The Strategy of Satan

1. Satan's primary target is the believer's mind

Satan desires worship and service, and Jesus Christ would give him neither!

Deception is Satan's tactic. He attacks the mind because it's where God communicates His will. Satan aims to make believers ignorant of God's will by:

• Questioning God's Word
• Denying God's Word
• Substituting his own lies

Satan's lies often masquerade as truth, making them difficult to detect. He creates counterfeits of:

• Christians
• Gospel
• Ministers
• Righteousness
• Church

Defense against deception: The inspired Word of God is the believer's primary defense. This involves:

• Knowing God's Word through diligent study
• Memorizing Scripture
• Meditating on God's truth
• Applying biblical wisdom to daily life

2. The body is Satan's secondary target for destruction

Satan knows that he can hinder God's work by attacking God's workers and putting their "tools" out of commission.

Physical attacks serve Satan's purposes. The believer's body is:

• God's temple
• God's tool for ministry
• God's treasury of spiritual gifts

Satan attacks the body through:

• Suffering
• Sickness
• Persecution
• Temptation to sin

God's grace is the defense. Believers can overcome physical attacks by:

• Trusting in God's sovereignty over suffering
• Relying on God's sufficient grace
• Maintaining patience in trials
• Seeking God's purpose in affliction

3. Pride is Satan's weapon to control the believer's will

Pride glorifies man and robs God of the glory that only he deserves.

Satan targets the will through pride. He aims to make believers:

• Feel self-sufficient
• Act independently of God
• Seek personal glory

Pride manifests in various forms:

• Spiritual pride
• Intellectual arrogance
• Self-righteousness
• Refusal to submit to authority

Humility is the antidote to pride. True humility involves:

• Recognizing dependence on God
• Submitting to God's will
• Giving God glory for all accomplishments
• Serving others selflessly

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to cultivate humility and resist pride.

4. Satan uses accusation to attack the heart and conscience

Satan wants you to feel guilty. Your heavenly Father wants you to know that you are forgiven.

Guilt is Satan's weapon of choice. He attacks by:

• Reminding believers of past sins
• Magnifying failures
• Instilling doubt about God's forgiveness

Satan's accusations lead to:

• Despair
• Spiritual paralysis
• Ineffective witness

Christ's intercession is the defense. Believers overcome accusation by:

• Trusting in Christ's finished work on the cross
• Embracing God's forgiveness
• Distinguishing between conviction (from the Holy Spirit) and condemnation (from Satan)
• Confessing sins promptly and receiving cleansing

5. God provides spiritual armor for defense against Satan

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

The armor of God is essential. It includes:

1. Belt of truth
2. Breastplate of righteousness
3. Shoes of peace
4. Shield of faith
5. Helmet of salvation
6. Sword of the Spirit (Word of God)

Each piece serves a specific purpose:

• Truth combats lies
• Righteousness protects against accusation
• Peace provides stability
• Faith quenches doubt and fear
• Hope of salvation guards against discouragement
• God's Word is an offensive weapon against Satan's schemes

Putting on the armor: This is done through prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

6. Living by faith is crucial for defeating Satan's strategies

Faith always gives glory to God, for faith confesses that man is unable to accomplish anything and that only God can do it.

Faith is the foundation of victory. It involves:

• Trusting God's character and promises
• Relying on God's power, not human effort
• Persevering in difficult circumstances

Four tests of genuine faith:

1. Seeking God's glory, not self-glory
2. Willingness to wait on God's timing
3. Alignment with God's Word
4. Experiencing joy and peace in believing

Cultivating faith: This requires:

• Regular study of God's Word
• Obedience to biblical principles
• Exercising faith in daily decisions
• Learning from the examples of faithful believers in Scripture

7. Satan operates through an organized demonic army

There is only one devil, but there are many demons.

Understanding demonic forces is crucial. Key points:

• Demons are fallen angels who rebelled with Satan
• They possess intelligence, emotions, and will
• Demons are organized under Satan's leadership

Demonic activity includes:

• Temptation to sin
• Deception and lies
• Physical and mental oppression
• Counterfeit spiritual experiences

Resisting demonic influence: Believers should:

• Be aware of demonic realities without obsession
• Exercise authority in Christ over demonic forces
• Rely on the Holy Spirit's power for discernment and victory

8. The local church is a battleground for spiritual warfare

Satan knows that if he can get a pastor proud of his preaching, a Sunday school teacher proud of his class's growth, or a church officer proud of his experience and leadership, then Satan has a foothold from which to launch his attack.

Satan targets church life. Areas of attack include:

• Leadership (through pride or false teaching)
• Worship (through formalism or fanaticism)
• Fellowship (through division and unforgiveness)
• Ministry (through discouragement or misdirection)

Common tactics in church warfare:

• Infiltration by false believers
• Promotion of unbiblical teachings
• Stirring up conflicts and divisions
• Distracting from true spiritual priorities

Maintaining church health: This requires:

• Sound biblical teaching and discernment
• Spirit-led worship and ministry
• Cultivation of genuine Christian love and unity
• Regular prayer for protection and spiritual growth

9. Putting on the armor of God requires persistent prayer

Put on the gospel armor, Each piece put on with prayer.

Prayer is the key to spiritual victory. Effective prayer in spiritual warfare is:

• Persevering - praying at all times
• Balanced - including various aspects of prayer
• Spirit-empowered - relying on the Holy Spirit's guidance
• Watchful - remaining alert to spiritual realities

Steps for putting on the armor through prayer:

1. Acknowledge God's provision for victory
2. By faith, put on each piece of armor
3. Ask for God's help to live out the spiritual realities represented by the armor

Maintaining a prayerful stance: This involves:

• Developing a consistent prayer life
• Praying throughout the day, not just in set times
• Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings
• Interceding for others in spiritual battles

Last updated: November 19, 2024