In part one we looked at the first two devices the Devil uses to come against the grace of God [The merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.]
Let us review them quickly and see what we can do to overcome Satan’s devices.
1.) Doubt: Makes you question God's Word and his goodness. Satan will attack us with doubt when we are most vulnerable. Disappointment, stress, sickness and disobe- dience can all prompt doubt.
John 20:24 (NIV) Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”
John 20:27-29 (NASB) Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
Acts 27:25 (NIV) So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
James 1:5-7 (NLT) If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
2.) Discouragement: Makes you look at your problems rather than at God. Discourage: To deprive of confidence, hope, or spirit.
1 Chron. 28:20 (NIV) David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and coura- geous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
Galatians 6:9 (NLT) So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
3.) Diversion: Making wrong things seem attractive.
- The act or an instance of diverting or turning aside.
- Something that distracts the mind and relaxes or entertains.
- A maneuver that draws the attention of an opponent away from a planned point of action, especially as part of military strategy.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV) lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Thayer Definition: advantage; pleonekteo to gain or take advantage of another, to overreach.
Eve: Genesis 3:6 (NIV) When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Notice the progression: She looked, she took, she ate, and she gave. Satan’s scheme of DIVERSION often begins by simply seeing something you want. Ever said, “There’s no harm in looking.” Here is where the battle is often lost, at the first look.
Samson: 2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT) Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and en- joy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
Samson forfeited God’s best because of repeated diversions.
His strengths and accomplishments:
- Dedicated to God from birth as a Nazarite - Known for his feats of strength
- Listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 - Began to free Israel from Philistine oppression
- Listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 - Began to free Israel from Philistine oppression
His weaknesses and mistakes:
- Violated his vow and God's laws on many occasions - Was controlled by sensuality - Confided in the wrong people - Used his gifts and abilities unwisely
Miriam and Aaron are diverted from God’s plan through their growing jealousy of Moses’ position and influence.
Numbers 12:2 (NIV) "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the LORD heard this.
Moses didn’t have a Jewish wife because he lived with the Egyptians the first forty years of his life, and he was in the desert the next forty years. The woman is probably not Zipporah, his first wife, who was a Midianite (see Exodus 2:21). A Cushite was an Ethiopian. There is no explanation given for why Miriam objected to this woman.
People often argue over minor disagreements, leaving the real issue untouched. Such was the case when Miriam and Aaron came to Moses with a complaint. They represented the priests and the prophets, the two most powerful groups next to Moses. The real issue was their growing jealousy of Moses’ position and influence. Since they could not find fault with the way Moses was leading the people, they chose to criticize his wife. Rather than face the problem squarely by dealing with their envy and pride, they chose to create a diversion from the real issue.
When you are in a disagreement, stop and ask yourself if you are arguing over the real issue or if you have introduced a smoke screen by attacking someone’s character. If you are unjustly criticized, remember that your critics may be afraid to face the real problem. Do not take this type of criticism personally. Ask God to help you identify the real issue and deal with it.
Jesus triumphs over Satan’s schemes and is not diverted from fulfilling God’s plan.
Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:”‘ He will command his angels concern- ing you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
1 John 2:15-17 (NLT) Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.
In our next session, we will look at the last two schemes the Devil uses to gain an advantage over us.
4. Defeat: Makes you feel like a failure so you don’t even try.
5. Delay: Makes you put off doing something so that it never gets done.
5. Delay: Makes you put off doing something so that it never gets done.
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