Satan’s Tool Belt
Satan is a cunning adversary and knows just what it takes to destroy our hopes, happiness and our need for God. He uses knowledge that spans time and eternity to use against us while we only have a limited amount of years on this earth to learn about him. Our short life span put up against Satan’s amassed knowledge makes us ill equipped against this mighty enemy. But be not afraid, because God’s Scriptures are the weapons we use against this ardent foe whose only goal is to defeat you in life.
Now, before we move forward and outline Satan’s favorite tactics we have to remember one thing, unless we allow Christ to change our old sinful nature, Satan will have easy access into our lives.
Through our old selfish character, Satan can cause strife in our relationship with others, our marriages and our lives. In order for our character to be changed, we must fully surrender to Christ and allow Him to point out areas in our life that needs changing. This will be one of the most difficult ongoing battles you’re going experience in your life. This is because you will find that your biggest foe, will be you. It’s not easy to let go of a life time of selfishness and character change requires what is called “Dying to self” and this lifetime process is called, Sanctification.
Besides the need for Christ to recreate His character in us by changing our old sinful nature, Satan has a tool belt full of tactics to use against you and I. In this text we will outline six of his most effective tactics that he uses against us… So, just what are these six tactics?
Satan’s Toolbelt
[1] Deception — Satan’s most successful tool. He wields this tool with devastating results.
[2] Doubt — Makes you question God’s word and his goodness.
[3] Discouragement — Makes you look at your problems rather than God.
[4] Diversion — Makes the wrong things seem attractive so you want them more than the right things.
[5] Defeat — Makes you feel like a failure so you don’t even try.
[6] Delay — Makes you put off something so it never gets started or completed.
—- Some portions courtesy of the Life Application Bible.
Deception — Satan’s most effective tool. Could you be deceived? How would you know?
The True State of the Dead
Have you ever been setting in a chair only to find that you’ve drifted off to sleep? It’s upon awakening that you become aware that you fell asleep. Until you awoke, you didn’t know you were asleep. That is how it is with deception, you do not know you are deceived until you awake from your deception. A deceived person will not even check to see if they are deceived. Why would they, they do not know they are deceived.
Deception is a powerful tool that Satan uses on the human race for it’s destruction and Satan’s deception is very subtle and mixed with some truth to make it palatable. Let’s take a look at a couple of deceptions that Satan has successfully placed in God’s church in these last days.
Caution: What you are about to read may be new to some, but this is Biblical truth.
One of the most prevalent beliefs in the church today is that we go to Heaven or Hell when we die. But is this true? The Bible expressly states that the dead know nothing and that those in the grave are asleep until the resurrection.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
The Bible states that when Jesus comes back at His second coming, he will bring both His rewards and punishment for the redeemed and wicked. IF reward and punishment are handed out after Jesus returns at the second coming how come most Christians believe the redeemed are already in Heaven and the wicked are in Hell suffering Hellfire torment?
This would imply that judgment has already happened and reward and punishment have already been metered out before Christ’s second coming. But we see that the Bible teaches that reward and punishment will not be rendered until the second return of Jesus.
(John 5:28) Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
(John 5:29) and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
(Revelation 22:12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
This is one of many errors and fallacies being taught in churches today. Pastors of most churches should know this truth, but don’t because they are parroting doctrinal beliefs they’ve been taught.
Remember, you don’t check out the validity and truth of the Bible with your Pastor, but rather, you check your Pastor out by the truth and validity of the Bible.
The truth is, that the dead are in the grave, and are in a state which the Bible calls sleep. Jesus even mentioned to His disciples, in the story of Lazarus, that Lazarus was asleep or dead.
Remember, you don’t check out the validity and truth of the Bible with your Pastor, but rather, you check your Pastor out by the truth and validity of the Bible.
The truth is, that the dead are in the grave, and are in a state which the Bible calls sleep. Jesus even mentioned to His disciples, in the story of Lazarus, that Lazarus was asleep or dead.
(John 11:11) These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
(John 11:12) Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.“
(John 11:13) However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
(John 11:14) Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead”.
Those in the grave will not awaken or resurrect until the second coming of Jesus. For a quick and complete Bible study of this truth about the state of the dead… Click Here for More Information of The State of the Dead…
If the dead are really dead, or asleep, who are those masquerading as the departed who say they are speaking from the grave? I’m so sorry I have to ask this… But… who or what is masquerading as Mary when many a believer see miraculous apparitions of Mother Mary?
The concept that we are already immortal or that the dead are not really dead, is an End Time deception that Satan will use to deceive many before the second coming of Jesus. Satan will use his fallen demonic angels to foist upon mankind, all kinds of lying wonders and doctrines of demons.
(2 Thessalonians 2:9) The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
(2 Thessalonians 2:10) and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
(1 Timothy 4:1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Beware of these deceptive lies of Satan. Be sure to check out the topic “The State of the Dead” as I’ve linked in this section. When you read “The State of the Dead” you will notice that God will allow those who believe this doctrine to believe the lie, but why does God allow this?
(2 Thessalonians 2:7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
(2 Thessalonians 2:8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
(2 Thessalonians 2:9) The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
(2 Thessalonians 2:10) and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
(2 Thessalonians 2:11) And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
(2 Thessalonians 2:12) that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (NKJV)
It should be noted here that “He who now restrains” referenced in 2 Thessalonians 2:7, was the Roman Empire… In the time when Paul lived, the Roman Empire was still in power, but After the fall of Rome, the Lawless One came onto the scene of human history because the Roman Empire was no longer in power to hamper this religious system from ascending to power.
Unless we as Christians know what the Bible teaches about the true state of the dead, we can and will be deceived by this End Time Satanic deception.
The Rapture
Another error that is believed in the church today is the concept of the Rapture. This is the belief that before the Tribulation period mentioned in Revelation occurs, God will Rapture or take His faithful off this planet to save them from terrible times that will be unleashed upon the earth at the end of time. But notice what Revelation 7:13,14 says… God’s people will in fact have to go through the Tribulation. The teaching of the Rapture is taken out of context and is a doctrinal error. The errant Rapture concept is in reality referring to the Second Coming of Jesus.
(Revelation 7:13) Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
(Revelation 7:14) And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
In the theory of the Rapture, it’s believed that when the wicked find out that God’s people have disappeared and have been Raptured, those left behind will get another or second chance to accept Christ before being lost. Many today believe this to be a Biblical truth, but it’s not!
This Satanic deception will place many in a state of un-preparedness and confusion when the End of Time Tribulation does come. After all, the Devil knows that if Christians believe they will be Raptured from this Earth before the Tribulation, they will not prepare for it? This will cause many to depart from the truth and be further deceived because they will not understand why they are in the middle of this terrible time.
Proponents of the Rapture theory use this scripture to show that God will rapture his faithful before the tribulation…
(Matthew 24:40) Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
But look what Jesus and the Bible say about this specific topic…
(Matthew 24:36) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
(Matthew 24:37) But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(Matthew 24:38) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
(Matthew 24:39) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(Matthew 24:40) Then shall two be in the field;the one shall be taken, and the other left.
(Matthew 24:41) Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
(Matthew 24:42) Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
(Luke 17:26) And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
(Luke 17:27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Speaking of the Flood in Genesis…Look who was left behind:
(Genesis 7:21) And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
(Genesis 7:22) All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
(Genesis 7:23) And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
Now does this sound like those who are taken are transported to Heaven? No, just as Jesus said, those taken will be destroyed and those left will remain alive, just as it was in the days of Noah. The Rapture theory has it backwards.
During the Tribulation, the Mark of the Beast will be implemented and if you do not know what this mark is you will participate unknowingly to protect yourself from the wrath of Man and the Harlot Mother Church, the Roman Catholic Church.
(Revelation 13:15) And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
(Revelation 13:16) And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:;
(Revelation 13:17) And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (KJV)
(Revelation 14:9) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
(Revelation 14:10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which ispoured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:(KJV)
Most Christians believe in a Pre, Mid or Post Rapture theory… But the truth is, Christians alive during the Tribulation period will have to go through this terrible time in human history. There will be no Rapture as churches teach today.
For a quick 1000 foot view, here is the core of this errant teaching…
“Those teaching the rapture theory teach that the coming of Jesus will be in two separate stages. The first stage will be a secret rapture of the Church at the beginning of a seven year tribulation period followed by a glorious, triumphant return of Christ to the Earth accompanied by the Church at the end of the seven year period. They believe that during this seven year period the Antichrist is going to come into power and God will select and seal 144,000 literal Jews who will take the Gospel to the whole world converting immeasurable souls to Christ.” For a better and much deeper explanation of this Rapture error, check out this link called, “The Secret Rapture”.
So how would you know if you are deceived? Simply read the Bible yourself and not just parrot or believe everything that is accepted as truth in the church today. Please use your own critical thought, prayer and research to dispel these and other lies which Satan hopes you will swallow. Trust Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit… Study and know your Bible.
Doubt — Makes you question God’s word and his goodness
One of Satan’s tools is Doubt. If he can get us to doubt God he knows that our doubt will drive us away from God. God desires us to trust and believe in His promises and the one trait that pleases God is Faith… Faith in His promises and of who He is…
(Hebrews 11:6) and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
If Satan can get us to doubt God, then our current life and our life hereafter is in peril. Satan wants nothing more than to frustrate God’s plan of redemption of Mankind and to destroy His creation, you and I.
(Hebrews 6:17) Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
(Hebrews 6:18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Discouragement — Makes you look at your problems rather than God.
We’ve all felt this tactic in our life. Discouragement is the playground that Satan loves to frolic in. We are most vulnerable when we are in a state of discouragement. This is the time when we question everything and this is the door that ushers in Satan’s plans where he revels in his attacks and accusations against God. “Why did God allow this to happen?”, “If God really loved you…”, “God doesn’t exist, so why pray to him?”, “God has abandoned you, and you just don’t know it yet!”
Discouragement is a stepping stone to despair… and despair is the catalyst to hopelessness. It is in these realms of deep emotions that Satan can influence feelings and actions that can cause us to react in ways that sometimes have no remedy. Suicide is one false remedy that Satan loves to offer the confused, defeated and discouraged and for many he has been successful… But God will not allow despair into our lives if we Trust Him and trust in His promises. Again, this is something that Satan doesn’t want for us to do, to Trust God…
(2Corinthians 4:7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;
(Corinthians 4:8) we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;
(Corinthians 4:9) pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;with him.
God promises us that if we trust in Jesus, He will help us go through all things and even when we are at our lowest, he will give us a peace that we ourselves cannot understand, but will help us through our tough times.
(Philippians 4:6) In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(Philippians 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
God also promises that He will work the bad things in our life against Satan’s plans and even our down times will benefit us since God will make all things work in our favor, good and bad…
(Romans 8:28) And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:29) For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:
(Romans 8:30) and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Diversion — Makes the wrong things seem attractive so you want them more than the right things.
Satan also likes to divert us away from things that are important to God. He is always trying to make us think that what God wants for us is not as rewarding or enjoyable as things that displease God. Satan always bastardizes Gods desires and offers counterfeits over the real thing. Examples are, God desires Man and Woman as the normal idea of what a couple is, while Satan bastardizes this view with Man with Man and Woman with Woman. God wants marriage between a Man and Woman and Satan offers a bastardized version of marriage between the same sex, civil unions or men and women just living together without the bond of marriage.
God wants man to perform honest work for honest wages and Satan offers thievery, and crime as his way of getting what you want. God wants to instill patience in His creation, Satan wants to install impatience in Mankind by wanting everything now. Patience is an asset that is earned over time, while Satan teaches “another way” contrary to God’s will…
(Luke 21:19) In your patience ye shall win your souls.
(Romans 8:25) But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
(Romans 15:4) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.
(1Timothy 6:11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
(Hebrews 6:12) that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
(James 1:3) Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.
(James 1:4) And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.
Defeat — Makes you feel like a failure so you don’t even try.
Another emotion many have felt is defeat. Through defeat, Satan limits and robs us of a future inheritance. Defeat has a cousin called disappointment. We’ve all been disappointed at some time in our lives. If Satan plays his cards right, he can overcome our future successes when he uses defeat to frustrate and stop our moves forward towards a goal we’ve set. All Satan wants is that we give up if we are met with defeat and Satan wants to place us in a state of despondency.
Through defeat, Satan can again bring question and doubt towards God. As mentioned in the section above, Discouragement, Satan has a powerful tool when used with defeat.
(2Corinthians 4:8) we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;
(2Corinthians 4:9) pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;
(2Corinthians 4:10) always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.
(2Corinthians 4:11) For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
(2Corinthians 4:12) So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
(2Corinthians 4:8-12) — Life Application Study Bible Commentary
Paul reminds us that though we may think we are at the end of our rope, we are never at the end of our hope. Our perishable bodies are subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons us. Because Christ has won the victory over death, we have eternal life. All our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence in and through us. We must ask ourselves, “Could I handle the suffering and opposition that Paul did?” When opposition, slander, or disappointment threaten to rob you of the victory, remember that no one can destroy what God has accomplished through you.
Take heart, if you fail at something do not accept the lie of defeat into your life. Even though this scripture was aimed at the Israelites, it still pertains to how God will work with you now…
(Deuteronomy 4:30) When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, in the latter days thou shalt return to Jehovah thy God, and hearken unto his voice:
(Deuteronomy 4:31) for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God; he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them..
… and just as David was telling his son Solomon in the passages below, we can also know that if God has started a work in you, He will give you the tools and time needed to complete your goal if you trust in God. Allow the work of patience given by God to help move you towards your goal, even if you are “Temporarily” defeated…
(1Chronicles 28:20) And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for Jehovah God, even my God, is with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah be finished.
Delay [6] — Makes you put off something so it never gets started or completed.
Procrastination, I’m sure most of us have done this. We simply put off something we know needs to be done by saying we’ll do it at a later time. In a lot of cases, the task is never completed or is done in haste.
What does the Webster Dictionary have to say about the definition of the word delay:
1 – to put off to a future time; postpone
2 – to make late; slow up; detain
As you can see, this is a very powerful tool for Satan to use against you and I. So how does Satan use delay to his benefit. One way and his most favorite is to delay the acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. He always comes to those who are contemplating accepting Christ and temps them to delay their decision. i.e. “Wait till you clean up your act”, “You’re not ready to make a drastic change in your life”, “What will your friends think of you” … and other delaying tactics that will cause you to slip closer to death without Christ.
Satan knows that time is in his favor and a lot of those contemplating a decision for Christ will die before their acceptance, solidifying their doom after this life is finished.
With delay, comes laziness which can in some instances cause feelings of defeat and discouragement.
In Summation:
Satan’s Toolbelt
[1] Deception — Satan’s most successful tool. He wields this tool with devastating results.
[2] Doubt — Makes you question God’s word and his goodness.
[3] Discouragement — Makes you look at your problems rather than God.
[4] Diversion — Makes the wrong things seem attractive so you want them more than the right things.
[5] Defeat — Makes you feel like a failure so you don’t even try.
[6] Delay — Makes you put off something so it never gets started or completed.
—- Some portions courtesy of the Life Application Bible.
All these tactics work in accord with each other, by doubting God, discouragement creates a doorway into your life, through which Satan uses diversion to keep our eyes off the things of God and delays decisions that are advantageous to your life. When this happens, Satan can defeat your life through his deceptions.
Satan’s main objective is the defeat of our life and trust in God for our salvation through His son Jesus. As I’ve mentioned before, Satan cannot defeat God so has unleashed his hatred for God onto Mankind. If he can’t destroy God, Satan will try to destroy God’s creation, you and I.
On a Final Note
If you do not know or have drifted away from God, please consider what I’ve written here. Satan mocks those who reject Jesus, knowing they will suffer the Second Death.
Remember, What you believe does not Change Reality. The reality is God exists and wants nothing more than to have a relationship with you through His Son Jesus. Please hearken to His call on your life.
If you do not have a relationship with Jesus, please consider turning your heart and life over to Christ…
Here are some topics you may have missed.
