The Nature and Tactics of Satan

"..the whole world lieth in wickedness." 1 John 5:19 "And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness..." 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits, whether they be of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world...." 1 John 4:1 hether we realize it or not, Christians are engaged in a spiritual war!

The Bible tells us in Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," and this is God speaking to us.tPaul warns us to beware less satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). We must know our enemy, ourselves and how to defeat him. Not forgiving others is one of Satan's best tools. Forgive others so that you may be forgiven by God (Luke 6:37).
We need to be alert, discerning and READY to resist!

Characteristics of Satan
1. Created by God, and not equal to God. (Prov 16:4) 2. Defies God and despises truth. (John 8:44) 3. Was given limited power. (Job 1:8-12) 4. Commands a hierarchy of demons. (Eph. 6:10-12) 5. Masquerades as "an angel of light." (2 Cor. 11:14-15) 6. Came to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) 7. Lost access to faithful, redeemed Christians. (John 10:2-15, Gal. 2:20, 1 John 4:4) 8. Rules the masses outside Gods protection. (Eph. 2:1-3) 9. Tries to hide the actual truth about our God. (2 Cor. 4:3-4) 10. Twists Scriptures to fit his purposes. (Gen. 3:1-5) 11. Offers counterfeit promises he can't fulfill. (Gen. 3:4-5) 12. Always seeks an "opportune (or best) time" to tempt us. (Luke 4:13)

...Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place [lest you give a foothold] to the devil." Ephesians 4:26-27 "Submit yourselves to God.' Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh (near) to God and He will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands [REPENT], you sinners; and purify your hearts.... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will

lift you up." James 4:7-10 "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." Revelation 12:11

Enemy Tactics
Strategies
Temptation Lies & half-truths Deception Intimidation Fear Theft Murder

How to resist
Know your vulnerable areas Know Truth well enough to discern error Understand his schemes Stand firm in Christ Count on Gods promises Protect your inheritance Hide in Jesus

Satan's army of demons examine YOU to discover YOUR weaknesses, so they can custom design YOUR temptations -- those that fits YOUR wants.

Three Types of Temptation

Body
Lures: 1 John 2:1517 Genesis 3:6 Ephesians 2:3
food, sex, ads, comforts "lust of the flesh" "good for food" "desires of the flesh"

Soul
books, movies, clothes... pressure to conform "lust of the eyes" "delight to the eyes" "desires... of the mind" Rom. 12:2

Spirit
praise, power, pride, reimagining God and His Word "pride of life" "make one wise" "according to...the spirit...of disobedience" Rom. 12:3 Dont think of yourself more highly than you ought

Resist with the Word Rom. 12:1 "...present your bodies to God of God

"do not be conformed to this world."

Our Enemy Lucifer - He Became Satan (Isaiah 14:12-14) More About the enemy
In our OPINION "Lucifer" is Satan because:

Throughout the Bible, Satan is consistently characterized as God's premier enemy, a rebel against all that God stands for. In fact, the Hebrew word "satan" means "enemy." Like Satan, Lucifer became an enemy of God. ("I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...") Like Satan, Lucifer rebelled against God and sought to take God's place. ("I will be like the Most High...") Like Satan, Lucifer ascended into God's own heaven in order to conduct his rebellion. ("I will ascend into heaven...") In Luke 10.18, Jesus reports that He witnessed Satan "fall like lightning from heaven." Isaiah 14.12 states that, like Satan, Lucifer fell from heaven. ("How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer...")

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart:

"I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High." (Isa 14.12-14)

And He (Jesus) said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." (Lk 10.18)

The Goals of Satan's rebellion

Satan's goals in rebelling against God are clearly defined by the five "I will's" of Isaiah 14.12-14 as shown below... How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High." (Isa 14.12-14) The "clouds" here may be the clouds above Planet Earth, the domain that God assigned to Satan. Satan desired to ascend above those clouds and permanently take over God's own kingdom in heaven. How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the

farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High." (Isa 14.12-14)

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches... (Rev 1.20a) "Stars" are a symbol of angels, as defined by Revelation 1.20a. Satan wanted to rule over all the angels of God, and no doubt desired their worship as well. How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High." (Isa 14.12-14) "Congregation" is the full assembly of the heavenly host. "Mount" is the summit point -- the position of highest authority that is God's rightful place of kingship. Clearly, Satan desired to displace God as ruler of the universe. How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High." (Isa 14.12-14) Notice especially the title that Satan uses for God. Satan wanted to be like "the Most High." This title of God (El Elyon in Hebrew) literally means "the strongest of the strong." Satan could have selected from among many other titles of God. For example, Satan could have used El Shaddai, which means "the breasted one who feeds His children," but he didn't. He might have picked "Yahweh Rohi" which means "the Lord our shepherd," but he didn't. Satan's goal is obvious. Satan wants God's POWER and AUTHORITY, but he doesn't want anything to do with God's nurturing and leadership attributes. Satan wants absolute power, but without having responsibility to care for anyone but himself.

Protect Yourself From Satan and Demons

On guard!
In the garden of Eden, God warned Adam to be on guard against an enemy. Adam heeded not God's warning. Disaster ensued.

Be sober, be vigilant; because

your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Pet 5.8)

In 1 Peter 5.8 God now gives you the same warning. Be

vigilant!

Be especially wary during spiritual highs and lows.

When you have just enjoyed a great spiritual victory, Satan will come. When you are in a valley of despair, Satan will come.

Turn Off the Red Light

Philippians 4.6 uses the word "anxious." Let's say that your ANXIETY is like a red light. That RED LIGHT beams from you into the heavens whenever you are in any of the following emotional states...

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philip 4.6-7)

disappointed, depressed, despondent desperate, doubting, dishonest defiled, despicable, disobedient drugged, distressed, deceitful angry, stressed-out, hateful

Regular folks can't see that red light, but Satan CAN. Whenever Satan sees that light he shouts to his demons, "Okay boys, it's PARTY time!" And Satan's gang slides down that beam of light until they are right there with you. When you are in a state of ANXIETY you are very vulnerable, not only to Satan's attacks, but to the lusts of your own flesh. What to do? Turn off the red light! As commanded by Philippians 4.6-7, pray for the peace of God to GUARD your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

Wear God's Armor

Your armor against spiritual
attacks consists of... We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against

spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore...

truth righteousness the gospel your faith your salvation

having girded your waist with truth having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph 6.12-17)

Your SWORD is the word of

God. Yea and it is verrrrrry sharp! (Heb 4.12)

Stand Therefore
So the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.'' (Job 1.12) Notice that the armor of God (Eph 6.12-17) covers only the front of your body. It offers NO PROTECTION whatever for your tender, round little backside. Also take note that Satan may only attack you with God's permission. (Job 1.9-12) Why does God sometimes allow Satan to attack you? God does so for the same reason that He gives you armor which doesn't protect your rear. Namely, God wants you to learn to face evil and defeat it. Therefore...

And having done all, to STAND. Stand therefore! (Eph 6.13c)

submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (Jam 4.7)

God wants you to learn to face temptation and resist it. God wants you to learn how to draw your battle power, not from yourself, but by submitting to Him! God wants you to learn to STAND AND FIGHT!

When Satan attacks you - whether you are child or adult,

strong or weak -- if you submit yourself unto God, you shall have the FULL POWER OF GOD in you! Stand therefore, and Satan WILL flee.

Satan's Final Destiny

For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew,

Armageddon. (Rev 16.14, 16.16) Armageddon

On a dire, dreadful day in the future, Satan will make one final attempt to prevent Messiah's return. His method for doing this will be to seek again the total destruction of Israel. Satan's armies will be gathered from throughout the world. These armies will begin massing in the plains of Israel, in the vicinity of a hill called Har Megiddo, near the city of Jerusalem. Thus will begin the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Very shortly after this battle commences, it will seem inevitable that the Jewish nation and its people will be totally wiped out every man, every woman, every child of them. Satan will take NO PRISONERS.

Israel Calls on Their Messiah

Just as it appears that Satan has achieved his greatest victory, however, the remaining Jews will call upon Jesus their Messiah and He save them. And Jesus WILL save them. Good news for Israel. Bad news for Satan. Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He (Messiah Jesus) who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood,

(Israel calls on Messiah Jesus) Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. (Hos 6.1) (Messiah Jesus responds) And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced (crucified)... And the land (Israel) shall mourn (repent) (Zech 12.10a, 12.12a;)

The battle is joined

Messiah Jesus and His armies will come down from heaven, riding white horses. The Messiah will confront Satan's armies

and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. (Rev 19.11, 19.13-14) And I saw the beast (antichrist), the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him (Messiah Jesus) who sat on the horse and against His army. (Rev 19.19)

near a place called Bozrah. Rest in the peace of the Lord. As the battle is the LORD's.

And the rest (Satan's armies) were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him (Messiah Jesus) who sat on the horse. (Rev 19.21a) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. (Rev 20.1-3)

The Battle is Over

With but a single word, Messiah defeats the enemy.

The hellish armies are destroyed. Satan himself is bound and cast into prison. Thus begins the Kingdom Age (1000 year reign of Christ).