SATAN'S OBJECTIVES & STRATEGIES

 

          “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11)

          What are Satan’s objectives and strategies?

·        His nature is falsehood and he only speaks the truth to deceive. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

·        He hinders the efforts and plans of ministers and soul winners. “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:18)

·        He uses religious counterfeits to corrupt and undermine the effectiveness of the church (both the institution and the local assembly). While the counterfeits often appear to be more spiritual, righteous, and knowledgeable than many genuine Christians, eventually their fruits and teachings give them away. This is not encouraging a witch hunt; this is a warning to be alert and pay attention. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20) “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:1-3) “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (2 John 7) “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 3-4)

·        He distorts and prevents effective soulwinning. “Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:7-10)

·        He casts doubt on God’s goodness and God’s Word and deceives by twisting, distorting, and casting doubt upon the Word of God, especially concerning important or essential doctrines and standards. “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3. Compare Genesis 2:16-17 & Genesis 3:2-5 & note the difference.)

·        He misuses Scripture. “And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Matthew 4:6)

·        He promotes false doctrine. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1. Note the term “latter times” is the same as “last days” and refers to the Christian era. Compare Joel 2:28-32 & Acts 2:16-21, and consider 2 Timothy 3:1, Hebrews 1:1-2, and 2 Peter 3:2-3. The Old Testament served as the “days of old” and “former years” that gave way to the “last days” or “latter times” that began at the First Coming of Christ. - Malachi 3:4)

·        He moves people to evade their inner need by focusing on (or removing) external trouble. “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.” (1 John 3:12)

·        He uses the fear of death to enslave. “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:15)

·        He blinds the minds of the lost. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

·        He takes advantage of a lack of understanding. “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” (Matthew 13:19)

·        He puts wicked suggestions into our minds. “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him.” (John 13:2) “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” (Acts 5:3)

·        He offers what appears to be a better or easier way. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23; also read Matthew 4:1-11)

·        He brings physical ailments. “So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” (Job 2:7) “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16)

·        He tries to destroy marriages. “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” (1 Corinthians 7:5)

·        He attacks the faith of believers. “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3) “For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” (1 Thessalonians 3:5)

·        Discouragement is the deficit of courage, which is why Satan uses discouragement as a weapon against believers. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

·        He promotes an unforgiving spirit among believers. “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” (James 3:14-15)

·        He uses unresolved anger. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)

·        He incites persecution against believers to discourage them. (Revelation 2:10) Persecution may come in various forms. (E.g., jail, beatings, social pressures, etc.)

·        He uses pride. Humility and submission to God are essential in spiritual warfare. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:6-7)