The Subtleties of Satan
Genesis 3, Luke 4
Elisa Sangiorgio
10-00

As I mentioned in my newsletter last week, my family and I are learning about Spiritual warfare. I'm finding it most interesting to see how satan works and how we can stop him. I also see he is a pitiful little weakling, compared to the God we serve. He uses subtelties and lies to convince us he's right, that God is wrong. He will do anything to keep us away from the truth and God. But, you have to realize, Satan really is powerless. All he can do is tempt us, it is then up to us to either give in or resist. We can choose to believe what we want. We can choose to believe we're useless, or someone God wants to use. We can choose to believe we're sinners without hope, or hopeFUL sinners saved by the grace of God. We can believe we're losers, or someone with nothing to lose because we are saved. We can believe the lies, or believe the Truth...

We began by reading about Adam and Eve and the temptation in the garden. My father and I both came up with the same answer for the first question... How did Satan appeal to those needs(security and significance) in the temptation of Adam and Eve? Ever notice how he used his own desire to trick them? He was kicked out of Heaven because he wanted to be more like God. He was still angry and bitter at God and figured this would be a great way to get back at Him. He probably thought, "Well, if I can trick Adam and Eve into believing they, too, can be just like God, get them to sin, then they'll get kicked out of the garden. I'll ruin this wonderful creation God made." He made them doubt God, that He was wrong, "Oh, He didn't really say that, did He?" They were doubting God's word, therefore doubting the Speaker. The subtelty of that is, why would they want to be like someone they doubted? My dad made a good point too. Adam and Eve had everything they could desire, except that one tree. They could eat of every tree in that garden, except one. We, sometimes, may have everything we desire, but there's always one thing we want. We tend to focus on that one thing and forget what we have. That was Satan's tactic. He made them forget about the other trees, and to look only at that one tree they couldn't eat from. He made it look pleasing and appealing. He tried to present a "better package" than God, saying they would be just like Him, knowing good and evil. He wanted them to believe God was depriving them of something good. Think about that. Satan uses those same tactics today. We are all hungry for something more. We desire greater things. Satan will tempt us with that, trying to offer a "better package," making us focus on that one thing, instead of what God really wants for us. We'll begin to feel God is depriving us of something more. We'll begin to doubt God's goodness, and lose our focus. It's not easy to resist, and it's very easy to get caught in that trap, but we can overcome with the power that God has given us...

In the New Testament we learn about Jesus and how He was lead by the Holy Spirit into the desert. He was tempted for forty days. After that, three particular temptations are mentioned. He tempted Him at his weakest points, when Jesus was hungry, trying to satisfy Jesus' need for food. He tempted Him with power, telling Jesus He could have all the kingdoms of the world if He would worship Satan. He then tempted Him with freedom from pain, throwing Himself off the temple and the angels would catch Him. Satan will use our weakest points, and when we are at our weakest, to tempt us. What can we do to overcome this? What did Jesus do? He used the Word of God. He quoted Scripture. Why? How can Satan argue with Scripture? It's the truth, and the truth will set you free. So, make sure God's word is written on your heart. Then next time Satan tries to tempt you, you just throw that fiery dart of God's Word right at him, and he'll run away like a cowardly lion, with his tail between his legs. James 4:7 James 4 James 4:6-8 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Here are some more Scripture verses for you to read...

1 Timothy 6:9 1 Timothy 6 1 Timothy 6:8-10 - "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."

1 Corinthians 10:13 1 Corinthians 10 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 -"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Mark 14:38 Mark 14 Mark 14:37-39 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

1 Timothy 6: 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Now, ask yourself, "What temptations do I face?"

Insights for the Journey is a little newsletter I will send out periodically. Thank you for letting me share with you.