NOVEMBERFAST '24: Strategic Response

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV) in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

2025 Strategic Response

My Concerns:

  • We don’t respect the reality of our adversary

  • We reconcile less than best situations as, “that’s just life”

  • We learn to live with the limitations our adversary enforces

  • We don’t recognize our enemies repeated effective strategy in our lives

  • We don’t recognize how our wins/losses impact the experience of others


You Have An Active Adversary

1 Peter 5:8–9 (ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

  • This is universal a universal truth

    • There is no buffer

    • Not even spirituality.

  • He is continually prowling looking for weaknesses

  • He functions in many different forms

    • Whispers, circumstances, people

  • He is looking to devour 

  • Resistance requires standing firm (strength) in faith

    • Strength has levels

    • It can be increased.

Your Adversary Takes Topography

Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) and do not give the devil a foothold.

  • Give - didomi - give vs surrender

  • Foothold - Topos - topography, ground


You Can Strategically Overcome Your Adversary - Job 1:6–12 (ESV) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.  The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”  And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”  Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?  Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.  But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”  And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

  • This can be done spiritually - Job 1:5 (ESV) And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

  • This can be done practically - 

    • What Are Three Repeated Effective Strategies Of The Enemy In My Life

    • What Are Three Simple Effective Strategic Responses To Respond In Advance

    • What Would 2025 Look Like If You Enforced That Response?

Leslie ParrishSteve ParrishComment