How The Devil Does His Evil Work

As noted in my previous post, Jesus took Satan seriously and urged us to pray daily that we be delivered from his schemes. Two questions arise from such a prayer. What are the schemes of the devil? In other words, how does he and his minions go about their devious work? And the second question, how does the heavenly Father deliver us from the evil one? We focus upon the first today.

The best way to understand Satan is to examine the Biblical examples. The three temptations of Jesus in the wilderness serve as a summary. Note well that Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ... And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." - Mat 4:1 ESV

Jesus Tempted - by James Tissot (1836-1902)

Earlier I wrote about the word used for being led or brought into situations where we might be tempted:  Why Do We Pray, "Lead us Not Into Temptation." I urge you to review that blog. As I said there, "The Father does not take us out of the world, but rather permits us to be tempted in order that we may grow in faith and trust. He wants us to grow up in Christ. This is part of the discipling process, the training for life here and now AND for the life we will live in the age to come."

Satan's temptations can be divided into three major categories:

1. Lust: putting bodily appetites above all else: And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." - Mat 4:3 ESV 

2. Impatience: trying to manipulate God: Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" - Mat 4:5-6 ESV

3. Idolatry: tempting us to worship other gods: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." - Mat 4:8-9 ESV

The biblical word for lust (epithymia) refers to any strong bodily appetite or desire, including hunger, thirst, hate, coveting, and sex. A second word, passion (pathēma), complements it. That word may even refer to the sufferings of Christ, as well as the suffering one who follows Christ may have to endure. But in its negative usage, it refers to the pain and anger that arise when you are frustrated and unable to satisfy any bodily desire or appetite. So Satan or the demons assigned to us urge us to do whatever it takes to satisfy our appetites. Give in to those urgings and you will be led to complain, mock, steal, commit adultery, find sex outside marriage, hurt others bodily and even murder. Follow that path and you will ultimately receive what you ask for. God gives you up to the lusts and passions of your sinful heart (Rom. 1:21-32).

The Biblical opposite of impatience is makrothymia, translated as patience or in the KJV as long-suffering. It is what the Children of Israel were unwilling to exercise when they complained about being thirsty and having no food in the wilderness. They did not trust that the LORD would care for their needs. Instead they grumbled and quarreled with Moses (Exodus 17:1-7). Other ways of putting God to the test include living recklessly or taking extreme risks in sports. Taking dangerous and extreme risks financially could also be included. 

The third major category of sin is idolatry. New idols constantly arise to promise anything and everything from fun and excitement to riches, power and glory. An idol is anything that takes our focus away from the LORD God who has revealed Himself to us in His Son Jesus. Many would make money or sex and pleasure their gods. Fame, power, glory and prestige are worshipped by many others.   Almost anything you can name has and can become a god. Jesus went so far as to point out that we are even in danger of making our families into idols or gods. 

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. - Mat 10:34-37 ESV

Satan's temptations are subtle, hidden and dark, but always present. This is why the Apostles remind us to "be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." - 1Pe 5:8 ESV

In my next post we will consider how the LORD God delivers us from these temptations.