1. MEET THE ENEMY! EPHESIANS 2: 1-3

2. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,

3. The spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the others.

4. The spiritual enemies we now face are the same ones we faced before we became followers of Jesus.

5. The world, the devil, and the flesh make up a trinity of evil. They oppose the rule of God over His world, and in His people.

6. THE WORLD

7. The world is a dominating power. “in which we once walked according to the course of this world”

8. The world provides substitutes for God. “whose mind the god of this age has blinded”(2 Corinthians 4:4)

9. The world resists the rule of God. “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify to it that its works are evil.” (John 7:7)

10. THE DEVIL

11. The devil rules over a kingdom. “according to the prince of the power of the air” “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age” (Ephesians 6:12

12. The devil is a spiritual being with limited powers.

13. The devil encourages disobedience to God. “who now works in the sons of disobedience”

14. THE FLESH

15. The flesh prefers the rule of self. “among whom also we once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh”

16. The flesh prioritizes desires. “fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind”

17. The flesh resists the rule of God. “because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” (Romans 8:7)

18. Your commitment to follow Jesus did not change your enemies. Actually they have intensified their efforts to prevent your submission to the Lord Jesus, and your service to Him.

19. We must and will discover how we can enjoy victory over these determined enemies.