I wrote a series of articles entitled “Tactics of the Devil” that describe ways the Devil is waging war against the Church in our day. This article below shows some ways that the Devil deceives the saints.
So many are afraid to talk about the Devil, worried that if we do he may get us. But the way he gets us is in our ignorance. We can stand strong in this truth, “ …He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
My prayer is that more saints would be equipped to battle the lies of the Devil with the truth of God.
The Devil makes us fear talking about him lest we might then deal with him.
The truth will set you free, but you must let go of the lies first. “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (James 1:16).
The tactics of the Devil never change, because they don’t have to. People just keep falling for the same things.
The greatest weapon Satan uses against you is yourself. He will draw from the deep reserves of your own doubt, fear, shame and worthlessness – then use them against you.
The Devil will take what happened to you as a victim and continue to victimize you with the shame. Call the Devil a liar and seek the inner healing that you need.
Shame is the fence Satan builds between you and God. Stop caring what others think of you and start seeking what God can do in you. “…Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You” (Psalm 25:20).
Bare your life to God that the Devil would have nothing to expose. Satan cannot shame you by stripping you if your already bare in front of God.
The Devil shames you in what you have done that you would hide from God. I did ministry for many years with a mighty deliverance minister that used to always say, “tell the truth, shame the Devil”.
Confess at the speed of your sin lest the Devil catches up to you.
The Devil uses the weapon of your pride, that you would not seek help for a demon on you.
It is to the Devil’s delight that a Christian argues so strongly that demons cannot be on Christians. It is not a matter of possession but of influence. Break the chains already.
Stop worrying that you might make the demons uncomfortable in your church and just preach deliverance. If Jesus set people free everywhere He went, then so should we.
Satan does not have any dirt on you if God has made you clean. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Satan wants me to sit and crouch in shame, but the Lord desires that I would stand corrected.
The words of the Devil always condemn, whereas the words of the Lord are meant to convict. One is meant to destroy you, the other to restore you.
The Devil reminds me of all I have done against the Lord. The Lord reminds me of all He has done for me.
You know who is talking to you by whether it causes you to get nearer or further from God. “…Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (James 4:7-8).
One way to know who is talking to you is Satan speaks of your past and God speaks of your future. Don’t look back, you’re not going that direction.
Only the Devil can convince us that God does not have our best interest in mind.
If the Devil cannot get you to turn away from God, he will encourage you to complain against Him. Just as the Lord inhabits our praises, the Devil makes his camp in our complaints. “Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused…” (Numbers 11:1).
Your feelings are the leash the Devil leads you by. Your feelings of low self-worth are the crevices the Devil grips onto. Tell the Devil to go away, because you were made in the image of God.
The direction you look reflects the position you are in. The Devil wants you to look down on others or yourself. You must be high to look down. The Lord Jesus calls you to look up to Him. You must kneel low to look up.
The Devil cripples believers, not by invasion, but by invitation.
Satan will compliment you all the way to hell if that is what it takes. “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…” (Romans 12:3).
The Devil does not fight fair. In fact, his greatest attacks are when he is pretending to help you. He is not your helper, but your enemy.
The Devil overtakes saints not by his authority, but because saints do not realize the authority they are to walk in. Jesus said, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
Satan will quote scripture, but he will twist it into a lie. Know the Word to know the truth.
You can’t win the war if you won’t prepare for the battle. And that preparation begins in knowing the truth. You need “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
Truth is to lies what light is to darkness.
Blessings to you,
Paul
All Scripture is in red and uses the NKJV (New King James Version) translation unless otherwise noted.
Thank you
You are most welcome!
From God through you, once again. Received by me, and many others I’m sure. I gratefully accept the wisdom imparted through you.
Thank you,
Elizabeth
Thank you so much Elizabeth! This is such a great encouragement to me. Though I am torn on how to respond, as I feel as if I am just the pen, so cannot take any credit whatsoever. But I feel too low such that I could proclaim I am a pen of His. Let us just thank God for the gifts He pours out on us all!
Thank you so much I really needed to see this today I’m in a ministry of deliverance and this helps me so much God bless you
Chastity
Thank you so much for your encouragement Chastity. Praying for you and your ministry, that the Lord would guide you and be your strength in every situation you come across. This is a very difficult ministry, but a blessing for the church in that saints are being set free.
Latest post on greater glory was so timely, and reading of previous posts has lifted my eyes to Him in a very hard place. Being reminded we are not alone is wonderful but having a beam on a dark path to move forward when we hear but can’t see well, is the comfort He intended us to share. Others I need to encourage, also in great need of exhortation & encouragement, will benefit and I will be glad to send them this way.
Thank you so much! Praying for your victory and for the Holy Spirit to be that bright light beaming ahead for you, to be that voice behind you guiding you, that the Lord will be building you up during this trial preparing you for the saints He would have you minister to. Blessings to you!