Ephesians 6:16 - Satan's Strategy is to Make Us Doubt God

Yesterday we talked about the darts of the devil.Today I want to talk about his strategy. Thestrategy of the devil is to cause us to doubt God—to doubt God and His truthand His Word. You see, at the heart of every temptation is the same battle:Will I trust God and His truth in His Word, or will I trust the devil and hislies? I have to make a choice based on who I want to believe. This goes all theway back to the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:1–5. Satan’s first temptation wasnot merely about fruit. If you remember, it was about faith. “Did God reallysay? Did God really mean what He said?” In other words, he attacked thegoodness of God. He attacked the government of God—the authority of God, and heattacked the goals of God, the purpose of God for Adam and Eve’s lives. Myfriend, tragically, Eve let go of the Word of God. She stopped trusting God,and the fiery dart struck its target. This connects to what we read in 1 John2:15–16: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. Ifany man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” And then hegoes on to say in verse 16:“Forall that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and thepride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world.” That’s exactly whatSatan uses in his temptations.  Noticein Genesis 3:6, “When Eve saw that the fruit was good for food, she saw itwas pleasant to the eyes, and then it was desirable to make one wise.” Satanhad told her, “If you eat that fruit, you’ll be like God, and you can makeyour own decisions.” What was the attack?·        Thelust of the flesh: good for food—for the body. Yes, it’ll make you feel good.·        Thelust of the eyes: she saw it was pleasant to the eyes. It looked good.·        Andthen, of course, it was the pride of life: “You’ll be like God. You can makeyour own decisions” Interesting—Satanused the same strategy against Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:3–9. If youput it all together, you see again it was an attack against God’s program forJesus’ life. He wanted to tempt Christ to doubt the Father’s provision: “turnthese stones into bread”. To doubt the Father’s protection: “jump off this highwall”.  And to doubt the Father’s plan: “I’llgive you all the kingdoms of the world if you fall down and worship me”. In allthree temptations, again we see that they all had to do with the lust of theflesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  Butremember: every time Jesus responded with Scripture. Satan also used Scripture,just like he did in Genesis 3:1–5: “Did not God say?” He used Scripture withJesus. But every time, Jesus responded with Scripture, and He stood firm behindthe shield of faith. He trusted the Father completely, and that’s how weovercome as well. My friend, be aware of the strategy of Satan. He is going todo everything he can to cause you to doubt the Word of God. Again,we’ve said it so often already: you first must know the Word of God. You haveto have it hidden in your heart. You have to have it in your mind. You have tobathe in that Word each day. Every morning I pray the Lord’s Prayer: “Giveus this day our daily bread.” I need that Word today. I take time everymorning. Many of the people over the years that I have been associated with asa pastor, I’ve encouraged them: “Get in the Word of God every day. Take a fewminutes.” YesterdayI heard a powerful testimony from a wonderful businessman named Andy at ourprayer breakfast, telling us how God is working in his life this year. He said,“I found out that I have to get up and spend time in the Word of God before Istart my day.” My friend, that’s how you arm yourself with the shield offaith—above all. May God help us to take heed to these words today. Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.