Archive for July, 2026

The Story of Satan – Part 4 – Satan’s Strategy

Posted: July 19, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

We have learned in the first 3 parts of Satan’s story that he has been very busy since he was cast out of Heaven. He was there at the beginning disguised as the serpent that caused Adam and Eve or really, the entire human race, to fall into sin. We also learned that he is the god of this age which gives him authority over certain things like his fallen angels as well as the unrepentant human population. And, we know that he took his best shot with Christ as he began his earthly ministry and failed.

But, we also learned that he also has some very specific limitations on him as well which includes the FACT that he is NOT omnipotent, which means he cannot read your mind. All of this plays right into the 4th installment of this series which talks about what Satan is up to currently. In other words…what is Satans strategy?

As Erwin Lutzer puts it, Satan’s strategy is to give people what they want but to make sure they eventually get what HE wants them to have.

He seduces people to believe in him and not God. Remember Genesis 3:4?

“You will certainly NOT die”, the serpent said to the woman. (emphasis added)

What is Satan doing right now?

To put it plainly, Satan is actively engaged in a life and death conflict. Currently, he is waging a battle against God and all of His followers—and to be perfectly clear, that includes you and me. His primary objective is to lure you away from your devotion to Christ. Truth be told, that is his central mission at this moment…how many souls can he successfully pull off course? And please believe me, he is incredibly skilled at what he does, which is precisely why the Bible provides so much scripture to warn us to stay on guard.

But for those of you who are skeptical that Satan is at war…read this verse please:

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. Eph 6:12 ESV

Have you ever heard of a guy named Job (pronounced jōb)? He has a very long book by the same name in the Old Testament. In that book, he tells an interesting story about how Satan went and challenged God regarding Job by telling Him that the only reason Job served Him was because he was blessed and had everything. Essentially, God took on that challenge and allowed Satan to take away all of Jobs’s earthy possessions including his health, his family, his wealth. And ultimately, throughout the entire epic,  no matter what bad thing happened to him, Job would not curse God. It even drove Job to proclaim in 13:15…Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…

Guys, realistically, not everyone is like Job with his unwavering commitment to his God through his adversity…which is why I write this to you.

Satan is your enemy and his strategy is that he wants you to fail and fall. That is why the Bible focuses so much scripture to inform us to protect our minds and NOT be led astray.

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. 2 Co 11:3 ESV

(For more information on this idea that you need to guard your thoughts, please read a previous blog on Iron-man-strength.com called, Guard your Mind, published in February of 2021. This will better explain why Satan focuses his attack on your thoughts).

What is Satan’s goal for his non-stop attack on you and me?

His # 1 goal is, and always has been, to draw you and me into a sin and bondage relationship with him and this present world system. (Emphasis on the present). He wants to squash you like a bug. By the way, as the leader of your home, if you fall, so might your wife and family. That is why you must resist.

For some have already strayed after Satan. 1Ti 5:15 ESV

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life–to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 1Jo 5:16 ESV

What are we supposed to do to defend this constant attack from him?

  1. As believers, we MUST RESIST and pray constantly for deliverance from Satan

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matt 6:13 ESV

Guys, in this instance, I cannot emphasize the importance of the word, “constantly”. This has never been a “one and done” type defense against the enemy. It is a daily response (meaning a conscious effort using prayer) from you and what your intent is for that day to defend you and your family. Don’t forget that.

  1. YOU must be on the alert concerning his schemes and temptations

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.            Eph 6:11 ESV

If you recall, the very first paragraph mentioned to you in part one of The Story of Satan was about knowing your enemy. Be prepared and resist, because the attack is coming…you just need to know when it does, how you can defend yourself.

  1. Resist him through spiritual warfare

Guys…here are the famous verses that talk about putting on the armor of God. Although this looks like symbolism, it truly means putting on armor each day. If you don’t take this part seriously, you give the enemy a foot in the door so I recommend that you take just a second to read them.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Eph 13-18 ESV

  1. Remain firm in the faith

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1Pe 5:8-9 ESV

Guys, the book of Hebrews puts it this way:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb 11:1

My hope for you is that after reading part 4 you recognize we can’t do this ourselves. History is littered with the many who have tried and ALL have failed. And by the way, there is no such thing as trying to ride the fence or be in BOTH worlds at the same time. Jesus calls that being “lukewarm”, neither hot or cold, and the Bible is very clear in Revelation 3:16 with Christ saying, ” I will spew you out of my mouth”.

Finally, guys, you and I have very specific resources in this fight against Satan and all of them will only work if we are plugged into Christ as a repentant Christian. Without repentance, you are just another dude proclaiming you are a good person…which won’t get you into heaven.

We are getting close to the end…Part 5 is next-

Until next time guys

IMS Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

Wright, Kent, “Guard Your Mind,” Ironman Strength, February, 27, 2021, iron-man-strength.com

The Story of Satan – Part 3 – Satan’s Kingdom

Posted: July 12, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

So let’s pick this up again from where we left off from Part 2 of The Story of Satan. If you recall last time, we learned that Satan is the god of this age on earth and is the one responsible for bringing sin to the human race when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree. In Part 3, we are going to learn more about the Kingdom of Satan. 

And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? Matthew 12:26 (Christ speaking)

Yes…you heard me correctly, Satan indeed has a Kingdom that is highly organized and functional towards a singular purpose. He is anything but a chaotic ruler; instead, he commands a systematic empire of darkness with a laser-focused aim of total destruction. He is marshaling every resource of his domain to wage war against the Almighty… and against you and me personally.

A huge point to consider is from Erwin Lutzer who tells us that, “Satan‘s most strategic victory is to give us reasons to disbelieve what God has said.” I cannot emphasize the enemy’s strategy enough. If he can get you or me to just question our belief system, exactly like he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, then he has a foothold in your life. I encourage you to remember this.

While he is the prince of this earth, Satan has authority over the following: 

Kingdom of the Air – in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Eph 2:2 NIV]

The “air” in this verse refers to the invisible realm above the earth where Satan and his demons move and exist and this space is the location of the earth’s atmosphere or “air.” He can move anywhere he wants in and through this earth…The entire world is his domain and he can show up whenever he wants to…please remember that.

Fallen Angels – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [Mat 25:41 NIV]

-Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. Rev 12:7 NIV

So when Satan fell from God’s grace and out of heaven, I mentioned in Part 1 that he brought a whole slew of fallen angels go with him. The Bible says a third of all heavens angels went with him. Those angels are now his demons and are completely under his control. Without a doubt, they are a HUGE part of fulfilling his destructive purpose on earth. Please remember that too.

Unrepentant Humanity  – Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. [John 12:31 NIV]

…the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Eph 2:2 NIV]

OK, another huge point to consider is that those who intentionally resist the Almighty God and refuse to repent are, whether they realize it or not, are part of his domain. I cannot emphasize the gravity of this enough. You are either for God…or you are under the spirit now at work in the disobedient. Again, please consider this.

The World –  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. [2 Co 4:4 ESV] 

As I mentioned before, Satan has limited control over the earth at this time so let’s unpack that quickly.

Things to know about Satan inside his Kingdom:

Satan does have power: And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Luke 4:6 NIV

I encourage you to go back to the blog citation at the end and read, “The Temptation of Jesus” for further details on the power that Satan has here on Earth.

Satan has a throne: I know where you live–where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city–where Satan lives. Rev 2:13 NIV

I cannot emphasize the enemy’s strategy enough: the most critical error is failing to respect our adversary’s capability. While Satan possesses significant authority, remember that his influence is strictly constrained by God. Think of him as the executive of a massive, systematic empire with his singular purpose being yours and my total ruin. In this age, right now, he exists almost exclusively to dismantle our lifes. 

As Erwin Lutzer brilliantly observes, “If Satan cannot keep us from heaven… at least he can keep us from being useful on earth.” I encourage you to remember that. 

Another set of important points to recognize is that Satan is NOT:

Omni-present – Present everywhere at the same time.

Omnipotent –  Having unlimited power; able to do anything

Omniscient – Knowing everything

Guys, consider the weight of this: our greatest foe cannot know or peer into your inner thoughts. Only the Almighty possesses the power to know your thoughts. Does realizing this truth about our adversary shift your perspective? I encourage you to think on that.

Moreover, because Satan is limited in his power, much of his earthly activity is delegated to his demon horde who also are limited in power. He has to use his team to tempt and defeat you as evidenced by the verses below-

-And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. Matt: 8:28 

-For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. Rev 16:14

Guys, let me leave you with this…If you think you have nothing to fear from this enemy, then he has you right where he wants you. 

One more point to consider is that even though Satan knows the word of God (scripture) better than anyone on this earth, he still refuses to recognize that God wins in the end. 

He is in denial about his own destruction.

Part 4 is next –

Until next time guys-

IMS Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

Wright, Kent, “The Temptation of Jesus,” Ironman Strength, January, 2, 2024, iron-man-strength.com

The Story of Satan – Part 2 – Satan’s Role

Posted: July 5, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Ok, let’s pick up this story from Part 1 where we were discussing who Satan is and where he came from. It never ceases to amaze to me when I think about what an incredible creation Lucifer was before he fall, and yet, how much his personal prideful choice caused him to lose…but we will get to that later.

If you didn’t know this already, Satan, who is also called the Serpent, was the one who caused the fall of the human race. Yes… the same guy…Now we will learn more about this in the coming episodes but it is very important to recognize that although Satan is the adversary of God, he does not appear to Adam and Eve in this manner. Rather, as Lutzer puts it, “He comes under a disguise and without revealing who he really is. He changes himself into something he is not to deceive others. He did not come to frighten, but to soothe, encourage, to instruct.”

Look at the brief story of the encounter between Adam, Eve and the Serpent below from the book of Genesis:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 

3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'” 

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.  [Gen 3:1-6 ESV] 

Lutzer tells us that, “Literally, the first time Satan opens his mouth is to put a question where God had put a period. Satan knew that if he could get Eve to focus on the one thing she did not have, it would rob her of the joy she should derive from all of the things she did have.”

Do you understand how Satan operates? He convinced Eve to question God and from that day on, lying, deception, and sin entered this world and the human race has never been the same. Can you imagine if Adam and Eve had resisted the temptation of the serpent? And what this world MIGHT have been like? That is a whole topic unto its own and one that will not be addressed by me.

What is Satan doing right now?

We know that we are the children of God and that the whole world is in control of the evil one.  1 John 5:19

Guys, we will NEVER adequately understand the New Testament unless we recognize its underlying conviction that Satan is the “god of this world” right now. Think about that for a second. Satan is the evil one and it is his power that controls this present evil age. When Adam and Eve sinned, that is when it started. 

Now, I hope this isn’t the first time you are hearing this but if it is, and you are skeptical, please read these verses I have stacked up below because the Bible is very clear about what is going on.

2 Co 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.

Gal 1:3-4 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Eph 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.

Heb 2:14 – ​​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…

1Pe 5:8 –  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Even though I say Satan is in charge, that does not mean that God isn’t in direct control of this ungodly world. 

The ungodly world I am speaking of are sinful people, evil, cruelty, and injustice…all the things we see around us every day. More importantly, it is critical that I stress the fact that in no way does God desire or cause all of the sufferings in this world, nor is everything that happens His perfect will.  I can tell you that God uses everything; even evil, to accomplish His purposes.

The Bible does tell us that at this present time, the world is NOT under God’s dominion, but is currently in rebellion against God’s rule and is enslaved to Satan. God, for the time being, has limited His own supreme power over this world…but I assure you, this is only temporary. That is what we see happening right now.

I know this is not the best news you have received today and I get that, but know this, because of this worldly condition I spoke about above…that is why Christ came to die for you and me.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

…and why His plan was to reconcile the world to God 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 

that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2Co 5:17-19 ESV

So the two main points from Part 2 that I want you to understand today are: 

  1. Satan is the god of this earth right now.
  2. Satan is the one responsible for bringing sin to the human race when Adam and Eve gave into temptation. 

There is more detail coming on what Satan is also doing presently so stay tuned because Part 3 will be next – 

Until next time guys-

IMS Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996