Satan has different strategies (tactics) that he uses to snare us into his way of thinking and living life.
God has told us that we are not to be ignorant of the Devil’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).
How many of us would play a sport without knowing anything about the game or our opponents? Not many. Why? Because the object of the game is to win. In order to win, we must learn what our skills are and develop them and learn what the other team’s advantages and weaknesses are so we can strategize how to win. In fact, most teams have a coach who is able to watch as the game unfolds and change up the strategy if necessary. The same is true for Spiritual warfare – we are not to be ignorant of our enemies’ tactics and we are to know what resources we have available for us to use.
Quick Recap
We started this journey be looking at how:
We realized that he is a created being who thought he should be God and that he should receive the glory that is to be given to our Creator (Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Isaiah 14:11-14). When this didn’t work out for him – he decided to use his tactics to keep us from enjoying our relationship with God.
In Genesis speaking to the Woman: “You will be just like God if you eat of the tree.” (Genesis 3:1-5)
In Matthew speaking to Jesus: (think of the audacity) – the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you – IF (the catch) – you will bow down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:1-11)
Where Are We?
. Satan is a liar and the father of lies – John 8:44
. Satan is a created being who let pride destroy him – Isaiah 14:12-14
. Satan roams around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:6-8)
. We are not to be ignorant of his tactics (2 Corinthians 2:11)
8 Tactics – All Starting with the Letter D
.. Deception: Satan’s most successful tool. What is deception – simply put it is lies that we believe to be true and then build our lives upon them.
.. Doubt: Makes you question God’s word and His goodness.
.. Disappointment: Any time we look to people as our standard, we can be disappointed.
.. Discouragement: Makes you look at your problems rather than God.
.. Diversion: Makes the wrong things seem attractive so you want them more than the right things.
.. Defeat: Makes you feel like a failure so you don’t even try.
.. Delay: Makes you put off something so it never gets started or completed.
.. Division. Doubts and worries can lead to division of our loyalties. These can also lead to divisions between people and distancing from God.
(Some of these points came from The New Living Translation Life Application Bible)
Deception is lies that we believe to be the truth. Click To Tweet
3 More Tactics
1 John 2:15-17 – 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Genesis 3:6 – 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it
Matthew 4:1-11 — 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” — 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” — 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
How Satan Used the Tactics of 1 John 2:15-17
The Lust of the Flesh
. The Woman – “good for food”
. Jesus – Turn these stones into bread to satisfy Your hunger
The Lust of the Eyes
. The Woman – “pleasing to the eyes”
. Jesus – “All this I will give you, IF (the catch) You bow down to me”
The Pride of Life
. The Woman – “desirable for gaining wisdom”
. Jesus – “If you are the Son of God”
Hope
Jesus conquered each one of the devil’s temptations by using the Word of God and so can we.
Luke 4:4, 8, 12 – 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ – 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
We can conquer the tactics of the devil by submitting to God, learning His word and using it. Click To Tweet
Psalms 119:11 — I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Conclusion
We have covered only a few of the enemies tactics here — however, as you study you will be able to discover them all along with God’s solutions.
Let’s work with Jesus to respond as He did when the enemy comes – “God Said, …”
Also, remember that the enemy did leave Christ, however we have been warned that he roams around like a lion looking for someone to devour – in plain words he will be watching for an opportune time to strike again.
Let’s be prepared.
Next week we will take a look at the armor of God.
How are you going to prepare yourself to do battle with the enemy? Remember to comment below.
