“Satan’s Strategy”

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13



I think sometimes as Christians we are not aware enough of the power of Satan. I touched a

little bit on that subject before and about how we need to put on the whole armor of God to

do battle against Satan. We talk about God and His love toward us and His working in our

lives and He does love us and He does  work in our lives if we allow Him. But how seriously

do we take Satan’s power, his influence, and his working to try to damage as many

Christians as he can?

I don’t think we give enough thought nor have enough fear of what havoc Satan can create

in our lives. Do we allow him to do it knowingly or willingly? No, of course not. I don’t think

there is one of us who wakes up in the morning and says, “Hey Satan, take your best shot

today.” Satan is way subtler than that in the way that he works and plans his devious acts.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

James 4:7

I heard a sermon by Dr. Jeremiah that dealt with this issue, and I want to share some of

what he said with you. It really brings the real tactics of Satan to light and makes you realize

that yes; this is how Satan manages to get into Christian’s lives and destroy both them and

their testimony. Very quietly, very deviously, and very destructively.

Dr. Jeremiah talks about Satan having a worldwide convention of demons. The following is

the result of this “convention” (which probably is not as hypothetical as it sounds.)

Satan said to a convention of demons, “As long as Christians stay close to God, we have no

power over them. So here are 12 things you can do to gain victory over Christians.”

1) Keep them busy with non-essentials.

2) Tempt them to overspend and go into debt.

3) Make them work long hours to maintain empty lifestyles.

4) Discourage them from spending family time together, for when their homes

disintegrate there is no refuge from work.

5) Over stimulate their minds with television and computers, so they can’t hear God

speaking to them. (I would add phones.)

6) Fill their coffee tables and nightstands with newspapers and magazines so they have no

time to read the Bible.

7) Flood their mailboxes with sweepstakes promotions and get rich quick schemes and

keep them chasing material things.

8) Put glamorous models on TV and on magazine covers to keep them focused on

outward appearances. That way they will be dissatisfied with themselves and

dissatisfied with their mates.

9) Make sure couples are too exhausted for physical intimacy. That way they will be

tempted to look elsewhere.

10) Emphasize Santa and the Easter bunny. That way you will divert them from the real

meaning of the holidays.

11) Involve them in good causes so they won’t have time for eternal ones.

12) Make them self-sufficient. Keep them busy working in their own strength so they’ll never

know the joy of God’s power working through them.

“Do these twelve things faithfully and I promise, it will work. Remember my demons, keep

them busy! Busy! Busy! Because we know what it stands for:”

B=BEING U=UNDER S=SATAN’S Y=YOKE

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ok, I was convicted. How about you? We somehow have the notion that

Satan is only working in the lives of murderers, cheaters, and those who aren’t openly

serving the Lord. WRONG! For the most part he already has them. He wants sold-out

Christians like you and me. Let’s face it; if he can destroy our lives, he stands to gain so

much more for his cause than with someone who isn’t doing anything to reach souls

anyway. It is so important that we keep that armor on all the time and never let our guard

down.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

1 Peter 5:8

So read back through those 12 things and be honest with yourself but most importantly make the changes today that you need to bring your walk with the Lord back in line and pleasing to Him. None of us consciously make the decision to let Satan have control over certain aspects of our lives, but by not keeping our walk close to the Lord, Satan makes that an invitation to sneak his way into our lives to destroy us. Even in the ministry, busyness can creep in and overtake our lives and make us less effective or even stagnant in what we are called to do, which is to reach as many souls for Christ as we can. Satan hates that! Be ready for Satan’s attacks and snares. Be honest as you look at that list. Do you see where Satan is attacking you? Defeat him today and repent and make those things right in your life. Get your focus back on the Lord.

“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”

II Thessalonians 3:3

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Luke 10:19

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2