While popular culture portrays Satan as a creature with horns and a pitchfork, Christians know that in reality this enemy appears in less menacing and less obvious forms. He is the master of deception and camouflage, adept at sneaking into our lives under the radar. As Scripture tells us, "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).
To fight this enemy, we first must recognize him. He may come masquerading as a friend—or exposed as the enemy. He may attack in the open field--or in the inner corners of our hearts. He may entice us with temptations--or trip us with our own weaknesses.
One of the factors leading to Satan's fall was his questioning of God's supreme authority. Since the time of Adam and Eve, the devil has continued to spread this dangerous thought-pattern to humanity. We typically see this manifested when we try to twist God's Word to justify our own desires and sins. Satan is "the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 2:2).
Satan likes to choose his battlefield—and one of his favorites is the Church. He plants dissension among churchgoers so that they become more focused on power struggles than on the work of God's kingdom. He tricks people into watering down the Gospel and twisting the Word of God. If we are not on guard against false teaching, then we can easily be misled by Satan's subtle distortions.
Satan knows how to prey on human weakness. As self-centered and self-focused creatures, we can easily fall into the trap of constantly thinking, "What's in it for me?" We become focused on having our needs met—and Satan encourages this mindset: not because he wants us happy, but because he wants us disgruntled. He knows that no church, no relationship, or organization will meet all of our needs. Only God can truly fulfill us.
Prayer: Father, help me to be able to recognize the tricks of the deceiver. Help me to remember that You alone can truly fulfill me and that You are the supreme authority. Amen.
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