3 Little Lies: About Satan

Satan has a repertoire of "gifts," including inciting rebellion and convincing Christians and the unsaved alike that they should care about themselves more than they should care about others.

One of his greatest skills is lying.

Last week's post was about some lies he tells us about God. But it doesn't stop there. Satan tells us multiple lies about himself.

1. He's as powerful as God.

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

~ 1 John 4:4, NKJV

Don't get me wrong. The devil has great power.

But it's nothing compared to God's.

Remember the story of Job? Satan wanted to crush him, to hurt him so badly that Job would take it out on God and say all kinds of rotten things against Him. But Satan couldn't lay a finger on him unless God gave the green light.

Job lived thousands of years ago, but that truth remains unchanged. Satan would have you think that he's on equal or greater standing with God, when in reality he can't do anything unless God gives him permission.

In the four Gospels, we read about Jesus banishing demons a lot. He could do that because of His power over Satan. Because God is way way way way way way more powerful than Satan ever was or ever will be, we don't have anything to fear. Whatever Satan throws at us, God knows about it because He gave permission for it to happen (so we know that according to Romans 8:28 that God has some awesome plan for how He's going to topple all Satan's schemes to harm us).

2. He's not so tough.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." 

~ 1 Peter 5:8-9, NKJV

The other trap we'll fall into is thinking we can deal with him on our own. Satan is no where near as powerful as God is, but you can bet your last pink-frosted donut he'll beat you every time you go up against him without calling on God.

And God gave us a super powerful weapon to use against him. Namely, the Bible.

God even gave us an example of how to use His Word to duel it out with Satan. When Jesus was tempted, He answered each temptation with a Bible verse (direct quotations from the Old Testament, no half-memorized verses here).

3. His tricks are easy to recognize.

"But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity

from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the

things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,

transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder!

For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into

ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works."

~ 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, NKJV

Actually, they're not.

Satan has no problem playing dress up.

He and his minions will do whatever is in their power to disguise themselves and their tricks as being rather good.

Forget the pitchfork and horns.

The #1 reason we fall into the devil's snares is because we're not prepared, because we're trying to fly solo without God.

But a close second is because we don't see Satan coming until it's too late.

Instead of digging deep in the Bible, shellacking every possible chink in our armor with God's truth, making sure our "sword of the Spirit" is ready to go, we cruise around like the Babylonian Guard on the night of Belshazzar's Feast (and that didn't end well for them).

Satan is not more powerful than God, no matter how hard he tries to convince us.

But he's no weakling either, and we can only stand against him through the power of God and His Word.

And Satan will use whatever trick he can to make us think his way is a good way.

Why does Satan lie? The reasons are plenteous but one big one is that he wants to get us to sin. Next week, we'll talk about some lies he tries to get us to believe about sin.