𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗡 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬?

“𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗡 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬?”

(2 Corinthians 4:4 — “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…”)

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: THE SUBTLE SERPENT STILL AT WORK

Many imagine Satan as a horned monster with a pitchfork — but in the Bible, he appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). His goal today is not possession but deception, not persecution but perversion of truth. Under the Dispensation of Grace, Satan’s attack is primarily spiritual and doctrinal, targeting the Body of Christ through lies, confusion, and counterfeit ministries.

Let us uncover seven ways Satan works today, rightly dividing the Word of Truth , that we may not be ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).

𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦 (2 Corinthians 4:3–4)

Satan’s first tactic is darkening understanding so people cannot see the light of the gospel of grace.

A. The Deceiver’s Objective – 2 Corinthians 4:4

“The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.”
He blocks the truth of Christ’s finished work.

B. The Darkness of Unbelief – Ephesians 4:18

Their understanding is darkened — alienated from the life of God.

C. The Deliverance through the Gospel – Acts 26:18

“To open their eyes… and to turn them from darkness to light.”

Dispensational Note: In the Grace Age, blindness is spiritual, not physical; light comes through Paul’s gospel — the revelation of the Mystery (Romans 16:25).

𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗟 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡 (Galatians 1:6–9)

Satan’s second work is corrupting grace with works, mixing the Law and Grace to produce confusion.

A. The Corruption of the Message – 2 Corinthians 11:3–4

He preaches “another Jesus,” “another gospel.”

B. The Confusion of the Masses – Galatians 1:7

Many are troubled and turned from the simplicity that is in Christ.

C. The Condemnation of the Mix – Galatians 1:8–9

Any gospel other than Paul’s gospel brings a curse.

Dispensational Note: Today, Satan’s ministers preach kingdom gospels and legalistic salvation — anything but the pure message of grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8–9).

𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗜𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦 (2 Corinthians 11:13–15)

Satan doesn’t destroy churches; he duplicates them — outwardly Christian, inwardly corrupt.

A. The False Ministers – 2 Corinthians 11:13

“False apostles, deceitful workers.”

B. The Fake Message – 1 Timothy 4:1–2

Doctrines of devils are promoted as “new revelations.”

C. The Feigned Manifestations – Matthew 7:22–23

Many claim miracles, but Christ says, “I never knew you.”

Dispensational Note: The true church today is the Body of Christ, not a building, not a denomination. Satan promotes counterfeit “churches” that reject Pauline revelation.

𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥’𝗦 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗 (Ephesians 6:11–12)

Satan wages psychological warfare — discouragement, doubt, and distraction.

A. He Discourages with Fear – 2 Timothy 1:7

“God hath not given us the spirit of fear.”

B. He Distracts from Focus – Colossians 3:2

Setting minds on earthly things, not on things above.

C. He Deceives through False Feelings – 2 Corinthians 10:5

Casting down imaginations — bringing thoughts to obedience of Christ.

Dispensational Note: Our warfare is not physical; it is spiritual (Ephesians 6:12). Satan cannot possess believers, but he can oppress their thoughts.

𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗬 (1 Thessalonians 2:18)

Paul said, “Satan hindered us.” He obstructs gospel progress and faithful preachers.

A. He Hinders Evangelism – Acts 13:8–10

Elymas the sorcerer withstood Paul — a picture of satanic interference.

B. He Harms Fellowship – Romans 16:17–18

Division and offense are Satan’s favorite tools.

C. He Hates Truth-Tellers – Galatians 4:16

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”

Dispensational Note: The more you stand for the Pauline gospel, the more resistance you face — because Satan opposes the truth committed to Paul (2 Timothy 1:13–15).

𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗥 (2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2)

Satan is too cunning to deny the Bible — he distorts it through subtle twisting.

A. The Perverting of the Scriptures – 2 Peter 3:16

“They wrest the scriptures… unto their own destruction.”

B. The Promoting of Partial Truth – Matthew 4:6

He quoted Scripture to Christ — but left out the context.

C. The Prevention of Right Division – 2 Timothy 2:15

“Rightly dividing the word of truth.”
He blinds men to dispensational distinctions.

Dispensational Note: Satan’s greatest strategy is religious confusion — mixing Israel’s program with the Church’s, blurring grace with works.

𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛 (2 Timothy 4:3–4)

Satan’s final move in this age is to neutralize the Church’s power through compromise, carnality, and complacency.

A. The Appetite for Fables – 2 Timothy 4:4

“They shall turn away their ears from the truth.”

B. The Abandonment of Faithfulness – 2 Thessalonians 2:3

A falling away comes first — apostasy, not revival.

C. The Approval of the Flesh – Romans 16:18

Serving their own belly, not our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dispensational Note: The Laodicean age (Revelation 3:14–22) pictures the present church age — rich in form, poor in faith; comfortable, but compromised.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍: THE DEVIL IS DEFEATED, BUT STILL DANGEROUS

Satan’s defeat was sealed at the Cross (Colossians 2:15), but his deception continues until the Rapture. He can’t destroy the believer’s salvation, but he can distract the believer’s service. We must stand strong, armored with truth, rightly divided doctrine, and dependence upon the grace of God.

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍:

1. Stand Firm in the Faith – Know your position in Christ (Ephesians 6:13).
2. Study Rightly Divided Scripture – Don’t be deceived by mixed doctrine (2 Timothy 2:15).
3. Share the True Gospel – Keep proclaiming Paul’s gospel of grace (Romans 1:16).

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:

Satan blinds the sinner — through deception.
Satan builds religion — to replace revelation.
Satan builds counterfeits — to mimic the church.
Satan battles the mind — through fear and distraction.
Satan blocks the message — hindering evangelism.
Satan blends truth — creating confusion.
Satan brings compromise — weakening the church.

“In the Dispensation of Grace, Satan’s power is in deception — but God’s power is in truth. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱.”