Pastor Kent Christmas | Make Me Smarter Than My Adversary | September 4, 2024
Welcome to KCMI TV! Today, I want to talk about something absolutely crucial to achieving long-term victory in the Lord. It’s a topic that every believer must grasp—how to be smarter than the devil, our enemy.
Let’s begin with 2 Corinthians 2:11, where Paul warns the church in Corinth:
“Lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
This verse is powerful. The word “ignorant” in its original meaning refers to a lack of understanding, making mistakes, or even sinning through error. The word “advantage” means that Satan can become superior or stronger than us. Meanwhile, “devices” refers to his thoughts, strategies, or purposes. In other words, Paul is telling us: Do not be unaware of Satan’s schemes!
As believers, we often forget that we have a real enemy. The devil has spent over 6,000 years studying human nature. While we may differ in appearance, culture, and background, our fundamental desires and weaknesses remain the same. The enemy understands this and uses it to his advantage.
If we become overconfident—thinking we are too strong to fall—we make ourselves vulnerable. 1 Peter 5:8 gives us a clear warning:
“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
The word “sober” means to be watchful, while “vigilant” means to pay close attention. This is critical because the enemy is always looking for an opening in the hedge of protection that God has placed around us.
