Satan’s Strategies: Distraction
Last week we began looking at the strategies Satan uses in spiritual battle.
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.
We began with his first strategy – waging an all-out war to convince the unbeliever to reject Christ. He works hard to keep people from understanding the Good News and the breadth of God’s love and grace.
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.
But once an unbeliever becomes a believer, Satan doesn’t stop fighting. Believers are still in the battle – Satan’s strategy just changes. Once you belong to Christ, Satan’s strategy is to distract you from devotion to Jesus.
2nd Corinthians 11:3 | But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.
Remember, Satan is indeed cunning, tricky, and strategic. He has a ton of different tricks up his sleeves to distract you
He uses busyness and our responsibilities (Mark 4:19) to keep us from full devotion to Christ. It happened to Martha-
Luke 10:38-42 | As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
The “only one thing worth being concerned about” was Jesus! But our schedules are full of other things, often GOOD things, that draw our attention from Christ.
For others, fear and anxiety can be the things that draw our hearts and minds from Christ (Philippians 4:6-8). It happened to Peter!
Matthew 14:24-31 | Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,”Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Satan works hard to consume our minds with an onslaught of “what-ifs” and “I can’ts” because they can keep us from getting out of the boat (or leaving our comfort zones) to be all-in with Christ.
For some people, distraction comes at the hand of the American dream or ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ (Mark 4:19). When the rich young ruler had the opportunity to leave everything behind to focus solely on Jesus, he
Matthew 19:22b | …he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
The love of worldly treasures was the downfall of many, like Achan (Joshua 7), Lot’s wife (Genesis 19), and Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). We can make excuses about ‘having to provide’ or saving up for a family vacation or boat for the family to enjoy to keep us from church, serving, or time with the Lord. The truth is, if this is you, there is part of your heart that is distracted- that isn’t His.
For the believer, Satan’s first strategy is distraction. If busyness, fear, or worldly treasures don’t do the trick, he also uses things like anger/unforgiveness (Ephesians 4:26-27, 2nd Corinthians 2:11), pleasure (David & Bathsheba - 2nd Samuel 11), useless arguments among believers (2nd Timothy 2:14), persecution and struggle (Mark 4:17), and of course, temptation to sin-
Galatians 5:16-17 | So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
The Bible tells us that the solution is to not get distracted!
Proverbs 4:25-27 | Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
Distractions are everywhere in the battle. If we fall prey to this strategy of Satan’s, we’ll fight half-heartedly or even find ourselves walking away and putting our swords down completely. Overcoming these distractions doesn’t just happen. We must be disciplined and intentional. In the words of Paul - we must run to win!
1 Cor 9:24-27 | Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
What is the first strategy Satan uses against believers?
What are some things Satan uses to distract us from the battle?
Which of these distractions are hardest for you to fight against? Why?
Why does Satan want to keep us distracted? What is the result of a believer that isn’t fully devoted to Christ?