forget my teaching…
Proverbs 4:1
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction…
Proverbs 5:1
My son, pay attention to my wisdom…
Proverbs 6:1
My son…
Proverbs 7:1
My son…
Proverbs 2:9
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair– every good path.
Proverbs was written approximately a thousand years before Christ was born. These are incredible truths that were recorded here in Proverbs over three thousand years ago. I want to take the time to go over Proverbs 7 and see what truths we can glean, what perspectives we can have, and what different applications we can gain. We will specifically look at our enemy, Satan (the Devil), his tactics, his methods, his motives, and his moves. I believe that as we look at this, the first lesson that we will see is that Satan intends to attack us by using our senses. The second lesson is the principle devices that he uses—specifically words. The third lesson is the paradigm of the spiritual sickness and how it parallels physical sickness. A lesson can also be learned concerning Satan’s methodology of pressure applied through pleasure and pain. He also uses deceit (or lying), fear, rejection, and rebellion. I believe that we will see what Satan’s goal is, and ultimately we will see what God’s answer is for our defense.Then you will understand what is right and just and fair– every good path.
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