The Schemes Of The Devil

by Chris Simmons

We must first understand that Satan’s efforts are not haphazard. Satan has “schemes” and we are exhorted not to be “ignorant” of them (II Corinthians 2:11). The Greek word for “schemes” in that passage is “noema” which W.E. Vine defines as “that which is thought out…hence, ‘a purpose, device’.” We are extremely foolish if we don’t realize that Satan’s efforts as our adversary are well thought out and designed. We also read in God’s word in Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” In this passage, the word for “schemes” comes from the Greek word “methodia” (from which we get our English word for “method”) which Vine defines as “…craft, deceit…a cunning device, a wile… lit., ‘(with a view to) the craft of deceit’.” Combine these two words and you see that Satan is one who continually applies well thought out and deceitful methods in his spiritual war against us. Thus, deception is at the heart of all that he does and his schemes are centered around the idea of making that which is wicked to appear to righteous and that which is error to appear as truth (cf II Corinthians 11:14-15). Without a love for truth, we will also be taken captive by his deception (Colossians 2:8; II Thessalonians 2:10).

Another fundamental point to be made regarding the schemes of the Devil is that we can be assured that Satan is well aware of where the battle is being waged. The question is, are we? Paul wrote in II Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” If we are concerned about the schemes of the devil, we need to understand that Satan’s methods begin by seeking to change the way we think. From the time of Adam and Eve in the garden, Satan has attacked the way we think (Genesis 3:4-5). Satan will use every means possible to cause us to have a mind set on “the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2; Philippians 3:19) and to apply the wisdom of the world in all of our choices and decisions (cf James 3:14-17). Satan has won when our minds begin to think of what is sinful as being acceptable and “not all that bad” (cf Isaiah 5:20) and we no longer disapprove of what is contrary to God’s will or “approve the things that are excellent” (Philippians 1:10). We have a “divinely powerful” weapon that God has given to us to be used to win the battle for our minds by “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” Every scheme to be discussed in this article first starts with the way that we think and thus the urgent need to “watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Consider the following schemes of Satan:

Discouragement. Satan will continually seek to overcome us through the discouragement that comes when we suffer when we are committed to doing what is right (I Peter 1:6-7; 2:20; 4:16). This is the approach that Satan used against Job (Job 1:7-12; 2:3-10) and he will tempt us to feel as though it is not worth the tribulations we face. Jesus taught in the parable of the sower that there would be some who would “fall away” because of such a scheme (Matthew 7:20-21). Satan will not oppose us when we’re doing nothing or when we’re committing sin. Satan will oppose us when we seek to follow the “narrow way” (Matthew 7:13-14) that God has directed.

Satan will also seek to discourage us when we suffer as a result of sin against God. The effects of sin are not only spiritual and eternal but they often bring with them physical and temporal consequences. Satan will use those consequences to try and get us to quit. We may be comforted to know that as long as we truly repent of our sins and confess them to our Father in heaven, He has promised us that “He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). There is no place to quit no matter how many times we may stumble. The old saying is true, “fall down seven times, stand up eight.”

Doubt. Satan will seek to deceive us into doubting not only what we seek after, but what God says. From the beginning, Satan sought to cast doubt in the minds of Adam and Eve concerning what God said about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:4-5). Satan will seek to cast doubt in our minds about Jesus’ promise, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). Satan also seeks us to doubt that God hears and responds to our prayers that are in accordance with His will. We read in James 1:6, “But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” Satan will seek to cast doubt on not only the reward that we seek (cf II Timothy 4:7-8; Romans 8:18; II Corinthians 4:17-5:1) but also on the reality of the punishment to those who do not obey His word (cf Genesis 3:4; II Peter 2:9; 3:3-4).

Discord among brethren. If Satan can not successfully keep us from becoming Christians, then he will seek to get us to turn on one another. If we are ignorant of his schemes, the result will be brethren who “bite and devour one another” (Galatians 5:15) and whose relationships are defined by “strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, (and) disturbances” (II Corinthians 12:20). The Lord’s church has been plagued with countless congregations that have had their candlestick removed because of the discord and strife that have been sown among brethren.

False security, apathy and indifference. Again, if Satan can not keep us from faithful obedience, then he will seek to influence us to become apathetic, indifferent and over confident. We are told to “take heed lest we fall” (I Corinthians 10:12). We can lose what we have gained in Christ (II John 8) and we can come short of “entering His rest” (Hebrews 4:1). Satan would have us leave our “first love” (Revelation 2:4) and become “lukewarm” in our service to God (Revelation 3:16). The solution is to renew our efforts to be “zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14).

False teaching. As the persistent deceiver, Satan ever seeks to compromise and distort the truth of God’s word which was “once for all delivered” (Jude 3). Paul therefore urgently warns us in Galatians 1:8, “But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” There always have been and there always will be, as long as man continues on this earth, those who propagate error (II Peter 2:1) and it is incumbent upon us to ascertain whether those who proclaim themselves to be preachers and teachers of spiritual matters proclaim the truth of the one true gospel (I John 4:1; Acts 17:11). We each are personally responsible to “examine everything carefully” (I Thessalonians 5:21).

The lusts of the flesh. Satan’s methods certainly include continual efforts to have us live our lives according to the “works of the flesh” rather than according to the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25). Peter warns against this effort by Satan in I Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.” This is the first of the three tools that Satan uses that is mentioned in I John 2:15 and was employed by Satan in his efforts to tempt both Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:6) as well as Jesus (Matthew 4:3-4). God has created each one of us with fleshly desires that are to be fulfilled in a way that He has prescribed and not as Satan would tempt us to (cf I Corinthians 7:5; Hebrews 13:4; Proverbs 5:15-23).

The lusts of the eyes. Satan is prolific at using the cares of this world and desire for the things of this world to turn our backs on God. Jesus warned of this again in the parable of the sower when he said, “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). This also is mentioned in I John 2:15 and was also used by Satan in his efforts against Adam and Eve and against Jesus (Matthew 4:8-10).

The pride of life. The third tactic employed by Satan that is mentioned in I John 2:15 is his efforts to appeal to the pride and arrogance of man. Solomon wrote, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Proverbs 16:18). There is a direct connection between our ability to overcome pride and exercise humility and our ability to successfully overcome Satan as James notes in James 4:6-8, “…therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Satan’s schemes are designed to give him the opportunity to lead us into sin and Satan seeks for us to give him such in order to overcome us. But we don’t have to give him such an opportunity! “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:26-27). Through a knowledge of his devices, we should be able to avoid many of his best tactics and fail to provide him with the opportunity to lead us astray (Romans 13:13-14).