For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11

As believers, we know that we are in a constant struggle with the enemy. His goal is to kill, steal, and destroy the lives of God’s people, but God desires that we use the authority Jesus won to shatter the plans of the enemy. But we need to understand the enemy’s tactics in order to fight back.

Unfortunately, most of the church today is ignorant of the enemy’s attacks in their lives. The enemy likes us to believe that he does not really exist, is not a threat, or has no real influence in our world. But when we ignore his existence, he has free reign to tempt, scheme, and manipulate our lives.

Now, 1 Peter 5:9 tells us to resist the devil. If we do not resist him, he will not flee. But the Bible does not stop there – we are called to fight back! 1 John 3:8 says, He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. We have a larger assignment than just resisting temptation. God has called believers to know and destroy the enemy’s plans against the children of God.

When the enemy tempts you to hate, ask God to help you forgive and love. When he tempts you to be lukewarm in your faith, seek God for a renewed fire in your spirit. Resist the enemy, fight back, and build God’s Kingdom!