The past few weeks we’ve been talking about FACING THE ENEMY. So let me make this statement: If righteousness (by definition) is the ability to stand before God without inferiority (or fear), then God wants us to stand before the devil that way too (no cowering). In other words, Christians do not need to be hiding from or avoiding their enemy.
Good soldiers need to KNOW their enemy and his strategies.
Let’s start with his name. The Greek word for devil is diabolos. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” The Amplified Bible says, “Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”
The word diabolos describes a false accuser (one who falsely accuses and divides people without any reason). Interestingly, his “name” is actually derived from his mode of operation. In the Greek, words are often one or more picture words put together to create a new idea. In this case, dia (the prefix) describes the act of penetrating, like something that pierces or passes into or through something else. The word ballo means to throw like a rock. So when you put these two together, diabolos (devil) is one who continually hits us, throwing lying allegations against our mind until penetration is accomplished; piercing the mind and soul to take one captive.
This means when the devil repeatedly hits us, throwing lying allegations against our mind, and we do nothing about it, he eventually gains penetration by paving a road into our thoughts so that we no longer discern truth from falsehood. And his primary goal is to get us to buy the lie until it is empowered to become a bona fide reality in our life. One example is found in the life of Job. He said, “The thing I feared the most has come upon me” (Job 3:25). Job’s fear became his reality.
This understanding of our “enemy” helps us understand scripture as well. The goal of the enemy is to assault believers and discourage their walk with God. Let’s look at a few words that describe his assaults:
1. DEVICES: describes the enemy’s purpose or thought
The Bible says, “Lest Satan [diabolos] should take advantage of us, we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11). This assault targets our ignorance. In other words, the devil uses our lack of knowledge against us. One definition of ignorance means to ignore and this is just as dangerous. You and I need to know our enemy. We need to know his weapons against us.
2. WILES: paints a picture of something being run over; also means travesty or trickery
Ephesians 6:10-12 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against all the wiles of the devil. For 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.”
This assault targets our weaknesses and lack of armor. This means we never want to forget to draw our strength from God and prepare ourselves. Remember, no one goes to a gun fight in their underwear! We need to wear all our armor: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the sword of the spirit (His Word). And we need to make time with God a priority (prayer).
3. DECEPTION: to completely seduce, to deceive, to lead out of the right way into error
2 Corinthians 11:3 says, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” This assault targets logical thinking. Faith is actually simple. God wants us to just believe (like a child), but we get in trouble (fall into the enemy’s snare) when we try to process God and His way of doing things “logically.” Even the most mature among us need to be aware of this strategy. No one is immune from this attack. 2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” This is a picture of pure deception!
Remember the natural and supernatural work together. We live in natural bodies in a natural world, but we are filled with the supernatural spirit of God, and there is a supernatural arena that exists outside of what our natural mind can see or comprehend!
4. OPPRESSION: describes the constant, not occasional, behavior of the devil
Oppression is a controlling and manipulating power that comes with great force to conquer someone. Acts 10:38 says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” This assault targets our emotions and core. Our feelings are linked to our mind so when the mind is weighed down heavily (oppressed), our emotions and core are affected.
This is why it’s important to know the difference between faith and feelings (always). And then choose faith!
5. PERCEPTION: the act of coming to a conclusion based on our feelings; fueled by what we allow in our mind
If we fall short of putting God’s Word in our heart, our perception will be full of lies and compromises that only feel like truth. But feelings without truth is dangerous.
So now that you know about the devil’s strategies against us, what can we do?
Paul said, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). This means God has given us the power to daily evaluate our thought life and bring every thought captive.
The devil does NOT have power and authority over you. His goal is to keep us in the dark. But once you’ve learned the truth and activate it in your life (taking authority in Jesus’ name), the enemy has to flee!
