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Articles
REMEDIES ON SATAN’S DEVICES
Inspired Paul informs us through his second letter to Corinthians that Satan has devices to get an advantage for us. “Lest Satan should get an advantage for us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11. The Devil is an expert strategist. Many verses from the inspired words that expressed similar expressions which emphasize the attributes of Satan and some of them are found in - 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:10; John 8:44; Ephesians 6:11. He is crafty, cunning, and deceitful. He is full of devious wiles and trickery. He is attacking and trying us to deceive. Satan was a champion deceiver since the very beginning of the human race. Genesis 3; Revelation 20:10; 12:9; Matthew 25:41.
REMEDIES… WHAT TO DO?
Let us talk on the way out for us to be not deceived and be able to stand against the wiles of Satan. We must be aware of his crafty devices. The Bible tells us about Satan and exposed his works. He is the enemy of God and His people. The Bible teaches us also how to fight Satan and become victorious. The Holy Bible is reliable. We need the “Sword of Spirit” which is the “Word of God”. Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrew 4:12; Revelation 19:13, 15; Hosea 6:5. When Jesus was tempted by Satan on the mount, he employed the Word of God from every attempt which Satan drew up to deceive him. Matthew 4:1 – 11. In verse 11, ‘then the Devil leaveth him”. Satan feared because of the effectiveness of the Word of God. James said, “…Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. Our Lord Jesus Christ furnished us an example. To be successful, we must not depend on the word of man, but of the Word of God. 1 Peter 1:25; Isaiah 40:8.
Put on the Armor of God
Apostle Paul discussed the items provided by the Lord to put on during the battles and that God’s people must be able to stand against the Devil. Ephesians 6:11 – 18. God furnished us the armor but we did not put it on! Paul admonished, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Romans 13:12. Read also Colossians 3:12-13; Ephesians 4:24.
Paul had enlisted in the spiritual army of the Lord and had fought the battles. He knew that every item in God’s coat of arms was needed to overcome and save spiritual life. Soldiers of Christ must use both the offensive and defensive instruments provided by God. The armor is spiritually effective to combat the Devil and bring the Christians to complete victory. The battle is for the soul! Always put them on and do not relax or lay down your protection for even a moment. Remember the warning of inspired James and Peter. 1 Peter 5:8-10; James 4:7. We must be armed always. Satan may come, retreat, and come again. Luke 4:13.
Some Area of Application
Some of the powerful tactics of Satan to battling Christians are giving suffering and tribulation, disappointment and discouragement, doubts, fear, worry, lust, greed, and envy. Many Christians has fallen because of they did not put on the Shield of Faith. Ephesians 6:16. Shield of Faith describes unshakeable trust among fiery darts. True faith comes from hearing the word of God. Romans 10:17. That committed conviction (trust) knocks off temptation, doubts, fear, human reasoning, worry, lust, greed, envy and all those other pernicious wicked attempts by Satan to drag us down to the pits of utter ruin and destruction with him.
It is normal for a Christian to suffer problems. But often times we are murmuring and having doubts. Matthew 6:25-30. From this attitude Jesus said we have a “little faith” verse 30. It is normal for a Christian to suffer persecution and that we need patience. Hebrew 10:36; Matthew 5:11-12; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Timothy 3:12 (2 Corinthians 11:23-29; 6:4-5; Hebrews 11:32-36).
Discord among brethren is rampant in the church of Christ. Satan is exceedingly glad when we are backbiting and devouring one another. Galatians 5:15. Christian must put on the “girdle of Truth”. Ephesians 6:14. The truth shall make us free. John 8:32. Truth is available to read and study, understand and believe, but do not stop by reading and understanding – we should apply and live on it!!! We must apply the truth in our daily living because it is effective. Be not hypocrite like the Pharisees! To combat discord we must apply on our lives a lowliness of mind. Philippians 2:3-4; Ephesians 4:1-2; Romans 2:16-21. Abraham showed lowliness of mind when they had problem with Lot. Genesis 13:6-9. Victorious people of God lived in humility and lowliness of mind. Being humble himself is one step forward in the kingdom of Heaven and conversely high mindedness is one step backward from the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4.
False Teaching is also one of the strongest devices of Satan to attack people and Christians and many had been deceived. Remember “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9. The remedy for this is we must be like the Berean “… in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:10-11. We must put on the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God to battle the false teaching. 1 John 4:1; Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17. “Be ready always to give an answer”. 1 Peter 3:15; “Grow in grace and in the knowledge”. 2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:10; Hebrews 5:12-14.
Even we are effective warrior we need more strength and the source is only God. The Christian is ready for combat only when accompanied by a Captain. Philippians 4:6, 19. We need constant praying – communication with God and to our Captain as soldier of Christ. Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12; Luke 18:4.
Unexpected attack is one of the Devil’s potent weapons! We must be therefore constantly be in touch with our Captain – Jesus Christ.
“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil-day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:11-13.
