“Spiritual warfare is learning to recognize strategies of the enemy; it is refusing to cooperate with those strategies; and then resisting aggressively those strategies in Jesus name.” —International School of Ministry, Spiritual Warfare, Dean Sherman
Here is a quick review of the first three strategies that we have covered.
1) Doubt: Makes you question God's Word and his goodness. Satan will attack us with doubt when we are most vulnerable. Disobedience, disappointment, and sickness can all prompt doubt. To overcome doubt go to God in faith knowing that He loves you and delights to help you and that His promises are true (James 1:5-8, Acts 27:25).
2) Discouragement: Makes you look at your problems rather than at God. To over- come discouragement, do not pull back but ‘Do the work” God has called you to do (1 Chron. 28:20), don’t give up (Galatians 6:9).
3) Diversion: Making wrong things seem attractive. To overcome diversion, (1) be careful of what you allow your eyes, (2) focus on the real issues at hand, (3) Quote scripture, (4) Set you affections on Christ. (Gen. 3:6, 2 Tim. 2:22, Numbers 12:2, Matt. 4:1-11, 1 John 2:15-17).
Today we will cover the last two strategies of the devil, defeat, and delay. Please un- derstand that this is not an exhaustive study of the strategies of the enemy. I do be- lieve that these five are the most common to us all.
4) Defeat: Makes you feel like a failure so that you want to give up or not even try. 
1. To win victory over; beat. 2. To prevent the success of.
1. To win victory over; beat. 2. To prevent the success of.
There are times in our lives when we are defeated. We have been beaten back and the battle lost. Through no fault of our own we just did not win. What do we do?
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Philip. 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
When defeat has come, in part or in whole because of your sin, take personal responsibility, humbly repent, and seek God’s forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of wor- ship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
5) Delay: Makes you put off doing something so that it never get’s done.
Matthew 25:1-13 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. In- stead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps--What are these "lamps" and this "oil"?
“Many answers have been given. But since the foolish as well as the wise took lamps and went forth with them to meet the Bridegroom, these lighted lamps and this ad- vance a certain way in company with the wise, must denote that Christian profession which is common to all who bear the Christian name; while the insufficiency of this without something else, of which they never possessed themselves, shows that "the foolish" mean those who, with all that is common to them with real Christians, lack the essential preparation for meeting Christ.”
—Commentary on the Whole Bible -- Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
God’s grace enables us: The Devil wants to keep us from walking in victory and experiencing the promises of God that are rightfully ours in Christ Jesus. He will use ever strategy he can in an effort to get an advantage over us.
Spiritual warfare is...
- Recognizing the strategies of the enemy
- Refusing to cooperate with those strategies
- Resisting aggressively those strategies in Jesus name
2 Chron. 20:15-18 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' " 18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.
We know from the scripture, history and personal experience that life is filled with 
pressure. We are often tempted to compromise our integrity, conform to a corrupt world view or to simply quite on life. At times the pressure can seem overwhelming. How do we keep from bursting at the seams? Suppose that this ball represents your life. If the internal pressure is equal to or greater than the external pressure the ball cannot implode or be flattened.
pressure. We are often tempted to compromise our integrity, conform to a corrupt world view or to simply quite on life. At times the pressure can seem overwhelming. How do we keep from bursting at the seams? Suppose that this ball represents your life. If the internal pressure is equal to or greater than the external pressure the ball cannot implode or be flattened.
As a child of God you have his promises and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMP) For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on
you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.
you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.
Proverbs 26:2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
Isaiah 54:17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
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