Bible Studies
How He Approaches Us
Series: The Reality of SatanIntroduction:
1. The present tense participle, “the tempter,” (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5) designates Satan by his characteristic activity. 2. His intention is to lead those tempted into sin and death. 3. The people of God are always the objects of his fierce hatred.a. Job was stricken with intense pain, loss and grief.
b. The church at Smyrna was hit with suffering in the form of imprisonment and tribulation (Rev. 2:10).
c. The Lord informed Peter that Satan had “demanded permission to sift you like wheat” (Lk. 22:31).
4. So how does Satan approach us? Perhaps if we are more aware of how he approaches us we will be better prepared to respond.Discussion:
I. He uses our weaknesses and limitations to entice us to sin (1 Cor. 7:5).A. He also uses the allurements of the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17; 4:4).
1. He uses the world’s allurements to draw us into adultery against God (James 4:1-9).
2. James particularly refers to the allurement of pleasure.
3. And the pursuit of wealth (4:13-5:6).
B. He commonly tempts men to evil by the falsehood that they can attain a desired good through the doing of wrong (Gen. 3).
1. What good was Eve looking for? Verses 5-6.
2. To be like God, knowing good and evil.
3. Tree was good for food.
4. A delight to the eyes.
5. Desirable to make one wise.
C. Deception is a universal feature of how he approaches us. This is why knowledge of the truth is so important (Jn. 8:32).
1. He is “the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev. 12:9).
2. He lays “snares” for men to take them captive (1 Tim. 3:7; 2 Tim. 2:26).
3. He uses our pride (1 Tim. 3:6).
II. He opposes the work of God through counterfeiting activities.A. He sows tares (darnel) among the wheat (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43).
B. Satan disguises himself as “an angel of light” by presenting his messengers of falsehood as messengers of truth (2 Cor. 11:13-15).
C. Peter warns against such “false teachers” (2 Pet. 2:1-3).
D. Those who thus give themselves over to evil and become the agents of Satan to persuade others to do evil are the children and servants of the devil (Jn. 6:70; 8:44; Acts 13:10).
E. Some engage in great religiousness but do not accept God’s truth (2 Tim. 3:1-9).
F. Satan blinds the minds of men to the light of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:3-4).
G. He induces them to accept his lie (2 Thess. 2:8-12).
H. He induces men to give heed to “deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” through religious liars whose consciences are seared (1 Tim. 4:1-2).
I. He snatches the word of God out of the hearts of those needing salvation (Matt. 13:19).
J. He hinders those who seek the welfare of the people of God (1 Thess. 2:17-18).
III. He opposes the work of God through open and fierce opposition.A. Judas’ betrayal of Jesus was instigated by Satan (Lk. 22:3; Jn. 13:2, 27).
B. Peter’s image of the roaring lion seeking someone to devour defines the fierceness of his opposition (1 Pet. 5:8).
C. The persecutions that the people of God experience reveal the violent nature of his attacks (2 Tim. 3:11-13; Rev. 12:13-17; 1 Pet. 4:12-13).
D. The cruelty of the cross depicts his fierce opposition (Phil. 2:8).
IV. God has provided us assurance of victory.A. He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness (Col. 2:13-14).
B. He will crush Satan under our feet (Rom. 16:20).
C. Christ is the means of our victory (Rom. 8:28-39; Rev. 12:11).
D. We are protected by the power of God through faith (1 Pet. 1:3-7).
Conclusion:
1. How does Satan approach us? 2. He uses our weaknesses and limitations to entice us to sin. 3. He counterfeits. 4. He works openly and fiercely to oppose the work of God and His people. 5. But we have assurance of victory through the blood of Jesus Christ and our faith in what God has done for our deliverance. As we trusting in Him and His power Satan is defeated.
