The Strategy of Satan

In any contest, it is good to know the strategy of the opponent. This allows us to be prepared and improves our chances for success. This is true in athletics as well as in warfare: the more we know about our enemy, the better equipped we are to defeat him. Our adversary is the devil. Satan is against us, pursuing us constantly. His goal is to bring us pain and misery, and ultimately to hell. And he is very effective. Jesus likened him to a strong man and John informs us that "...the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one," (Mt. 12:29; 1 Jn 5:19).

Fortunately Jesus has not left us unarmed for the battle. He knows how the devil works, and he knows how to defeat him. Satan employs the same basic tactics again and again. He doesn't change much, and he doesn't need to. He has been working his program effectively since the beginning. In Matthew 24:9-13 Jesus outlines for us Satan's strategy against the church.

Persecution

Satan has a two- step method for accomplishing his goals. His first step is persecution. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another," (Mt. 24:9,10). These indeed are sad and troubling words, yet they are true. The apostles suffered miserable treatment by the very one's they were trying to save. Likewise, the church has suffered throughout the ages. "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution," (2 Tim. 3:12). Yet the victory is ours, if we hold fast, (1 Jn. 5:4).

Satan attacks us in various ways. Sometimes it is an insult or mockery. Other times we may be excluded by our friends and loved ones, (Lk. 6:22). We may be attacked physically or even put to death. Many throughout the ages have been given the choice to either deny Christ or be put to death. To deny Him means to forfeit our salvation as Jesus says, "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven," (Mt. 10:33).

Satan does this to weaken the church and it does cause many who are weak in the faith to fall away. As in the Parable of the Sower, some seed fell on the stony ground and lacked the depth of character and conviction to endure, (Mt. 13:20,21). For them Christianity is a religion of convenience, so when it's no longer convenient it's no longer important. Yet persecution only lasts for a time, as God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able, (1 Cor. 10:13).

After a time the benefits of persecution outweigh the downfalls. Persecution strengthens the faith of those who remain in Christ, thus making it more difficult to seduce them away from Christ. Persecution also tends to produce sympathy for those oppressed, and Satan doesn't want that. He only wants people to think evil of the church, so after a time he proceeds to step two.

Deception

Lawlessness

The result of the false teaching is lawlessness as "...evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived," (2 Tim. 3:13). The false teaching progresses as people cast away the truth one principle at a time. "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold," (Mt. 24:12). When people are lawless, they are unloving. There is no love for God, as reflected in their attitude towards His word, nor is their any love for their fellow man. The only love present is the love for self.

This condition effects the church profoundly. Though strengthened by persecution from without, she is weakened by error from within, (Acts 20:30). Those who stand for truth are often labeled as unloving and arrogant. And in these times it is easy to become discouraged. So many good works are neglected. "We can change the world!" we say, yet most find it hard to believe. This results in a change, our love grows cold. We are no longer excited about the work of the church. We are content to meet for services and consider ourselves faithful to the Lord.

Since our energies are not spent in God's service, they are directed at other pursuits. Perhaps we work overtime in our jobs, or we take a class to further our education. Often we direct our affections towards material things or wealth. And though we say we love the Lord and are holding to the old paths, yet we are trying to serve two masters, and this is impossible, (Mt. 6:24). Without even knowing it we have become as the seed sown among the thorns and the cares of this world have choked the word out of us, (Mt. 13:22). How sad this is, yet it doesn't have to end this way.

The Solution

"But he who endures to the end shall be saved," (Mt. 24:13). What does it mean to endure? Some might say that as long we say we are Christians and attend church services with a sound congregation that we will be saved. Yet Jesus says, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," (Mk. 16:15). If we ignore this command will we be saved? Another might say that as long as we believe and teach sound doctrine, we'll be saved. While sound doctrine is essential, simply attending a church where the teaching is sound is not enough. Consider the church in Ephesus. She was commended for her diligent stand for the truth, yet hear these words:

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent," (Rev. 2:4,5).

It is clear from this passage that Jesus was not pleased with the congregation at Ephesus, for though they believed and taught truth and opposed error, their love had grown cold. They needed to set their affections on heavenly things and put their hands to the basics of evangelism, edification, and benevolence.

1. Indifference- "I don't care, do what you want." This is often said by actions (inaction) instead of words. Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me..." (Mt. 12:30).
2. Opposition- "We've never done it that way." They don't want to do it unless its their idea and they can have it their way. Paul says to "...do all to the glory of God," (1 Cor. 10:31).
3. Support- "That sounds like a great idea." Even if you can't personally be involved, you can still be an encouragement, (Heb. 10:24).