In this sobering and insightful message, the preacher challenges believers to acknowledge and prepare for the real and dangerous presence of Satan. Rooted in Ephesians 6:12, which reminds us that our true struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil, this message examines the devil's deceptive influence and how he operates in the world today.

The sermon opens with a powerful reminder that Satan is not merely a symbol of evil—he is real, active, and destructive. Often portrayed as a caricature or downplayed in modern culture, the Bible depicts Satan and his demons as fierce spiritual beings, capable of great deception and manipulation. He is described as the “father of lies,” a “roaring lion seeking whom he may devour,” and a “great dragon” who has been deceiving mankind since the Garden of Eden.

The devil's tactics include distorting the holy things of God—love, marriage, worship, truth—and repackaging them in forms that appeal to the flesh but draw people away from righteousness. From music and media to false religion and cultural shifts, Satan aims to normalize sin and convince believers to compromise. He wants people to fall in love with counterfeit versions of what God has declared sacred.

The message further warns that Satan often appears as an angel of light, disguising his lies as truth. Many decisions that appear logical or beneficial on the surface may, in fact, lead us further from God's will—especially when we pursue them without aligning them to Scripture. Just because God hasn’t said “no” doesn't mean He has said “yes.”

To overcome the devil’s schemes, the preacher outlines three essential steps:

1. Recognize His Power
   Understand that Satan is powerful, but not all-powerful. He’s caused nations and kings to fall, and even started false religions with partial truths. Yet, we are reminded in 1 John 4:4 that “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
2. Remove the Danger
   Each of us has sins that “so easily beset us.” Whether it’s pride, lying, lust, or anger, we must identify and distance ourselves from triggers that draw us into sin. We must also be cautious not to let Satan make us “comfortable in our cell,” desensitized to sin and blind to our need for God.
3. Arm Yourself Spiritually
   James 4:7 urges us to “submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee.” The message emphasizes putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18), staying in constant prayer, and staying immersed in God’s Word. When we are “prayed up and read up,” we are less likely to be “fed up” and spiritually vulnerable.

In closing, the preacher calls the church to vigilance. Satan is advancing—and he’s strategic, patient, and relentless. But believers who walk with God, guard their hearts, and rely on His Word can stand strong, resist the enemy, and witness the power of God at work in their lives.

‍