SATAN'S STRATEGY AND OUR DEFENSE
- THE
DECEIVER
Examp1e: EVE Scripture: Genesis 3:1-13
1. SATAN’S TARGET = THE MIND
(2 Cor. 11:3) Genesis 3:13 “deceived me” - Satan attacked Eve’s understanding of Gods word & will. How important is your mind to God? (Rom. 12:2: Isa. 26:3; Rom. 8:6)
2. SATAN’S WEAPON = LIES
(John 8:44) From Gen. 3:1-5, there are 3 things Satan did, and 3 that Eve did with God’s word:
Satan:
Eve:
1) Questioned God’s
Word ‘has God indeed said’ 1) Took away from God's word - “freely" left out (3:2 and 2:15)
2) Denied God’s Word — “you
will not surely die” 2) Added to God’s Word - “or
touch it”
3) Substituted his own lie - “you will be like God” 3) Changed God's
Word - "lest you die"
>> What do you see from this how Satan’s lies are used to affect your understanding of God’s Word?
3. SATAN’S PURPOSE = IGNORANCE OF
GOD’S WILL
(Acts 22:14) Satan attacks our understanding of God’s Word because it reveals Gods will.
1) God wants us to know His will
— Acts 22:14
2) God wants us to understand His
will — Eph. 5:17 (don’t be unwise, but understand)
3) God wants this understanding to Fill
and control us — Col. 1:9
4) RESULT: “doing the will of God from the heart” - Eph. 66
>> What can you do to avoid ignorance of God’s will?
4. OUR DEFENSE = THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD [Jesus’ Example: Matthew 4:1-11]
1) We need to Know God’s Word— John 16:13 (NKJV) “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it] to you.”
2) We need to Memorize God’s Word— Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!”
3) We need to Meditate on God’s Word - Josh 1:8 (NKJV) “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
4) We need to Use God’s Word— 2Tim 2:15 (NKJV) “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Questions to ponder:
1. Do I spend time daily reading God’s Word and meditating on it?
2. Do I systematically seek to memorize Scripture?
3. Do I find myself automatically “thinking Bible” when I am tempted or when I face decisions, or must I telephone my Christian friends to get spiritua1 guidance?
4. Do I find myself better able to detect Satan’s lies?
5. Are there any lies in my mind right now that I believe?
6. Do I know God’s will for my life? Do I really want to know?
7. Am I delighting in God’s will and doing it from my heart?
8. Am I guilty of telling lies? Why do I do it?
9. Am I willing to take as true everything God’s Word says about everything in my life? Or do I occasionally ask, “Has God really said that?” Do I argue with God’s Word?
10. Is the Word of God becoming more wonderful to me? Do I enjoy it more than the natural pleasures of life, including eating and sleeping?