The 7 Subtleties of Satan
How Satan Works
John 8:44 says that Satan “is a liar, and the father of it.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 says: “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Ephesians 6:11 warns us to: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6 then goes on to tell us what that armour consists of: truth, righteousness, our feet shod with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the Word of God, and prayer.
The word “wiles” in Ephesians 6:11 means: to lie in wait with “methods of trickery.” His trickery involves our mind or intellect. 2 Corinthians 11:3 says: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” The little word “as” in that verse means: “in the same manner.” “beguiled” means “to seduce or deceive.” “subtilty” means: “trickery or craftiness.” But the goal is to corrupt our minds, as it was with Eve in the beginning.
How to Kill a Rat
Satan will give folks a lot of good food, but just enough poison to corrupt their minds.
In Isaiah 14:12-14, when Satan said: “I will be like the most High,” mark it down: whatever God is, has, or does, Satan will try to counterfeit it in some way.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says:
3. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:”
4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
Why are people so attracted to the cults?
(1) Spiritual Immaturity
(2) Intellectual Pride
(3) It Fits Their Lifestyle
(4) By Being Turned Off by Christianity
Satan Uses False Messengers
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says:
13 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Seven Names Fit All
If you take all the deceptive false doctrine of all the cults, I believe you could put them all into one of these 7 categories. Satan always works the same. “If it isn’t broke don’t fix it.” We don’t have to learn every false doctrine each cult or ism teaches, just be able to recognize how Satan will try to deceive.
This study will help your people to be better equipped against the wiles of the devil.