Satan’s Works - What Does He Do?
The Devil’s Tactics & Schemes
Arrogantly Resists God and Vainly Relies on Self
Ezekiel 28:17 “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.”
Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north”
Appeals to Fleshly Desires, Ambition, Covetousness, and Pride
Genesis 3 & 1 John 2:16–17 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Incites Pride in Numbers
1 Chronicles 21:1 “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.”
Travels Continuously Across the Earth
Job 1:7 “The LORD said to Satan, ‘From where have you come?’ Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’”
Steals Away Earthly Possessions, Positions, and People
Job 1:10–11 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
Attacks Physical, Emotional, and Mental Health
Job 2:4–5 “Then Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.’”
Enters God’s Presence to Attack Godly Followers
Zechariah 3:1 “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.”
Actively Tempts Us Away from Following God
Matthew 4:1-11 - Satan’s Temptation of Jesus
2 Corinthians 2:11 “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs”
Places False Believers Among True Believers
Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 “the enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat…the weeds are the sons of the evil one and the enemy who sowed them is the devil”
Distracts Believers’ Minds Towards Earthly Things
Matthew 16:22–23 “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’”
Persistently Tempts by Twisting Scripture
Mark 1:13 “And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.”
Prevents the Gospel from Being Understood and Believed
Mark 4:14–15 “The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.”
Offers Shortcuts Away from God’s Provision
Luke 4:3 “The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.’”
Baits You Towards Seeking Possessions, Power, and Prestige
Luke 4:6–7 “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
Tries to Get You to Manipulate God
Luke 4:9–10 “And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’”
Patiently Looks for Future Temptation Opportunities
Luke 4:13 “And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.”
Prevents the Bible from Being Heard, Understood, Loved, and Believed.
Luke 8:12 “The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”
Enters Into (Possesses) Humans for His Purposes
Luke 22:3–6 “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.”
Spreads Hatred and Lies
John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Kills and Destroys
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Revelation 12:12 “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Provokes Betrayal Against God
John 13:2 “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him”
Dangerously Attacks the Followers of Jesus
John 17:15 “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”
Provides Pathways for Greed
Acts 5:3–4 “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.’"
Oppresses the Lost
Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Works Against God’s Work
Acts 13:10 “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?”
Spiritually Blinds Unbelievers
Acts 26:18 “ to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”
2 Corinthians 4:4 “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Brings Physical Suffering to those Outside of Church
1 Corinthians 5:5 “you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”
Entraps in Lust & Sexual Sin
1 Corinthians 7:5 “Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Enslaves with Bitterness and Unforgiveness
2 Corinthians 2:10–11 “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”
Leads People to an Insincere & Impure Faith
2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
Attracts Us to His False Appearance
2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Tricks People to Believing He is All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and Good
2 Corinthians 11:13–15 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
Harasses Believers
2 Corinthians 12:7 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”
Encourages Anger, Laziness and Stinginess
Ephesians 4:26–28 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
Intentionally Plans for His Next Attack
Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Wrestles Against Believers Indirectly through Others
Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Leads People Into Gluttony, Worldliness, & Shamefulness
Philippians 3:18–19 “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”
Stops Mission Work
1 Thessalonians 2:17–18 “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”
Empowers False Miracles
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
Condemns through Pride and Arrogance
1 Timothy 3:6 “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
Seeks to Dishonor the Name and Reputation of Believers
1 Timothy 3:7 “Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”
Encourages Laziness, Gossip, and Nosiness
1 Timothy 5:13–15 “Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan.”
Manipulates and Controls Unbelievers for His Purpose
2 Timothy 2:26 “and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
Enslaves Humanity Under a Fear of Death
Hebrews 2:14–15 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Flees from Faithful Resistance
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Brings Suffering Against Saints
1 Peter 5:8–9 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
Appeals to Our Eyes, Flesh, and Pride
1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
Desires Us to Sin By Acting (Commission or Omission) On the Temptation
1 John 3:8 “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
Wants His Followers to Imitate His Example of Disobedience
1 John 3:10 “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”
Imprisons and Kills Faithful Saints
Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Births, Grows, and Encourages All False Religions & Cults
Revelation 2:12–13 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.’”
1 Corinthians 10:20 “No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.”
Deceives the Whole World
Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
Suffers Forever
Revelation 20:10 “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”