July 28
Predictable Patterns
Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. ––2 Corinthians 2:9-11
Only fools who want to be defeated fail to learn what they’re in for. Men will go to great lengths to predict the competition’s movements in business, politics, or sports. Think Patton reading Rommel’s books on tank warfare. Think Patriots coach Bill Belichick filming signals of opposing teams’ defensive coordinators. Think insider trading on Wall Street. Think CIA, Interpol, and Mossad—all of these endeavors exist simply to predict the opposition’s next move.
God’s men learn to discern Satan in three ways:
First, we detect him by his core character traits. He leaves fingerprints. Seeing those characteristics manifested tips us off. By familiarizing ourselves with who he is, we can learn to smell the rat. This raises our spiritual perceptions of intuition and inference.
Second, by understanding the instruments of evil that he uses to manipulate and destroy men from within and without. We learn about his networks of power, his connections and associations with cultures and men. He needs as his base of operations a world system in league with your dark impulses. We gain an upper hand on the underworld by learning how the world, the flesh, and the devil together create a trifecta of trouble and a powerful axis of evil.
Third, by observation and study. This is warfare through hard intelligence and the detection of repeated patterns. We surveil and study the film of his interactions with men. We dissect his angles of attack. This is what it means when the Bible says God’s man is not ignorant of his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Here’s the critical thing: do this work of spiritual intelligence-gathering with other men. You don’t need to do it alone; God prefers that you don’t. Remember than when two or more are gathered together, the Father is there also (Matthew 18:20).
Father, thank You for Your intel—Your Holy Spirit reveals the truth.