Understanding the Schemes of the Devil for the World and Humans.

Most of us would rather speak about the Lord Jesus than about His enemy (and our enemy) the
devil, but the Bible says that the devil is a very real and a very dangerous character. Therefore,
we must speak about him.

We are told in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that true Christians are not ignorant of the devil’s devices.
Timothy was to teach in such a way that his listeners might “recover themselves out of the snare
of the devil” (2 Timothy 2:26). In Ephesians 6:11 we are told to put on the whole armor of God
that we might be able “to stand against the wiles of the devil.” The word “wiles” is sometimes
translated “tactics” or “schemes” or “strategies.” Strategy is the carefully arranged plan to
deceive and outwit others. The devil’s primary work is deception, and thus the words wiles,
tactics, schemes, and strategies are all appropriate.

One of Satan’s cunning schemes is to try and convince people that he does not really exist. 

The devil is a person just as real as God. He is not as powerful as God, but he is just as real. D.
L. Moody used to say that there were two reasons why he believed the devil exists as a real
being: (1) The Bible says so. (2) I’ve done business with him.

When Jesus spoke of the devil, He used personal pronouns. Jesus said to Peter, “Behold, Satan
hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). Later, the Apostle Peter
said, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). According to the Bible, the devil is a created,
personal, spirit being. And just because we cannot see him does not mean that he is not real.

We don’t understand all there is to know about the devil, but the Bible says he has his own
synagogue (Revelation 2:9), his own gospel (Galatians 1:6-9), his own ministers (2 Corinthians
11:14-15), his own doctrines (1 Timothy 4:1), and his own communion service (1 Corinthians
10:20-21).

Jesus says that the devil “abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he
speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). 

Sometimes Satan quotes from the Bible (he uses Bible verses), but he distorts the truth to try and
make the Bible say something altogether different from its plain statements. For example, one
church leader was commenting on the teaching about the “Feeding of the 5,000” in Matthew 14.
He concluded that Jesus did not perform a miracle and create food on that occasion, but that the
five-thousand-plus people simply shared their lunches with each other. He viewed the passage as
a beautiful example of how things can work out well if each person is willing to contribute a
little bit.

The point is that the devil is a liar—and any attempt to play down (or to twist) the Scriptures is
definitely motivated by the devil in his attempt to try and dishonor the plan of God.
Satan is always on the alert. He is looking for weak places in our defense system; he is eager to
take advantage of any opening we might give him through a lack of watchfulness.

The Bible speaks of the betrayal of Jesus (just before His crucifixion), and says, “The devil
having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him . . . ” (John 13:2).
And at another place, the Scripture says, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the
Holy Ghost?” (Acts 5:3). These passages answer some unique questions: Who was it that
prompted Judas to betray Jesus? And who motivated Ananias to lie about the donated money?
The Bible says it was the devil.

It is the devil who entices us to do wrong. It is the devil who inflames the passions, and stirs the
appetites, and awakens old habits. We don’t have to give in to him. We are given the power of
choice. But Satan is one who sneaks into the hearts of people and tries to lead all of us astray.
The wicked thoughts we contend with from time to time are energized by the devil and
empowered by all the forces of evil. The ultimate aim of the devil is to mar us and scar us; to
disfigure the image of God in us; to saturate our minds with filth and dirt and moral rot; to wrap
us in darkness and lock us forever in the place where there is only weeping and gnashing of
teeth.

The devil aims to slay everything that is noble and decent and good in our lives. He has
energized every rotten deed that has ever been committed by every person that has ever walked
on the face of the earth. The devil puts evil suggestions into our minds.

The Bible says, “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not . . . this wisdom
descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:14-15). The Bible says that
a bitter and unforgiving spirit among fellow-Christians is demonic; it is of the devil; it is inspired
by Satan.

Satan delights in hearing us say unkind and critical (and often untrue) things about our brothers
and sisters in Christ. Sharpness and contention among Christians does not promote the cause of
Christ. Such conduct helps instead to extend the devil’s kingdom. We need to take seriously the
admonition of Ephesians 4:32, where we read, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

The word “kindness” speaks of a generous and thoughtful attitude toward others. The word
“tenderhearted” means heartfelt compassion, a sense of sympathy that feels for the needs and the
circumstances of others. We should be careful not to quickly clobber others with words of
negative criticism. Satan, by way of contrast, stirs up bitterness and envy, and does everything he
can to break down a spirit of harmony among God’s people. The devil sows tares of conflict and
discontent among believers in order to dampen their testimony.

Satan is the one who tempts to sexual immorality. All those men who are running off with other
women, and people who are living together without the commitment of marriage, are following
the promptings of the devil. The temptation to longingly lust after a person of the opposite sex is
a device promoted by Satan. The conduct evidenced by those miserable lust-buzzards who eye
every woman they meet and gush over silly females walking down the street, is initiated by the
devil in order to break down the sanctity of our homes and to saturate our communities with
fornication and incest and prostitution and adultery and all the other ugly sins related to sexual
immorality.

We are living in the midst of a tremendous moral revolution. Most of our society is pleasure
oriented. The mood is permissive and immodest and daring. There is an attitude of irreverence
toward God and sacred things. Many consider sexual purity a concept that no longer has validity.
Our age is reeking with sexual immorality, and Satan will do his best to get us to become
careless about maintaining high moral standards.

The devil does his best to discourage disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ by bringing various kinds
of persecution to bear upon them. Revelation 2:10 says, “Fear none of those things which thou
shalt suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison.”

For most of us, persecution comes in the form of social pressure. People where you work want
you to engage in activities which you believe are wrong—and if you refuse to join them—they
make derogatory remarks, or at least laugh at you behind your back. That is a form of
persecution, and even though it is a milder form of persecution than the martyrdom of earlier
centuries, it is still persecution, and it is the devil who incites it all.

When we think about the devices of the devil, we must remember that the devil is a liar; he puts
evil suggestions into our minds; he develops a bitter and unforgiving spirit among brethren and
sisters; he tempts believers to sexual immorality; and he incites persecution against Christians in
order to discourage them.

Each of us is confronted daily with the snares, the tactics, the tricks, and the devices of the devil.
Satan is not in Hell now; he is not locked up in the bottomless pit (as he will be someday). He is
the “god of this age,” walking up and down in this world, seeking to drag men and women away
from Christ. He has each of our names on his list, and he is doing his level best to drag each one
of us down to defeat and destruction. 

We cannot resist the devil in our own human power. We must be a committed child of God, and
have the Lord Jesus Christ dwelling within. The message to Christian believers in 1 John 4:4 is
this: “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” (Do you remember the great
passage in Galatians 2:20? The Apostle Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.”) Jesus Christ, who dwells within the body of the
believing Christian, is greater than the devil, who is the god of this world!

The devil is a supernatural being, and it takes a supernatural power to respond to his devices.
Jesus Christ is that power. In order to overcome the devices of the devil, we must surrender our
lives to God and receive Jesus into our hearts by faith. When a person takes that step, he
becomes a new creature with new desires and with new powers to overcome temptation.

We can resist the devil in the same way that Jesus resisted him when He was tempted in the
wilderness. Jesus resisted the devil by appealing to the Scriptures. When the devil commanded
Him to turn stones into bread, Jesus said, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone.” When
the devil told Him to jump off the pinnacle of the Temple, Jesus said, “It is written, Thou shalt
not tempt the Lord thy God.” When Satan offered Him all the kingdoms of the world, Jesus said,
“It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Jesus resisted the devil by appealing to the Scriptures. He could have summoned ten thousand
angels; He could have displayed His own supernatural powers, but instead, Jesus used the same
weapon that is available to every one of us—the Word of God. All of us must make new
commitments to spend more time with the Bible; to memorize portions of Scripture; to study the
Word of God—so that we will have a Scriptural dart to throw at the devil every time he comes
our way with a temptation.

One who takes Christ as his Savior and starts to live and work for Him will soon discover that
there is an enemy seeking to destroy his faith and testimony. All of us find that living the
Christian life involves an ongoing warfare. But God has provided spiritual armor to protect us,
and he has placed in our hands a sword—the Word of God—to help us conquer and overcome
evil. We read about the armor in Ephesians 6:10-18.

The armor includes a belt of truth (it always pays to be truthful), a breastplate of righteousness
(the ability to do the right thing), and a shield of faith (the willingness to trust and believe that
what God says is true). In addition, He gives the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

In the Christian life we battle against powerful evil forces headed by Satan. To withstand his
attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of armor which is provided. All
believers are special objects of Satan’s attacks because they are no longer on Satan’s side. We
need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided that power by the Holy Spirit
who lives within us, and by the provision of armor which surrounds us. May God help every
believer to be alert to these truths.

The Devil knows our weaknesses. He won’t waste time tempting us with temptations that don’t
appeal. He knows our weakness and will focus his energy there. Be ready!

He makes it easy to rationalize sin. He’ll use every trick from renaming sins (sins become
indiscretions, peccadillos and faults) to justifications of every sort (“everyone is doing it” and
“no one is really getting hurt”).

The Devil encourages us to practice “selective hearing.” Kids are great at this (and not a few
husbands too). Look at the different responses you get to “I need someone to take out garbage!”
and “Who wants ice cream?” We practice selective seeing when all we see is the temptation and
no alternative: “What could I do? I had no choice.” (See 1 Corinthians 10:13.) There is always
the Lincoln Alternative. Abe once advised, “When forced to choose between the lesser of two
evils – choose neither!”

Do we know the evil one’s name?  And do we understand his game?

Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth and taste. 
I’ve been around for a long, long year, Stole many a man’s soul to waste…
 Pleased to meet you, Hope you guess my name.
But what’s puzzling you, Is the nature of my game.
“The Nature of His Game”
Yes, Satan does attack us.  He schemes to do harm and to cause us to sin.  However, we know
from the life of Job, and we must always remember, that Satan is restrained by God.  Satan can’t
do anything without God knowing about it and even controlling it (either by stopping it or
allowing it).  God providentially protects His children from the evil one.  While God also
permissively allows trials, tribulations, pain, and suffering to enter our lives and to afflict us, it is
always with a good reason and for a purpose that will be for our good and His glory.  Often,
when we find ourselves in the midst of a storm, it’s difficult to believe that it’s for our good,
however, in such times, we must always return to that which we know:
 Our God is loving, faithful, and all powerful.
 Nothing happens to us that is not first “filtered” through His strong hands, His loving
will, His faithful mercy, His amazing grace, and His all-powerful control. 
 In all things, He gives us His faithful mercy, His amazing grace, and His mighty strength
to endure.
With assurance, of God’s presence, provision, and protection in all things, let’s address the
schemes of the devil.  His goal is to diminish our witness and steal our joy. And always, he is
determined to accomplish his will.  The list is unending because the evil one is ruthless, so
let’s look at three “big” schemes and how they can be summed up in one subtle, but destructive,
tactic.
1. TEMPTATION: Satan schemes by using temptation.  He works to set before us sinful
things that will tempt us to sin. While Satan cannot inhabit us and make us sin, he can
certainly mess with us and tempt us to sin.  
2. MANIPULATION: Satan schemes by using manipulation.  While Satan is not all-
powerful, he is very clever and skillful at manipulating situations and people—always to
achieve his purpose of provoking us to sin.  
3. All of Satan’s attacks are done with covert tactics.  He is subtle and skillful in his ways. 
He uses deception to confuse and blind us, hoping we will fail to see the harm that lies
before us and be unable to hear and heed God’s Spirit’s direction in our lives. 
4. Satan’s desire is to provoke us to walk in the flesh and not live in the Spirit. He schemes
to turn us from Jesus to false gods, from God’s ways to the ways of the world, from
God’s will to our own selfish desires, from hope to despair, from belief to doubt, from
faith to fear, from peace to anger, from satisfaction to neediness…and the list goes on and
on.  Satan’s hope is to shake our faith and do us harm.
Satan’s Schemes in One Word
All three of Satan’s schemes, lies, temptations, and manipulations—can be summed up in
one word—DISTRACTION.  From the Garden to our present day, Satan’s way has been to
turn our heads, to redirect our eyes, and to divert our attention away from God and put it on
anything else.  He wants to distract us and cause us to focus on worldly and fleshly desires. 
In the Garden, and with every one of us, he attacks using the lust of the eyes, the lust of the
flesh, and the pride of life
“What we want, if men become Christians at all, is to keep them in the state of mind I
call  ‘Christianity And’.  You know—Christianity and the Crisis, Christianity and the New
Psychology, Christianity and the New Order, Christianity and Faith Healing, Christianity and
Psychical Research, Christianity and Vegetarianism, Christianity and Spelling Reform.”¹ 

Beware of the Distractions of Satan

When Satan distracts us with “Christianity and”, we become prey for his schemes: his lies,
temptations, and manipulations. But always remember, his three weapons cannot stand against
the power that we have.  “For greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John
4:4).  
Just as Satan has the Big Three to cause us to sin, our God tells us the Big Three to avoid sin and
live righteously.  These three are the foundation of Christian faith: 
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, 
2. Love the Lord your God with all your soul, and 
3. Love the Lord your God with all your mind.  
The foundation of everything is love (heart) which is the “fuel” of the soul (emotions and desire),
and the “food” for our mind (knowledge and wisdom).  Reasons for Hope* Jesus is a ministry of
apologetics (the mind, knowing) and discipleship (the soul, living) and is dedicated to the glory
of God (the heart, loving). Our homepage proclaims our mission statement of knowing, living,
and loving with:
1. Knowing: RENEW YOUR MIND IN THE WORD: Be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. (Ro 12:2)
2. Living: ANCHOR YOUR SOUL IN HOPE:  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and steadfast. (Heb 6:19)
3. Loving: ESTABLISH YOUR HEART IN GRACE:  It is good that the heart be
established by grace. (Heb 13:9)
Don’t Be Distracted
The Apostle James summed this up well, when he said “…every man is tempted, when he is
drawn away [distracted] of his own lust, and enticed.” (James 1:14)
Do not let Satan and his minions distract you. Stay focused on Jesus. The Apostle Matthew
wrote that “the light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye is single, your whole body
shall be full of light” and Proverbs confirms, “the light of the eyes rejoices the heart” (Prov
15:30).  Therefore, keep “looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our
faith…” (Heb 12:2).  

Jesus is the “…way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).  He is full of truth (John 1:14) and He is
Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11), and He has given us the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and
teaches us the truth.  Jesus promised, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free” (John 8:32).  Therefore we stand strong in Christ and in His truth (Ephesians 6:14).  In
opposition, Satan lies to the world (non-believers) and to Christians.

Just be a good moral person and you’ll get into Heaven.

For those who believe in God and an afterlife, but do not belong to Jesus, Satan will use the
morals and ethics of the Bible to encourage them to work their way to Heaven.
Contrast God’s truth: Jesus is the only way to be forgiven of sins and made worthy to enter
into Heaven. (John 14:6)
If it’s about good works, how many good works are good enough?  Jesus said, “Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)  No one can do that. 
Praise God that He sent Jesus who lived and died for us and offers salvation to those who repent
and trust in Him.  God’s judgment of sin is not satisfied by our good works.  It is satisfied by
Jesus’ perfect works.

You must obey all that God commands you to do, if you want Him to be pleased with you
and have Him continue to love and accept you.
Satan desires that we would minimize God’s love and work hard to earn it.  God’s love is not
like human love.  God’s love is not based on anything we do, but rather what Christ has done.  It
is a free gift and is not based on our obedience.
Remember God’s truth:  God loves us and He accepts us based on Jesus’ good works, not
ours.  We cannot earn more of God’s love and acceptance, nor can we lose any of it.  God
does not need our good works in order to love us.  However, our neighbor does need our
good works, and when we understand the magnitude of the gracious gift we have received, it
should move our hearts in greater love for God and in motivation to love and service others.

Just because you resist the devil once, don’t think that he is going to give up and leave you
alone! He will hit you again and again with the same temptation, to wear you down. Look at how
Delilah wore Samson out with the same request, to tell her the secret of his strength. Finally, he
yielded and the enemy triumphed. His life was a disgrace to the Lord’s name. How did
Nehemiah resist this scheme of intrigue?

B. NEHEMIAH RESISTED SATAN’S INTRIGUES BY STANDING FIRM IN HIS

PRIORITIES.

“I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.” He wasn’t being arrogant. It was just that he
knew that what God had given him to do was important for the Lord’s sake and for His people’s
sake. And it was not quite finished. Walls without gates were as effective as no walls at all. His
priority was to finish the wall. He didn’t allow an unnecessary meeting with the enemy to
distract him from that one aim.

As believers, our chief priority is to glorify God by knowing Jesus Christ and by being
conformed to His character beginning at the heart level. Anything that pulls you away from that
priority, even if it is a ministry, is a ploy of the devil. Beyond that, we have other priorities in
accordance with our gifts. As a pastor-teacher, I must devote myself to prayer and the ministry of
the Word (Acts 6:4; 2 Tim. 4:1-4). To get distracted with other things, even good things, would
be to yield to the enemy’s schemes.
Since this open letter was serious a public accusation against Nehemiah, he did not remain silent.
First, he sent a message back to Sanballat stating the truth and firmly denying the charges: “Such
things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind”
(6:8). Then, he shot up another of his sentence prayers, “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”
(The translators have supplied the words “O God” to reflect the sense of the Hebrew imperative
verb.)

Leaders must pray for God’s wisdom as to whether to remain silent or to reply to false
accusations. But however we respond, prayer and keeping on with the work that God has given
us to do are always right.

The enemy checked Nehemiah with his schemes of intrigue and innuendo. Nehemiah resisted by
standing firm in his priorities and with forthright truth and prayer. But Satan didn’t give up.

Here the enemy combines deception with intimidation and fear. A prophet named Shemaiah was
confined at home. We do not know if he was ill or if he was doing this as a prophetic drama, as
the prophets commonly did. He was not outwardly with the enemy, although Nehemiah would
later discern that Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him (6:12). Apparently they had also hired or at
least influenced a prophetess named Noadiah and other Jewish prophets to try to frighten
Nehemiah (6:14). But Shemaiah called for Nehemiah and then suggested that the two of them
meet within the temple and close the doors, adding “for they are coming to kill you, and they are
coming to kill you at night” (6:10).

Here was a man claiming to have a word from God that could save Nehemiah’s life! “Hide in the
temple while you can, because the enemy is going to kill you some night while you are asleep!”
If Nehemiah had followed this counsel, he would not have been a good leader, and even more, he
would have sinned. If he had gone into hiding, his example of fear would have spread fear
among the workers on the wall. And, not being a priest, Nehemiah would have disobeyed God’s
law by going into the temple (Num. 18:7). Non-priests could flee for protection to the horns of
the altar in the temple courtyard (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28; Exod. 21:14), but they could not enter the
temple itself. If Nehemiah had acted in fear and fled to the temple, his enemies would spread the
evil report to ruin his reputation (Neh. 6:13).
Be careful when someone claiming to be a Christian invite you to do something that you know is
wrong. He may use scare tactics to get you to go along with whatever it is: “Everyone does this.
If you don’t join in, nobody will like you. You won’t get invited to any more parties if you don’t
drink and do drugs with everyone else.” It is the enemy, trying to scare you into sinful behavior
to ruin your testimony. 
WE MUST NEVER PUT CONFIDENCE IN OUR WORK, BUT ONLY IN THE GOD
WHO ENABLES US TO WORK.

Nehemiah couldn’t kick back and admire the wall because these ongoing problems forced him to
keep on fighting the battle and trusting in the Lord. Sometimes we mistakenly think that some
program or building project or other accomplishment will solve all our problems at the church.
But we no sooner achieve our goal than other problems erupt. The Lord uses these things to keep
us looking to Him rather than kicking back and trusting our work.

WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE COMPROMISE WITH THE WORLD, IT HINDERS GOD’S

WORK.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over
this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up
the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all,
to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, ...

Ephesians 6:11 ESV / 22 helpful votes 

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

John 8:44 ESV / 17 helpful votes 

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer
from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When
he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

1 John 3:8 ESV / 15 helpful votes 

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the
beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

James 4:7 ESV / 14 helpful votes 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 14 helpful votes 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly places.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 13 helpful votes 
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,
seeking someone to devour.

Revelation 12:9 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan,
the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown
down with him.

Revelation 12:10 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom
of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been
thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Ephesians 6:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand firm.

2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 2:11 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Ephesians 2:2 ESV / 9 helpful votes 

In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Matthew 13:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes 

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and
snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

Revelation 20:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes 

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast
and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Ephesians 6:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Ephesians 6:16 ESV / 7 helpful votes 

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming
darts of the evil one;

Ephesians 4:27 ESV / 7 helpful votes 

And give no opportunity to the devil.
2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes 
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from
seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Matthew 4:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes 

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,
seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of
suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

James 4:7-8 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to
God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let
you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of
escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 13:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on
the armor of light.

Isaiah 14:12-15 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the
ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the
stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of
the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’
But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

Genesis 3:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said,
“The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 ESV / 5 helpful votes 

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love,
and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Revelation 12:7-9 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon
and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in
heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and
Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were
thrown down with him.

1 John 2:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young
men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil
one.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the
division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions
of the heart.

Hebrews 2:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same
things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Colossians 1:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his
beloved Son,

Ephesians 6:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Ephesians 6:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of
righteousness,

Ephesians 6:10-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over
this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up
the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all,
to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, ...

2 Corinthians 11:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray
from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are
called according to his purpose.

John 14:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.

John 12:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Matthew 25:41 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared
for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 13:39 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

And the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers
are angels.

Matthew 4:1-25 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after
fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If
you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It
is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of
God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ...

Job 1:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said,
“From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

Genesis 3:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Revelation 20:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

And will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and
Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

Revelation 20:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

And threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the
nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little
while.
Revelation 20:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes 
And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a
thousand years,

Revelation 12:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for
they loved not their lives even unto death.

Revelation 12:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten
horns, and on his heads seven diadems.

Jude 1:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper
dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day
—

1 John 2:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to
you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you
know the Father.

2 Peter 2:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to
chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

1 Peter 4:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though
something strange were happening to you.

James 2:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Hebrews 2:14-16 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same
things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is
not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

Colossians 2:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in
him.

Ephesians 6:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:11-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes 
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of
truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put
on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ...

John 16:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

Concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

John 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 12:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that
this man casts out demons.”

Matthew 4:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to
become loaves of bread.”

Revelation 19:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs
by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its
image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Revelation 12:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

But he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

Revelation 12:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon
and his angels fought back,

Revelation 12:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon
stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might
devour it.

Revelation 12:3-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten
horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and
cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so
that when she bore her child he might devour it.
Revelation 9:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes 
They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon,
and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

Revelation 2:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into
prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death,
and I will give you the crown of life.

1 John 5:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1 John 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was
born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

1 John 4:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

1 John 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than
he who is in the world.

1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may
exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and
wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love
the truth and so be saved.

1 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that
somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Colossians 1:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones
or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Colossians 1:1-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and
faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always
thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your
faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up
for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ...
Philippians 2:5-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes 
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the
form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing,
taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore
God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ...

Ephesians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all
perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Ephesians 6:11-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ephesians 2:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

2 Corinthians 6:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

By truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand
and for the left;

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has
overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted
beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may
be able to endure it.

Romans 10:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Acts 26:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to
God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by
faith in me.’

Acts 5:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep
back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
John 14:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes 
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,

John 10:27-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they
will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them
to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

Luke 22:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.

Luke 10:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your
name!”

Luke 8:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.

Luke 8:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What
have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.”

Luke 4:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know
who you are—the Holy One of God.”

Luke 4:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

And said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to
me, and I give it to whom I will.

Luke 4:5-7 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,
and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to
me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”

Luke 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”

Five Subtle Devices of the Devil (biblehelpsinc.org)

Lesson 6: Resisting Satan’s Schemes (Nehemiah 6:1-19) | Bible.org
What Does the Bible Say About Schemes Of The Devil? (openbible.info)
How Much Should I Fear Satan? » Reasons for Hope* Jesus (reasonsforhopejesus.com)