WINNING OVER SATAN'S SHENANIGANS

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I. WINNING OVER SATAN'S SHENANIGANS
A. Wile (trick or strategy)
1. For one thing, he belongs to an order of creatures that is higher than man (Hebrews 2:7)
a. This would seem to give Satan a constitutional over man.
2. Apparently, too, Satan knows the Bible; therefore, a believer has no particular advantage over him in this area either
3. Satan can also transform himself in a variety of ways.
a. Presenting himself as an angle of light and his ministers as ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
B. Satan's Plan
1.COUNTERFEITING
a. Counterfeiting the will of God has been, presently is, and always will be his plan as long as he has freedom.
b. Satan with all of his intelligence and long experience knows that if he puts something, which is clearly evil in the path of a Christian it will be seen.
c. But if Satan can offer something, which looks good in itself, is not the best, he will be more likely to gain the victory over the believer.
d. "I will be like the most High" Isaiah 14:14. There is a counterfeit-like, not unlike, the most High.
e. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. He offered Eve the tantalizing prize of being like God, knowing good and evil.
f. Satan will do anything to detract you from God. Using good or evil but his good is a counterfeit so it is evil.
C. Satan's Devices (forewarned is to be forearmed)
1. Counterfeit
a. This is the device of deceit.
2. Opposition
a. The point is that in this instance Satan's open opposition to the gospel was in the form of false religion-a tactic, which he is still using today in the form of both antichristian religious and so called "Christian" cults.
b. The form of the ritual may be very beautiful, the standards may even be moral, but if the saving death of Jesus Christ is left out, it is a false, satanic system.
3. Theology
a. Systematic theology to appeal to the intellectual pride of man.
b. Paul warned that the last days will be characterized by "doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1 KJV) which, oddly enough, will include teaching asceticism as means of trying to please God and gain His favor.
c. Abstention, rather than indulgence, will be part of the satanic systematic theology of the last days.
d. It has sometimes been said that more likely one will find Satan at work in a seminary (church and ext.) then in a bar.
4. Pressure
a. To maintain a good course of action.
b. For women the pressure of self-denial was too great, and the embarrassment that would have resulted from admitting it too overwhelming; so they yielded to satanic pressure (1 Timothy 5:14-15).
c. Satan might be able to put the man under the pressure of continued self-accusation, which would lead him into more sin.
d. These three examples show that pressures can come from personally stepping out of the will of God (1 Timothy 5) or from others not doing His will (2 Corinthians 2).
e. Often Satan does not have to enter the picture early or even frequently, since we can be led astray of our own lusts or be involved in a circumstance not of our own making.
f. Pride will sometimes lead the believer to seek to acquire something, which of itself is neither good nor bad.
g. Other devices from Satan include discouragement, sidetrack, temptation, stagnation and, of course, any ruse which would keep the believer from normal and proper maturity in the spiritual life.
h. We may be sure of one thing-he will use every advantage we give him.
D. The Believer's Defense
1. We are told that the Lord Jesus lives in Heaven to make intercession for His children (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). Apparently this work of praying for us has two aspects: curative and preventive.
a. Curative is necessary to sustain fellowship when we sin (1 John 2:1).
b. Preventive helps keep us from sinning, particularly when attacked by Satan.
2. Know that God will not include using Satan to teach a particular lesson.
a. People say the "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) was that the Lord sent a messenger of Satan to inflict some kind of "thorn in the flesh" since when is satan on Gods pay roll. God will not use satan to teach us a lesson.
b. A "thorn in the flesh" all through the Bible speaks about persection. Some people are going to hate and come against you because of your walk with Christ.
3. Assume a proper attitude.
a. Though we have the power of God on our side, forget not that he is are strenght and without Him we are lost.
b. In Jude 9 where we are remind that even as great an angel as Michael the archangel did not dare take on Satan alone but called on the Lord to rebuke him.
c. No Christian, then, should ever feel that he is wise enough or powerful enough to engage Satan apart from complete dependence on the Lord.
4. Stand against Satan (SaS)
a. Do not "Flirt" with the sin or temptation Satan puts in your path. You may even pray for victory and speak of your desire for relief, but in your heart is still the desire to indulge and yield if only occasionally to some pet sin.
b. Only a definite SaS, against the wicked one can ever put you on the road to victory.
c. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Likewise, the believer's armor is given in order that he might take a stand against his adversary (Ephesians 6: 11, 13-14).
5. Formula for defeating Satan ("And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.")
a. There are three elements in the formula.
1.) The basis of all victory over Satan, is the blood of the lamb.
a.) This is not some mystical or even magical application of nearly literal blood today as the believer "claims" it or "dips" into its reservoir.
b.) The blood of the Lamb was shed on a hill outside Jerusalem, and that became the clear evidence of death having occurred.
c.) The blood is not in heaven; the crucified Christ is, and as such He has defeated Satan (Colossians 2:15).
d.) And His victory makes our victory possible. This is what is meant by overcoming Satan by the blood of the Lamb.
2.) The second element in the formula is something we can do to make Christ's victory applicable in our lives.
a.) Be positive and consistent in your testimony for the lord.
1.) No testimony by both life and mouth means no defeat for Satan.
2.) The Lord reminded His disciples: "Ye are the light of the world."
3.) The third feature of this formula for victory is a basic attitude toward life itself.
a.) An attitude or self-sacrifice to the point of being perfectly willing to die for Christ.
b.) Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. (Mark 8:35)
6. Finally, victory over Satan requires the constant use of the armor, which God has provided for the Christian (Ephesians 6:11-18).
a. Righteousness is the Breastplate to guard the vital organs of life.
1.) Righteousness by being in Christ.
b. Our Feet should be prepared to do the will and work of God because we have experienced the peace of God which the gospel brings.
1.) No stumbling and no slowing down should characterize the believer.
c. Faith is the large Shield that gives overall protection.
1.) Walk by faith and not by sight.
d. Around the head goes the Helmet of salvation.
1.) Life begins with the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2); our thought life needs to experience the effects of salvation.
e. The single offensive weapon is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
1.) It is not simply a New Testament carried in your pocket, however good that may be; rather, it is the spoken testimony which we give with our lips.
2.) The sword of the Spirit of Ephesians 6:17 is the word of testimony of Revelation 12:11
d. The Final feature of the Armor is Prayer
1.) This is the Armor provided for our protection, but God will not forcibly dress us in it.
2.) We have the responsibility to take it up and it will be a lifetime involvement.
3.) To be sure, we can put it all on in a moment, but developing skillful use of it requires a lifetime of practice.
4.) You may be sure that Satan will seek to find the chinks in your armor in his unceasing and relentless fight against us.
E. 3 verses of real assurance.
1. Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).
2. Greater is he that is in [me] than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
3. He will never leave me, nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).