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The Methods of Satan – Cowardice in Spiritual Things

When faced with the possibility of persecution, ridicule, or even discrimination we can be tempted by Satan to deny our faith.

Peter, who was so willing to die to defend Christ on the night in which He was betrayed was used as an example for us on how Satan can manipulate the situation so that we negatively react when facing opposition.

Just prior to the betrayal of Christ, Satan had made a request to sift all the disciples; however, he was given permission to only sift Peter.

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has asked for you, to sift as wheat. But I have supplicated concerning you, in order that your faith should not fall and when you return to support your brethren – Luke 22:31,32

Peter was not a coward and was willing to even die for Christ.

And he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to be with you and unto prison and unto death to go.” – Luke 22:33

However, Peter would not even make it through the night without denying Christ three times.

And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will never crow before you deny to know Me three times – Luke 22:24

In the end Peter did just as the Lord has said and denied he knew Him three times before the rooster crowed, even though he was in no danger. This broke Peter’s heart, but would later, after the Lord restored him, be used for our benefit because in the letters he wrote to the Church we learn a lot about defending ourselves against Satan.

Protecting the sensitive part of the mind

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest […]

The Methods of Satan – Cowardice in Spiritual Things2023-12-14T08:46:50-08:00

The Methods of Satan – Doubt

Doubt is a lack in the ability to discern what is proper and what is wrong in our actions. As Christians, we should have our senses trained to discern the difference between actions that are good and actions that are wrong.

But the solid food is of [the] mature, the ones through the exercise train the senses, having discernment toward both good and wrong – Hebrews 5:14

Because of this inability to discern between right and wrong the believer hesitates and will not act out from faith.

but let him ask in faith, not while doubting. For the one doubting is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed – James 1:6

Anything done by a Christian that is not out from faith is sin, which means that an action that normally would not be sin, such as eating and drinking, can become sin to the one who is not discerning what is proper in contrast to what is wrong. How can eating be wrong? Questioning whether God allows you to eat it without violating His standard and therefore causing a conscience issue because our action is not lining up with what we think is God’s expectation of us.

But the one doubting, if perhaps, he should eat is condemned because it is not out from faith. And all which is not out from faith is sin. – Romans 4:23

The righteous live out from faith. Satan does not want us to live by faith because it means we will be applying the promises God has given to the Church, training our senses to discern what is proper and what is wrong, and living a life of righteousness out from faith, which makes […]

The Methods of Satan – Doubt2023-12-14T08:47:15-08:00

The Methods of Satan – Bitterness

For bitterness to set in a Christian needs to stop recognizing his or her position in grace before God. This allows Satan to plant a seed of bitterness that will poison the mind with resentfulness and result in a sharp, bitter, and unpleasant demeanor and lead a person to act out of doubt, which is sin.

The Methods of Satan – Bitterness2023-11-27T09:22:49-08:00

The Methods of Satan – Discouragement

Discouragement is a desire that comes from Satan with the intent of getting Christians to lack confidence in God, thinking that God has forgotten them and has no concern about them.

We are not to grow weary in doing good. Sometimes it takes a while for our fruit to grow. Satan does not want us to produce good fruit, so he is going to bring people or situations into our lives to try and discourage us.

Again we learn this method by one of the attacks Satan did against Job.

In Job 19:1-19 we have a concise statement on discouragement. Job struggles with understanding why he is continually being tormented and reproached, why his cries for help are ignored. Even those closest to him despise him for no reason.

Remember, Satan roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He wants to shake us up and cause fear so he can overcome us. When we feel discouragement coming on, we need to put on the armor of God, because we should be understanding that this is a direct attack from Satan. And once having it on, stand firm.

And while doing the proper let us not grow weary, for in its own time we will reap, do not give out – Galatians 6:9

The conduct apart from fondness of money, contentment to the present, for He has said, “I will never leave you, nor ever forsake you” – Hebrews 13:5

Now with our mind focused back on who we are in Christ we can begin to properly look at the situation and discern what is God’s will for us. Keep doing good and doing what is proper, even when it seems that we are all alone or the world […]

The Methods of Satan – Discouragement2023-12-14T08:47:46-08:00

The Methods of Satan – Disappointment

Disappointment is used to bring us into a mental state of being defeated in our expectations and hope. This is done by situations coming upon us that we question as to why they are happening to us because we deserve better.

It is through Job’s persecution by Satan that we see all of Satan’s methods that he uses to get us to go against God.

In Job 3:1-13 Job is recorded expressing disappointment in his situation and wishing he was never born. What value was life since he was in this condition?

Remember, Satan’s whole purpose for doing this to Job was to get him to curse God.

Job 2:4, 5 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

Job may have never fully understood why God permitted such calamity to come upon him, but we do. It was through this that God fully shows us how Satan works to get us to go contrary to God.

How should we react to a situation that we see as unfair? It should be with thanksgiving and rejoicing.

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – Ephesians 5:20

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice – Philippians 4:4

In everything give thanks for this is the desirous will of God in Christ Jesus unto us – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We may see a situation we face as unfair and discouraging, which Satan will try to use to bring us to […]

The Methods of Satan – Disappointment2023-12-14T08:48:39-08:00
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