How does the devil work?

Question

In Christianity what are specific real life examples of how the devil works?

Also, any specific examples of how the devil works in the Bible?

Answer 1

In addition to being the accuser. Satan is also the "stumbling block". That's the effect to which Jesus uses the term against Peter when he attempts to dissuade Him from the cross.

Mark 8:33 (NIV)

³³ But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

So, Satan's job in one sense is to trip us up.

Answer 2

Satan is a Hebrew word (Ha-Satan) that means The Accuser. In Job 1, we see the Accuser doing what he does best- making accusations against God's chosen.

Because the devil is a created being, and therefore nowhere near being God's equal, he can only accuse people in front of God, and God may allow the Devil to bring about events as a result.

Interestingly, the point of the Gospel is because that there is therefore now No condemnation for those who believe in Christ Jesus, the Devil has lost his one ability over God's elect, namely the ability to accuse the Brethren.

Answer 3

The Devil works in all evil. The father of lies, the World is where he reigns.

George MacDonald said, "The one principle of hell is - 'I am my own.'" Perhaps the biggest lie of all and the source of pride.

Answer 4

Satan's Tactics

In the Genesis account, we see a few key methods:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1-5

• Casting doubt on the word of God >> "Did God really say?"
• Misquoting God >> "Did God really say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'"
• Lying and contradicting the word of God >> "You will not surely die."
• Attacking the character of God and promising benefits >> "For God knows that when you eat it you will become like God.

Man's Weakness

The description in verse 6 identifies key areas where Eve was tempted (and all of us are today as well). This is quite interesting in light of 1 John 2:15-17

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

• The fruit was good for food >> Desires of the flesh
• A delight to the eyes >> Desires of the eyes
• Desirable for gaining wisdom >> Pride of life

I've tried to summarize these a number of times and have come up with Pleasures, Possessions, and Pride as well as Appetites, Acquisitions, and Aspirations.

The first seems to be an appeal to physical desires that are not evil in themselves. In fact, God had amply provided for those. The second seems to possibly refer to greed and the desire to possess, as advertising is very visual in its appeal. The third is perhaps the desire to be something or someone.

Perhaps What I Do, What I Have, and Who I Am better fits these.

Conclusion

So, Satan obscures the truth, promises benefit from sin, deceives, lies, and attacks the character of God. He appeals to our desire to do, to have, and to be.