“The only weapon Satan has is lies.”
Truer words have never been spoken. Author Jennifer Kennedy Dean’s statement finds its basis in Jesus’ description of Satan in John 8:44: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
For an enemy with only one weapon, he’s sure waging a successful war.
By definition, a lie is the opposite of the truth. Because fewer and fewer people believe in truth, let alone the truth of God’s Word, it’s no surprise that Satan appears to be winning the battle.
Because lies are like cockroaches, which flee when you turn on the light, I’d like to shine some light on a few of Satan’s most pervasive lies:
Truth: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7).
This world (under Satan’s temporary rule) tries to convince us that we are only valuable when we are measurably productive. This is a lie from the pit of hell. The unborn, the handicapped, and the aged are victimized by this lie, but it also winds its poisonous tentacles around the stay-at-home wife or mother, the retired, unemployed, and uneducated.
God’s Word, however, tells us the opposite — that we are valuable in and of ourselves. Because we are created in God’s image, we have infinite worth.
Lie #2: You’d be happy if you just had ___________.
Truth: “Then (Jesus) said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15).
This lie, however, doesn’t limit itself to boats, and cars, and houses. It tells us we’d be happier if we were married. Or divorced. Or had different children, husbands, jobs, or bank accounts. The lie that we need something or someone is as old as the Garden of Eden, but Satan continues to repurpose it.
The only thing that will truly satisfy us is a relationship with Christ. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” Jesus said. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Lie #3: God’s Word isn’t true.
Truth: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
“Think about how powerful that lie is,” writes blogger Douglas Hoff on Belief.net. “If the word of God is not true then there would be no need to obey God. The devil doesn’t care if you hang onto part of the truth, because he has you where he wants you if don’t have all of the truth. He doesn’t mind if people call the Bible ‘a good guidebook for raising a family’ as long as he can convince people it is full of errors and man-made stories.”
Lie #4: Living for God is a waste of time.
Truth: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Matthew 16:24–26).
Author and pastor John Piper says this: “It is possible to waste your life. Few things make me tremble more than the possibility of taking this onetime gift of life and wasting it. Every morning when I walked into the kitchen as a boy I saw hanging on the wall the plaque that now hangs in my living room: ‘Only one life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.’
"And now I am almost 58, and the river of life is spilling over the falls of my days with tremendous speed. More and more I smell eternity. And oh, how I want to use my life well. It is so short and so fragile and so final. You get one chance to live your life. And then the judgment."
Pastor/teacher Chip Ingram issues a final warning to us about Satan’s lies: "We must recognize how the evil one is working in this world and take a firm stance against him. It means we take careful thought concerning what we put in our minds - what we listen to, what we watch, and how we use our time.”
So how do we spot Satan’s lies? How do we guard ourselves against their poison? By filling our minds and hearts with the truth of God’s Word.
I encourage you, the next time Satan's cockroach lies creep across your mind, turn on the light of God’s Word, and watch them flee. "The devil abhors light and truth,” missionary Watchman Nee wrote, “because these remove the ground of his working."
Now it’s your turn. What lie does Satan throw at you, and what scriptural truth do you use to combat it? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
Great truths to remember because we do face those lies every day in some way whether from TV, social media or words from others. Knowing who we are in Christ is the key to combating lies and meditating on the words of Jesus will bring us the truth that sets us free. Thanks, Lori!
ReplyDeleteAmen, Barbara. Well said.
DeleteI don't hold with a devil as a being trying to trip us up. Humans are quite capable of causing enough trouble
ReplyDeleteJesus may have used plain language but it was to try and explain what's in the end beyond explaining. We have to find our own truth , so if you want to take things one way , fine , if I choose to interprit things another way that's my choice as the Bible presents many points of view
Just as if you choose to stay at home , fine ,I choose to work , that's fine too