Pastor Rick Warren notes in Chapter 26 of The Purpose Driven Life that Satan’s strategies and tricks follow a predictable pattern, one he’s used since Creation. This pattern consists of 4 steps:
1. Desire– Satan identifies a sinful or legitmate, normal desire in us. Often these temptations take the form of shortcuts, a quick “fix” to our problem or desire. While we may think that temptation lives all around us, the Bible emphasizes that temptation begins within us (Mark 7:21-23, James 4:1).
2. Doubt– Satan tries to get us to doubt the truth of God’s Word and turn away from God.
3. Deception– John 8:44 describes Satan as “the Father of lies”. Satan wants to replace the truth of God’s Word with lies and half-truths. As Rick wryly observes: “But a little sin is like being a little pregnant: It will eventually show itself.”
4. Disobedience– Pastor Warren aptly describes this step: “What began as an idea gets birthed into behavior.”
While understanding our adversary’s deceptions is helpful, Rick next outlines specific steps we need to take to overcome temptation.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Overcoming Temptation”
