Two weeks ago in Note# 266 “Use Your Sword” I wrote about King David of Israel and the difficulty and suffering anyone inevitably experiences when they don’t live up to what they were designed for. When you stray from God’s calling it leads to your falling. God loves you and always has your best interest in mind. His commands and wise guidance are to help you develop into all you are made to be. In contrast, Satan hates you, opposes you, and works to sidetrack you from anything good, right, and loving. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:9). In the animal kingdom when a predator attacks a herd of prey it typically singles out the young, the old, the sick, or the unalert because they are easier to kill. Satan does the same with people. It’s important to be aware of his strategies so you can guard against them.
In the downfall of David his stumbling began when he was lured away from where he should have been. Isolation is a common strategy of the devil along with infiltration, intimidation and infighting. Fortunately, you don’t have to face the devil alone. Anyone who trusts Jesus as their savior receives his Holy Spirit who helps them discern, defend against, and gain victory over any attack. God is far greater than Satan.
Let’s look a little closer at each strategy Satan uses, so you can be aware of it and more readily rely on God to combat it.
Infiltration
Apart from God, everyone lives life on their own terms instead of following God’s design for them. By default we are already infiltrated, captive, slaves to our self-centeredness. The wages of this waywardness is death because it separates us from God, the only source of life. Fortunately, God loves you too much to leave you without a solution. He sent Jesus, God the Son, to become a man, live a righteous life, die an innocent death on your behalf, and rise again to defeat death, sin, and Satan. Anyone who trusts Jesus to save them can experience freedom and abundant life with God now and forever. However, even those who put their faith in Jesus, still get attacked by Satan. He tries to infiltrate your relationship with God by wedging a foothold in some aspect of your life. For instance, he will try to tempt you to slip into harmful habits from your past. Or he will attempt to lure you with curiosity about new experiences—the lie that the grass is greener elsewhere.
Close the door on the devil. Don’t dwell or act on those temptations. Rely on God and seek his glory. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:12-13; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Intimidation
Jesus called Satan the father of lies (John 8:42-47). That’s the devil’s native language. He masquerades as an angel of light, but is really a demon of darkness (2 Corinthians 11:14). He takes what is true and meant for your benefit and freedom and he twists it into a club to beat and enslave you. His lie in the garden of Eden is a prime example of this. He deceived Adam and Eve by convincing them that a command from God wasn’t true and that God was trying to hold them back from what was good, what was desirable, and what would make them like God. None of this was true. Yet they believed it and disobeyed God, which had devastating consequences as sin always does. You can read the tragic account in Genesis chapter 3. Through lies Satan intimidates you. He wants you to succumb to the deception that either God is worthless, that you are great, or that you are despicable. He tries to convince you that God doesn’t exist, God is not good, God is powerless, or God doesn’t love you. When he isn’t denigrating God he exalts you: You are amazing within yourself, you have done so much good, you don’t need God, you are like God. When he doesn’t puff you up, he tears you down: You are not worthy of God, you are beyond forgiveness, you are a hypocrite, or you are a hopeless mess-up.
Don’t let Satan bully you. Listen to God and obey him. Pray. Read the Bible. Mediate on God’s truth. Discuss with other believers the truth you are learning and the temptations you are struggling with. Humbly submit yourself to God. Thank him for the victory he has already secured for you in Jesus who died and rose again to save you. Resist the devil by the unsurpassed power of Jesus and he will flee from you (James 4:7-10).
Isolation
Two weeks ago I wrote about King David of Israel. Before he committed adultery with Bathsheba he wasn’t on the frontlines where he should have been. He stayed home from battle. Alone on his rooftop he saw a beautiful woman bathing. He gave in to temptation by inquiring of Bathsheba, inviting her to his home, and having sex with her. In righteous contrast, Joseph ran from temptation when his boss’ wife tried to seduce him. Satan tries to get you alone, separate you from accountability, remove you from your routine, and prevent you from being productive. Then during your idleness, isolation, privacy, and secrecy he tempts you to do things you normally wouldn’t. He convinces you that it isn’t hurting anyone, it will be fun, you deserve it, other people don’t understand your needs, and no one will find out. Yet the Bible warns, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8).
Don’t harbor deceit. Confess any wrongdoing or secrets and ask God to help you live rightly with transparency and honesty (1 John 1:9). Don’t put yourself in compromising situations. If hanging out with certain friends will cause you to do wrong, don’t hang out with them. Foster relationships where you are building others up or they are building you up. Admit your failures and share openly your struggles with someone who loves you and God and who will help you stay accountable to God.
Infighting
In addition to external threats of infiltration, intimidation, and isolation, Satan also uses internal attacks like infighting. He causes conflict within relationships like families, friends, churches, organizations, and communities. He divides people through prejudice and judgment. He stirs up dissension through jealousy and gossip. He stokes the pride of people leading them to push others down as they prop themselves up. He causes confusion and disillusionment through lies and disinformation. He pits people against each other by warping their perception of evil through desensitization and rationalization.
Instead of fighting, rely on God to help you make peace, resolve conflict, and initiate forgiveness. Don’t cancel others, extend mercy instead. Pray for those who offend you. Love them as you love yourself.
Conclusion
Satan lies, steals, kills, and destroys (John 8:42-42; 10:10). God speaks truth, loves, saves, and restores. So don’t fall for Satan, instead kneel before God. Submit any selfish waywardness and wrongdoing to God and trust him to save you and guide you in his righteous way. Be aware of Satan’s schemes to infiltrate, intimidate, isolate, and cause infighting. Even though you are currently still living in a fallen world of broken people where you are tempted by evil and the results of evil impact you, don’t give up. Rather give in to God. He will work through your faith to protect you from Satan’s attacks, provide you with what you need each day, and transform you into all you he designed you to be in Jesus. By God’s grace, live with an eternal, godly perspective (Titus 2:11-14). Look for Jesus’ deliverance now and his complete restoration for you when he returns as he promised (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28). Realize that the momentary trials of today are achieving for you an eternal glory that far outweighs them, when Jesus returns to reward believers and vanquish all evil (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Revelation 19:11-21:8).