For months we have been questioning whether God is to blame for the tragic events that are going on in our current world and/or our personal lives. It is our earnest hope that you are beginning to embrace the notion that God is not the author of such painful events. If God isn’t the one behind these incidents then who is, and how did he gain access into our world? These are good questions and they will be the focus of our study this month.
We tend not to talk a lot about satan in our social circles, with our children, in our Bible Studies or at church because such talk may be considered “offensive” or in direct opposition to the “love message” and the “peace message”. Yet the Bible does refer to satan as our enemy. The name satan actually means “adversary, or one who opposes.”
C. S. Lewis cautions that, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” For the purpose of our study we will examine the enemy only in an effort to expose his true character.
First we will consider how satan works. We find throughout the Scriptures many names attributed to satan which reveal both his methods and his character. These references include:

• Crafty (Genesis 3:1)
• The deceiver (Genesis 3:13)
• The foe and the avenger (Psalm 8:2)
• The destroyer (Isaiah 54:16)
• The tempter (Matthew 4:3 and I Thessalonians 3:5)
• A ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24)
• A murderer (John 8:44)
• A liar and the father of lies (John 8:44)
• The evil one (Matthew 6:13, John 17:15)
• God of this age (II Corinthians 4:4)
• An angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14)
• The ruler of the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:2)
• The dragon,…that ancient serpent (Revelation 12:7-9)
• The accuser (Revelation 12:10)

Journalist and author McCandlish Phillips skillfully describes the way that satan operates.

“Consider the tactics of an enemy in battle. The enemy finds it easier to send death upon his target if he conceals and hides his own position, so that he may strike by sudden surprise. Sneak attack, it is called. To obtain this advantage, the enemy moves in darkness, by stealth, and takes his position of advantage over the target in a hidden or camouflaged place. He wants the other side to be as unalert as possible, unguarded, unsuspecting, exposed to attack. The enemy will also use deceit and trickery to create a false impression of what and where the dangers are. The less the intended victims know of his existence, his position, his intention, and his power, the greater the advantage to him in bringing injury or death upon them.”

“These are the tactics of satan toward man. The less you know about satan, the better he likes it. Your ignorance of his tactics confers an advantage upon him, but he prefers that you do not even credit his existence. If you do not believe that he is, then you will do nothing to prepare yourself, or your family, or your children, against his activities, and by that neglect many are made his victims.”

So you may be saying to yourself, “Well, I already know that there is a devil, but I’m a Christian, so isn’t God in control of my life? How have I or my family become his victim?” The answer to these questions, is have you inadvertently allowed the devil access into your life or the life of your family? As a believer have you left yourself vulnerable to major pathways for the enemy to attack your heart, mind or body? Examine the following gateways for yourself:

• Sin: immoral behavior, disobedience, anger, pride, rebellion, unforgiveness, criticism, selfishness
• Ignorance of satan’s devices and characteristics
• Compromise with the enemy
• Limited knowledge of God’s Word and His purposes
• Not spending time with the Lord (lack of discipline and vigilance; becoming careless or passive)
• Lack of focus or persistence
• Failure to use spiritual weapons (due to the above reasons)
• Getting our eyes off Jesus and onto our problems: Worry
• Immaturity: “blind spots” or areas of our life not yielded to the Lordship of Jesus
• Fatigue – physical, emotional or spiritual
• Preoccupation with self and physical comfort
• Inadequate prayer from others
• Disunity with fellow Christians and/or disunity in the home

Just because we know that God is not to blame for our problems does not mean that we do not have personal accountability for our situations. And just because we know who the devil is and what his tactics are, does not mean that we do not have personal accountability for our actions and/or our inactions. We would encourage you to read down through the above listing again. As you do so, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any area in which you may have left a door open for the enemy to covertly operate. The author James reminds us in the New Testament of the following concerning asking God for wisdom:

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world and they are unstable in everything they do.”
(James 1:5-8 NLT)

Since the Scriptures confirm that God indeed will give wisdom to you regarding how satan may have “sneaked” into your life, the final position to lay hold of would piggy back on what James was discussing regarding a person with divided loyalties. You indeed must believe that: “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NLT) In addition James continues on in the first chapter of the book of James by reminding us of the following:

“And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
(James 1:13-17)

In our extensive study we have allowed the Word of God to answer the question of “Who Is To Blame?” We hope that we have enlightened you and inspired you to continue to challenge those who would attempt to cast doubt regarding the true nature of our God! Remember, God is our Healer, our Forgiver, our Lover, our Provider, our Redeemer, our Restorer, and our totally Sufficient One!!!!