Strategy: Deception

• Eden: "Yea, hath God said?" Genesis 3:1. Satan questions God's word and replaces it with a lie.
• Wilderness: "If thou be the Son of God" Matthew 4:3, 6. Satan twists identity and Scripture.
• Last days: "That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" Revelation 12:9.
• Counter: Abide in the truth. "Thy word is truth" John 17:17.

Strategy: Accusation

• Job: Satan accused Job of serving God for gain Job 1:9-11.
• Joshua: Satan stood to resist the high priest Zechariah 3:1.
• The church: "The accuser of our brethren... accused them before our God day and night" Revelation 12:10.
• Counter: The blood of Jesus. "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?" Romans 8:33.

Strategy: Temptation

• Eve: Desire for wisdom and autonomy Genesis 3:6.
• Jesus: Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life Matthew 4:1-111 John 2:16.
• Believers: Satan desired to sift Peter Luke 22:31.
• Counter: Flee temptation and rely on the Spirit. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" Galatians 5:16.

Strategy: Division

• Cain and Abel: Jealousy and murder (Gen. 4).
• Korah's rebellion: Division against Moses' authority (Num. 16).
• Corinth: Contentions, parties, and schisms 1 Corinthians 1:10-131 Corinthians 3:3.
• Counter: Pursue unity in truth. "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" Ephesians 4:3.

Strategy: Oppression and Affliction

• The demoniac in the Gadarenes: Torment and isolation Mark 5:1-20.
• The woman bound eighteen years: Physical infirmity linked to Satan Luke 13:11-16.
• Paul's thorn: A messenger of Satan to buffet him 2 Corinthians 12:7.
• Counter: Authority in Christ and prayer. "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils" Matthew 10:8.

Strategy: Counterfeit Religion

• Egypt's magicians: Miracles that imitated God's works Exodus 7:11-12, 22.
• Simon the sorcerer: Seeking to buy the Holy Spirit's power Acts 8:9-24.
• False christs and false prophets: Great signs and wonders Matthew 24:24.
• Counter: Test the spirits and hold fast to the gospel 1 John 4:1Galatians 1:8.

Strategy: World-System Pressure

• The tower of Babel: Unified rebellion against God Genesis 11:1-9.
• Daniel's friends: Pressure to worship the image (Dan. 3).
• The early church: Persecution from state and synagogue (Acts 4–8).
• Counter: Do not love the world. "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed" Romans 12:2.

Strategy: Spiritual Sleepiness

• The disciples in Gethsemane: Could not watch one hour Mark 14:37-38.
• The ten virgins: Oil lamps without oil Matthew 25:1-13.
• The church in Sardis: A name that lived while it was dead Revelation 3:1.
• Counter: Watch and pray. "Be sober, be vigilant" 1 Peter 5:8.

Summary: Satan repeats a limited set of strategies throughout Scripture — deception, accusation, temptation, division, oppression, counterfeit religion, world-system pressure, and spiritual sleepiness — and each has a clear biblical counter.

Key principle: "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" 2 Corinthians 2:11. Recognizing the strategy is the first step to resisting it.

Core teaching points:

• Deception questions God's word; the counter is to abide in the truth Genesis 3:1John 17:17.
• Accusation brings charges against believers; the counter is the blood of Jesus Job 1:9-11Romans 8:33.
• Temptation offers attractive alternatives to obedience; the counter is walking in the Spirit Matthew 4:1-11Galatians 5:16.
• Division sows jealousy and schism; the counter is unity in the bond of peace 1 Corinthians 1:10-13Ephesians 4:3.
• Oppression and affliction torment through infirmity; the counter is authority in Christ and prayer Mark 5:1-20Matthew 10:8.
• Counterfeit religion imitates God's works; the counter is testing the spirits and holding fast to the gospel Exodus 7:11-12Galatians 1:8.
• World-system pressure demands conformity; the counter is transformation by the renewing of the mind Romans 12:2.
• Spiritual sleepiness dulls watchfulness; the counter is to be sober and vigilant Mark 14:37-381 Peter 5:8.

Real-world example: A church conflict escalates as members take sides over a minor issue; a leader helps them see division as a Satanic strategy and calls the church back to Ephesians 4:3.

Common student mistake: Treating every spiritual challenge as unique and random rather than recognizing repeated biblical patterns.

Practice assignment: Identify one current struggle as a Satanic strategy and apply the biblical counter every day for one week.

Worksheet idea: "Strategy Tracker": for one week, identify each spiritual challenge as one of the eight strategies and record the counter-verse you used.

Completion requirement: Complete a one-week strategy tracker and explain how recognizing a pattern changed your response.