SPIRITUAL WARFARE SERIES 
Ephesians 6:10-20

EXPOSING THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Eph 6:11

". . . in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Cor 2:11

I. What is Satan’s overall goal? John 14:30; 16:11; Eph 2:2; 2 Cor 4:4; 1 John 3:12; 5:19; Acts 26:18

TO ADVANCE HIS KINGDOM -- EXTEND HIS SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

II. What is Satan’s primary scheme? 2 Cor 11:3

TO DISTRACT US FROM OUR PURE & SINCERE DEVOTION TO CHRIST -- REMOVE US FROM THE BATTLE

III. By what means does Satan wage his warfare?

GOALS SCHEMES
A. Destroy faith 1. TEMPT US INTO SIN
    Gen 3:1-6; Matt 4:3; Luke 4:2; John 13:2; Acts 5:3

a. DEFILE OUR CONSCIENCE
    1 Tim 1:19

b. GET A FOOTHOLD
    Eph 4:26

2. PERSECUTE BELIEVERS
    1 Pet 5:8-9; Rev 2:10,13

3. TRIP UP BY SLANDER
    Gen 3:1; Matt 4:1; Luke 22:3-4

4. DRAW US INTO SELF RELIANCE
    1 Tim 3:6-7; 2 Tim 2:26; 1 Cor 10:12; 1 Cor 3:18-19

5. GET OUR EYES OFF CHRIST
    Heb 12:1-3; Luke 9:62

6. CATCH US OFF GUARD
    Luke 4:1-2; 1 Pet 5:8
B. Demoralize 1. ACCUSES THE SAINTS
     Rev 12:10-11; Zech 3:1; 1 John 2:1; Rom 8:33; Job 1

a. CONDEMNS US

Rom 8:1; 5:10

b. INTIMIDATES US

Luke 4:3; Rom 8:15

2. DISCOURAGES US WITH THE TRUTH

Luke 4:9-11; 2 Cor 2:6-11
C. Redefine the battle 1. THERE IS NO BATTLE -- HE IS NONEXISTENT OR IRRELEVANT

Acts 23:8

2. FELLOW BELIEVERS BECOME OPPONENTS –TEMPTS INTO EXCLUSIVISM

1 Cor 3:4-5

3. BATTLE BECOME "FLESHLY" - FLESHLY EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE SPIRITUAL ENDS

Luke 4:6-7; 1 Chron 21:1; Mat 26:51-52

4. BATTLE FOR POWER & AUTHORITY

Gen 3:5; Jude 1:4, 8-10
D. Bring division 1. UNRESOLVED ANGER, UNFORGIVENESS, BITTERNESS

Eph 4:26-31; Eph 4:3

2. ENVY, PRIDE, SELFISH AMBITION

Jam 3:14-15

3. COVETOUSNESS, MURDER, ARGUMENTS

Jam 4:1-2

4. JUDGMENT, SLANDER, GOSSIP, INFLAMMATORY SPEECH

Jam 4:11; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8

5. ALIENATION FROM LEADERS -- SEEDS OF MISTRUST

Gen 3:4-5; 1 Sam 15:23; Num 16:11

 

E. Deceive 1. LIES
John 8:44; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 16:14; 20:7-8

2. TWISTS THE TRUTH

2 Cor 11:14; Gen 3:5; Matt 4:6

3. TARGETS GOD’S PEOPLE

Mat 24:24

 

F. Lead into error 1. FALSE TEACHERS

1 Tim 4:1-2; Gal 3:1; 4:17; 2 Tim 4:3-4

2. FALSE TEACHING

2 Cor 10:4-5; 11:3-4

3. FALSE MIRACLES

2 Thes 2:9-12; Rev 16:14; 19:20; Matt 7:22-23

4. TARGETS GOOD LEADERS

Acts 20:28-31; 3 John 1:9-10

 

G. Gain direct influence 1. BLATANT OCCULTISM
    Luke 4:5-7

2. VEILED OCCULTISM -- "NEW AGE" & CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM
    Acts 19:19; Acts 15:19-20; Acts 8:18-20; Gen 3:5

3. WANTS TO DEMONIZE BELIEVERS
    Matt 12:43; Eph 4:26-27; Mat 16:22-23
H. Prevent conversion 1. STEALS SEEDS OF THE GOSPEL
    Mat 13:4, 19

2. BLINDS UNBELIEVERS
    2 Corinthians 4:4
I. Dilute our efforts 1. PUTS PHONY IN WITH THE REAL

Matt 13: 24-25, 38-39; Acts 20:29-30; Jude 1:4; 1 John 4:3

2. TRIES TO CHANGE THE CHURCH'S AGENDA

Luke 22:3; John 12:5-6; Matt 27:3-5