How to Defend Yourself Against Satan’s Devices
1. Satan will try and distract you with the cares of this life.
The Bible warns us of this satanic trick.
“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:19
We live in a world of information and activity overload, there’s always someone or something competing for our attention, and sometimes these things can be good and wholesome, but if we are not careful we can lose our focus on what really matters. Before we know it, we can find ourselves spiritually bankrupt and separated from The Father and eternal life.
So how do we avoid this deceptive trick?
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
We must prioritize the Father first in our lives, and spending valuable time seeking His will. If we do this then He will take care of all our needs. Jesus was a great example,
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35
He sought the Father first, in the morning and in privately.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17
Family, let us make a deliberate effort to spend time with God each day in prayer and the studying of his word.
2. Satan tempts you in your areas of weakness.
The devil and his demons have been studying the human race for six thousand years, and unfortunately, they know you better than you know yourself. We are only as strong as our weakest link. So we must put our trust in the Father to give us victory in every area of our lives.
“ The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” 2 Peter 2:9
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13
Total victory over sin is possible, but only by the power of Christ working within you, and you must declare that power by faith. Every temptation resisted is a precious victory over the forces of evil. Yes, if we sin, we can confess and forsake our sins and receive forgiveness.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:8-10
Remember we are overcomers by the blood of Yeshua.
3. Satan attempts to slowly erode your mind with worldly media.
If you think Satan won’t use music, movies, and social media to destroy you than you are deceived. The devil knows these things can capture our attention and emotions, and he uses them to his advantage. I’ve heard it said so many times, “I can watch these movies it doesn’t affect me, or play these games and listen to this music and I’m just fine. However, you’re unaware that the devil rejoices when he hears such overconfident boasting. He has you just where he wants you. Everything we allow into our mind has an impact, whether we realize it or not. It will either bring us closer to God or further away.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
We must guard the avenues of our souls, which are our five senses, as vigilant soldiers. Before we permit anything into our mind it should be bible tested.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
4. Satan wants to make you rely on your pastor instead of your bible.
We live in a day where there seems to be a different Christian church on every corner, but many of the teachings of these churches directly conflict with the Bible, so how can we know the truth, what should we trust more the Bible or the Pastor.
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” Acts 5:29-32
Don’t get me wrong, Pastors can be great men of God, who leads us closer to Him but we must test everything by the word of God for ourselves, and obey what we learn even if it’s different than what a pastor teaches.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:14-17
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 23: 1-2
In these last days, we must have a keen sense to the Spirit and try the word by the Word. When our spirit is grieved we must simply ask the question IS THIS TRUE?
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11
Some people will reject teaching not because it is untrue, but because it is unpopular. ‘They say ‘How can this be true if the majority don’t believe it’. We must remember that the truth is rarely popular. Remember it was the majority that rejected Noah’s message and was swept away by the flood. It was the majority who bowed their knee to idols in Daniel chapter 3, and it was the majority who rejected Jesus.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
It is not safe to follow the crowd, but we must discover truth for ourselves, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
5. Satan uses depression to destroy our faith.
We must remember that our God is greater than our problems. Satan wants us to focus on the size of our problem and forget the size of our God. We must learn to live our lives on faith and not on feelings.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight:” 2 Corinthians 5:7
Our faith should be like the engine on a train that drives us forward and our feeling like the caboose, not the engine. The caboose of the train is comfortable and nice to have but it is not necessary to drive the train forward. In the same way, we can’t let our emotions drive our lives.
“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Psalms 9:9-10
6. Satan will turn family and loved ones against you.
Satan knows who holds our greatest love and emotions, and he will try to use this against us. Sometimes the greatest heartbreak and pain are not from our enemies but our closest friends and family. We should love and cherish our family but we must always love God more than anything or anyone. Our greatest loyalty must be with Him.
“And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:36-39
Our obedience to God must come first.
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:5
This is the love that gave the martyrs strength to stand in the faith and not reject Christ. And this is the same love that will give us the strength to resist the Mark of The Beast that will soon come.
Family, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might, for the devil walks about seeking to destroy you.