UNCOMMEN: Deeper & DarkerSample

Your True Enemy Genesis 3:1-7 & Ephesians 6:10-21 & Romans 5:12-21 Before any battle, in warfare or athletics, it is advantageous to scout the opposition. Before a college soccer game, my coach told us that the other team had a player who could throw the ball 45 yards, which turned a routine out-of-bounds play into a dangerous scoring opportunity. Instead of being caught on our heels, we were well positioned to defend their attacks and well prepared to avoid turnovers in the first place. The Bible forewarns us of a powerful enemy and reveals his tactics. In Genesis 3, we are introduced to a crafty serpent; a fallen angel hell-bent on defying God and destroying us. The snake appears to Eve and begins his attack by asking a simple question, “Did God actually say…?” Then he follows with a quick lie, “You will not surely die.” And finishes her off with a tempting promise, “When you eat…you will be like God.” Satan has scouted us as well—he knows where we’re weak and what our souls desire. He capitalizes on that intel to have us question God’s truthfulness, “God would never say anything like that, would he?” And he pushes us to doubt God’s love, “God is withholding something good from you, isn’t he?” Finally, he offers an alternative, “This will make you happy…” It’s common to give in to these temptations. They are subtle and strategic lies to destroy us and defy God. If we knew God’s word and believed it was true and trusted that God has our best interest in mind, we would not fall prey to the schemes of the devil. The gospel is our greatest weapon against temptation. At the cross, we see the solemn truth of God toward sin, that the wages of sin are death. At the same time, we see the depth of God’s love for us, who did not withhold his son from us. Jesus is our snake-stomping savior who battled Satan, sin, and death, and won where we could not. We have no reason to doubt God’s truth, love, or power! We can trust him. About the Author: Brandon Fisher is a pastor at Keystone Church in Paradise, PA. After eight years in youth ministry, Brandon became Keystone’s Lead Pastor to oversee overall church vision, mission alignment, and staff/ministry leadership. Some of Brandon’s spiritual heroes and influences include John Piper, Tim Keller, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, and C. S. Lewis.