Satan's Methods

Introduction

Last week we began looking at Satan as our adversary. He is the accuser of the believers.

It’s good for us to be able to identify our enemy, but we also need to know how he operates.

A lot of people like movies about espionage. Spies are mysterious and move in and out among the crowds often without ever being discovered. There are organizations dedicated to espionage and because every government does it, there are also organizations dedicated to counter espionage.

To catch a spy you need to know how they operate.

Well this morning we are going to look at how the Devil works and try to prepare ourselves to identify his work so that we can withstand him and not be tricked by him.

Paul wrote 1 Timothy to his young son in the faith who was pastoring in Ephesus. Timothy was instructed by Paul how to conduct himself in the Lord’s house and how to set things in order.

One of the big problems for the church at Ephesus was the false teachers and their methods of leading people away from the true faith.

1 Timothy 4:1–5 ESV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

1. The Agents of Satan (v.1)

1 Timothy 4:1 ESV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

2. The Methods of Satan (v.1)

1 Timothy 4:1 ESV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

3. The Results of Satan's Work (v.1, 4-5)

People fall away

1 Timothy 4:1 ESV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

People No Longer Listen to the Spirit

1 Timothy 4:3 ESV

3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

People Twist God’s Word

1 Timothy 4:4–5 ESV

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.