SATAN’S STRATEGY AGAINST THE CHURCH
(Part 2)
Acts 13:6­10
INTRODUCTION
Disguise is a primary strategy Satan deployed in his attack of the Church in Acts. It is the
method that he still uses today. While the sin nature may be the hardest enemy to overcome, the
attacks from Satan are sometimes the hardest to recognize. Deception is the reason that Satan’s
attacks are sometimes hard to recognize. At times, recognizing his attacks is like trying to hit a
moving target. Satan disguises what he does in such a way that one may not readily recognize
his approach. Many are made to wander as result of not recognizing Satan’s attacks. Today
we’ll look at Satan’s craftiness and how it allows him to be affective in his attacks.
I. SATAN’S CRAFTINESS ALLOWS HIM TO BE EFFECTIVE IN DISGUISING HIS
ATTACKS.
A. The word for craftiness is a compound word panergon that means crafty cunningness.
It is comprised of the Greek preposition of pas (every) and ergon (work). cf. Acts 13:10; 2
Co. 4:2
1. Liddell & Scott – ready to do anything, mostly in a bad sense, ready for
all crimes; unscruptilous, knavish.
2. Reinecker/Rogers – readiness to do anything. In an unfavorable sense; it has
the meaning cunning craftiness, trickery. “The man who practices this is
ready to do anything.”
B. There are three Scriptural characteristics to consider concerning craftiness. Lk.20: 20
1. Observation is the word parathrh,santej which means to watch closely
for one’s opportunity (Zerwick). (ill. Lk. 6:7; Acts 9:24)
2. Pretense is the word hypocrite which means to pretend, play a part. (ill. Acts
20:21; Mk.12; 15)
3. Means of the chief priests and the scribe’s pretense was righteousness (vs.20). (ill.
Rom. 16:18)
II. SATAN USES VARIOUS FORMS OF DECEPTION TO DISGUISE HIS ATTACKS.
A. Guile (doulo) is one method of deception used by Satan to disguise his intentions.
1. Richard Trench ­­ one mingles the truths of the Word of God with false
doctrines or notions.
2. Sheldon Green – to entrap, beguile, adulterate, corrupt, falsify.
3. Guile is a method used to capture or manipulate men. Matt. 26:4; 1 Thess. 2:3
4. Guile is normally a characteristic of men. (ill. Rom. 1:29; 3:13)
5. Guile can be traced back to craftiness. (ill. Acts 13:10; 2 Co. 12:16)
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B. Twisting the truth (diastrepho ­ means to twist or to turn, pervert. Acts
20:30; 13:8,10) is another method of Satanic deception.
C. Apate (Apate) is another method of deception used by Satan.
1. Reinecker/Rogers – to deceive completely, to make someone lose the
way.
2. Liddell & Scott – to cheat, trick, outwit, beguile.
3. Each of the believer’s enemies can use this method of deception.
a. It is used by the World System. Matt. 13:22; Mk. 4:19
b. It is used by the Sin Nature. Rom. 7:11; Heb. 3:13;
c. It is used by Satan. 2 Thess. 2:9­10; 2 Co. 11:3
4. Empty words are normally the stimulus for this type of deception.
(Rom. 16:17­18; Eph. 5:6)
III. WANDERING IS THE RESULT OF SATAN EFFECTIVELY DISGUISING HIS
ATTACKS.
A. Wandering is the Greek word planao.
1. Liddell & Scott – to lead astray, lead wandering about: of ships, to drive from
their course: generally, to mislead, lead into error; to wander; to roam about,
stray.
2. Sheldon Green – to be seduced or wander from the path of virtue, to sin or
transgress.
3. Context of Scripture – to turn one from the proper course.
B. Wandering can be traced back to craftiness. Eph. 4:14
C. Both believers and unbelievers can be caused to wander.
1. Unbelievers are in a perpetual state of wandering. Tit.3: 3
2. Believers can be caused to wander away from accurate doctrine.
a. Concerning who will enter Kingdom of God. 1 Co. 6:9
b. Concerning whether one can out wit or treat God with contempt. Gal.
6:7
c. Concerning who is saved. 1 John 3:7
D. Satan is directly and indirectly responsible for the wandering of men.
1. Satan deceives the whole world. Rev. 12:9
2. Demons aid Satan in his deception. 1 Tim. 4:1
3. Satan uses other means to cause wandering.
a. False teachers. 1 Pet. 2:14; Eph. 4:14
b. The World System. Rev. 18:23
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CONCLUSION
Satan’s application of deception can make his attacks hard to recognize. Recognition of his attacks is at
times like trying to hit a moving target. The believer who succumbs to Satan’s attacks will be deceived –
caused to wander away from the course that God has placed him on. Only the spiritual believer has the
capacity to overcome Satan. Next week we will see how Satan parlayed his methodology to attack the
Church in Acts.
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