Genesis 3:1-6 “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
Text 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
I have heard it said, “The quickest way to defeat is to underestimate your enemy!” Peter must have thought that to be true when he declared the presence of an adversary that seeks to destroy us. We may not know much about him, but he is a knowledgeable foe.
He is knowledgeable of the Word; “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” It is not Eve that brings up the Word of God and God commandments; it is the enemy, “the serpent.” The devil is not ignorant of the scriptures! By means of diluting, distorting, and doubt; our enemy will use the Word to bring about our defeat. The very thing that the enemy will use in our defeat, is the only thing that can bring about our deliverance; “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11).
He is knowledgeable of the weakness; “And the serpent said unto the woman.” The enemy knew the very person and place to launch his attack; “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel” (I Peter 3:7). This is not because of defect, but by design; God’s perfect will was to make her that way! The enemy is aware of the weakest person in a family and church; it is there that he concentrates all his attention. In addition to who, he has knowledge of the what! He knows your weakest point; areas that you have neglected to strengthen and give attention to.
He is knowledgeable of the wants; “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise.” The enemy knows everything that the flesh wants; “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (I John 2:16). Your only defense in this area is to elevate your spiritual wants above your natural wants; “seek those things which are above, . . . Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2).
You have an enemy that is knowledgeable and he will use what he knows to bring about your defeat. Don’t be the dummy and underestimate the enemy.