Schemes of Satan-2

Twice Paul was inspired to warn us of the schemes of Satan. Why? Satan is evil and deadly. His desire is to have the whole world worship him. In order to accomplish that, he must deceive everyone from worshiping the one true GOD. How well is Satan doing with his evil plans and schemes?

First, what did Paul write?

2 Corinthians 2:11  …so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Ephesians 6:10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 

6:11  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 

6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

6:13  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 

While Paul makes this very clear, why has the ‘church’ not informed us and warned us of Satan’s schemes? Paul stated that ‘…we are not ignorant of his schemes.’ But, I believe that we are ignorant of his schemes. So let us continue our study so we can be prepared and warn others.

John 7:14  But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. 7:15  The Jews then were astonished, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated?" 

While the Jews were seeking to kill Him, He not only went into Jerusalem for the feast, but went into the Temple! As He once again began to teach, even the Jews had to acknowledge that His teaching was amazing. Where did He get this knowledge, they wondered?

7:16  So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 7:17  "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 7:18  "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. 

What exactly is Jesus saying? First, He was sent and His teaching came from the one who sent Him. Second, He now states that there are only two possible sources of this amazing teaching, either from GOD or Himself. So since He already stated that His teaching is not His own, He is clearly stating that it is from GOD the Father, who sent Him.

7:19  "Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?"  7:20  The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?" 

When truth confronts religion and its myriad of traditions, people have to make a decision. Most will respond like those above; You can’t be the truth so therefore You must have a demon. They deny all they heard and saw to defend their lifetime indoctrination. They can’t give it up as it would invalidate their entire lives.

7:21  Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel. 7:22  "For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. 

Joh 7:23  "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 

They are still remembering from John 5 when Jesus healed a man who had not walked in 38 years. They did not deny this miracle, but instead of praising GOD for this wonderful gift to this man, they focused all their attention on His violation of their Sabbath laws. How could they do this?

Jesus was indicting them, so they lashed back at Him. The Jews were not interested in healing or truth, but in retaining their power, positions, and control over the people. So one of Satan’s most powerful and dangerous schemes is how he not only discredits truth tellers, but convinces others to think of them as evil and demonically inspired.

Joh 7:24  "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." 

Clearly Jesus went right to the issue. Righteous judgement can only come through righteous people. The Jews were not righteous. They have wanted to kill Jesus since He had healed that poor man.

John 5:18  For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 

Jesus had made it abundantly clear that He called GOD His Father and was equal to Him. That is all the Jews needed to hear and they could think of nothing else, but how and when to kill Him. If He wouldn’t stop by Himself, if He would not keep quiet, the only option left to them was to kill Him. They were indeed like their father, as they are still today.

John 8:44  "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 

More next Saturday.