His strategy? Lies, accusations, and murder: [He] comes to steal and kill and destroyThe devilwas a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth He is a liar and the father of lies For the accuser of our brothersaccuses them before our God day and night (Jn. 10:10a; 8:44b; Rev. 12:10b)
We can aid and abet his destructive attacks by believing his lies, You are weak. You cant overcome temptation. Or by lying to ourselves, Im no good. Im stupid. Hey, Im cool. I can handle this one!
The way to counter the Enemys murderous attacks and also protect ourselves from our own self-deception, is by knowing and appropriating Gods promises. After all, Jesus did assure us that , "if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (Jn. 8:31,32)
Pascal once wrote, Knowing God without knowing our wretchedness leads to pride. Knowing our wretchedness without knowing God leads to despair. Knowing Jesus Christ is the middle course, because in Him we find both God and our wretchedness.
Here are a few of Satans lies we erroneously embrace, and the truth of Gods word that challenges those lies:
I feel like a failure. I feel Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our
inadequate. competence comes from God. (2 Cor. 3:5) (See Ex. 4:11-16; 1Cor. 15:10)
There is nothing special For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless about me. sight. (Eph. 1:4a) (See Psa. 139:13-16; Deut. 7:6,7; 2 Thess. 2:13,14; 1 Pet. 1:2;2:9)
I dont have enough. My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Phil.4:19) (See Deut. 8:2,3;Ps. 41:1-3; 112:5; Pro. 3:9,10; 11:24,25; 2 Cor. 8:9)
I am afraid and God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound
anxious. Mind. (2 Tim. 1:7 KJV) (See Act. 20:24; 21:13; Rom. 8:15; Heb. 2:15; 1 Jn. 4:18)
I am defeated. Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faithThanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus. (I Jn. 5:4; 1 Cor. 15:57b) (See Jn. 16:33; 12:11)
I am in bondage. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor. 3:17) (See Rom. 8:15)
I feel guilty. Condemned. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Gods grace. (Eph. 1:7) (See Rom. 8:1; Psa. 32:1,2)
So the next time the Devil whispers lies to you, win the spiritual battle by countermanding him with Gods armor, the word of God! (See Ephesians 6:10-18)
+Adapted from My New Identity Irvine K. Thomsen