Satan: How is it that he gains an advantage over us?
A verse where we’re warned about this is this one—
2 Corinthians 2:11
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we [mature believers] are not ignorant of his devices. [Emphasis added]
There you’ll also see that man’s ignorance plays a big part in this. This word, ignorance, simply speaks of the absence of knowledge. In this case we’re talking about the power God’s Word provides to help us with all kinds of things, including being deceived by Satan. God’s Word serves as a faithful critic of all those thoughts that would run contrary to how God would have us think.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [Emphasis added]
People certainly can know better than to think and do certain things but often they just don’t know any better. Their ignorance of pertinent information related to their situation can create all kinds of problems for them, causing them to be all the more vulnerable to the temptations of sin. This is why it is so important for each of us to be diligent in learning things from the Bible that give us wisdom in our decision-making. Please note both Peter and Paul’s last written words in Scripture.
2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. [Emphasis added]
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = Be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
If you’re not diligent about this, you’ll be ignorant of so many things you could have been wise to. That ignorance will play right into Satan’s hands, resulting in you doing all kinds of foolish things that are contrary to God’s will for your life.
You may know that I have several articles on this website that are dedicated to the subject of ignorance and how just not knowing any better gets people into all kinds of trouble. Here are the links to two of my articles about this—
Ignorance: Could this be the primary problem?
Ignorance: Is this something you will overcome?
With most people the problem of ignorance isn’t something they’ll overcome. That’s only because they won’t take the initiative and the time to be a serious student of the Bible to learn what God has to say to them. Instead, this is something that will overcome them. I hope you’ll work to be a wonderful exception to that.
The Bible clearly tells us of the spiritual blindness that grips the lives of so many.
2 Corinthians 4:4
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. [Emphasis added]
Of all things, you don’t want to be ignorant of what Satan is working to accomplish in the world today and in your life. For a summary of all that, please see my article about him—
Satan: What are the basics about him?
Probably the most surprising thing you’ll find in that article is how Satan promotes so much “good” in the world. Yes, good! But good that’s done independently of God. Nearly everyone you meet knows little to nothing about this. But it is one of Satan’s most successful ploys.
You may also recall my article about Solomon that’s related to this.
Solomon: Why did he have so many wives?
Like Satan, he knew a lot but abused the privilege. There he was the wisest man who’s ever been but what a fool he was in so many ways simply because he refused to apply the knowledge God had given him.
1 Kings 3:11-12
11 And God said unto him [Solomon], Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. [Emphasis added]
Later in his life he wrote [in the book of Ecclesiastes] about all the frustration he experienced because of his lack of willingness to apply the wisdom God had given him. You’ll find a full explanation of all this in my book you can order through this website—
Discovering God’s Rich Blessings in Times of Suffering
We as Pauline dispensationalists need to become very familiar with Satan, our main adversary. Only by being in the know about him do we stand a chance of not only not being deceived by him but being used by him. Certainly, one of the things he’s been most successful at is dividing believers. He works by the old effective principle— Divide & Conquer! And if you don’t think he’s succeeded, look at all the controversy we have in denominationalism. There we have so many working out of the same Bible but drawing so many different conclusions and beliefs from it about so many things. Here’s the link to my article about this—
Division: Why can’t Christians get along?
What is the heart of the problem creating so much division? Answer: It is a misunderstanding of the principle of Right Division. That’s why I have so many articles about it on this website. If you haven’t read and studied them, I hope you soon will. Doing that won’t cost you anything but some time. You can begin by just selecting any one of the articles. Here are the links to them—
Bible: What is the Dispensation of Grace?
Dispensation: What does this term mean?
Dispensations: What is this about?
Dispensation: How is this defined in the Bible?
Dispensational Theology: What should everyone know about it?
Dispensations: When did ours begin?
Dispensations: Why do so few churches teach about this?
Being a disciple of Christ means being a student of His teachings. Most churchgoers don’t even know the difference between Christ’s earthly teachings and His heavenly ones. The meaning of this next verse I’ll cite here is almost totally unknown to even the most faithful churchgoers.
2 Corinthians 5:16
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. [Emphasis added]
People fail to realize that so many of the things Christ taught in His earthly ministry have nothing to do with His heavenly ministry which is specifically to us today in this present Dispensation of Grace. In fact, most preachers have little or no understanding of dispensational teachings. And often what they think they know about it is incorrect. Such a shame it all is! Is it any wonder then that Satan “gains an advantage” over so many? The simple but important words of our Lord about this have always meant so much to me personally—
Jeremiah 29:13
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. [Emphasis added]
Even though I’ve taken that verse out of its context, there’s a general principle there that has places of application in every generation. God’s not hiding His words and His will from anyone. From the time of Adam in the Garden of Eden it has been man that so often “hides” from God. I learned many years ago that the people who truly seek a correct understanding of the Bible will find it. That’s a part of what the “diligence” I mentioned earlier in this article is about. Here’s that verse again—
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = Be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
The people of today spoken of in Scripture as the Body of Christ have been fragmented into literally thousands of denominations. The reason for this is due to their failure to learn and apply the meaning of this one verse. With so many people being misled by church tradition, we, the Pauline dispensationalists, are of primary interest to Satan. He works every day to do everything he can to hinder our work to enlighten people. We are his greatest enemies because, even in the midst of so much opposition, we are the bold heralds of God’s truth. Therefore, we are the biggest threat to Satan’s agenda. Just as our Lord had the “scribes and Pharisees” to deal with, we have denominational Christianity to deal with today. Our Lord’s words to them then are just as appropriate to many now as they were then.
Matthew 23:13
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. [Emphasis added]
It doesn’t seem to occur to people today that we still have such people in our midst. Their names and titles have changed but their thinking is much the same. They arrogantly and blindly assume that their own “works of righteousness” have something to do with their salvation and are sufficient for all God’s blessings. But don’t the Scriptures tell us otherwise!
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
Because we actually study our Bibles and we know how to use them to find the answers Satan and “religion” obscure, the devil is usually unsuccessful in deceiving us with the denominational doctrine. He then also works to use our flesh, our sinful nature, to lead us astray. But even in that there’s all kinds of deception, even causing some to believe they no longer have a sinful nature. Again, what confusion! Satan has gotten a lot of mileage out of the divide and conquer principle. He does everything he can to neutralize our effectiveness in presenting the message of grace and all the doctrine associated with our time in this present Dispensation of the Grace of God. And if that’s not something you’re familiar with, I refer you again to my article about it—
Bible: What is the Dispensation of Grace?
It is when we study and believe the Pauline Bible doctrine that we’re positioned to avoid Satan gaining an advantage over us. Without that we’re vulnerable to all kinds of nonsense that is contrary to God’s will for us. It is then that “he gains an advantage over us” that robs us of the wonderful and productive life God desires for each of us. Furthermore, and most important of all, it robs us of the everlasting blessings that could be awarded to us at the Judgment Seat of Christ. For more information about that, please see my articles about it—
