1 Peter 5:8-9; 2 Cor. 2:11; 11:1-4, Resist (3, Schemes)

As an additional help in our need to resist him (the devil), steadfast in the faith we would like to provide an opportunity to meditate on the subject of Satan’s schemes.  The NKJV in Eph. 6:11 calls them the wiles of the devil.  We are not talking about that infamous and not very bright Wiley Coyote who was constantly misfiring.  We are talking about the ruler of this age.  But there are two things we know:

·        We know that the One in us is greater than the one in the world (1 Jn. 4:4).  Christ gave His Spirit to work in us and through us in our dealings with Satan (Jn. 16:8-11).  By His mighty resurrection from the dead Christ delivered the knock-out blow to this enemy, a victory out of which we live and fight (Col. 2:13-15).

·        We also know his, the devil’s, devices.  That term in 2 Cor. 2:11 refers to mental perception.  It is the minds in 2 Cor. 3:14 and 4:4 that are being blinded in unbelievers.  With that, meditate on the following that we might recognize Satan’s way of thinking so as to resist him, steadfast in the faith.

1.  He wants men to rely on their own manpower, 1 Chron 21:1.

2.  He wants men to put physical needs before spiritual, Matt. 4:3.

3.  He will attack our weaknesses, Matt. 4:2.

4.  He offers immediate results but postponed tragedy, Matt. 4:8-9.

5.  He wants men to deny the deity of Christ, Luke 4:3 (IF you are the Son of God)

6.  He tries to put ideas in men's minds, Jn. 13:2.

7.  He opposes people with sickness, Ac. 10:38; Luke 13:10 (Jesus healed those under power of devil; woman crippled by a spirit 18 years)

8.  He will use one of his children (participants in the occult, Satanism, etc.) to pervert God's way, Ac. 13:10.

9.  He will try to keep husbands and wives from regular marital intimacy, 1 Cor 7:5.

10.He convinces Christians to be unforgiving, 2 Cor 2:10-11.

11.He blinds the eyes of unbelievers, 2 Cor 4:4

12.He controls the unbeliever's walk and world, Eph 2:2.

13.He convinces Christians not to seek forgiveness, Eph 4:27 (letting the sun go down on your wrath)

14.He incites to pride ill-prepared church leaders, 1 Tim. 3:6.

15.He tempts pastors to sin so they will be a reproach in the unbelieving community, 1 Tim. 3:7

16.He will try to bring hate or a cold, inactive love, between Christians, 1 Jn. 3:10.

17.He will try to get men to deny what the Bible says about him, his existence, and his schemes.

Remember: the key for believers is our focus on Christ (Heb. 12:1-2 and many other passages).  We do not focus on Satan; but we do understand him by God’s grace.