Exposing Satan's Playbook The Perry Stone

this battle was not against flesh and blood or against elders who thought he was too young and inexperienced. It was a spiritual battle against Timothy’s mind to challenge the call of God on his life and the will of God for his ministry. Timothy could submit to the words of others and become timid and ineffective, allowing the fire to die and the zeal to cease. However, by publicly reminding the congregation that it was the Holy Spirit Himself through an inspired utterance who assigned Timothy to his position, this truth became a weapon to be used to battle the fear and intimidation attacking the young pastor! T HE W EAPON OF P ROPHETIC W ORDS Most believers have heard great instructional teaching on the importance of knowing the written Scriptures and of using the Word of God as the “sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17). Believers quote various passages as a promise and assurance of victory in the time of spiritual, physical, or emotional conflict. We see this concept at work in the life of Christ when He was tempted forty days by the adversary. The “tempter” came (Matt. 4:3) and began mentally harassing Christ, attempting to make Him question who He was and His relationship with God. Satan told Christ that if He really was the Son of God, He could turn stones to bread and jump from the pinnacle of the temple and not be injured. Satan also told Jesus that if He bowed to the him, Satan he would give Him power over the world’s kingdoms (vv. 1–11). In each of the three “temptations” Christ