Liar (pt 1) - Knowing Your Enemy

We are going to be doing a 3 part blog series on the topic of "Lies". Today, we begin with knowing our enemy... the Liar.

When I was in 3rd grade my basketball career started. My team - the Hornets. At the time my basketball hero's were Muggsy Bogues and Spud Webb because they were short (like me) and awesome at basketball (unlike me). My team was alright, I believe we ended the season at about .500 for wins and losses. But, because it was only 3rd grade, everyone made it to the playoffs.

Somehow my team managed to pull of 3 wins in a row to make it to the championship game against the undefeated Spurs. Theses guys were taller than us, faster than us, and could shoot better than us... well, I should say they had 1 guy who was all of these things.

Before the game, my coach got us into a huddle while the Spurs were warming up. He took a knee and said to us, "You see that guy (pointing to the Spurs all-star)? He can shoot, dribble, rebound, and block better than anyone. If you can stop him, you can stop this team!" We spent almost the entire game double-teaming that kid and nearly shutting him out of the game. The result... we won the championship by 1 point.

When we know our enemy and know how to defend against them, we have a greater chance of beating them. This is also true of our enemy, Satan.

In John 8 Jesus calls out people who are lying, saying:
"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Our enemy is the father of lies. Satan is a liar! He lies to us. He lies to me. He lies to you. Later, in John 10, Jesus calls Satan a "Thief who only comes to steal, kill, and destroy."

This is Satan's job description. His ONLY job it so take away what we have in Jesus. How does he do this? Through lies. Lies about your worth, your self-image, your status, your need for a savior... But, it's not the lie that destroys us; it's believing that the lie is true that destroys us.

Do you know what Jesus thinks about you? Do you know what Jesus says about you? Do you know how Jesus feels about you? When we believe ANYTHING or ANYONE other than Jesus... we have already lost.

Satan is a liar. Know your enemy and know him well! How does the enemy lie specifically to you? What areas of your life are vulnerable? Where are you not confident about what Jesus says about you? What lies have you already deemed true?