Satan and His Schemes: Introduction

Introduction: It is amazing to note that today’s Evangelical Church prides itself in knowledge but has deprived itself in one absolutely important area. This area is completely ignored and is essential to living a victorious Scriptural life. When we say “victorious” we do not mean a sinless life! It is God alone, who in spite of many trials and temptations, enables us to persevere by grace.

The key to the Christian’s perseverance is suprisingly not “love,” but Knowledge. As Scripture declares in Romans 5:3-4: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

The individual Christian must know and understand what Scripture says about the Christian life above and beyond what the popular preacher tells us it says. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to fighting this Spiritual battle. When the time comes for the Christian to give an account to God of himself, “I did not know” will not suffice before Divine Justice. And know this with certainty, God will not care of the name of the preacher you were under! The Scripture declares, ” 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

The Greek has several meanings for the word “know.” For example, if we were to ask a Christian if they know pastor Chuck Smith, they would probably answer affirmatively. Now, if we were to ask Chuck Smith about this individual, more than likely Pastor Chuck would not “know” him personally. The antithesis to this form of “know” is the example of how a husband “knows” his wife. This is an experential knowledge which runs deep; it is intimate. The word “know” in this instance is said to be “pregnant” with meaning. The word “know” in the first instance is empty. In the latter instance “know” is like an artery that is rich in life giving blood that sustains life.

The point we are striving to make is this: There are many so-called Christians dangerously living religious lives and have empty “knowledge” of Christ. They know about Christ but do not know him personally. How do they know they are not running the race by dead works because they have not known the righteousness that comes from God? The most horrible words a person can ever hear are, “depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you.”

As we begin our look into Satan’s schemes against Christians, we must examine ourselves and see if we are truly in the faith. The question to ask is not how our walk is, but, are we children of the King of Kings who holds our walk by the Word of His power? These will be a series of articles on Satan’s schemes and they will challenge us to know the Adversary for who he really is. The Christian will be victorious because he knows something. Stay plugged and let us grow together in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.