How Does Satan Attack Us?
Satan Is the Deceiver
One aspect of the works of Satan is to corrupt all that God has created, thereby destroying it. But Satan’s work is in contrast to the work of Christ. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus helps, while Satan hinders our efforts to live for God.
Deceiving the Nations
Some of Satan’s destructive energies are directed against the nations of this world.
When Jesus returns, Satan will be sealed in a pit “that he should deceive the nations no more” (Rev. 20:3). This happens during the millennial rule of Christ. Currently, though, Satan has freedom to perform his deceptive work among the nations. In the future, Satan will convince the nations to support his cause in the battle of Armageddon, where he will lead the nations to their ultimate destruction.
Deceiving the Unsaved
Satan is aggressively keeping the unsaved from understanding the gospel. Paul explained to the Corinthians, “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:4). Not content with blinding the unsaved so that they cannot understand the gospel, he also has another strategy. “Then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved” (Luke 8:12). The Book of Acts records one account after another where the devil used men to oppose the progress of the gospel. Satan’s strategy is simple. If he can prevent men from hearing the gospel and understanding what Christ offers them, then men will be content to go their own way. The Bible warns, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 16:25).
Defeating the Saved
Merely to defeat a Christian must be the most frustrating aspect of Satan’s work, for he cannot destroy the child of God. Satan will use the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride. of life to attack Christians (1 John 2:15, 16). Satan will attack them directly or indirectly. If Satan cannot get a Christian to fall into the pollution of sin, he will push the believer beyond the will of God into legalism or fanaticism.
On occasion a Christian may stumble, but the Bible teaches that “a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Prov. 24:16). The Christian is not able to defeat the devil in himself but is victorious only as he allows the power of Christ to live in him. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). But remember, the fact that Satan cannot ultimately destroy us does not mean he will not tempt us.
Satan has successfully tempted Christians to lie to God in the past (Acts 5:3). He is called the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:10). He seeks to hinder Christians in their work ft, God (1 Thess. 2:18) and to defeat them in their Christian wall (Eph. 6:12).
Satan tempted one Christian to engage in immorality in Corinth (1 Cor. 5:1). He attempted to destroy the Corinthian church, first by sowing tares of dissension (Matt 13:38, 39) among the believers (1 Cor. 3:1-7). Also, Satan will attempt to destroy a church by sending in unsaved members and leaders (2 Cor. 11:5, 13-15). If internal opposition fails, Satan will attack the church through external persecution against Christians (Rev. 2:10).
However, none of Satan’s at tempts to destroy the Christian need be successful; we have been promised the victory over Satan (2 Cor. 2:14).
