* Take Heart, There is One Greater

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, 

that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

Romans 6:6-7

In these last, evil and perilous days, we cannot allow Satan to get the victory over our lives; we cannot allow him to gain even a foothold into our lives!  We cannot allow him to manage our thoughts and actions! We cannot allow him the opportunity to gain advantage of us through the influences of the world nor the desires of our flesh.  Though the bible tells us, the church, that there will be a great following away, we can purpose in our hearts that it will not be one of us.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  2 Thessalonians 2:3

Once you have taken the necessary steps and given your life to God, you are now a part of God’s army. Remember that we are never just saved to sit, God calls us with a purpose; He has a battle  plan that we must learn before we go out on the field. 

Some people don’t like to talk about Satan other than to say that He is ‘bad’ or ‘evil’. And though that is true, you have to know Satan's strategies and God's Scriptural counter-strategies for overcoming his deceptive tactics. "Strategies" are the science of forming and carrying out military operations. They are the methods or plans which lead to victory.

So then we must know that Satan has organized methods aimed at gaining victory over believers, keeping the confused lost and keeping nonbelievers bound in their sin. This is what Apostle Paul is instructing us in when he refers to the "wiles" of the Devil:

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. (Ephesians 6:11)

The word "wiles" means crafty or deceitful. Satan's "wiles" are his crafty, deceitful strategies of attack.

Even as Apostle Paul was speaking these words, Satan was using one of his, Demetrius the silversmith, to stir the people of Ephesus to rid themselves of Apostle Paul because of the mighty works of God being performed there.

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:  Acts 19:25-26

However, The believer is not left defenseless in the face of enemy attack. In His written Word God has provided a manual of strategies for spiritual warfare for this very reason:

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

The word "devices" means thoughts, ways or purposes. The Bible contains counter-strategies for overcoming all the power of the enemy.

The word "counter" means "to hinder, to act in opposition to, defeat, or frustrate." In the spirit world, a counter-strategy is an organized plan and method of opposition to Satan. It is designed to hinder, defeat, and frustrate his "wiles" and "devices."

Let’s start with the knowledge that: 

Ö     the world and the flesh are enemy territory:

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.  1 John 5:19

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  Galatians 5:17

Satan is the prince of this world and as its prince, he influences the governments of nations. He is described as a "deceiver of nations":

And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Revelation 20:3 

Daniel (chapter 10) identifies a demonic power over the nation of Persia working to prevent Daniel's prayer.

Ö     Satan is as a roaring lion in the world:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.  2 Peter 5:8

The picture of a roaring lion illustrates the open terror tactics Satan uses. But Satan is also described as "an angel of light":

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 11:14-15

This describes Satan as alluring and appealing in a more subtle, secret type of attack. So Satan works both openly and secretly in the world.

Satan's activities are varied in the world, but they are always directed against God, God's plan, and God's people. Satan opposes God's work in the world. This is quite evident in his rebellion and fall from Heaven. (Ezekiel 28:12-19). Satan opposes the work of Jesus in the world. He is behind the "anti-Christ" spirit of the world:

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

Ö     Satan also opposes the work of the Holy Spirit in the world: 

One of the purposes of the Holy Spirit is to guide men and women into the truth of the Word of God. 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  John 16:13

Satan tries to keep the Word of God from influencing the hearts and lives of men and women:

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

Ö     Satan afflicts and tempts believers in the world:

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 labor be in vain.        1 Thessalonians 3:5

And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:12)

Satan deceives the world through "spiritual wickedness in high places." This is how he works in the religious structure of the world. He deceives through false doctrine, ministers, teachers, apostles, and religious propaganda.

Ö     Satan also wages warfare against believers: 

. . . who are in, but not of, the world. You can read about this warfare in Ephesians 6:10-18. Satan accuses and slanders believers:

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:9-10)

Ö     He plants doubt in the minds of believers: 

This was part of the first temptation of man in the Garden of Eden 

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  Genesis 3:1-5

Ö     Satan incites persecution of believers by the world:

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.  Revelation 2:10

Ö     Satan tries to prevent the believer from effective Christian service:

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.   1 Thessalonians 2:18

Ö     Satan uses the appeal of the world to entice believers to sin. 

He tempts through the worldly atmosphere, environment, and system around you. He encourages a love of the world in your heart:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  1 John 2:15-16

Satan wars against the mind, the tongue, the spirit, the body, and the spiritual walls of believers. He attacks through family and associates, finances, and circumstances.

One could be found to be discouraged after that long list of the wiles of the enemy; the continuous onslaught of Satan.  No doubt, Satan is a powerful foe, but 

take heart, there is a God that is above the enemy; 

the sovereign one, the Almighty God

and He says,

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Deuteronomy 31:6

When the enemy tries his wiles on you, remember what God told Joshua, because as a child of God, it applies to you also.

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: . . .   Joshua 1:8

God has given us believers a great and powerful gift; that being the Holy Spirit.   He tells us in His word:

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  1 John 4:4

Biblical Study

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