The Rules of Engagement

The Rules of Engagement

C ulture Cultures form when two or more individuals band together in response to perceived needs and then combine their abilities and resources to meet those needs. Once formed, cultures are responsible for socially transmitting behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought. Culture shapes your awareness of everything around you and how you react to things. Many times the enemy attempts to seduce believers into placing more emphasis on their earthly culture rather than the culture of the kingdom of God, which takes precedence over all national, organizational, and parochial cultures. (See Acts 8:5–13.) D eath Death is the most deadly weapon Satan has in his arsenal (pun intended). It demands the attention of humanity and the curiosity of science. It commands the attention of all media and culture. It promotes the sale of newspapers, books, and life insurance and provides plots for Hollywood. Death even has a way of causing people to carefully weigh their actions from the perspec tive of eternity. Death incorporates those occurrences that are untimely and unexpected, such as suicides, homicides, accidents, loss of reputation, loss of hope, or divorce. The pain and agony experienced by those mourning their losses are often so intense and unbearable that they become vulnerable to its seduction and swept away into eternity by its dark and spindly hands. Untimely death aborts destinies, executes purpose, and assassinates poten tial. (See Jeremiah 9:21.) D eception This weapon causes fraudulence, duplicity, underhandedness, cheating, and the willful betrayal of confidence and trust. This surreptitious behavior requires you to be vigilant, alert, and discerning of the spirits working and lurking around you. Take nothing and no one for granted. Although the enemy uses all forms of deception, the highest form of deception is self-deception. Deuteronomy 11:16 warns us to “take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them.” (See also Joshua 9:1–12; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Timothy 3:13.)

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