A Devil-Whipping Strategy

2 Cor. 2:11; Ezek. 28:14-16; 1 Pet. 5:8-9

Some of the more serious mistakes we can make relative to spiritual warfare are embracing myths about Satan or remaining ambivalent of his purposes. An equally dangerous predicament surrounds assuming Satan is NOT a literal evil being. It is a profound error to conclude his tactics and methods of destroying Christians and the average home can be rationalized away by preferred naturalistic explanations. In such cases, the Devil is basically having his way relatively unhindered.   

Like you I have heard Christians say, “The Devil needs go on back to Hell and leave my family alone!” How revealing is such a statement! It harkens back to ancient Greek Mythology where Hades, the god-ruler of the underworld, holds lost souls in a prison type situation. The problem is the Bible never says Satan/the Devil is in Hell or has ever been to Hell. The Bible portrays him as the "god of this world" and the "prince of the power of the air." He is actively wreaking havoc here on earth! Such statements reveal the incredible misconception about the Devil; unfortunately, he remains hidden and dangerous to the unsuspecting.

Paul, the Apostle, clearly indicates the need to understand the person and purpose of the Devil. He insisted that we are no longer ignorant concerning his plans, purposes, devices, maneuvers, tactics and trickery. From the Scriptures we can become so well informed that we have healthy discernment, a ‘radar detection’ defense, surrounding satanic attacks. 

Beloved, when he tries to discourage us, plunge us into deeper depression, create havoc in our families, frustrate our ministries, and derail our churches we will be able to respond with wisdom because we know his goals. When he tries to defeat us on every battle front in life—emotional, intellectual, spiritual, relational, physical, and material we are prepared and recognize his work before it is too late. When he attempts to destroy our life’s work for Jesus Christ, it is comforting to know that we are not completely vulnerable to his maneuvers. Additionally, we must withstand his attacks, and win the daily battles. So, the person and plans of Satan are an area we cannot afford to be ignorant about. This is one instance where what you don’t know will hurt you! Note Paul’s specific statement in, 2 Corinthians 2:11, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

You see, it is imperative that we understand our greatest enemy, Satan, is real. Secondly, if we sincerely want to be victorious Christians, conquering believers, and complete overcomers we must detect his tactics and attacks.

Our children and spouses need to see how Satan is being defeated in our lives and that dependence upon the Lord Jesus and the Word of God is working powerfully for us…personally. They need to know that we are victorious warriors as children of God. If they witness our victories over the Devil, then they will be encouraged to engage the enemy as well. Now with the rest of this article I want to expose the Devil and some of his strategies.

LESSON:

SATAN WAS A CELESTIAL BEING

Ezekiel 28:14, Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Ezekiel 28:16, By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

In this passage, Ezekiel records the back story of Satan. That is, who he was at his very creation—his origin and initial purpose. Notice just one basic facts surrounding Satan’s origin, nature, and his tricks.

Satan Was Created by God and is Accountable to God

He was perfectly and exactly what God intended him to be in his original state. Yes, he was perfect in every way! God designed him and had a glorious plan for his life. It is also obvious, that he was responsible to God his Creator.

Ezekiel 28:15, Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

This Means He Was the Perfect Fulfillment of His Creator's Intention. Nevertheless, Lucifer was a free moral agent, capable of choosing evil though not obliged to do so. God did NOT create the monster that Satan is today.  He is NOT responsible for the wickedness and evil that Satan does. God is NOT the author of sin nor the original sinner. Sin started in the heart of Satan!  Satan has a will to exercise; he is not a robot, but a being with a free will to choose. Although he was exactly what God wanted him to be, he was not satisfied with this and choose to rebel.

Satan’s Sin Must Have Been Accounted for in the Eternal Plan of God. Yet God never assumes the responsibility for the commission of any sin, including Satan's. J.O. Buswell travels a careful course in this matter.

According to the Bible, then, sin originated in an act of free will in which the creature deliberately, responsibly, and with adequate understanding of the issues chose to corrupt the holy character of godliness with which God had endowed His creation. . . . Satan sinned necessarily. God is rightly angry with all sin. . . . The denial of free will seems to be purely arbitrary philosophical dogmatism, contrary to the biblical view. If God is rightly angry with sin, then it follows that the sinner is blameworthy cosmically, ultimately, absolutely. . . . Sin must be within God's eternal decrees in some sense in which He is not the author of it. . . . ("The Origin and Nature of Sin," Basic Christian Doctrines, Carl F.H. Henry, ed. [New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1962], pp. 107-9).

Sin was found in Satan; yet he was created perfect. God is not the blameworthy cause of Satan's sin; yet it was included in His plan. Scripture is clear Satan is to blame!

SIN Was Given Life in the HEART of Lucifer!

Ezekiel 28:17-18, Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. [18] Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

 Isaiah 14:12-14, How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! [13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: [14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  

Satan’s Sin Certainly Affected Others!

Satan's sin was even more heinous because of the great privileges, intelligence, and position he had. His sin was also more damaging because of the widespread effects of it.

1)  It affected other angels (Rev. 12:7)

2)  It affects all people (Eph. 2:2)

3)  It positioned him as the ruler of this world (John 16:11)

4)  It affects all the nations of the world, for he works to deceive them (Rev. 20:3).

Beloved, all sin is serious, and all sin affects others. But sins in high places are more devastating because so many more individuals are impacted. The ramifications are more widespread and far reaching. The consequences/impact of Satan’s sins should serve as a constant reminder and warning to each of us.

Sin will always take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay, and keep you longer than you want to stay! –Source Unknown

How important it is for the servants of a holy God to guard our hearts against the temptations of Satan and sins of the flesh and spirit. If anybody will be propositioned with sin, it will be the serious servants of God. While temptation is a part of all human beings trek in this life, it is intensely amplified in the experience of genuine disciples. The Devil does not care where you went to college…how many members belong to your church or denomination…or how many converts you have lead to Christ. These realities do not repeal him to cower before us in fear; they actually attract his attention and his fiercest attacks. Beloved, every Spirit-filled, Christ-focused, Bible obeying servant of God today will face harsh temptations designed to bring them down in sin. Remember, the very Son of God was propositioned by the Devil (Matt. 4:1-11). 

Servant of the Most High God, do not permit discouragement, bitterness, jealousy, pride, or discontentment destroy your ministry or potential in Christ! Modern Christian leaders are Satan’s choice targets; He knows the impact of fallen leaders and significant figures from personal experience. Dear Soldier of the Cross, though your heart will be broken many times over…even when you are truly faithful to God. Do not allow the Devil to gain an upper hand in these very real battles. Take these wise words of counsel to heart as you need them….

Prov 4:23, Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Heb 12:15-16, Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; [16] Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Jer 17:9-10, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [10] I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Ps 139:23-24, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

CLEANSE ME“Search Me O God, and know my heart today; Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray: See if there be some wicked way in me: cleanse me from every sin and set me free.”–James Edwin Orr, Search Me, O God

This is my prayer also… “SEARCH ME, OH MY GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART TODAY!”

Beloved, this must be our CONSTANT PRAYER! Remember, when we understand and walk in this light, the Devil will not by any means enjoy any advantage over us. (2Cor. 3:11)