A blunt reality of life is that “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2), Satan, still rages against all who are in Christ. To be sure, at the cross the Son of God struck a lethal blow against the Evil One, and we know how things will end (see Rev 20:10). But for now, between Jesus’ first and second comings, the devil is still ominous—a roaring lion “seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8).
One of the his chief strategies is deception: “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14), but in fact he is a liar (John 8:44). In his creative work, The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis points out some of Satan’s devious tactics—phrased as counsel from a senior demon to his demon apprentice. Here are several chapter summaries (from andynasseli.com):
Make him [i.e., the Christian] disillusioned with the church by highlighting people he self-righteously considers strange or hypocritical.
Keep him from seriously intending to pray, and if that fails, subtly misdirect his focus to himself or an object rather than a Person.
Make him either an extreme patriot or an extreme pacifist who regards his cause as the most important part of Christianity.
Make good use of your patient’s troughs and peaks, and beware that the Enemy [i.e., God] relies on troughs more than peaks.
Convince him to blend in with his new worldly acquaintances.
Don’t underestimate the power of “very small sins” because “the safest road to Hell is the gradual one.”
Make him proud of his humility; use both vainglory and false modesty to keep him from humility’s true end.
Encourage church-hopping.
Understand that the Enemy has filled His world full of pleasures and that you must twist them before you can use them.
