The Bible gives us many commands concerning the Devil. II Peter 5:8-9 one exhortation is: "be self-controlled and alert" the other is: Eph 4:27 "and do not give the Devil a foothold." When the enemy attacks, it is usually a time when we are not filled with the spirit and are out of control of our emotions, our thoughts, or our body. Another time is when we are not paying attention, when we are relaxed, when we let our guard down. (Illus: Private Ryan, Normandy invasion) is when Satan gets us. All Satan needs is a foothold in order to set up shop in our lives and to work his schemes.

In general Satan wants to thwart the plan of God. Since Satan knows he is defeated and that his time is short he wants to hinder the advancing Kingdom of God. Remember Jesus promised that "He will build His church and that the gates of hell would not stand against it."(Mt 16:18). For the Christian, this means we have the ultimate victory I Jn 4:4, however with this power to encroach upon the Enemy’s kingdom, he the Devil must defend himself and his territory. Therefore, He seeks to ultimately destroy you. He wants to destroy everything about you and leave you faithless, hopeless, and bitter against God. Knowing that a faithless, hopeless, and bitter Christian will not be doing much for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. (Kingdom of God defined: God’s rule and reign in the hearts and affairs of mankind.)

In this Scripture Jesus reveals the true intention of Satan. He only wants to steal, kill, and destroy you and the people of God. We are going to examine a few examples of what of how Satan uses these.

Job 1:9-12

One of Satan’s first attack against Job was his possessions: Should we expect any less?

Jesus is actually speaking of Himself as the stronger man who binds the strong man in order to take the possessions of the house. (Confer MK 3:27 and Mt 12:29) But the principle holds true. When our house (body and mind) are being carefully guarded Satan is deterred, however when or if we trust in something other than God to protect us from him (Satan) then he is able to overpower us and take possession of the house and plunder it.

Jn 8: "As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things."

Satan was using the religious leaders to carry out his desires. Satan wanted Christ dead. If Christ were dead then the kingdom of God would not come. However, Satan did not understand God’s redemptive plan. Though Satan meant it for bad, God used it to save the world. Mt 27:25 "Let his blood be on us and on our children." They were willing to take responsibility for killing Jesus but they were actually prophesying. His blood is upon all that believe.

Cain and Able Gen 4:8 Cain’s murder of Able was actually Satan’s attempt to wipe out the Godly seed from which the Messiah was to come. (Gen 3:16)

The Church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:9-10 "I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death.and I will give you the crown of life."

Seeing that He was unable to kill off the Godly seed in Able since Adam and Eve had another son Seth who was of the godly line. Satan tried to destroy them through mixture and intermarriage. Gen 6:1-8 Though man kind was to be wiped out, God raised up Noah to protect to carry on his plan.

Through out, Biblical and Modern history we have seen his fury unleashed against the people of God. He has tried to exterminate the Jews. From which the Messiah would come, He has tried to persecute the church to the point of death. But God always uses those things to bring about a greater good.

He is bent on your destruction! He seeks to devour you like a roaring lion! He is your enemy and his plans for you are for bad and forevil. Whereas God’s plans for you are to bless you and prosper you.