Stand Firm: Satan's Schemes

Sunday, in our summer series, we’ll consider the apostle’s meaning of “schemes of the devil.” Paul is clear that our conflict is with spiritual forces whose leader is Lucifer, God’s created angelic servant who rebelled, taking a third of the heavenly host with him. Here he is called the “devil” or the “slanderer.” While this title gives us a clue into his schemes, it doesn’t help us understand how the armor of God helps us resist him.

Two scriptural texts help us understand the attacks of our slanderous adversary: Ephesians and 1 Timothy. The issues that Paul addresses in the Ephesian letter (faith, hope, unity, morality, etc.) give us an idea into Satan’s schemes, but so does Paul’s letter to Timothy whom Paul left in Ephesus. We’ll consider both texts to help us understand the enemy we are preparing to stand against.

 So come Sunday and let’s know our enemy!