Satan’s strategies: Rejecting God’s way
All summer, we’re breaking down what it means to live Battle Ready using Ephesians 6:10-18. So far, we’ve seen-
We’re in a spiritual battle (vs. 13) so we must live battle ready
The battle is the Lord’s, so we stand firm in his power (vs. 10)
We are to resist our enemy, who is Satan
For the next few weeks, we’re going to focus on the strategies of Satan mentioned in verse 11-
Ephesians 6:11 | Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
In 1st Peter, we are warned to “stay alert!” and “watch out” for our great enemy. He is sneaky and strategic, but we can prepare ourselves for his attacks. Much like a country or team that studies the past strategies and playbooks of the opposing side, we can learn how to combat the attacks of our enemy by understanding his strategies. To do this, we look to the pages of Scripture.
Last week, Ezekiel 28 told us that Satan was in Eden. There in the Garden of Eden, we get the first glimpse of Satan’s strategies. To accomplish his purpose of stealing, killing, destroying, and devouring (1st Peter 5:8, John 10:10), Satan’s first strategy is convincing the unbeliever to reject the Lord. But he can’t just say “reject God and die.” No one would choose that fate! So instead, he aims for the same result using a much more appealing package. In the Garden, after God makes the boundaries of righteous living clear to Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:15-17), Satan begins a spiritual battle with Eve that she’s not even fully aware she’s in. He twists truth and appeals to her pride, the very thing that led to his own destruction. He tells her-
Genesis 3:4-5 | “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
He knows that the battle involving Eve is won if he can convince Eve to live out her way instead of God’s because this leads to spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). But instead of telling her that, he offers her death disguised as being her own lord, forgetting to tell her that the only lord that will remain on the day of judgment is the Lord of Lords- Christ Himself.
Satan deploys this strategy on unbelievers everywhere, twisting the truth so they are unable to see God’s love, goodness, and grace. That way, they feel more comfortable rejecting God’s ways.
2nd Corinthians 4:4 | Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
Surely Satan waged this type of spiritual warfare against Pharaoh. Pharaoh didn’t defend against it, and instead, he hardened his heart against the Lord over and over again in Exodus (7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, 9:7). Can you imagine Satan appealing to the lust of Pharaoh’s eyes, flesh, and pride (1 John 2:16 ) to convince him to reject God’s way? Pharaoh, look around… this kingdom is YOURS. YOU hold the power. How good does it feel to have everyone subjected to YOU? If you fold to God’s demands, HE will have the power, HIS will be the kingdom, and all of these things that lead to your pleasure will be GONE.
He used this same strategy with the Pharisees in the New Testament. Jesus referenced their spiritual blindness (John 9:39-41), which remained even though they saw His character, power, and crucifixion/resurrection up close. Can you imagine the enemy’s lies? Ignore Jesus! He’s BENEATH you- His pedigree doesn’t hold a candle to yours. His righteousness pales in comparison to the way YOU uphold the letter of the law. Men and women fall at His feet, but it’s YOU who deserves their praise. Reject this man who claims to be THE WAY and find a different way to God instead.
Maybe, if you’re honest, you recognize that you’ve been living your own way. You’ve become spiritually blind and allowed something other than Jesus to be lord of your life – your pleasure, your success (pride), or your possessions. You’ve been listening to lies of the enemy like -
You’re such a good person. God knows how hard you’ve worked or how much you’ve helped others
You’ll figure out the Jesus thing eventually… after you’ve bought the bigger house, raised the kids, or gotten that promotion
You CAN’T follow Jesus – He would never WANT YOU after everything you’ve done
You don’t need Jesus, you just need more _______ because that’s what makes you happy
You’re way too smart to surrender to faith in the unseen – wait for something you can prove, test, or see
No matter how you dress it up or disguise it, Satan baits the unbeliever with lies that appeal to the lust of their eyes, flesh, or pride (1 John 2:16) to keep them from understanding the message of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4) so that they go their own way instead of God’s way. But the good news is, Jesus came as THE TRUTH and THE WAY (John 14:6) to open the eyes of the blind (Isaiah 42:7).
John 9:39 | Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
In other words, realizing you’re blind and in need of the One who gives sight is the ultimate defense against Satan’s strategy! While Satan’s goal is to keep the unbeliever from following Jesus as Lord, Jesus opens the eyes of the blind-
Acts 26:18b | so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins…
Maybe you don’t have it all figured out or you haven’t unpacked all of the lies the enemy has fed you… after all, he’s been working hard to keep it jumbled and confused. We see in the story of the blind man healed by Jesus in John 9 that the removal of spiritual blindness and defeat of Satan’s first strategy is very simple–
John 9:35-38 | When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.
A heart that truly wants to know the Rescuer will always find Him (Jer. 29:13). Turn to Him today and ask Him to remove the spiritual blinders erected by the enemy. As He reveals Himself to you, put your faith in Him as Savior and Lord, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
If you’ve fallen victim to this strategy of the enemy, it is time to become an active member of the fight. Stand firm against this first strategy of Satan by turning to THE TRUTH, who is Jesus (John 14:6). While Satan’s strategy is to trick you into spiritual death by rejecting God’s way, Jesus freely offers you spiritual life because the way to the Father is through Him.
What is Satan’s first strategy? What is the goal he is hoping for?
How did Satan use this strategy against Eve? Who else in the Bible fell victim to this strategy and in what ways?
If you’re a believer, can you recognize a time that Satan tried to use this strategy on you before you followed Jesus? In what ways?
If you’re an unbeliever, can you identify ways Satan is currently using this strategy on you? In what ways?
How is this strategy of Satan’s (getting people to reject God’s way/Jesus) defeated?