Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Genesis 3:1 (CSB)
We have all seen television shows and movies where Satan is depicted as an ordinary form of life. This clever device (anthropomorphism) is used by Christian filmmakers to capture the reality of Satan or his demons as a constant presence.
Theologically, the first Biblical account of Satan appearing is in Genesis 3, where Satan has possessed the body of a serpent. gotquestions.org1
According to scripture, the most common oppression of people is by other demons, not necessarily by Satan himself.
Unlike our God, Satan is limited in his power and cannot be everywhere at once.
Also, He is not omniscient (doesn’t know everything and cannot read our minds, although he can figure out our weaknesses.).
Romans 8:31-37 (CSB) “In all these things…”
It is very important to understand what we can about Satan by reading the Bible. Believers have all the tools we need to recognize him and, by God’s power, stand against him.
If we can recognize the deceptions that he uses to destroy homes and families, then we will be more inclined to turn to God for help. Acts 26:18.
That is not to say that you should ever seek to understand Satan more by exposing yourself to books or other media that teach about Satanism. The Bible warns us to stay away from any form of the occult. Deuteronomy 18:9-13 It is also important to avoid entertainment associated with the occult.
It is crucial for believers to remain humble while seeking God’s help. We cannot face Satan’s attacks without God’s power. Being born-again does not mean we are safe from his schemes.
The deceptions are subtle and can lead people to believe falsehoods, especially within families.
Families shape the world and represent the Church, which is the family of God. Ephesians 4:14-16
I have seen families that are being destroyed by paranoia, distrust, bitterness, unforgiveness, abuse, dishonesty, secrets, gossip, envy and many other sinful behaviors.
Look humbly at your own life first, then your own family. Identify ways that you can be a peacemaker there. Matthew 5:9
Never be a meddler. 1 Timothy 5:13
We can’t fix each other. Only look at other families to pray for them and when led by the Holy Spirit, offer hope from God’s Word and practical help when appropriate. 1 Peter 4:15
A very poignant way the enemy uses his subtlety is to attack God’s devoted servants. By comparison, there is a smaller number of Christians than non-believers all over the world.
Those who serve God devotedly are even fewer in number. They suffer satanic attacks, but know their Father stands beside them as an advocate to defend them. 1 John 2:1
Their service to Him is a hard-fought battle. They face temptation, terror, poverty, illness, family troubles, and attacks from the darkness in the world.
Acts 10:38 is an encouraging reminder that God was with Jesus while He walked on earth and He is with His faithful servants, too.
Still another way that the enemy is crafty is to compel people to believe that they are truly born-again when they are not. Matthew 13:24-30, 38-39 See the resources below to help you find the answers you need to have true assurance.
Christians are often attacked by Satan when they are unfaithful. Often, laziness and apathy cause many to avoid Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. This undermines a believer’s most powerful weapons in disarming our enemy. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Also, Satan’s lies convince people that they are good, and because of their ethics and morality they will go to heaven. No one is sinless. Without Christ there is no redemption. God’s Word will expose Satanic lies and tricks. Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23; Acts 2:38
Finally, of Satan’s most compelling and powerful deceptions is convincing lost people that there are many ways to go to heaven.
Some people believe they have inherited their redemption because they were raised in church.
Other religions are brimming with feel good platitudes that are leading people away from God. The result will be eternal separation from God. John 14:6 Jesus said, “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father, except through Me.“
Even with all of Satan’s subtle tricks and wicked schemes, mankind is still without excuse for not recognizing him. There will be no excuse for anyone who dies without having made a decision to follow Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Romans 1:20
At the beginning of today’s study, I added a link to a very informative article about the subtlety of Satan. I know sometimes it feels strange to read about him. But that is also a trick.
Don’t be driven by your feelings. Be informed by the Word of God. We have to identify our enemy in order to compare what we think with the Word of God.
Below are some passages that are informative about Satan. There is no need to look anywhere else, but the Bible, for understanding and wisdom.
- gotquestions.org article on Satan ↩︎
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 