Taking the Offense Against Satan's Temptations
By: Bruce Wilkinson
It doesn't appear that the Biblical norm is for the believer to attack Satan, but rather to obey God through personal
holiness and through intentional effort to expand God's Kingdom according to the Great Commission. The more ative
the believer is in expanding the "rule of God" in his own life and family, in his marketplace, and in
the world, the more his enemy will be inclined to attack him. It is perhaps wisest to seek to "stand"
and "expand" rather than attack satan. Expand the Lord's Kingdom and you will automatically solicit the
enemy's attack. The more strategic your efforts are to the Lord's glory, the more temptations and attackd you will
experience to thwart those victories. However, at times you will need to wrestle intensely as you are being pushed
back. Listed below in every summary form are a number of Biblical "offensive" weapons to defeat the enemy's
temptations:
1. Actively use your faith directly where the attack is aimed at you"
Above all, taking the sheild of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:16
Your faith can be both a powerful defense as well as a powerful offense. The main strategy of the enemy is to
deceive you through half-truths, twisted truths, and out-and-out lies about God and your salvation. Express the
Biblical truth and your belief of that truth and your defense will grow stronger by the second. For the offense,
take promises of the Bible and not only quote them, but actually place your whole life in utter abandonment on
the Lord's reliable and precious promises.
2. Actively use the Word of God directly where the attack is aimed at you:
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:17
Undeniably, the Bible is the most powerful weapon at your disposal. It's not without notice that when satan
himself attacked jesus, Jesus fought each temptation by quoting the Bible! Wherever you find yourself attacked,
quote the Scriptures. Not just quote them, but thrust with them!
3. Actively overcome satan through the "blood of the Lamb":
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12
The "blood of the Lamb" is both a past and present weapon. The shed blood of Jesus was the deciding
factor in the ultimate victory of Jesus over satan. State through prayer or outright declarations of fact that
satan was totally defeated at the cross and you are standing in that complete victory. Claim the victory of Christ's
blood to be applied in the present over you, your family, work, home, ministry, etc. and remind satan out loud
of his defeat, not only at the cross but at the present moment due to the all-powerful shed blood of Christ.
4. Actively overcome satan through the "word of your testimony":
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their
lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
Your word of testimony of your commitment to Christ and to Him alone for your eternal salvation, for your present
life, and for your continuing victory over the enemy has a powerful impact. Although satan has incredible power,
he does not have the power to overthrow your personal choice.
5. Actively overcome satan through "not loving your life to the point of death":
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their
lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
There's something absolutely powerful in battle if you would die for the cause you are fighting for. That your
life was of secondary importance to you in comparison to the desire for you to see the ultimate victory of Jesus
Christ. All threats of the enemy lose their force and become mere empty words. Numerous times, men who are in the
thick of satanic warfare have found the external verbalization that they will not back down, they will not give
up- even if it costs them their lives- to be the effective weapon of victory.
6. Actively overcome satan through submitting yourself to God fervently and without any conditions to be, do, and
give whatever He so desires, and then resist satan directly with all your heart, your mind, your soul, and your
might:
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6-7
Submission and resistance are the flip sides to the same coin of freadom from the temptation from the enemy.
Usually in an intense attack from the enemy, you may be faltering in continuing to submit to the process that the
Lord may have placed you into and subtly are beginning to resist God. At that point, the enemy moves in like a
flood and seeks to confirm your rebellion. That must be the moment of your firm choice of further submission to
God regardless of the cost or consequences to you. Resist satan ruthlessly and do not permit him to move you even
one inch!
7. Actively overcome satan through denying your selfish ambitions and seeking the wisdom of God which is pure,
peaceable, and easy to be entered.
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom
descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion
and every evil work. James 3:14-16
When you have either or both "bitter envy" or "self-seeking/selfish ambition" in your hearts
you have dramatically invited satan to attack and defeat you. Note that "where" these two sins exist,
there is the "earthly, sensual, and demonic." Confess and repent. Seek wisdom that is from above and
watch the demonic fall before the angelic.
Morning Bible reading:
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The
spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Morning Prayer
Dear God,
I awaken with You on my mind, oh my Savior and Lord. How wonderful are Your affections to me and how magnificent
are Your gifts for me. The gift of my salvation will be continuously unwrapped for all eternity--how can I ever
express my gratitude and love? Then I remember that you made this world as man's dwelling place--everywhere I look,
I see Your creativity and flair for intricate beauty.
Lord, I desire to love You and not the world or the things of the world. I covet you--and You who dwell in me
are earnestly jealous for me. How can these things be except by your grace and mercy! I therefore deny the things
of the world system especially the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life which are not
from You. Lord, I want to make myself more and more of Your friend. Lead me in the way.
Afternoon Bible reading
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit
the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Galatans 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 22 But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Afternoon Prayer
Dear Lord,
How often have I lived my life in the flesh! In fact, I so seldom "set my mind on things of the Spirit"--no
wonder that my life shows so little fruit of the Spirit like "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." How I long for the character of Christ rather than the fruit
of my flesh!
I confess the sin of living in my flesh rather than in the Spirit. I admit I have tried to improve my "flesh"
rather than crucify it! I have sought to pamper my flesh rather than "put it off" and "put on"
the new man in Christ. Lord, the ways of the flesh don't bring life nor joy but selfishness and distress. I repent
and confess my sin. I choose to walk in the Spirit so that I will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Thank You
for Victory through Your Holy Spirit.
Evening Bible Reading
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will
draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.
Evening Prayer
Dear Great Warrior who Defeated all Enemies,
I bow in humility before You. I kneel, no I fall prostrate before You. None is like You in all the universe.
You have defeated Your enemies. You have defeated my enemies. None can stand before Your Victory. I submit to you
in all things and resist the enemy.
I am committed to personal holiness in times of temptation and therefore seek to "be strong in the Lord
and the power of His might" to "be able to stand against the whiles of the devil." Lord, I confess
my enemy has overrun me so many times because I have not heeded Your warnings nor put on Your armor and put it
on piece by piece. I am strong in the power of Your Might!
Yes, Lord!
