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Jesus said, “I will build My Church…” There is a single organization that teaches the entire truth of the Bible, and is called to live by “every word of God.” Do you know how to find it? Christ said it would:
In Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, Jesus Christ offered some of the most important instruction a Christian could receive—how to pray. These passages, commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer, outline crucial elements for effective communication with God.
Both accounts contain the request to “deliver us from evil.” While this can refer to evil in general, some translations say, “deliver us from the evil one.” This is a clear reference to Satan.
Each day, we are to ask God to deliver us from temptations, wrong thoughts and terrible situations brought about by our adversary the devil.
I Peter 5 instructs us to “resist” Satan and remain “steadfast in the faith” (vs. 9). This is a multifaceted command that starts with realizing it is God who must “deliver us from the evil one,” as the model prayer states.
Yet we have a part to play in this as well. For us to successfully resist Satan, we must understand him. This is central to a Christian’s success and survival.
In Ephesians, Paul warns Christians to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” by putting on “the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles”—meaning trickery—“of the devil” (6:10-11). In II Thessalonians 2:9, the same apostle spoke of the “the working”—efficiency and energy—of Satan. The devil is highly skilled at his craft, honed over millennia.
Paul’s words in II Corinthians 2:11 give us comfort and a warning. He stated that, with God’s Spirit, “we are not ignorant of his [Satan’s] devices”. Yet the apostle also said the devil can “get an advantage of us” if we are not ever careful.
Among these devices are many different tricks, strategies and ploys the devil uses to get us to sin. We must understand what they are to successfully defeat them!
Another way to define “devices” in II Thessalonians 2:9 is “intellect.” Understanding Satan’s evil mind provides crucial insight into the devices he uses on mankind.
He is the devil, which Strong’s Definitions defines as “traducer”—one who maliciously attacks the reputations of others through slander and libel. Read Revelation 12:10. He is of course called Satan, meaning our opponent. He is also called “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” (Rev. 9:11), which mean Destroying Angel and Destroyer.
While Satan seeks to destroy everything good, his greatest prize is a true Christian. Peter warned that “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Pet. 5:8).
We must all take our opponent deathly seriously! A few more of the devil’s names in Scripture drive this point home:
Finally, Satan’s capability is so far-reaching that he is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2) and “the god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4).
From the beginning, the devil has sought to derail mankind from the path of eternal life. In the form of a cunning serpent, Satan successfully deceived God’s first human children, curtailing Adam and Eve’s ability to “take…of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” (Gen. 3:22).
The first two human beings God created will receive the opportunity to make a better decision in the Kingdom of God. But everything is on the line now for us today. Our destruction—our permanent exclusion from the Family of God—is Satan’s primary goal. Yet, this outcome is entirely avoidable.
The end goal of each of the destroyer’s wiles, workings and devices is destruction. Jesus cautioned Peter, “Behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). When wheat is “sifted,” the chaff and grain are separated one from another. In other words, Satan wanted to take Peter to pieces—to break him apart.
This same apostle Peter went on to warn of the devil’s lion-like nature, stalking true Christians. Yet the verse says Satan can only consume those who let him—“seeking whom he may devour.”
God is far stronger than Satan. I John 4:4 explains: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Just as Christ overcame the devil and qualified to be the firstborn of many brethren, so can we—if we understand and take appropriate countermeasures against Satan.
While Satan has many devices, let’s look at four of the greatest weapons in his arsenal, which happen to be four Ds: deception, discouragement, distraction and division.
We start with a tactic that is at the core of the devil’s nature as the father of lies…
Satan is a deceiver, attempting to break apart a faithful Christian’s understanding. Entertaining false ideas—heresy—is a deadly poison he has used to destroy many through the centuries.
John wrote often of the importance of leaning on God’s truth. He also warned that “many deceivers are entered into the world” (II John 7).
Because of this, John states we must keep a careful eye: “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son” (vs. 8-9).
Satan uses false doctrine to deceive us into wrong and bitter attitudes. Ultimately, these wrong ideas can take a person out of God’s Church!
John added that we should never tolerate any false doctrine: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine [the true doctrines of the Bible as taught by God’s true Church], receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (vs. 10-11).
In an age of confusion on multiple fronts—in false Christianity, among brethren in the splinters and caused by spiritual defectors directly attacking God’s Church—we must fiercely battle Satan’s efforts to deceive.
Actively pursuing truth in all matters will keep us on the correct path. Daily Bible study—understanding God’s mind on the matters of life—is crucial.
Notice the link between Bible study and avoiding deception: “I have written unto you, fathers, because you have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one” (I John 2:14).
Study Church literature to learn, review and hold fast to established teachings. If you have questions, speak with your minister.
Satan also seeks to discourage—to break apart our courage. He wants us to be fearful, frantic and frazzled when tough situations emerge.
Again, God’s truth comes into play here. We must keep in mind the big picture and our great purpose as children of God to crowd out any discouragement.
If you have been in the Church for any length of time, you have likely been plagued with doubts such as “Is God really working with me?” or “How could God work with someone like me? I struggled with (or still struggle with) any number of sins!”
These are precisely the kinds of thoughts Satan seeks to inject into our minds. Rather than focusing on overcoming, he wants us to be overwhelmed with negative thoughts that paralyze us into inactivity.
The devil wants us to forget such plain promises designed to get us back on track if we slip up! John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). God forgives and forgets—and helps us overcome. He does not want us to wallow in the misery of past sin.
None of us are yet perfect! We are simply hoping and striving to be perfect: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure” (I John 3:2-3).
God promises that if we yield to Him, it is “God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). We do not have to worry about “making it” on human steam!
A chapter earlier, we are told to be “confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it” (1:6).
God wants us to know and fully believe that He is deeply concerned about how we are doing. He wants us to be confident that He is working with us. This knowledge should have a motivating effect—the opposite of Satan’s tactic of discouragement. Knowing God’s marvelous plan for us should be the most encouraging news possible!
Satan seeks to distract us at every turn—to break apart our focus.
I John 2:15-16 instructs, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
“All that is in the world” can be summed up in these lusts. And they can easily seduce us if we are not vigilant.
These were the very weaknesses Satan preyed upon when successfully tricking Eve: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Gen. 3:6).
Returning to I John 2, we are urged to overlook the temporary distractions surrounding us and focus on the eternal: “The world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever” (vs. 17).
Christ made the warning more granular: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life…” (Luke 21:34).
The “cares of this life” can take many forms—some right and some wrong. While we certainly want to enjoy the “abundant life,” which can involve right entertainment and pursuits, nothing—nothing!—should be permitted to distract or chronically sap our time and energy from our overall purpose: pursuit of the Kingdom.
One way to defeat Satan’s device of distraction is to prioritize spiritual needs in our lives. A routine that puts “first things first,” as the adage goes, will ensure that the most crucial activities related to Christian survival and growth are not left undone. Daily prayer and Bible study should not be left to mere chance or “if we have enough time.”
We are the captains of our own ships. If we make the tools of Christian growth a scheduled priority, understanding that of course there are times to be instant in prayer throughout the day as needs arise, we will be far less susceptible to distraction.
One of Satan’s most destructive tactics is division—an attempt to destroy bonds between brethren, the government of God and ultimately God Himself.
The last of the destroyer’s four Ds can rear its ugly head more easily in the Laodicean age when the people rule, judge and decide (Rev. 3:14-22). Never has society been more politically divided—an attitude that can pervade the Church if we are not careful.
Attitudes of hostility against brethren over real or perceived offenses have no place in the Church of God. In such an event, there are clear instructions to resolve an offense quickly. Read Matthew 18:15-20. Allowing an offense to fester can soon turn into division.
One of the main ways Satan uses this tactic is to inject divisive thoughts regarding how a person views God’s government.
Any time such a wrong attitude rears its head, quickly cut it to pieces with God’s Word. II Corinthians 1:24 calls the ministry the “helpers of your joy.” Hebrews 13:17 adds this instruction: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
God has put the ministry in place to help us all achieve the same goal—rulership in the Kingdom. Even deadlier than division among brethren is division in the form of an attack on God’s government. Speaking evil of those God uses to minister to the flock has no place in His Church.
God clearly hates division (I Cor. 1:10; Titus 3:10). If you see someone spreading division, be sure to alert the ministry.
But you can also fight division proactively by building bonds with others in God’s Church. The closer we are to one another, the less likely Satan will be able to use division to separate us. As David observed, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psa. 133:1). Fostering such an atmosphere automatically squelches divisive attitudes.
As you endure spiritual battles against the evil one’s cunning tactics, remember that we serve a God who is infinitely more powerful. Through the power of His Spirit, we can identify and defeat Satan’s devices.
Stay rooted in God’s truth and rely on His strength. If we do, we can emerge victorious against every scheme of the devil.
Call to mind God’s Word in times of need. The right passage can often quickly cut the wrong thoughts into pieces. For example, if we are discouraged, remember that “we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
The passage continues, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vs. 38-39).
Soon, when we are born into the Kingdom of God, we will no longer be subject to the wiles of this supervillain. In the meantime, let us all draw close to God and resist this being’s influence with the far greater power God is faithful to supply!
As the third most powerful known being in the universe, Satan is a dynamic entity. His multi-pronged attacks are designed to find weaknesses. We must strive to have our “senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14), recognizing that his attacks come in many different forms and sizes. Here is a list of some of his other “tried and true” wiles or devices.
Discontent: Our life is one of denying self (Luke 9:23). Many in this world find contentment in riches or the things they possess. Christians are not the rich of this world. While living this way is financially difficult at times, the rewards are incalculable (Matt. 7:14). Keeping a focus on our awesome potential and the wonderous opportunities that await us in the Kingdom of God can help avoid being caught up in “the deceitfulness of riches” (Mark 4:19).
Unforgiving attitude: Christ plainly said that “if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15). If Satan can breed an unforgiving attitude in us, this will ensure God will not forgive us and, if not repented of, it could stop us from receiving eternal life. Recognizing that everyone makes mistakes—including you—can go a long way in ensuring we correctly apply this instruction.
Doubt: Nagging uncertainties about any number of things can haunt us all. Faith is the greatest countermeasure to doubt (Mark 11:23; Eph. 6:16). Paul tells us in Romans 10:17 that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Regular Bible study—especially intensive Bible study on a specific subject—will help extinguish doubt.
Fear: A fearful attitude can keep us out of the Kingdom of God (Rev. 21:8; Matt. 25:25-30). Asking God for more of His Spirit can combat this attitude: “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7). Growing in righteousness also cuts through fear, as we can be assured God will back us up when situations arise (Prov. 28:1).
Pride: Satan is “king over all the children of pride” (Job 41:34). If we succumb to attitudes of pride, destruction or a fall is around the corner (Prov. 16:18). Instead, we should do this: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (I Pet. 5:6). Any of our accomplishments—apart from those God does through us—are temporary and undue focus on them can get in the way of our pursuit of the Kingdom.
Anger: Paul noted that “in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph. 2:2-3).
Christians are counseled to be slow to wrath (Jms. 1:19-20). Anger clouds judgment and can lead to actions we regret. Slowing down and being measured in how we react to stressful situations can help prevent doing the wrong thing.
Promiscuous mind: The “spirit of whoredoms” abounds, particularly in modern Israel (Hos. 4:12; 5:4). As the prophet Jeremiah put it: “every one neigh[s] after his neighbor’s wife” (5:8). It can be very difficult to fight the tide of society, but we must “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation [behavior]; because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy” (I Pet. 1:13-16).
Avoiding lusts of these and other kinds starts with setting “your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). “Affection” here connotes exercising the mind. Using God’s Spirit to correctly focus our thoughts is a crucial first step in avoiding this device (Phil. 4:8).
Rebellious, critical and accusative attitudes: This is the Church of God, and God is ultimately in control. He administers decisions in His Church through the government of God. Tied to what we have examined about division, Satan would like nothing more than to drive wedges between the ministry, Headquarters and the brethren. Do not fall prey to this deadly trap, recognizing that “God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him” (I Cor. 12:18).
On the rare occasions when we are corrected, we should take it in stride, recognizing it is for our benefit. Fight the attitudes of resentment or frustration (Heb. 12:6-7). Our job is to “seek…first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33) and “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).
Covetousness: This is a form of idolatry (Col. 3:5) and is a grave spiritual disease. We must remember that we are called to live the give way of life (Acts 20:35). Christ counseled: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
Paul told Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is [a] root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Tim. 6:6-10). Verse 11 gives a simple solution: “But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
Satan’s way is one of selfishness—the get way, focused on self instead of others. Avoid this at all costs!
