The Schemes Of The Devil

by Chris Simmons

II Corinthians 2:10-11, “But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (NASU).

Satan’s efforts are not haphazard. He has “schemes” and we are exhorted not to be “ignorant” of them (II Corinthians 2:11). The Greek word for “schemes” in this passage, noema, is defined as, “that which is thought out … hence, a purpose, device” (W.E. Vine). We are extremely foolish if we do not realize that Satan’s efforts as our adversary are well thought out and designed. We are told, “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). In this passage, the word for “schemes” is methodia (from which we get our English word “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 righteous and that which is error to appear as truth. Paul warned of “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” And he said, “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds” (II Corinthians 11:13-15). Without a love for truth, we will also be taken captive by his deception (Colossians 2:8; II Thessalonians 2:10).

Satan begins by seeking to change the way we think. 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.” 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; James 3:14-17). Satan has won when we 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” (II Corinthians 10:5). 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. Discouragement comes when we suffer for 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). Jesus taught in the parable of the sower that there would be some who would “fall away” because of such a scheme (Matthew 13:20-21). Satan will also seek to discourage us when we suffer as a result of sin against God. Paul’s concern for the brother in our text was that “such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow” (II Corinthians 2:7-8). Satan will use the temporal consequences of our sin to try and get us to quit. May we 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).

Doubt. Satan will seek to deceive us into doubting what God says. From the beginning, Satan sought to cast doubt in the minds of Adam and Eve. God had said concerning the tree in the midst of the garden, “‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die!’” (Genesis 3:3-4). Satan will seek to cast doubt in our minds about many things. We are told:

• “There are many ways to approach God.” Yet, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6; cf. John 8:24).
• “There is no God, prayer is foolishness.” Yet, we read that God hears and responds to our prayers that are in accordance with His will. “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (I John 5:14-15).
• “There is nothing after death. We just cease to exist.” Yet, we know that God rewards the righteous (cf. II Timothy 4:7-8; Romans 8:18; II Corinthians 4:17-5:1), and punishes the wicked (cf. Genesis 3:4; II Peter 2:9; 3:3-4). False prophets of old argued, “‘The Lord has said, “You will have peace”’; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, ‘Calamity will not come upon you’” (Jeremiah 23:17).

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. Paul said, “But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:15). The result will be relationships defined by “strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, (and) disturbances” (II Corinthians 12:20; cf. James 3:14-16). 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. Satan 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. Satan is described as “the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). He seeks to compromise and distort the truth of God’s word which was “once for all delivered” (Jude 3). Paul adamantly warned, “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” (Galatians 1:8). We each are personally responsible to “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (I Thessalonians 5:21).

Satan’s schemes are designed to give him the opportunity to lead us into sin. 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. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

(NOTE by Micky: Special thanks to Chris for the excellent article. Satan never sleeps. He is a formidable foe! In these times of pandemic, cultural, racial, and political woes; as well as attacks on religion in general, let us never be so naive as to think Satan does not use these things to scheme against God’s people.)