Tactic 1: Question God’s Word.

Tactic 2: Contradict God’s Word.

Tactic 3: Distort God’s character.

Tactic 4: Offer a counterfeit.

Tactic 5: Appeal to my desires.

Tactic 6: Hide the price.

Tactic 7: Move from temptation to accusation.

START TALKING:

When has something you believed changed who you became? Maybe it was that a new city or job would be better than where you were before, that getting healthy was necessary, or any number of things! Share what that was. Then, share how becoming someone or something different impacted what you did and how you "behaved" in everyday life.

START THINKING:

Read Genesis 3:1 and Genesis 2:16-17. What do you notice the enemy doing in Genesis 3:1 that proves he is a liar and the father of all lies since the beginning of time?

Read Genesis 3:2-3. What does this show that Eve knew about the word of God? What does she do with the word of God? How can this teach us something we should do when temptation comes?

Read Genesis 3:4-5. Now, again compared to Genesis 2:16-17 and also Genesis 1:27, what does the enemy do to increase the pressure and lie some more?

START SHARING:

Think through each of the tactics that the enemy uses listed below. Share how you have experienced each of these. Then share how did (or in hindsight could have) overcome this tactic to stay rooted in truth.

Tactic 1 - Question God's Word - the enemy asked Eve "Did God really say..." When have you felt this questioning of God's word? How did you/could you overcome this?

Tactic 2 - Contradict God's Word - the enemy says "You will not die," the exact opposite of what God said When have you heard or even believed something in God's word wasn't true or didn't apply? How did you/could you overcome this?

Tactic 3 - Distort God's Character - the enemy paints a picture of God not being good, focusing on the one restriction God has given rather than all the many blessings and provisions God has given. When have you seen the character of God distorted to try to get you to believe something that wasn't true? How did you/could you overcome this?

Tactic 4 - Offer a counterfeit - the enemy offers something that looked like the truth that Adam and Eve were made in the image of God when he tells them they will become like God. When have you accepted a counterfeit (or been tempted to) rather than trusting the real truth of God's word? How did you/could you overcome this?

Tactic 5 - Appeal to My Desires - Eve sees the fruit is beautiful and looks delicious and she wanted the wisdom that the enemy lied about and presented in the counterfeit. What desires do you find are most vulnerable to attack, especially when you find yourself in HALTS - hungry, angry, lonely, tired, or sad? How did you/could you overcome this?

Tactic 6 - Hide the price - what the liar, accuser, and enemy didn't tell Adam and Eve is that there would be a high price for disobeying God. When did you fall to a counterfeit or one of the previous tactics - or were tempted to - but the price of doing so wasn't considered? How did you/could you overcome this?

Tactic 7 - The enemy then brings shame and accuses (Revelation 12:10). How have you experienced the shame that comes after falling to temptation? What are the accusations that come? How did you/could you overcome this?

START DOING:

Each tactic can be met with a counterattack! Consider how you can do each of those below and share your plan of counterattack.

When Satan questions God's Word—
Know the Word.

When Satan contradicts God's Word—
Believe the Word.

When Satan questions God's goodness—
Find God's true character.

When Satan offers a counterfeit—
Trust God's true way.

When Satan appeals to your desires—
Recognize your vulnerabilities and surrender them to the Spirit.

When Satan hides the consequences—
Look beyond the bait.

When Satan accuses you after failure—
Run to Jesus.

How will you do each of the bold points above this week when you experience one of the enemy's tactics? How can we help each other and lean on each other when the tactics come?

START PRAYING:
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Pray for what each person shared in the previous section. Pray that we will all continue to become more like Jesus each and every day despite the enemy's schemes and attacks that are designed to prevent you from doing that. Pray that we will not believe the lies and accusations of the enemy when we do fall, but find victory and forgiveness through Christ alone.

We want your experience with Jesus and this community of faith called OneLife to be so much more than an hour on Sundays! See below how you can take a next step.