“Put on the full armor of God, that your may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” “…in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” (Eph. 6:11 & II Cor.2:11)
THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES
One common mistake that is often made by Christians is to forget their enemy and the kind of intense opposition that he generates to discourage them and ultimately defeat Christ. Satan is not playing games! He has very clear purposes and strategies. He still hates righteous men as he did Job when he accused him before God. When this horribly evil and persistent adversary is not reckoned with in our thinking and planning, we are in for some very unpleasant surprises in our attempt to walk as Christ walked. As one slogan aptly stated: The devil tempted Jesus, so why not you?
Paul wrote: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” (Eph. 2:1-2)
Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. This indicates that he owned them. This was a true temptation because they (the kingdoms) were truly the devil’s to give.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph.6:12)
The above oft-quoted verse sounds pretty intense and far-reaching to me. It must be remembered, or the beleaguered pilgrim to the heavenly city will not make it through those Golden Gates. Veteran spiritual warrior apostle Peter doesn’t warn us lightly of the “roaring lion who is seeking who he may devour”. Anyone who has tensely sat on the edge of his seat through the blood-drenched movie, “The Ghosts And The Darkness” , gets some idea of what I am talking about. This is a true story of two man-killing lions who massacred over 100 people in Africa during the building of the trans-national railway in 1901. Souls are similarly butchered by the devil on a daily basis. Not the daily fodder for the local CNN station:
6,034 SOULS DEVOURED BY THE DEVIL IN ARKANSAS. .. STORY IN FULL AT 6:OO P.M … STAY TUNED.”
The reality of this life & death spiritual struggle is often difficult to comprehend and doesn’t seem “real” to us. It doesn’t hit us where we’re at. Of course, this is exactly what Satan desires. An unguarded camp is easily overtaken at dawn while sleeping soldiers rub the sleep from their blurred eyes. That is precisely why most people don’t buy any conspiracy theories. Some are so far-fetched that the more rational information is rejected. Yet there is plenty of reasonable evidence that Satan works through certain means to implement a worldwide plan for planetary control. We fight “world forces of this darkness” (Eph 6:13), not just on the local scene or our personal struggle against temptations. International liasons between devil-controlled organizations should not be met with total incongruity. I personally have been convinced of this truth after careful research and prayerful consideration of the evidence presented to me. (I recommend reading the New American magazine for such information.) Just as God is working His worldwide plan to prepare a holy people called out to the praise of His eternal glory, Satan is working his counterfeit plan to prepare an unholy people called out to the praise of his infernal “glory”. Satan covets worship. Through drugs, humanism, evolution, false religions, and other devices, he gets just that.
As an example of Satan’s ability to setup largescale conspiratorial organizations dedicated to false worship of his own self, consider both the Roman Catholic “Church” and the Mormons. If their ridiculous doctrines are analyzed carefully, it boggles the mind how there can be over 500 million worldwide followers of the Pope, or that the Joseph Smith’s morons follow this unholy, evil man’s “church”. If you have any trouble with what I am saying concerning these groups, please understand that I have the utmost sorrow and concern for the mulititudes of lost individuals due to their wrong allegience. False teachers do much, much more eternal harm than axe murderers or even men like Adolph Hitler. Their physical destructiveness is literally visible, thus making a greater impact on earthbound people who notice such material things much more than spiritual, invisible things. Yet demonic forces working behind the scenes quietly lead millions of unwitting souls to fiery damnation through smooth-talking satanic salesmen in expensive business suits.
“For such men are false apostles (missionaries, preachers,etc), deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore is is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.”
… “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…” (II Cor. 11: 11; I Tim.4:11-2)
Take a concordance and note how many times Jesus and Paul mentioned Satan/ the devil/ adversary and demons, either directly or indirectly. Remember, Jesus started His ministry with a one-on-one battle royal with Satan in the wilderness. From the beginning it was war! Also consider these words:
“For this reason, rejoice O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” (Rev.12:12)
Back to the Catholics or Mormons. Take time to study the history of these organizations. They read more like FBI Mafia files ( or X-files?) than religious history. How many were killed by the RCC inquisition? Perhaps 50 million died! That makes Stalin, Hitler and others “little boys” in comparison. How did so much evil get done for so long a time by such powerful and huge institutions? Whence cometh such evil? The only place that you will find out the answer to that important question is found in The Book. Here we see that Satan is the secret unseen power behind the kings and kingdoms of this world. He has been an enemy of mankind from Adam’s time until now. What had Adam done to deserve such enmity? Well, Satan was angry at God and since man was the chief of God’s creation, made in the image of God to rule over the earth, the devil hated him. Now how much more does he hate the new creations that God has made to reign with Him in eternal glory? Immeasurably more! Satan is determined to spoil anything that favorably reflects God’s glory. Pure hateful jealously motivates him. The lie that he wants to make “true” is that he is greater than God and more worthy of praise. Since this is impossible, he is determined to keep as many people as possible from worshipping Christ and glorifying God.
Satan is the accuser of the brethen. (Rev. 12:10) He is a slanderer and the father of lies. (John 8:44) He wants to take away our right to be free. He wants to enslave us in useless rules and regulations designed to put us back in the jailhouse of sin. He wants to turn us back to Egypt. Using every trick in the book, he tries to push Christians off their Rock where they stand by faith, and get them lost in the jungles of doubt and faithlessness. If you give him an inch, then he’ll take a mile. Let the camel’s head into the tent, and …..he’ll take over the whole thing. He fights dirty and is determined to win.
Just think, he even had the audacity to personally take on the Son of God! He thought that once the Lord was in human form, that the flesh would provide him a tool to defeat even God’s Son. He had never met a son of Adam that he couldn’t entice to sin in some way or the other. He was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. (In more ways than one - “of the world”). This is where he got his foolish confidence that he could defeat the rabbi from Nazareth. In the same way Satan believes he can defeat all sons of God. Through the flesh. Through sin. Yes, Satan could tempt Jesus through His flesh. Jesus was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Note, as “we are”. It is not a sin to be tempted. Listen to this part very, very carefully: There is a BIG difference between sin and temptation. Even the perfect One whom we worship as Lord and God, Jesus Christ, was tempted. So why not you? And when you’re tempted, do you feel that no true Christian could be tempted as you are being tempted? That is exactly what Satan wants you to think. “Nobody who is really a born again new creation holy saint could possibly have such a thought.” He said to Christ: “IF you are the son of God, then ….” The BIG “IF”. He likewise says to us sons of God, IF you were a Christian, you couldn’t possibly even think such unchristian, unholy, lousy no-good thoughts. See, that just proves that you are still just a dirty rotten no-good sinner, just like before you were immersed into Christ. You really didn’t repent, have your sins forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit like God promised.”
Really? So why was the Holy One of Israel tempted? Was he really not the Son of God? “In the days of His flesh (you are now in the days of your flesh), He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.” Does that sound like a cakewalk? Next time Satan tempts you with the abovementioned thoughts, tell him that he couldn’t win with Christ when he said “IF”, and he can’t win with you. What you need is faith. The same faith that Jesus had while in his flesh. You must believe that you really are a spiritual man with spiritual power from God that is greater than the one who is tempting you. Greater is He that is within us than he who is in the world.(I John 4:4) When you have the full conviction of this fact, you will “go and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:11) The main tactic of Satan with the brethen - you - is to accuse you until you believe it. Tell a lie long enough, and it will usually be believed.
Check out Zechariah 3. Here is a passage much like Job 1. Satan is clearly pictured as the accuser. He accuses Joshua the high priest. Notice that the Lord/Jesus said to Satan, “The Lord/God the Father rebuke you, Satan! Indeed the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (vrs. 3)
This pairs nicely with Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” What God has forgiven and joined together with His Son Jesus in an indissolvable bond of spiritual marital unity cannot be broken by Satan. We are now the righteousness of God in Christ. (II Cor. 5:21) Believe this, and the devil will run, buddy, and run fast. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Just make sure you first submit to God in immersion in a tomb-womb of baptism. (Rom. 6:3-4)
Apostle John said: “I am writing you young men, because you have overcome the evil one.” (I Jn. 2:13) Then he repeats it again in verse 14. Is this hyperbole - exaggeration for the sake of emphasis? Is this just the type of thing that happens sometimes, sort of, well, not really? Or is it truth? Paul wrote similarly: “ And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Rom.16:20)
This last verse is prophetic. It is a promise. It is a prediction of what really happens with true believers who take God at His word anyplace, anytime until Jesus comes again. John and Paul were not championing a losing cause for poor sinners saved by grace who might possibly win once in a while. They was describing a reality of those who are truly saved by God’s grace through Christ Jesus. Christians are “more than conquerors” - hyper-conquerors! (Rom. 8:37) This is just like a description of a creature in the zoo. Monkeys eat bananas. Lions eat meat and sleep a lot. Polar bears are white and like water. And new creatures in Christ completely overcome the evil one and actually crush him under their feet by the power of God. We must not think that John is merely speaking of an unattainable lofty ideal for Christians to aspire unto. When Jesus rose up from the dead, he defeated Satan and has now raised us up with Him into that resurrection power. Christians are not only “just forgiven sinners”, but they are now perfectly able to overcome all sin. I Cor. 10:13 clearly says that we cannot be made to involuntarily sin against our will. It is God’s designed purpose for Christians to defeat the devil on this earth so that we can glorify Christ in our bodies - now. This is not just after we die and get our new bodies at the resurrection from the dead.
Let’s wrap things up now. Many of Christ’s disciples keep forgetting Satan’s efforts that make their progress in Christ hard. They forget their enemy. When Jesus came, it was like spraying Raid on a room full of cockroaches. As the Light of the world, He scattered the demonic forces of Satan’s kingdom. (The religious leaders said that it was by Beelzebub that Jesus casts out demons. Jesus pointed out the logical impossibility of such a thing. “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.”)
Jesus stirred up a nest of hornets. The demons themselves knew the truth and shouted: “Have you come to torment us before our time!?” They knew that Jesus was the glorious Holy One of Israel. They could see His heavenly glory hidden within his fleshly body. He exposed the prevalent forces of darkness that were organized by Satan upon this earth in the land of Israel around A.D 26-29. You see, they were already there, but the Light revealed the secret hidden forces of Satan.
In the same way you are children of light. (Phil.2:14) We also stir up a hornets nest. Before we were translated from the domain of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of His beloved Son, (Col.1:13) we just didn’t know how truly dark is the darkness. Our holy presence disturbs the cockroaches in the cesspools of sin and rebellion towards God and they come crawling out before us. Covered with unspeakable filth, they show up on your TV set, on the radio and in the books. Immorality, violence, and even worse, nice religious books with the sinner’s prayer “unway” to heaven. Deceived and being deceived, these demonically inspired communicators convey Satanic propoganda to unsuspecting masses as they sit glued to their boob tubes (TV) - “to-hell-avision.” Mind control, “brain-dirtying” (not real brain-washing) by remote control from headquarters in hell.
Man has a mind that is either set on things above (Col.3:2) or on things below. Through earthly cultures Satan uses our fleshly desires to remote control us. At times, demons can even violate the human body by possession or “demonizing” them. This is a really desperate state. Naked madmen screaming among the tombstones confronted Jesus with their pain and fear. When looking at a cocaine addict, it is hard to see the difference. Western culture has tried to eradicate this reality, but the New Testament and my own experience in Africa tell otherwise. When Jesus cast out the Legion, they compelled over 2000 swine into the sea. These were real powers of some kind, actual personalities. They could also supernaturally empower the crazed Gadrean demonic to break iron chains like strings.
Sherrie, K.K., and I have personally seen a man carry a 300 lb. bag on one shoulder like a pillow at the main market in Techiman, Ghana in 1987. How? Juju power from Satan. Impossible? I was there, and so was K.K. I lift weights, and can bench 330 lbs. and squat over 400. Carrying 300 lbs. on one shoulder as this skinny man was doing is not humanly possible, it seems to me. Do the demons activate the natural adrenaline within a man’s body? Could they act as a powerful amphetamine? Why not? The point is, that the demons were real beings that killed the 2000 pigs and did terrible to things men. Not figments of imagination or literary “symbols of evil.”
Listen to this encouraging verse:
“Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” (Heb.2:14-15)
The devil has been defeated! We need no longer be his slaves. We must revolt, and declare our spiritual independence once and for all. Do you like having chains of sin? Do you enjoy being addicted to bad habits and being duped as a sucker by the chief of scam-artists? Where is our self-respect? If the devil has been rendered powerless, why are we hanging around the prisonhouse of sin when the warden is gone and the guards have no more ammunition for their guns? The electric fence is off, and the gates are wide open. That is what Jesus did when He made a mockery of the devils army:
“”…He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” (Col. 1:15)
What Christ did to Satan, He did for us, His holy people, Christ’s blood-bought church. So be not surpised by Satan’s persistent efforts to discourage you from understanding the truth that he is a toothless old lion. Don’t hang around the pigsty eating Satanic swine slop any longer. Throw out whatever junk Satan has been able to get you to take, and take every good and perfect gift that comes down from the Father of lights. (Jam. 1:17) Keep your mind on things above, on Christ - who is your destiny. ((I Jn. 3:2)
BUT… remember Satan’s schemes! Then win, win, win!
By: Jeff Hostetter, Evangelist of Christ’s Church at Bomso, Kumasi.