In warfare, the first rule is clear: know your enemy. Understand his strategies, his weapons, his weaknesses. Study his movements, anticipate his attacks, and prepare your defense. Nations pour resources into intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance because they know ignorance in battle is fatal.

But in the spiritual realm, the first rule of warfare is not to know your enemy. It is to know the Lord.

Before we ever study the schemes of Satan, we must be rooted in the truth of God. Before we discern the lies of the adversary, we must be grounded in the voice of the Shepherd. Strength in battle is not found in merely understanding the enemy’s plan—it’s found in walking in intimacy with the Commander of heaven’s armies.

Satan does not tremble at our knowledge of him. But he does tremble when we know, trust, and walk with the Living God.

Knowing the Lord Is the Strategy

The enemy’s greatest threat is not the Christian who can quote him, analyze him, or rebuke him. His greatest threat is the Christian who abides in Christ.

“The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”
—Daniel 11:32 (ESV)

Victory in spiritual warfare begins and ends with knowing God—His nature, His promises, His Word, and His presence. It is our closeness with Him that protects us, equips us, and strengthens us for the battle.

Jesus Himself was not immune to the attacks of Satan. In the wilderness, the enemy approached Him not with outright violence, but with temptation. He twisted Scripture. He appealed to pride, power, and physical need. But Jesus stood firm—not by confronting Satan directly, but by abiding in the truth of God’s Word.

The Enemy’s Strategy: Old and Predictable

While Satan is crafty, his playbook is not infinite. He operates with the same core tactics he used in the Garden of Eden, in the wilderness with Jesus, and throughout the Scriptures.

Let’s examine a few of his primary strategies:

1. Doubt God’s Word

“Did God really say…?”
—Genesis 3:1

This was the serpent’s first recorded strategy, and he still uses it. He seeks to plant seeds of doubt, distortion, or dismissal in our minds concerning God’s commands and promises.

He questions Scripture subtly. He doesn’t deny it outright but whispers, “Is that really what God meant? Is that still true today? Surely, He wouldn’t expect that of you.”

The antidote? A firm foundation in the unchanging Word of God. Jesus didn’t argue with Satan in the wilderness; He quoted the Word with clarity and conviction. The Word is our sword (Ephesians 6:17), and we must wield it with precision.

2. Distract and Dull

The enemy doesn’t always need to attack us with fear or temptation—sometimes all he needs to do is distract us.

In an age of endless entertainment, constant connectivity, and unrelenting noise, distraction may be the most effective spiritual weapon the enemy uses. He dulls our senses. He lulls us into complacency. He keeps us busy, tired, numb, and spiritually passive.

We may not fall into scandalous sin, but we drift from intimacy with Christ. We lose our hunger. We lose our focus. And slowly, we lose our effectiveness.

Paul warned, “We are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11). But we often are—especially when those schemes come through the convenience and comfort of daily life. The way to combat this is to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), to be watchful and alert (1 Peter 5:8), and to guard our hearts with diligence (Proverbs 4:23).

3. Accuse and Condemn

“The accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night…”
—Revelation 12:10

One of Satan’s names is the Accuser. He attacks not with truth, but with condemnation and shame. He reminds you of your failures. He defines you by your worst day. He distorts repentance into despair. He twists conviction into shame and uses it to paralyze your faith.

The enemy knows that a shamed Christian is often a silenced Christian.

But Scripture reminds us:

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
—Romans 8:1

God’s Spirit convicts, but He always leads to restoration. The enemy condemns, but he offers no path to healing. Know the difference. Discern the voice. And trust the One who restores your soul.

4. Divide and Isolate

Satan isolates before he devours. He targets unity, community, and fellowship. He sows offense, misunderstanding, and pride. He lures believers out of community and into isolation, where they become easy prey.

He did it to Eve. He tried it with Jesus in the wilderness. He still does it now.

We are not meant to walk the Christian life alone. We need each other. The church is not optional; it is essential. It is where we sharpen one another, carry each other’s burdens, and fight together as the body of Christ.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
—Ecclesiastes 4:12

Winning the War: Cling to Christ

At the heart of spiritual warfare is not a focus on demons—it’s a fixation on Christ. The goal is not to become experts in Satan’s strategies, but to be transformed by God’s truth.

Put on the armor (Ephesians 6). Stand firm in faith. Fight with the sword of the Spirit. But most of all—draw near to God.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.”
—James 4:7–8

Do not fear the enemy. He is real, but he is defeated. Christ has already won the ultimate battle. Our victory is not in our own strength, but in the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

Know the Lord First

Yes, it’s good to be aware of how the enemy works. But more importantly, we must be rooted in who God is.

Don’t study the darkness more than the light. Don’t fixate on the enemy’s voice—train your ears to know the Shepherd’s. Don’t fight in your own strength—stand firm in the power of His might.

The Lord, your Defender, fights for you.

“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
—Ephesians 6:10