8
October 2015 SR
The Apostle Paul was concerned about the life and health of
the believers and churches that he had been privileged to help
birth into God’s Kingdom. As issues arose in these lives and
fellowships, he acted decisively to address them in order to
restore health and life. The unrepentant sexual sin in the
church of Corinth merited serious response — the man was
removed from the church fellowship. Equally appropriate was
Paul’s response when repentance occurred — “forgive and
comfort him.” He concludes with the comment, “for we are not
ignorant of his (Satan’s) schemes” ( 2 Corinthians 2:6-11).
I have to admit that I found those words confusing for much
of my Christian life and role as church pastor. I was saved
when in college, called into training two years later, and into
pastoral leadership after three years of seminary. While
seminary provided many resources I needed for my calling,
there was no training in spiritual warfare nor discussion of
the schemes of the enemy. As a pastor I found myself struggling
to help people with significant brokenness in their lives and
lacking answers. Praise God He did not leave me helpless.
One of the key insights that was shared with me highlighted
the reality of the enemy’s character and kingdom. Satan is
characterized by darkness, as is his realm. In fact, he and
his fallen servants are “kept in bonds of darkness” and are
referred to as “world forces of darkness” (Jude 6, Ephesians
6:12). Paul teaches that believers who were “formerly in
darkness,” were rescued from the domain of darkness” and
should “lay aside the deeds of darkness” (Ephesians 5:8,
Colossians 1:13, Romans 13:12). Darkness is the native soil
of Satan’s work. And I have discovered that when believers
allow darkness to remain in their lives it provides a platform
for the enemy’s attack and influence in their lives.
Few Christians would knowingly or willingly give Satan a
foothold in their lives — but he is master at discovering
those dark things that remain hidden in our lives. From my
experience in 35 years of seeking to help family and friends
find peace, health, and freedom in Jesus, I have recognized
three specific areas of darkness that the enemy manipulates.
The first area is hidden sin. By nature sin is darkness, as it
is rebellion against God, Who is light. Furthermore, anything
hidden in our lives is dark in character, because we are unwill-
ing to bring it into the light, into the place where it can be
seen, confessed and abandoned. Since it remains in darkness,
it is freely accessed by the enemy and grants him freedom to
bring mental and emotional torment, guilt, shame, and a host
of harm against the unrepentant. If it remains unresolved it
Not
Ignorant
Of Satan’s
Schemes?
