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Satan’s Tactics and Strategies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
Sermon Summary: The devil is crafty. But God offers wisdom and victorious solutions for all of Satan's malicious strategies.
Revelation 12:9, 11 The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient SERPENT called the DEVIL, or SATAN, who leads the whole world astray.... [11] They OVERCAME him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
•• The “serpent” of Eden was the devil, Satan!
• We are in an ongoing spiritual warfare against Satan. God wants us to OVERCOME him.
• By the blood of the Lamb, the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Word of God.
• Another important weapon is in the next verse.
2 Corinthians 2:11 ...in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
•• We need to be aware of Satan’s schemes and tactics.
• So today let’s examine the bible’s first account of the tactics of Satan.
Genesis 1:31a God saw all that he had made, and it was VERY GOOD.
•• The devil is looking to turn “very good” things into very bad! Be aware of this scheme.
• Take heed to your marriage.
• Take heed to your walk with God.
• Elders, take heed to the health of the church.
•• Anywhere you think you are standing strong, take heed lest you fall.
Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; [17] but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
•• Devil’s schemes? — Expect him to feature areas of “forbidden fruit.”
• Drugs, alcohol
• A romantic interest other than your spouse
• Immoral acts and movies, indecent magazines, etc.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more CRAFTY than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must NOT eat from ANY TREE in the garden’?”
•• Of great importance — Satan is very, very CRAFTY. Other versions = “subtle, cunning.”
• He will rarely attack you openly, straightforwardly.
• Because of his crafty nature, Satan’s tactics in temptation will tend to be tricky, sly, understated, subtle.
•• Expect Satan to cast doubt on God’s Word.
• Satan: “Did God really say...?”
• Satan: “Billy Graham, do you really believe that Bible is truly the inspired, faultless Word of God?”
• Satan: “New Christian, do you really believe all that stuff those other Christians tell you from the Bible?”
• Satan: “Does God really mean that ‘wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise’?” (Proverbs 20:1)
•• Expect Satan to twist God’s Word.
• Satan: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” — Go back and see: God did NOT say that!
• (2:16f) God said they could eat from every tree except one.
• Satan: “Jesus, throw yourself off the temple into the angels’ hands.”
• Satan: “You’re doing a good enough job for the Lord, He’ll overlook that affair!”
• Satan: “Mister, the bible says, ‘Unto the pure all things are pure.’ So you just looking at that lady won’t hurt.”
• Satan to an unhappy wife: “God wants you to be happy, so leave that miserable husband!”
• Satan to a Christian "social drinker": “Jesus drank wine, so you should also.” But the Bible never actually says Jesus drank alcoholic wine.
Genesis 3:4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.
•• Satan’s tactics? Deny and discredit God’s Word.
• Satan: “God said you’ll die; but you won’t.”
• Satan: “Woman, you’re just a slave to your house and family,” thus discrediting Proverbs 31 and Titus 2, which praise the virtuous woman for her domestic skills.
• Satan: “Teens, it’s important to ‘be cool’ and to ‘go with the flow’,” thus discrediting “Be not conformed...” (Romans 12:2).
• Satan: “Cancer patient, sure, God heals, but this illness is too big,” thus denying “...[He] heals ALL...” (Psalm 103:3).
Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
•• Satan’s tactics? — to appeal to man’s covetousness, his desire for more, for better...
• “...you will be like God...” — a failing of Mormonism
• “Judas, here are 30 pieces of silver.”
• “King David, you need that beautiful neighbor lady.”
## Remember, against all Satan’s tactics and strategies, among your best spiritual weapons are:
• the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ
• the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ
• and the WORD of God — Jesus to Satan in the temptation in the wilderness: “It is written ... it is written ... it is written.”
Preached at South Valley Church, Phoenix, Oregon, Wednesday, August 3, 2005
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of the Zondervan Corporation. All rights reserved.
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© 2005, James H. Feeney, All rights reserved.
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Additional free online bible studies and free sermons on speaking in tongues, divine healing, gifts of the Holy Spirit, divine inspiration, apostles and prophets today, and more may be linked to or viewed at Online Bible Studies and Free Sermons by Pastor Jim Feeney (http://www.jimfeeney.org). |
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