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Satan's Tactics

Satan's Tactics

Published Feb 16, 2017 | Women Mentoring WomenTerri Jenkin 

Satan’s tactics are called "the wiles [tricks, schemes] of the devil; the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:11, 16). We are to beware of them and fight against them.

Satan shows the attraction of sin—"and the serpent said unto the woman, ye shall not surely die: for God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4,5)—but he hides the shame, the wrath, and the loss that would follow. The truth is, sin will cause us to lose our joy, our peace, and our blessings from God.

We cannot play with sin and not be burned—we should keep the greatest distance from it. "Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good (Romans 12:9). Abstain from all appearance of evil" (First Thessalonians 5:22). We cannot walk close to the edge of sin and not be pulled in.

Satan would have us believe that repentance is easy, so we can sin and repent later. He again presents the truth of God’s Word to serve his own purpose: "If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (First John 1:9). Repentance is more than just saying “I am sorry”—it includes sorrow for sin. It is a thorough change both of the mind and the manner. Repentance is a continual turning away from sin and turning to God: "to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God" (Acts 26:18).  

There is no doubt that God is merciful and full of grace; yet this does not give the believer the liberty to sin. "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:2)

My challenge is simply to be on the alert. Satan is clever, and our hearts apart from Christ are prone to fall under his deception. "Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil" (Ephesians 6:11).