Not ignorant of His devices

Satan has evil schemes to destroy us, but we can learn and not be tricked by him.

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us [so that satan will not outsmart us]: for we are not ignorant of his devices [evil schemes]." - 2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV

We learn from Matthew 16:21-23 that Satan opposes the gospel.

"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." - Matthew 16:21

"Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." - Matthew 16:22

Jesus recognized that Satan was speaking to Him through Peter. Shockingly, Jesus called Peter, one of His closest disciples, “Satan”!

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." - Matthew 16:23

We learn two things from this:

1. Satan opposes the gospel – Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. We can conclude that Satan does not want anyone to obey the gospel either. We can expect opposition from Satan anytime a person is going to repent of their sins, be baptized IN THE NAME OF JESUS, and is seeking to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 KJV (Note: The “god of this world” is Satan.)

2. Satan will use even those closest to us to attack us and try to keep us from doing God’s will. Knowing this is a tactic of Satan makes us realize who our enemy is. It is not people - it is Satan!

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12 KJV