Satan’s deception is a reason for our failure to live life more abundantly. Satan and his demonic forces want to deceive us and redirect us from a simple, childlike dependence in Jesus as our life to a trust in our own ways. The word “pride” in 1 John 2:16 implies self-confidence—a life of “doing our own thing”, operating independently of God and exalting others, things or ourselves above God.
The entire world system gravitates toward the control of Satan (1 John 5:19). Yet, as Christians, we are instructed to be in the world but not of the world. Satan and his forces try to destroy this balance as they battle against us. The attractive lure of the good things of this world can entangle us, thwart our spiritual growth, and prevent us from moving on to maturity (Luke 8:14). The pursuit of fleshly pleasures, power, prestige, money, possessions, leisure, approval of man and many other things can derail us from God’s purpose for our lives. Some of these things are not wrong in themselves, but our strong desire for them can turn even good things into idols.
Therefore, as Christians, we can turn our freedom in Christ into an opportunity to please ourselves. If Satan can lead us to trust and rest in anything other than God as our life source, then we can be spiritually neutralized in our growth. The list is endless: indulging in external gross sins of the flesh, idolatry: love of anything greater than God, trusting in the wisdom of other men—religious or not, good works, spiritual experiences, religious self-righteousness, dependence on our self-effort to produce godly character, and even dependence on the Bible versus Jesus, the living Word of God (John 5:39-40).
Psalm 62:5 encourages us to rest in God alone. Resting in Jesus as our life with childlike faith is our only source of power against Satan and his forces—to overcome the pull of our flesh and use the things of this world according to God’s unique plan for us.
Bible verses to read and think about:
A. Read Genesis 3:1-11. Satan deceived Adam and Eve with half-truths, and he will use the same tactic on us. Read Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:13-17. These verses give insight regarding the probable origin of Satan and his aspirations. In Isaiah 14:13-14, count the number of times “I” is used. These verses imply that the flesh (self-life) focuses on ourselves. Read John 6:63. This verse tells us that the flesh profits nothing from God’s perspective and that it is the Holy Spirit that gives life.
B. Read the following verses: Ephesians 6:10-13, 2 Corinthians 4:4, and 2 Corinthians 11:2,3. We battle against powerful Satanic forces. 2 Corinthians 11:3 implies that Satan tries to beguile (rob us) of the abundant life and redirect us from a simple life of dependence on Jesus as our life. Read Revelation 2:2-5. These were His words to the church at Ephesus: “thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4 KJV). This relates to 2 Corinthians 11:3. Jesus is interested in an intimate love relationship—a life of trust. We are in union with Him, and He wants us to continue to rest and trust in His life to work through us.
C. Read Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, was still tempted. Notice how Jesus used the word of God to counter Satan’s temptations. As we practice walking by the Holy Spirit, we will experience temptation. Read Ephesians 6:16, James 4:7, Jude 8-9, Romans 13:14, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and John 5:29. Jesus wants us to draw from His life within and trust in the promises of the Bible to counter the attacks of the enemy. 1 Peter 2:11 declares that fleshly lusts wage war against our soul.
D. In the Old Testament, names often reflected the character of a person. “Satan” means “adversary”. The name “devil” means “slanderer”. A reference to Satan as “Belial” means “worthless”. Read 1 John 5:19 and John 8:44. Satan, the god of this world, is described as a murderer and a liar. Read Colossians 1:13, 2:8-15. When we receive Jesus, we are transferred from Satan’s kingdom to God’s kingdom. Jesus has given us the victory! Satan’s power has been neutralized by the power of Jesus, but we must, by faith, access that power to overcome Satan and the pull of our flesh. The pull of our flesh is like gravity, and the power of the Holy Spirit is like the law of aerodynamics, which allows an airplane to fly by overpowering the law of gravity. Yet, the gravitational pull is always in effect to pull us down—just like our flesh always has a bent toward evil.
E. Read 1 John 2:15-17, James 3:13-18, James 4:4, 1 Timothy 6:1-12, 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, Romans 12:2, and 1 Timothy 6:17-19. The Bible describes the wisdom of this world as satanic and in direct opposition to the wisdom of God. The fruit of the Holy Spirit and the deeds of the flesh (self-life) are exact opposites. If a child of God practices living by the power of his flesh, he is living in opposition to God’s plan. Pray that God will give us insight to help us recognize when we are walking by the flesh, so that we might repent and begin anew, practicing walking by the power of the Holy Spirit.