Wouldn’t this be amazing?!  How nice would it be to be warned of where the cops are sitting, doing radar?  We would all be slowing down here, I’m sure.  Just like these fire fighters were warning people of their impending tickets and fines, the Bible gives us warnings about Satan.  Don’t get me wrong!  Cops are not Satan!  Cops uphold the law.  But just like we break the law and are held accountable, when we follow Satan, we are also held accountable.  Bad things happen when you break the law, and bad things happen when you follow Satan. Although we don’t have literal signs telling us whether Satan is behind something, we do have warnings in the Bible that will help us. When we understand what the Bible says about Satan, we can see the spiritual signs in life warning us that Satan is sitting just around the corner.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking to devour you.  That certainly puts a different light on temptation!  If behind every temptation to sin, we saw a lion opening its mouth to eat us, I’m pretty sure we would run the other way!  However, Satan makes sure that we do not see him in this manner.  Why?  Because then we would not be fooled. 

He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44 ESV

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV

Satan is the father of lies.  He uses deception in everything he does. Everything he promises is a lie.  Everything he shows you is a slight of hand.  He consistently uses a bait-and-switch, promising one thing and then switching it for another.  When we follow temptation, we aren’t doing it because we want bad things to happen or because we think the sin will harm us.  In fact, we think the temptation will be fine, will give us success, and many other reasons that seem good.  However, when we follow that temptation into sin, we find out that all the things temptation promised us do not fulfill, and often lead us into trouble, depression, broken relationships, and more.  When we tip toe closer and closer to sin,  when we entertain temptation and flirt around with it, we will find ourselves in sin.  Much like King David.

King David saw a naked woman.  Instead of turning away, he watched her.  Then, instead of forgetting about it, he asked about her. Then he planned a way to have sex with her.  He could’ve called it off after he sent a servant for her.  But he didn’t.  He prepared for her.  He followed temptation.  He had plenty of opportunity to turn away from temptation.  He didn’t, and his temptation turned to sin.  That one sin led to many other sins.  He tried to deceive her husband, then he had her husband killed. Not only did he commit sins, but the consequences were dire.  His son, by that woman, died.  His family knew much violence from there on out.  His daughter was raped by one of his sons.  Another son killed the rapist then tried to seize David’s throne by force. That son died violently.  This is just a snapshot. Flirting with temptation led David to sin, which led to severe consequences and a broken relationship with God.  Satan was very crafty. 

Although Satan is crafty, deceptive, and the father of lies, we are not powerless against him.  The Bible has warned us what Satan is like so that we can be on our guard.  

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 ESV

And give no opportunity to the devil.
Ephesians 4:27 ESV

By focusing on God, the devil will flee when we resist.  You see, he has already been defeated and he knows it.  There will come a day when he will be thrown into his own prison.  By giving Satan no opportunity and by focusing on God’s will, we can resist Satan. What does that mean in real life?  It means having a strong relationship with God, so that you know when something is wrong.  It means evaluating things to see if they line up with the Bible.  If they don’t, then you walk away from it.  It means not flirting with temptation, but instead, fleeing from it.  

Just like the firefighters warned drivers to obey the law, the Bible is warning us to be on our guard. We just need to be looking for the signs, focusing on God, and not following temptation.  Remember, Satan will come looking desirable.  He won’t come looking like the roaring lion that he is. The Bible is the source of truth and will guide us through whether something is right or wrong.  Depend on that.  Abide in Jesus, knowing his will and being in communion with him.  This will help you see the signs when temptation comes your way. 

What are things that tempt you?  How can you avoid the temptation or put up barriers?

Do you read your Bible?  Knowing the Bible helps you know truth.  Spend time in the word so you can adequately prepare yourself for the time you are tempted.

What are some lies Satan has told you?  Think about them, did they seem bad at the time or were they enticing?  When did you find out that they were lies?

Spend some time in prayer asking God to give you discernment.  Ask him for help with the things that tempt you to fall away from HIm. Ask forgiveness for sins you have not repented of. 

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