Step to Defeating Satan

The first step to defeating satan...understand and defeat "temptation"

The goal of satan is to destroy your present life and eternal soul. The three-fold program of satan is in place to accomplish that goal. That program is:

1-undermine the "truth" of God 2- introduce satan's doctrines 3- bring us to total submission of a seared conscience.

The tool of satan is temptation. Satan's initial temptations are directed toward discrediting God and truth...and to replace them with destructive lies. These temptations come from many sources. Satan must convince the human family that there is no God…but if there is, you still can't trust Him. To do so satan will use every vehicle at his disposal…the most common being science, education and religion.

Using man's thirst for knowledge as a weapon against us satan has introduced his fabricated doctrines along man's "path to truth". All it takes is a well marketed theory or philosophy from supposedly credible sources to convince people what is "fact".

One example, the theory of evolution, has been a well conceived lie without true scientific support…yet it is marketed to unsuspecting minds through the educational process of "scholarly teaching". The logic of satan has been…prove evolution and we can disprove the existence of God…or at least challenge the "creation story" of the Bible…thus challenging the credibility of the God of the Bible. Those who accept such theories without personal investigation can be convinced of anything.

"Religion" is another of satan's vehicles to discredit God. Confusion and division has been the plan. Jesus warned but few have listened… "no kingdom divided against itself can stand". This includes religion. Beyond the eight major world religions that includes Christianity there are innumerable protestant and catholic denominational splits who teach their own doctrines…not to mention the thousands of "religious cults" who also think they have it all figured out. A divided church and confused doctrine do not speak well of a God who declared there to be "one church and one truth".

The temptation is… "Look at all the scientific knowledge we have gained which has benefited our human family. Surely science must be accurate and believable… unlike religion that is divided and confused. Stay with what science teaches you…for it has a proven track record. Dismiss religion…for it remains unstable and uncertain.

The reality about science is that true science does not have all the answers. Scientific fact is proven by collecting evidence before developing a theory. False science develops the theory first…then tries to find evidence to support the theory…such as with evolution. Finding and twisting evidence to a predetermined belief is not science…that's chicanery. There is good science and there is bad science. Satan, using bad science, can tempt the illiterate against the existence and credibility of God.

The reality about religion is that "religion" stinks. It has an odor of human ignorance and evil intentions that clouds the entire earth. The history of religion is like reading a war novel. More innocent people have been tortured and murdered for religious reasons than for any cause in human existence. And it's no better today. But don't be shocked… the Bible predicted it all.

"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thes 2:7-12

Whatever else this text is teaching us, it plainly reveals satan's program of deception…who throughout the centuries has used both science and religion to advance his efforts toward undermining the "true God and His true religion".

Satan's other temptations are directed toward total control of our life

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:13-15

Temptations alone will not conquer us

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:" 2 Peter 2:9

"For since he (Jesus) himself has now been through suffering and temptation, he knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted, and he is wonderfully able to help us." Hebrews 2:18

The second step to defeating satan...crucify affections and lusts of flesh

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25

This is self explanatory. Our flesh with its normal physical needs demands fulfillment. But when our normal needs become "lust" they are open to satanic temptation. The power over these lusts and satan is to surrender to God's indwelling Spirit.

The third step to defeating satan...submit to God, resist satan

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:7-8

Note the formula in this scripture's advise...first, submit to God...then we have a powerful Companion to help us resist the devil. But this must be done in sincerity, with the desire to be spiritually clean and pure. God is not pleased with those who waver in and out of sin.

Conquering "Spiritual Death"

Satan's ultimate goal is to destroy our relationship with our Creator… which the Bible defines as "spiritual death".

"And the LORD God commanded the man (Adam), saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2:16-17

"Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" Romans 5:12

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened(made alive) us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" Ephesians 2:5-6

"And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins:" Ephesians 2:1

The Bible identifies two kinds of death…physical and spiritual. Physical death separates us from life. Spiritual death separates us from God… even though we may still be physically alive.

Adam and Eve experienced spiritual death the moment they disobeyed God to commit sin. They were no longer allowed to be in fellowship with Him. They were expelled from the Garden of Eden and from God's presence. God had separated Himself from the human beings He had created…turning His back on their sins.

With that separation went all hope of spiritual life…for God is the source of all life, both physical and spiritual. Man was now spiritually dead.

Every person thereafter would follow in the footsteps of Adam and Eve …to commit sin and become spiritually separated from God.. "For we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…"

"Listen now! The Lord isn't too weak to save you. And he isn't getting deaf! He can hear you when you call! But the trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God. Because of sin he has turned his face away from you and will not listen anymore." Isaiah 59:1-2

Spiritual death, spiritual ignorance, spiritual blindness and spiritual impotence are the results of God's separation from sinners. This is the condition of our sinful human family and there isn't a thing we can do about it. We are spiritually dead, in need of a spiritual resurrection…but we have no power to accomplish such a feat.

But God can…and thanks to His love and mercy we are invited to restore our relationship with Him and to become spiritually alive forevermore. The decision is one that every human being must decide for themselves. It is an individual matter.

Spiritual life is restored through God's Son…Jesus, the Christ There is no other way that mankind can be restored to God's fellowship

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the (spiritually) dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." John 5:25

"For as the Father hath (spiritual) life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" John 5:26

"His own self (Jesus) bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24

"He that hath the Son hath (spiritual) life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:12

God has done His part to restore man's relationship to Himself. Even though it is our sins that have caused the separation, God sent His son to pay the price for man's sin. The rest is left up to us individually. The Bible instructs what we must do…

First, be sincerely sorry for our sins

Second, be sincere to make a permanent decision to seek God

Third, acknowledge God's salvation plan through Jesus Christ

Fourth, get alone with God to pray…confessing sin and seeking forgiveness.

Fifth, repent (turn around). Separate yourself from sin, turn away from it, live righteously with God's help.

Sixth, believe. You have done your part…God will do His.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24

The Result Of Your Decision and Confession

VICTORY OVER SATAN

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened (made spiritually alive) together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" Colossians 2:13

For a more in-depth study of this topic we recommend the free study on audio cassette tape by Bible scholar and teacher, Kenneth W. Howard.