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.
Philippians Overview Part 2
Therefore as many as are mature, we should frame the mind this way, and if anyone of you frames the mind differently, also this the God will reveal to you. Philippians 3:15
1 John Overview Part 1
What was from a beginning, what we have heard, what we have discerned with our eyes, what we have watched, and our hands touched concerning the Word of the life. And the life was manifested, and we discerned, and testify, and announce to you, the eternal life that was before the Father and was manifested to us.
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 is against us and nothing good is coming from our work. Be patient, be still, and know that He is our God, and He cares about us.
The Daily Christian Life – Dealing with the Strongholds in Our Mind
For our weapons of warfare are not fleshly, but inherent ability by the God towards the tearing down of strongholds, casting down logics and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of the God and bringing every thought into captivity into the obedience of the Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Within our mind we can build up strongholds that are very difficult to overcome. These can be false beliefs or temptations like living by law, speaking in tongues, drinking alcohol, pornography, lying, stealing or anything else that holds us. Often these strongholds are built with the help of others who influence what we believe and how we perceive life. However, when they come up against the knowledge of God, we struggle to overcome them.
Dealing with what goes through our minds can be very difficult when we are not using the methods provided for us in Christ. Our battle is not fleshly, it is spiritual, it is a battle for the mind, and this is why it is important for us to frame our minds correctly. Remember, framing the mind is about setting a proper boundary around who you are and what you allow to remain in your mind. As Christians our frame of mind needs to be on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above where the Christ is seated at the right hand of the God, Frame your mind of the things above, not the things upon the earth – Colossians 3:1, 2
Having this frame of mind, we can then compare the thoughts in our mind with whether or not they fit and if they do not, reject them and focus on the ones that do.
But what about the ones you cannot seem to overcome. Thoughts that you do not want in your mind, but cannot seem to shut off. They are constantly plaguing you.
This is where we need to identify the source of the thought and use our instruments of warfare to tear down the strongholds they have within our minds.
Is it coming from the sin nature – We can identify them by the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21
Put on the proper defense. Remember, we do not say No to the sin nature, we stop yielding to it and start doing what is right.
Know (Romans 6:6) – Reckon (Romans 6:11) – Yield (Romans 6:13)
Is it an attack from Satan? Put on the whole armor – Ephesians 6:10-18
Is it the world system? Remember, we are dead to it. Stop expressing love towards it, that is being willing to sacrifice for what it offers. Recognize that we have died to it and although we live in it, we are not of it and are not to abuse it. 1 Corinthians 7:31
The weapons that God has given us are stronger than the strongholds we build up in our minds that go against the knowledge of God. Remember, we do not sin in our mind. Sin is an action. So, when the thoughts come up let us take the proper way of defense and finally tear down those strongholds so they are no longer holding us captive and we can live a life of righteousness in freedom.
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 a frame of mind in which we are disappointed because we think we deserve better. And it may be, as with the case of Job, we do not see why this situation would be allowed to come upon us. However, remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God. We belong to Him and all things work out for good, that is for the benefit, of those who are loving Him (Romans 8:29). So when we find ourselves in these types of situations, let us respond with a proper attitude of thanksgiving and rejoicing while looking for how we can show a proper opinion of God, even when we are being treated unfairly.
For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy facing the glory about to be revealed unto us. – Romans 8:18