How to Recognize An Enticing Satanic Attack

First, it’s easy to put a thought in someone’s mind. Have you ever had a song “stuck” in your head? How did it get there? Did you ask for it? No, you heard a song and it stayed with you. Something outside of you to think about something you had no intention to think about.

This also happens when people say something to us. A few years ago a woman told me that my connected ear lobes is a sign that I a susceptible to heart attack. It isn’t true, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I got anxious and started doing research to find out what she was talking about. Her words bothered me! She put a thought in my mind that caused me anxiety.

That’s what Satan does.

1. The Nature of Enticing Satanic attacks

A. Satan attacks our minds with thoughts.

1) Prophets unknowingly believed a lie from a spirit. 1 Kings 22:3-6, 19-24

1 Kings 22:3–6 ESV

3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

1 Kings 22:19–24 ESV

19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.” 24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?”

2) Satan put an enticing thought in David’s mind. 1 Chronicles 21:1

1 Chronicles 21:1 ESV

1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

cf. Job 36:18, Deut. 13:6

3) The religious leaders “heard” Satan. John 8:37-44

John 8:37–38 ESV

37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

4) Satan filled Ananias and Sapphira’s hearts with a lie. Acts 5:3

Acts 5:3 ESV

3 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?

5) Satan blinds the minds/thoughts of unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 4:4

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

4 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.

6) Satan can lead our thoughts astray. 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Corinthians 2:11

2 Corinthians 11:3 ESV

3 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.

B. Satan looks for opportunities. 1 Peter 5:8, Eph 4:26-27

An opportunity is understood as having the room or space to perform.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Satan doesn’t have to create opportunities in our lives, there are plenty!

Ephesians 4:26–27 ESV

26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

Anger can be an opportunity for Satan. Ephesians 4:26-27

Finances can be an opportunity for Satan Acts 5:1-9

Marital disagreement can be an opportunity for Satan. 1 Corinthians 7:5

Lack of forgiveness can be an opportunity for Satan. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

False teaching can be an opportunity for Satan. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

Idleness can be an opportunity for Satan. 1 Timothy 5:11-15

Satan doesn’t have to create opportunities, h

c) Satan hides the attacks.

2. The Armor is the Key to Recognizing Enticing Satanic Attacks

The purpose of armor is to defend against specific kinds of attacks.

What is this? A welder’s shied. What does it protect? It protects your eyes from radiant energy or light radiation from arcs or flames.

What is this? A beekeeper’s suit. To protect your skin from bee stings.

What’s this? A fencing suit. To protect your body and face from a fencing sword.

What’s this? A Kevlar vest. To protect your chest from bullets.

What’s this? A hard hat, to protect your head from falling debris.

Ephesians 6:11–12 ESV

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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.

A. It’s God’s armor. Ephesians 6:11

B. It’s for a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12

C. It consists of values.

Ephesians 6:14–17 ESV

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

The values are qualities that function as standards to guide our thoughts and actions.

1) Truth: Reality, facts, what has happened, what is known Ephesians 6:14

Truth identifies thoughts I do not know are true; thoughts that twist the truth or speculate as to what may be true about a person or situation. Thoughts I know are wrong.

2) Righteousness: Thinking and doing what God expects, what is right in God’s eyes. Ephesians 6:14

Righteousness identifies thoughts about others and God that are not right. Thoughts of doing things I know are not right. Thoughts of acting independently from God.

3) Readiness: Being calm and ready, prepared to act, serve, help, and do something for God. Ephesians 6:15

Readiness identifies thoughts of discouragement, quitting, giving up on God, people, my hopes, my ministry, my life. Distracting thoughts that sidetrack me from what I am doing for God.

4) Faith: Confidence and determination based on the evidence of a promise from God in the face of uncertainty Ephesians 6:16

Faith identifies thoughts that raise doubt, question God’s love, character, faithfulness and my motives. Thoughts that I may have misunderstood God. Confusing thoughts about what to think or do.

5) Salvation: I know I am saved, not alone, of worth to God, delivered from the penalty and power of sin. Ephesians 6:17

Salvation identifies condemning, accusing thoughts, feelings of unworthiness, thinking I am worthless, others think I am worthless. Feeling ashamed, hopeless and alone.

6) Rhema – What God says about my thoughts, feelings, situation. Ephesians 6:17

Rhema identifies thoughts that contradict and challenge what God has said and promised.

3. Using the Armor to Detect an Enticing Satanic Attack

Satan finds an opportunity which is a trial, test, discipline, pruning or persecution in our life.

Satan attacks with thoughts that are 1)not true, 2) unrighteous, 3) discouraging, 4) doubting, 5) condemning, 6) contradicting God. How do we know? These are the opposite of the values of the armor of God.

An example of a health problem.

Finances - you need this money, you should lie to keep it - good response: I resist this, lying is wrong, God will provide.

Finances - you need this money, you should lie to keep it - bad response: You lie and sin

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