From Bible findings listed below, we should be alert to the various ways in which Satan works or attacks us when he thinks it will be to his advantage.
When Jesus was baptised by John in river Jordan, a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mt3:17). Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert where He was tempted by the devil (Mt4:1).
We find that Satan attacks people when they are alone. Jesus was tempted by Satan when Jesus was in the wilderness. (Mt4:1)
Satan attacks believers when in a weak position, either physically or emotionally just as Jesus was attacked after He had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights when He felt weak due to hunger. Satan said to Him, “If, You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Mt4:3).
After Satan attacks a believer and then leaves, he always returns again as it happened to Jesus when he (devil) had finished every test, Satan came back again to Jesus at an opportune time.(Lk4:13).
As Satan can’t touch God, he wants to hurt God by separating Him from His children (us); and by separating His children from one another. So, the fight now is between us and Satan.
Satan’s ways are deceptive. Jesus said, “The devil … is the father of lies.” (John8:44). He deceives people with lies as he knows that many humans love empty promises and place their trust in them. So, Satan with sinister, dangerous, menacing assurances, with complicated, confusing suggestions, pours out lies hiding truth. Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden to eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. (Gen.3:1). Similarly, he deceives us to murder a child through the choice of abortion; and we easily cooperate by calling “good,” what God calls sinful.
Satan works to divide and rule this world by pulling us towards fear, selfishness, anger, laziness; and we yield to his destructive promptings; thus many abandon their families, churches and communities. We also have “Jumping Jack” politicians who make mockery of people’s verdict. They have only one purpose to be, ‘His Master’s Voice’ without looking at ground realities or possibilities of implementation. Thus communal harmony is disturbed and divided.
Satan’s great separations occurred, in Genesis 3: Adam blamed Eve and they became hostile towards each other after eating the forbidden fruit. Nature became cursed and people became harsh towards nature and man now uses his power to destroy environment.
Often Satan attacks us from an unexpected source.
We must exercise patience with those who are not walking with Christ, because their minds are blinded. Perhaps God, “will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth; then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will”. (2 Timothy2:25-26). Remember, the Satan doesn’t sleep, but seeks our ruin in a thousand ways. We all must always be on our guard.
