“Knowledge of Satan’s devices“
2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:3, 13-15
“We are not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices and schemes.”
Our adversary the devil has many tactics in which he uses to seek, kill and destroy humanity. Although it may at times feel like these tactics vary, the Bible declares that there is nothing new under the sun. So, these tactics are very much the same, but they always come with a twist.
In the text, Paul is writing to the church of Corinth because he did not want to return there in person. An issue arose in the church concerning one of the members sinned against them and Paul asked them to forgive this brother and restore this member. The premises surrounding this notion was to make sure that the member did not become deceived by Satan and he take advantage of them. How very true is this statement even in today’s time? We all know that once we begin down a slippery slope, it becomes very difficult to bounce back and we even find ourselves going deeper and deeper into that sin. This is the enemy taking advantage of us and using his scheme to keep us off track.
“Take advantage (the ancient Greek word pleonekteo) is used in four other verses in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 7:2, 12:17-18, and 1 Thessalonians 4:6). It has the idea of cheating someone out of something that belongs to them. When we are ignorant of Satan’s strategies, he is able to take things from us that belong to us in Jesus, things like peace, joy, fellowship, a sense of forgiveness, and victory.”1
Schemes of the Enemy
In John 8:44, the writer makes the statement that Satan is the father of lies. We know this to be true and he often uses those lies as a form of deception. One of the many tactics of the enemy is that of deception. While Jesus was in the wilderness fasting and praying, at the end of those 40 days the devil came to tempt Him. All that he suggested to Jesus was that of deception shaped in form of lies. So it is with us, but we must have willingness to discern that. Nehemiah 6:1-3 helps to the know how discernment comes:
Discernment come from the Word of God & through Prayer
If we are to overcome this adversary, it must be with the application of both of these things. There are many different types of spirits being released by the enemy. But the wrong discernment could result in nothing being accomplished. But with proper use of the Word, we are able to recognize a spirit by the fruit or symptoms it produces. The judging of this fruit will help us to determine which scheme we are facing and ultimately grant us victory in that area.
Prayers:
Lord, teach my hands to war and my fingers to fight (Ps. 144:1)
Deliver me from my strong enemy, from them that are too strong for me (Ps. 18:17)
I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (Eph. 6:10)
Life Changing Hope 