Overcoming Satan’s Strategies

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Are you becoming scared of the happenings in the world? Sure, there is every reason for anyone to be scared, seeing the way tragic things are happening in these recent times. The rate at which evil is increasing is alarming; ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, human trafficking, rape, arm robbery and many other atrocities. Apart from man-made disasters, there are natural disasters that are beyond human control. Think of the current phenomenon facing the whole world now; which has brought it  to a standstill. Sometimes we wish we were in another part of the world that  is safe from trouble . But seeing and hearing what is happening globally it appears there is no safe place.

Have you ever wish you were in a world free from trouble? I guess that is the wish of everyone, but it has become evident that the world we live in is the home of trouble. The earlier we accept that fact, the better for us.

Christians should not be ignorant

As for us Christians, these happenings should not be strange to us because the Bible has clearly told us that they are bound to come. The Lord Jesus, in Jn.16:33b said,

“In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.

I think you would agree with me that it is not easy to cheer up  when everywhere  around you seems so dark. It is much easier to be fearful because the feelings of fear are spontaneous. When faced with a difficult or tragic situation you don’t need to think of how to develop fear; it comes naturally.

Why did Jesus say we shall have tribulation in the world? Isn’t it better to have a world free from trouble than cheering up amidst tribulation? I guess you might have asked that question too, But    God did not leave us in darkness; he revealed everything that we need to know in his word to us. One thing is certain;  we live in a fallen world where Satan operates.

Now, the good news is, as children of God we can overcome Satan because Jesus has overcome him. Though we may not be able to stop evil from happening in the world,  we can resist the devil and he would flee from us(Jm.4:7). But for us to be able to resist him we need to know what the Bibles says about him and how he operates. We must also know our position as children of God.

Now, kindly  come along with me as we explore the word of God with regard to:

1. What the Bible says about Satan.

2. How he operates

3. What God did for us in Christ

4. The identity we have  in Christ

5. The part we must play to overcome Satan.

We shall take it in series beginning with what the Bibles about Satan.

 What the Bible says about Satan

The following is the description of Satan:

“How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the grown, You who weakened nations!

For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;

 I will also sit on the mount of the congregation;

on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol; to the lowest depts of the pit”.

Isa.14:12-15

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought,

But they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan,

Who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him”.

Rev.12:7-9

“Now is the judgment of this world, now the ruler of this world will be cast out”.

Jn.12:31

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

 Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe”.

2 Cor.4:3-4a

“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one”

1Jn.5:19

The scripture refers to him as Lucifer, dragon, ruler of this world, the god of this age, and other names that are synonymous with his activities.

Some of the names associated with Satan are:

 1. Tempter  (Matt.4:13, 1The.3:5, Luke22.:31)

Satan’s target is our desires. What appears to be our greatest need becomes his target. He uses different things such as   power,material things as his weapon to entice us.  His purpose is to make us live independent of God so that we cannot resist him.

2. Deceiver  (John 8:44, 2Cor. 11:13Gen.3:4,Rev.20:10,Rev.12:9)

The Lord Jesus called Satan a liar and the father of lies; when he speaks lies he is speaking his language. His target is our mind, and uses lies as his weapon to deceive us;  he uses lies mixed with an element of truth to deceive us.  The Bible says he transforms himself into an angel of light. The reason he does that is to make us ignorant of God’s will so that we can believe his lies.

 3. Destroyer (Jn.10:10a,Heb.2:14,1Pet.5:8, Job2:7)

Jesus said the thief does not come except to steal, kill, and to destroy. The target of Satan as a destroyer is our bodies. He inflicts our bodies with suffering. When it becomes unbearable we are likely to be impatient toward God and accept a counterfeit solution from him which is destructive in nature.

 4. The accuser (Rev.12:10)

As an accuser, Satan targets our heart and conscience to accuse us within our hearts and before God. He reminds us of our past mistakes and makes us feel guilty of sins God has already forgiven us. The purpose is to indict us before God, and make us lose faith in him.

 5. Ruler of this world (Jn.14:30)

Jesus called Satan the ruler of this world. We can also see that in Matt.4:8 when Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said, “All these things I will give you if you fall down and worship me”.

Satan advertises the beautiful things of this world to us which by themselves may not seem evil, but by the time we accept them from him we become his subjects. Once you receive a gift from someone you would easily be loyal to  him; and you know it is not possible to serve two masters.

Every attempt of Satan toward us is to distract our attention from God, and make us vulnerable to his attacks.

In the next post, we shall see how he operates.