Satan And The Saint
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bible Lessons on Satan
There is a warfare going on between you and Satan. Therefore, it is essential that you know your adversary and what he is after. The apostle Paul urged the saints in Corinth to be on guard, “to keep Satan from gaining the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:11 RSV).
Satan is eager to tread on our gullibility. We have the capacity of being deceived and cheated by his deliberate lies and evil doings. It happened to Eve, when Satan questioned God’s veracity, and boldly lied by saying, “you will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Then Satan sweetened his deal with assurance, “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). To gain advantage over us, Satan is ready and willing to lie, so be on guard.
In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives us a list of what to think about — beginning with “whatever things are true.” The search for truth is imperative if we are to be saved from gullibility! Don’t believe anything Satan says. He has been the father of lies from the beginning (John 8:44).
Satan tells the saint that he can be self-sufficient (Revelation 3:17; cf. Hosea 12:7-8). “There is no need for the church. You will be fine without the body of Christ. Attending worship, singing, praying, partaking of the communion, giving, etc. is fine, but you don’t need it. Jesus, yes; the church, no! And that business about ‘not neglecting to meet together,’ was written for the weak.”
Satan’s bag of tricks includes distractions offered by the world, discouragement, discord, lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). He tells us that we have plenty of time to straighten up our lives (do we?). He assures us that we can call sin by another name, and that it is not really that bad. He says the Bible is book of fables (is it?) and Jesus is just another man (is He?), etc.
Brethren and friends, let us be careful when it comes to Satan, for he is trying to gain the advantage over us! (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).
—John Gipson via the Montana Street bulletin