12 Enslavement Tricks Of Satan And How To Escape Them

~0~ 12 Enslavement Tricks Of Satan And How To Escape Them Copyright ©2022 by: Evangelist T. C. Wanyanwu ISBN: 979-836-5601-06-2 Typeset and published in Federal Republic of Nigeria Majesty Printing Press 44 Abakaliki Street, Mile1 Diobu Port Harcourt, Rivers State Tel: 234(0)8037544690 Unless otherwise noted, all scriptural quotations are taken form the King James Version of the Holy Bible and NKJV. All rights reserved. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other without prior permission from the owner and publisher. For enquiries: E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: +234 (0) 9021174386 Website: www.tcwanyanwubooks.com ~1~ i. ii. iii. iv. Readers Comment…………………………………………3 Dedication ……………..…….…………………………..…9 Acknowledgement………………………………………..10 Introduction ……………………………………………….11 1. Revelation Of How Satan Entangles A Soul Using Pride, Envy, Anger & Ignorance……………….18 2. The 12 Enslavement Tricks Of Satan……..….............36 3. The Escape Plan………………….……………...............69 4. 10 Reassuring Bible Verses That Guarantee Spiritual Victory……………………………….………….90 5. God Has Us Fully Covered……………………………...95 ~2~ E "Author T. C. Wanyanwu is a new and fantastic author who is helping others to overcome the darkness and embrace the light. This book will help you change your life, his twelve-step outline for strategies to overcome adversarial forces and events have already helped many people. He overcame great hardships through faith and trust, and his dedication to teaching others how to survive is valuable and never necessary today. His guidelines for dealing with personal problems and events that are out of our control with patience and peace, are extraordinary. When you read the steps, they will empower you to enter another type of reality – Peace and Understanding and a real desire to become a new person in the Messiah. ~3~ We are not merely atoms and flesh; we are also beings of light. Without a light within, it is hard to escape the darkness without. When changes begin to happen in our world, we can often forget many important things, but there really is only one reason we don’t know who we are, or that we are not able to see that we still live in artificial constructs put upon us by outside sources; it is because we foolishly have been convinced this present temporary physical life is the only true life. The author has a great knowledge and understanding of how the Scriptures can help others to survive and continue living in a broken world with hope and strength. I would recommend this book to everyone, not just Christians; anyone can read this book and gain valuable insights to empower their lives. ~4~ I really enjoyed and learned very much from this author’s inner wisdom and guidance". BETTINA MORELLO Israelite Torah/Pentateuch authority, Author, Lecturer and Production Mgr. at Spiritual Fire Productions. "We only know in parts.” – Dr. Iyemeh Uchendu (2021). By going through this wonderful piece, I have gained revelational knowledge on some ways that we make ourselves vulnerable for the devil to attack. This vulnerability comes from the “lust of the eye” which is our selfish desires. When enslaved as a result of our desires emanating outside God’s will, Satan deepens it by making us not settle at the lower part of the pyramid, we become insatiable. ~5~ Though we are enslaved in the emptiness of our selfish desires, God made an escape plan (Jn.14:6) available, not leaving us completely (Isa.1:18). In coming to God, He gives us numerous instructions on how to live victoriously, spiritually and more in this present time. Author T. C. Wanyanwu did very well by exposing how we make ourselves easy target for the enemy to attack and did more by exposing how to live victoriously over the devil when we live in sync with the Word of God”. DANIEL MOSES E. Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nig. ~6~ "12 Enslavement Tricks Of Satan And How To Escape Them is a book that you will encounter deliverance, freedom and you will know you have spiritual protection already against the wiles of the devil which he is using to deprive many glorious destinies and eternal life. The author reveals in detail the tricks Satan uses to keep many in bondage, captivity and depriving them from the full expression of their redemptive rights. The author further reveals the escape plan through the word of God to conquer Satan when he comes with these tricks – Job 5:12 (NKJV), says “He frustrated the devices of the crafty that their hands cannot carry out their plans”. What a loving Father! God frustrated Satan by providing escape plans and from the book you will see how God has done it. ~7~ It is a book not only for adults; I recommend it to teenagers so they wouldn’t be ignorant of the tricks of Satan as they journey through life. They will be alert! It is said that knowledge is power! Therefore, I urge you to get this book for yourself! Get it for someone special to you! Get it for anyone that you know may be enslaved by Satan and see the person delivered. Glory to God for this eyeopener book". JUSTINA-JOEL YIRAODI Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nig. ~8~ This book is dedicated to everyone battling daily to survive against the darts and wiles of Satan. ~9~ I return all the glory to our Lord Jesus Christ for the grace and inspiration to write this book. Special thanks to my entire Readers committee of friends and well-wishers. My dearly beloved brother Moses Daniel and Sister Justina J. for editing the manuscript and leaving inspiring reviews. Special appreciation to my younger brother Innocent Wanyanwu for the graphic work. I would like to thank my colleagues at Academia.edu: Bettina Morello, Jose Serra and Yee Kwang Khor, for their wonderful contributions in the making of this book. May God Almighty be praised forever! ~ 10 ~ From the year 2014 to 2016, I was the worst gambler imaginable. I had zero self-discipline, living in fear and timidity. A victim of gambling addiction one of the 12 tricks of the wicked one against the children of God. If Jesus the Son of the Living God can be tempted by Satan, no mortal man is immune to temptation, trials, darts, tricks, schemes, plots and attacks of Satan. Every true Christian all over the world is going through some kind of spiritual, emotional and physical attack by Satan and his forces because of their belief in God. So, if you have been caught in any of these 12 tricks of the devil, just know that you are not alone. ~ 11 ~ In view of the above, this book is carefully written to help the readers, Christian students and teachers, to unravel Satan’s battle plans and discover the outlined victory strategy over him. Through this book, you are sure to gain: ● Knowledge of how Satan entangles a Soul with emphasis on the P.E.A.I syndrome: Pride, Envy, Anger and Ignorance. ● Exposition of Satan's major assignment which is to steal, kill, and destroy souls using the 12 Enslavement Tricks in his arsenal. ● Understanding of the six pieces of God's armour also called spiritual protection which are available tools in the hands of the believer to combat the wiles of the devil. ~ 12 ~ ● 10 spiritually fortified verses to remember as you face the battles ahead with victory in mind. All humans have a supernatural enemy whose aim is to use pain and pleasure to make us blind, stupid, and completely miserable forever. The Bible calls him “the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world and accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:9-10), “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), and “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Whoever first said, “To be forewarned is to be forearmed”, could have been thinking of the believer’s defence against Satan. The more we know of the tricks, deception, tactics, gimmicks, plot, scheme and devices of any enemy, the better able we are to prepare our defences and thereby, remain unmoved. ~ 13 ~ With regard to Satan’s strategies, we explore practical steps to outwit him in this book. Apostle Peter in one of his epistles says: "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are" (1 Peter 5:8 & 9) The aim of this book is to learn how to combat the wiles of the devil. Every Christian must stay clothed in the armour of God. We must stay immersed in His Word so that we recognize the deception strategy of Satan. And when we realize we have been caught in the wiles of the devil, we must quickly repent and seek godly accountability. ~ 14 ~ Ephesians 6:11, warns us to “put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the WILES of the devil” (KJV). What then is the wiles of the devil? Wiles are tricks or manipulations designed to deceive someone. Wiles of the devil are those clever schemes used by Satan to ensnare us through temptation, threat, or intimidation. Other Bible versions speak of the “devil’s schemes,” “strategies,” or “evil tricks” rather than “wiles.” Scripture gives us insight into our enemy’s tactics: “We are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11), and we are wise to heed its warnings. ~ 15 ~ This book has 5 Chapters in total: Chapter 1. Revelation Of How Satan Entangles A Soul Using Pride, Envy, Anger & Ignorance: Exposes the several ways Satan entangles a Soul, with emphasis on the P.E.A.I - syndrome: Pride, Envy, Anger and Ignorance. Chapter 2. The 12 Enslavement Tricks Of Satan: This chapter focuses on the main theme of the book, exposing Satan's major assignment which is to steal, kill, and destroy souls using the 12 Enslavement Tricks in his arsenal. Chapter 3. The Escape Plan: This chapter explores the six pieces of God's armour also called spiritual protection which are available tools in the hands of the believer to combat the wiles of the devil. ~ 16 ~ Chapter 4. 10 Reassuring Bible Verses That Guarantee Spiritual Victory: This chapter provides 10 spiritually fortified verses to remember as you face the battles ahead with victory in mind. Chapter 5. God Has Us Fully Covered: This chapter presents the ultimate power of God over Satan’s tricks, trials, wiles, darts, and temptations and explains why it is important to learn how Satan entangles a soul, the 12 tricks he uses and the escape plan so that you can become fully armed as a watchman of Christ. ~ 17 ~ As Christians, we cannot be ignorant of Satan’s devices and entanglement schemes and expect to live a victorious Christian life. ~ 18 ~ We are at war with an invisible enemy called Satan the devil. The Bible calls him “the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world and accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:9-10), “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), and “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Let me ask you this question: If there was an invisible enemy seeking to cause you and your family great harm, would it affect the way you live? Would you change the places that you visit, perhaps the contact that you have with certain people, would you wear certain protective equipment like gloves and masks if I told you that they might save your life? The answer for most is yes! Many are doing these very things right now because of the current unseen virus (Covid19 and others) that is affecting our world. ~ 19 ~ What if I told you that there was an even greater unseen enemy that has been here for thousands of years and has ruined, destroyed, and killed billions of lives and will only get worse as time goes on. The Bible tells us that there is such an enemy and he walks all about this earth with his evil army seeking more lives to destroy. We simply can’t see him but we can stand and fight against him. Satan hates us and wants to destroy us. We must be aware of the devil’s devices, weapons and tactics, because our spiritual life depends on it. The apostle Paul was well aware of the dangers Satan poses for Christians. We must follow Paul’s example and not be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). The New International Version and others translate this as Satan’s “schemes.” ~ 20 ~ This means we must understand the devil’s tricks and traps and examine how he uses his key weapons in individually targeted ways to attack each of us and render us impotent. So, how exactly does Satan entangle a Soul? What are some of the devil’s devious devices and sinister schemes of entanglement? What are the tools of Satan in his mission to lure us into sin and away from God? There are several ways Satan entangles a Soul, but I will highlight the (P.E.A.I- syndrome) PRIDE, ENVY, ANGER and IGNORANCE. Let’s examine them carefully: ~ 21 ~ 1. Satan entangles a Soul through PRIDE “For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” – 1 John 2:15-17 One of Satan’s strongest weapons is pride. Pride is always a danger, especially when things are going well, such as in times of peace and prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:11-17). ~ 22 ~ Perhaps the best example would be Lucifer himself, the one who became Satan. From the time of his creation, he had always lived under God’s perfect rule. Yet eventually his heart was lifted up with pride, and he rebelled (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; 1 Timothy 3:6). Having been the first victim of pride, he uses that same device on us the children of God. Pride is the opposite of the godly love the apostle Paul described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Pride does “parade itself” and is “puffed up.” When we think more highly of ourselves than others, it is easy to become impatient, unkind, rude and self-seeking. When we give in to our natural selfish motivations, we naturally treat others and their needs as less important. ~ 23 ~ Anything that doesn’t go our way leads us to believe we are being treated unfairly. Ultimately this leads to egotistic thinking and behaviour. We can even fall into the trap of being proud of doing good things, as demonstrated by the Pharisee in Jesus Christ’s parable of the Pharisee and the publican. He gave the parable as a warning to those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9). The self-righteous Pharisee prayed “thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all I possess’” (verses 11-12). Jesus emphasized that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled” and extolled the humble, repentant tax collector (verses 13-14). ~ 24 ~ We must watch carefully the Spiritual Pride which is Sin of SelfRighteousness. This type of sin exploits our vulnerabilities, and this is made easier when our guard is down. As Christians, we are in particular danger when we begin to think that our spiritual maturity makes us invincible to specific temptations and sin. When we become Christians, we start to experience victories over sin. This is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives. As we continue to grow in our walk with the Lord, we may be encouraged at how far the Lord has brought us from the people we once were. But our spiritual growth can make us uniquely susceptible to the sin of spiritual pride. When spiritual pride takes up residence in our hearts, we begin to think we are stronger than we are. ~ 25 ~ We begin to think that perhaps there are some temptations worth entertaining, because they are interesting, if not compelling. And of course, we presume that our spiritual maturity will enable us to walk away before we are in any real danger. We forget that the devil is crafty, the world is relentless, and the appetite of the flesh is insatiable. The Apostle Paul warns that in these perilous “last days … men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Timothy 3:1-2). 2. Satan entangles a Soul through ENVY “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” – James 3:16 ~ 26 ~ The second powerful device of Satan is envy - specifically, the kind of envy that is a distorted, selfish sense of fairness. Envy is always evil and has a diabolical strain to it. As St. Thomas Aquinas defines it, envy is sorrow at the good of another (or rejoicing at the misfortune of another). Here, the emphasis is not just on desiring the good of another, but the resentment that another has it. Envy would lead me to rejoice if my friend got injured. In other words, envy is captured in the attitude that says, “If I can’t have it, I don’t want anyone else to have it either.” This goes all the way back to Cain’s envy of Abel, when Abel was blessed for his offering. Cain thought it wasn’t fair. God knew the attitude of both Cain and Abel, so in His eyes it was totally fair. We know that, because of Satan’s influence, people don’t like to be told what to do. ~ 27 ~ The “forbidden pleasures” grab people’s attention and focus. Satan makes them seem somehow more enticing and pleasurable than the true pleasures God wants us to have. So, what does envy produce? Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:26). 3. Satan entangles a Soul through ANGER “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” – Psalm 37:8 ~ 28 ~ King Solomon in his wisdom stated clearly that ‘Anger rests in the bosom of fools’ (Eccl 7:9); Apostle Paul warned about the dangers of anger. “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). The New International Version says, “Do not give the devil a foothold.” When we allow anger to have the upper hand, we don’t think clearly and we often act rashly. Don’t give Satan that foothold to making further inroads in your life. Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. ~ 29 ~ I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Ephesians 4:26 - Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Ecclesiastes 7:9 - Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. James 1:19 - Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; James 1:20 - For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ~ 30 ~ Ephesians 4: 27 - Paul has just instructed Christians not to let anger sit unresolved. Being angry is not a sin, in and of itself, but it can open us to sin if we don't handle it in a spiritual way. Paul's warning here flows from anger, specifically, to the broader idea of not giving Satan any openings into our lives. We must not play ignorant in the devices of Satan (2 Corinthians 2:11). We must be aware of these and the other weapons in Satan’s arsenal. Then we must learn to combat them and that is what this book provides. 4. Satan entangles through IGNORANCE ~ 31 ~ a Soul “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices”– 2 Corinthians 2:11 As born-again believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we dare not be ignorant of Satan’s strategies in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan. Our approach must be one of soberness, for the issues at hand are life and death, heaven and hell. We should avoid levity and flippancy. Sin is profound ignorance. Some say that all sin is founded in ignorance. If men knew God in his purity and justice, they would not dare go on in a course of sinning: "they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 9:3). ~ 32 ~ Therefore, ignorance and lust are joined together "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance" (1 Pet 1:14). Ignorance is the womb of lust. Vapours arise most in the night. The black vapours of sin arise most in a dark ignorant soul. Satan casts a mist before a sinner—so that he does not see the flaming sword of God's wrath. Satan is a serpent, and as such, he is not only deadly but often is so well camouflaged we do not see him. Some Christians see too much of Satan, as though he were behind every biblical bush. Others see too little of him. Some therefore give him too much credit and others too little. ~ 33 ~ The Bible displays a sense of proportion concerning Satan which we should seek to gain and then maintain. The Scriptures tell us all we need to know about Satan, and no more. Given Satan’s key role in the plan of God, his great power, and his cunning ways, we might expect to find more about Satan in the Bible than we do. God neither wishes to flatter Satan with too much publicity nor desires that we become preoccupied with him. Satan fell because of his insatiable desire for prominence, desiring the glory which belongs only to God. Satan should receive only the attention he deserves. God’s Word supplies the facts and perspective we need. ~ 34 ~ If we are ignorant of his antics, we’ll pay dearly for it. Therefore, we must remain vigilant and follow Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 10 vs 16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves”. ~ 35 ~ “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” - 1 John 5:19 NKJV ~ 36 ~ After my encounter with the Lord Jesus in 2016, He opened my eyes to see that the devil’s easiest means of capturing and enslaving a Soul is through lust of the eye. Incessant desire of the things this world has to offer. Jesus revealed to me that Satan entangles a Soul with quick money syndrome and other vices in the following: 1. Drug and human trafficking. 2. Competition and show of wealth among many pastors and ministers while the flocks are languishing in penury. 3. Joining occultism and illuminati. 4. Football and other sports betting. 5. Yahoo Yahoo (internet fraud). 6. Prostitution among the female folks. 7. Incurable hunger for satanic protection with fetish powers than the hunger for the true God. ~ 37 ~ 8. Masturbation Addiction. 9. Lesbianism and Gay Marriage contract. 10. Incessant and uncontrollable hunger for Pornography, Masturbation and Fornication. 11. Rage and consuming hatred for God and His word 12. Deceptive tendencies by going to church and having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5). FYI: Satan, also called the adversary or the devil, is the enemy of all righteousness and of those who seek to follow God. His major assignment is to steal, kill, and destroy souls. Let's examine how he enslaves his victims using the 12 Enslavement Tricks: ~ 38 ~ Satanic Trick No.1: DRUG AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Satan uses drug trafficking as a major source of revenue for organized crime groups desiring quick cash flow, many of whom are involved in other forms of serious crime such as firearms, modern slavery and immigration crime. Action against drug trafficking therefore has a much wider disruptive impact on organized criminal activity. "Therefore, honour God with your bodies.” These lines speak to taking care of your body. You should not harm that which was created by God in His image. Drug or Substance abuse of any kind certainly harms the body and the mind" - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ~ 39 ~ According to United Nations, Human Trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Men, women and children of all ages and from all backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world. The traffickers often use violence or fraudulent employment agencies and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick and coerce their victims. "Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people" Psalms 82:4 NLT ~ 40 ~ Satanic Trick No.2: COMPETITION AND SHOW OF WEALTH AMONG MANY PASTORS AND MINISTERS WHILE THE FLOCKS ARE LANGUISHING IN PENURY. "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me...For it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" - Matthew 19:21 & 24). ~ 41 ~ Again Jesus the perfect example of a man of God (Pastor) posits further: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be" Matthew 6:19-21 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? (Isaiah 66:1) The cost of some church building that made the Guinness book of records could have started a successful large-scale business that could have employed well over 1,000,000 employees and thus put food on the tables of many poor church goers in Africa and beyond. ~ 42 ~ I wonder what a pastor is doing with 4 to 5 private jets when millions of church members are poor and needy. Also, how come after paying tithes these church Universities are among the most expensive and unaffordable for their members? How come these mega churches are not building free schools and hospitals all over their territory? Imagine a pastor with over 40 brand new vehicles in his garage? What is a man of God doing with all these cars? Is he a car dealer? Why can’t he give some of these cars out? Why the competition? Who is taking praise for all this show of wealth and material acquisitions? Certainly not God! “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion, how can God’s love be in that person?” – (1 John 3:17). ~ 43 ~ The Bible warns us that greed is destructive to our Christian lives (Ephesians 5:3). Note that money itself isn’t evil, but being overeager to get a lot of it is dangerous. The desires that want to get more of what this world has to offer (material acquisitions) are actually the kinds of desires we’re following when we choose to acquire worldly treasures to compete with others. The penchant for extreme wealth and opulence. Satanic Trick No.3: JOINING OCCULTISM AND ILLUMINATI. ~ 44 ~ Many souls have been lured into joining illuminati Fraternity with promises of Power, Fame, Wealth and other juicy offers. They worship the dark forces and conduct satanic rituals the world over. Secret societies and many occult groups have flourished throughout history. They have Founding Fathers and royalties among them. Members (most often men) have been trapped to join The Knights Templar, the Freemasons, the Bavarian Illuminati, Skull and Bones and Bilderberg etc. "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead". Deuteronomy 18:10-11 ~ 45 ~ Satanic Trick No.4: FOOTBALL AND OTHER SPORTS BETTING. First Timothy 6 verse 10 declares that "the love of money is the root of all evil." Therefore, the enticement of gambling and playing the lottery obviously comes under these texts. As at the time this book was written, it’s on record that nearly four in ten Nigerians (36%) gamble regularly, with up to 60 million Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 40 involved in daily sports betting, and they spend an average of 3,000 Naira every day on betting platforms. ~ 46 ~ The current size of the market is estimated to be $60 million and counting. It is also on record that approximately 10 million people in the U.S. have a gambling problem, so it's a global epidemic by Satan. The main reason why most people like to gamble is to make quick and easy money. Gambling by nature appeals to greed, and greed doesn’t please God. Jesus condemned greed and mentioned it in lists of some very “ugly” sin (Mark 7:21-23). The Bible warns us that greed is destructive to our Christian lives (Ephesians 5:3). Gambling in any form is highly addictive; for greed has the potential to master us and also to change our priorities from God to self. The whole point of Gambling is winning money; without that goal it has no purpose. ~ 47 ~ It is dangerous to even get a little involved in an activity that can lead to greed, debt, stealing, lying, and even spiritual ruin. I grew up not liking soccer games until the year 2014 when I was in college at Mahatma Gandhi University, India. I thought I had discovered my 'true potential' immediately after I developed an interest in soccer because I was able to predict score lines (CS) and they turned out exactly as I had predicted. I always send weekend predictions to my fan-base group on social media and the results were amazingly true for them. It made me full of myself, and I thought it was my 'true talent' then I started gambling in my naiveté with my pocket and feeding money that would have been used for other meaningful ventures. ~ 48 ~ Soon, I became addicted to gambling and daily football betting games. I lost interest in my spiritual activities because I was focused on this evil scheme that almost took my life but for the grace of God. Gambling has taken lives of many youth in Nigeria and beyond – the recent one was a young medical graduate on internship Programme (name withheld) who set himself ablaze with fuel after wasting so much money in gambling. He couldn’t stand the pressure and consequences of his lifestyle according to his suicide note. His death shattered the hopes of his parent. This is one among many cases in our society due to gambling addiction heavily influenced by Satan. ~ 49 ~ The more I gambled and bet the more I lose money with a near chance of winning big which never really happened. Eventually, I became greedy with a burning desire to win big at all cost which was a nightmare for me. I was struck with insomnia (a sleeping disorder) and confusion as I battled hard to win back all the money I lost. This battle continued until my encounter with the Lord Jesus in 2016 and He opened my eyes to see that the devil's easiest means of capturing and enslaving the youth is through the lust of their own eyes. It was a 'fake potential' all along from the pit of hell. Gambling is not handiwork! Gambling is not a talent! Gambling is not a skill! Gambling is fake potential! Gambling is not for a Christian! ~ 50 ~ So, I made a covenant with God never to gamble again and by His sufficient grace, I overcame the temptation. Whenever the urge comes, I remind myself that I'm under the covenant of “NO GAMBLING”. Learn more about the dangers of Gambling addiction in my book titled Gambling: My Ordeal And Past Experience. Satanic Trick No.5: YAHOO YAHOO (INTERNET FRAUD). Here, Satan destroys the conscience of his victims by reducing them to mere online pick-pockets. Internet scams are continually evolving. ~ 51 ~ The FBI documented a record $3.5 billion in losses due to internet crimes in 2019 alone. Right now, con artists around the world are likely targeting a computer or mobile device near you. Internet fraud or yahoo yahoo is a criminal activity with the use of internet, online service and software to commit by taking advantage of innocent and unsuspecting people. Internet fraud is the general name that cover all kinds of cybercrime activities that happen on the internet or email. Which include stealing your identity, hacking or phishing – where they send you text message or email to deceive you into giving your username and password. "Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel" - Proverbs 20:17. ~ 52 ~ "Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes; they rob them of their inheritance. Therefore, the Lord says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity"-Micah 2:1-3. Satanic Trick No.6: PROSTITUTION AMONG THE FEMALE FOLKS. ~ 53 ~ Sex for money otherwise called prostitution has been practiced throughout ancient and modern culture. Prostitution has been described as "the world's oldest profession" and there is evidence of prostitution occurring throughout history in all societies. In 2012 it was estimated that there were between 40 and 42 million prostitutes in the world. It is a mere absurdity to assert that prostitution can ever be eradicated because Satan the devil is the influencer. He often uses illicit sexual orge to lure his victims into spiritism where he enslaves them for all eternity. ~ 54 ~ “None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a cult prostitute. You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God" Deuteronomy 23:17-18. "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh - 1 Corinthians 6:1516. ~ 55 ~ Satanic Trick No.7: INCURABLE HUNGER FOR SATANIC PROTECTION WITH FETISH POWERS THAN THE HUNGER FOR THE TRUE GOD. Satan being so crafty and smart uses fear and intimidation to make many desire protections which he offers in exchange for their souls. By His death on the cross Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. He gave us the key of David (Holy Ghost Ultimate Protection). ~ 56 ~ Jesus subjugated the demonic spirits during His earthly ministry, broke their power and made certain their ultimate doom. An unusual appetite for protection, power and mystic knowledge is the same hunger that brought spiritual death to the inhabitants of old and many in our present world. Why trust the devil for protection when you already have the Ultimate protection of God at your beck and call? “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. ~ 57 ~ Satanic Trick No.8: MASTURBATION ADDICTION. Masturbation is one of the ancient 'unholy act of self-defile' greatly influenced by Satan and his demon called LUST. Masturbation addiction is a complex condition in which someone develops a psychological, emotional, and physiological dependence on selfgratification. It is a chronic and progressive condition where people continue to masturbate despite personal and social consequences. ~ 58 ~ "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" - 1 Corinthians 9:27. Satanic Trick No.9: LESBIANISM AND GAY MARRIAGE CONTRACT. Satan has a way of getting inside his victims mentally to make them take decisions that will bring condemnation both make them grieve. One of those is same-sex marriage which is a marriage contract that is restricted to members of the same-sex - gay men and lesbians. It is also described as gay marriage. ~ 59 ~ A growing number of countries including the United States are legalizing same-sex marriage. The Bible defines marriage in Genesis 2:24 as a union between one man and one woman. Jesus Christ upholds this definition of marriage in Matthew 19:5, as does the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:31. Any and all sexual activity which takes place outside of this context is treated as sinful, what Jesus calls ‘sexual immorality’ in Mark 7:21. Satanic Trick No.10: INCESSANT AND UNCONTROLLABLE HUNGER FOR PORNOGRAPHY, MASTURBATION AND FORNICATION. ~ 60 ~ Pornography, masturbation and fornication are grouped as sexual immorality - Satan's most effective weapons that enslaves a soul. You will agree with me that these desire does not come from God our Creator. Sexual immorality is a sin designed to draw people away from God, entrapping them in the slavery of their own desires. Over time, they become addictive and intensify, drawing its victims into deeper and darker depths of depravity. “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come-sexual immorality (pornography, masturbation and fornication), theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person” - Mark 7:2023. ~ 61 ~ Satanic Trick No.11: RAGE AND CONSUMING HATRED FOR GOD AND HIS WORD. Satan, since his deportation to earth has been raising his army of haters of God and His word. Have you ever noticed how many atheists hate God and how angry they get at anyone who dares to believe in Him or spread the gospel of Jesus Christ? According to Rom. 1:18-20, no one will stand before God with any excuse for ignoring or denying Him! ~ 62 ~ The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. (Psalm 14:1) "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. In other words, all an honest person has to do is to take a good look at the sun, the moon, and the stars to know, that anything so complex, so perfectly designed and well-balanced as is our world, and our universe, could in no way have made itself. ~ 63 ~ This, however, is only the general revelation that God exists. There is a huge difference between believing in God, and believing God! The moral Law shows us our sin and thus the need for a Saviour and through a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Saviour! The Rage and consuming hatred for God and His word is the handiwork of Satan. Satanic Trick No.12: DECEPTIVE TENDENCIES BY GOING TO CHURCH AND HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF (2 TIMOTHY 3:5). ~ 64 ~ Satan the trickster, has a way of making sinners his own captives and slaves to appear like Saints in deceptive tendencies by going to the place of worship regularly without any personal relationship with God. Their presence in the house of God is primarily to be noticed, celebrated by flaunting their wealth, receive recognitions and titles, honours and positions, some for contracts and establishment of business contacts. Basically, they are in the church to solve their personal problems but lacking the overall interest of knowing God and His son Jesus Christ. Many of these people already in the web of Satan go to the place of worship from club house, bed of fornication, place of ritual, gossip, fighting and quarrelling and are actively involved in virtually every department in the church but have zero knowledge of Holiness, ~ 65 ~ Righteousness without which no man will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). They appear to be alive but they are dead as John perfectly said in Revelations 3:1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive-but you are dead" NLT. If you are going to church and not having the spirit of God dwelling in you then you are not of God according to Romans 8:9. The natural person (Unbeliever, Notborn-again, Atheist) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). ~ 66 ~ The natural person may have a form of godliness (goes to church regularly, appears to be morally upright), but he denies God’s power in the way he lives. Only faith in Jesus Christ can bring justification and the transformation he so desperately needs (Colossians 1:21–22; Romans 5:1–2). If a person says he is a Christian but shows no evidence in his life by bearing the fruit of the Spirit, is that not a deception? He may have a form of godliness, but he is denying God’s power by not letting himself be controlled by the Spirit. In fact, if his faith is not genuine, he cannot be controlled by God’s power, because the Holy Spirit does not dwell in him. "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" - 2 Timothy 3:5. ~ 67 ~ For if we sin willfully- after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27) For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. (1 Corinthians 4:20) ~ 68 ~ According to first Peter 5 verse 8, we are forewarned to be sober, and vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The escape plan is to learn how to combat the wiles of the devil through identifying with the only one who has been given the mandate of redemption and salvation. ~ 69 ~ "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved except the name Jesus" - Acts 4:12. The followers of Christ Jesus must stay clothed in the armour of God. We must stay immersed in His Word so that we can recognize Satan's tricks, deception, tactics, gimmicks, plot, scheme and devices. The apostle Paul also explained how to defeat our enemy. God provides the ultimate protection from Satan’s devices and schemes and deceitful traps. Paul said, “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). ~ 70 ~ To be victorious in our war with Satan, his demons and our human weaknesses, we need spiritual help. God provides His powerful armour to protect us. This spiritual protection includes six pieces of God's armour: BELT of truth. BREASTPLATE of righteousness. SHOES of the gospel of peace. SHIELD of faith. HELMET of salvation. SWORD of the Spirit. God provides these six aspects of the Christian life, plus prayer (verse 18), to strengthen and protect us and ultimately help us to triumph in our spiritual battles. Each piece is essential, and the Bible tells us how to put them on and use them effectively. ~ 71 ~ How to use the armour of God to defend against the attacks of Satan: The Bible tells us we are in a war, and our adversary, Satan the devil, is bent on destroying us. The apostle Paul warns us to beware of Satan’s devices and tactics (2 Corinthians 2:11). Paul addressed this in Ephesians 6:1020 where he talks about putting on the whole armour of God. Ephesians was one of Paul’s letters written from prison. During Paul’s time in prison he obviously became well acquainted with the armour worn and carried by his captors in the Roman army. Following Isaiah’s lead (Isaiah 59:17), Paul drew a powerful comparison between a soldier’s armoury and the spiritual armour of God. Paul wrote: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (verse 10). ~ 72 ~ You see, we don’t have to be discouraged by Satan’s devices or by his power and stealth. We aren’t in this battle alone. We have access to the greatest power in the universe! Verse 11 continues: “Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” This is a comprehensive defence strategy, and we have to pay attention to all parts of this armour God offers. But if we do, we will be able to withstand Satan’s attacks. Fighting spiritual battles today: ~ 73 ~ “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (verse 12). The Bible describes unseen spiritual battles, such as the titanic battle at the end of the age that the apostle John witnessed: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was any place found for them in heaven any longer. So, the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:7-9). All this is happening behind the scenes in the spiritual world, but it has great influence over the physical world. Satan and the demons are invisible, and he is a master of camouflage. ~ 74 ~ He is able to convince people that he doesn’t exist, and he is able to sway society and suggest wrong thoughts to us without us even realizing he is there. Paul continued in Ephesians 6:13: “Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” What does he mean, “to stand”? He was emphasizing that with God’s help, we will be able to hold the line, to not retreat, to not give up an inch of God’s territory. Now Paul starts to list the individual elements of this spiritual armour. The Bible also tells us how to put on the whole armour of God. Here is how you can use each piece to fight against the powers of Satan. ~ 75 ~ 1. What is the belt of truth? BELT OF TRUTH A belt was the first piece of equipment to put on, and it secures all the other pieces of our dressing. Wearing the belt showed that the soldier was ready for action, since he would only loosen his belt when he went off duty. Truth should surround us like a belt. Knowing God’s truth is the surefire antidote to Satan’s lies and deception. And to be truly ready for the battle, we must be completely truthful ourselves in our inner being, like our Creator. Stand for the truth at all the times. ~ 76 ~ 2. What is the breastplate of righteousness? BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Next, Paul tells us to “put on the breastplate of righteousness.” Without righteousness, we leave ourselves open to Satan’s attacks. To be righteous is first of all to repent and be forgiven of our sins, and then to do what is right in God’s eyes. Psalm 119:172 tells us that God’s commandments are righteousness. So, to be righteous is to obey God’s laws of love. ~ 77 ~ Isaiah 59:17 says that God Himself puts on righteousness as a breastplate! This may be part of what inspired Paul to use this analogy. Isaiah 59 starts by explaining that “your iniquities have separated you from your God” (verse 2). Iniquity is the opposite of righteousness, so when we give in to sin without repenting, we are removing our breastplate and leaving ourselves open to more of Satan’s attacks. According to Ecclesiastes 12:13, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. ~ 78 ~ 3. What are the shoes of the gospel of peace? GOSPEL OF PEACE Ephesians 6 verse 15 says, “And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” The New Living Translation words it this way: “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” The gospel of peace is the message that Jesus gave to those who trust in Him (John 14:27; Romans 10:15). It comes with the assurance from God that we are His children and nothing can snatch us out of His hands (John 10:29; 1 John 5:13). ~ 79 ~ It outlines clearly what is required to become a child of God (1 Corinthians 15:1–6; John 1:12; Romans 10:8–10). Any other message is a false gospel. The word readiness implies constant vigilance. A victorious soldier had to be prepared for battle. He had to have studied his enemy’s strategy, be confident in his own strategy, and have his feet firmly planted so that he could hold his ground when the attacks came. A soldier’s battle shoes were studded with nails or spikes, like cleats, to help him keep his balance in combat. He knew that, if he lost his footing and went down, it wouldn’t matter how great the rest of his body was; the enemy had him. ~ 80 ~ When we are ready with the gospel of peace, we live with the understanding that we are continually under attack from Satan. 2 Timothy 4:2 says to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” The “peace shoes” that God supplies His soldiers have two purposes: defensive and offensive. In order to defend ourselves against the “flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16), we must have confidence of our position in Christ. We must stand firm in the truth of God’s Word, regardless of how terrifying the circumstances may be (1 John 5:14). We must understand grace without abusing it (Romans 6:1–6), remember that our position in Christ is not based on our own abilities or worthiness (Titus 3:5), and keep our belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness securely fastened (2 Timothy 1:12). ~ 81 ~ When Satan attacks with a flaming missile of doubt, such as “If God really loved you, He wouldn’t have let this happen,” we dig our peace shoes into the turf of God’s Word and reply, “It is written: All things work together for the good to them who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). When Satan stabs from behind with “Remember what you did?” we dig in more deeply and reply, “It is written: If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). In addition to standing our ground, shoes are also for moving. God expects us to go on the offensive and take the gospel of peace to others. ~ 82 ~ First Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Sharing our faith is one of the best ways to maintain our own sure footing. God knows that, when we are active in speaking of Him to others, we not only charge into Satan’s territory, but we dig our shoes more deeply into truth and will be much harder to dislodge. “studied to show ourselves approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15), we are ready to stand When we have firm in the gospel of peace no matter what the enemy brings against us (2 Thessalonians 2:15). ~ 83 ~ 4. What is the shield of faith? SHIELD OF FAITH When our faith in God’s power and love is strong, it is impossible for Satan to break through our shield and land a blow. Faith means more than just believing that God exists, of course. It includes a firm belief that everything God does is truly for our good. Also, faith is the absolute conviction that God will always do what He has promised (Romans 4:18-21). Faith protects us in many ways. Think about Daniel in the lions’ den. ~ 84 ~ Faith was like a force field to protect Daniel from those vicious teeth! And Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were protected from the fiery furnace! Faith is powerful and protects us not only from those physical dangers, but from the spiritual temptations and dangers. The shield of faith is not just for personal protection. The Roman soldiers had a strategy of joining their shields together. If we join our shields together that is, strengthen each other with our faith, building up and serving as much as possible, we will be able to take on any challenge. ~ 85 ~ 5. What is the helmet of salvation? HELMET OF SALVATION We can receive tremendous hope and comfort by focusing on the incredible sacrifice Jesus Christ gave to save us and the wonderful Kingdom that is the goal of our salvation. This hope protects our minds from the discouragement and despair in this world. 6. What is the sword of the Spirit? SWORD OF THE SPIRIT ~ 86 ~ The sword of the Spirit, like the Roman gladius, can also help us to conquer all our enemies, including that most difficult one, our entrenched human weaknesses. Hebrews 4:12 explains: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Remember how Jesus used the Word of God to defeat Satan (Matthew 4:110)? Christ used scripture quotes three times. He brought to mind the scriptures that dealt with the situation, that showed what He should do and that strengthened His resolve. And so should we. ~ 87 ~ Our sword won’t stay sharp on its own. We must continually sharpen it with regular and focused Bible study. Praying always with all prayer and supplications: Paul ends this section encouraging us to pray fervently for ourselves, for each other and for the work of the Church. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20). ~ 88 ~ The Church, and each of us individually, moves forward on our knees. Praying reminds us of the battle, reminds us of the source of our strength and defence, and reminds God that we are fully committed to following Him as obedient and faithful soldiers. Prayer and Bible study are the most powerful tools for combating Satan’s weapons. When we put on this whole armour of God, we will be prepared for Satan’s attempts to attack us with pride, envy, lust for forbidden pleasures, itching ears, disappointment, discouragement, doubt, division or any other tricks he may use. Remember, we’re at war. Let’s be alert to Satan’s devices, and let’s put on the whole armour of God! ~ 89 ~ We know Satan is real. Just under the surface of our everyday interactions, hiding in the shadows, clouded in mystery and confusion, the devil works to undermine what God is doing in us and through us. ~ 90 ~ Angels, demons, spiritual warfare they all exist, but we don't have to live in fear of the supernatural. God has given us a powerful weapon against temptation and accusation. He has given us His Word, the Bible, to remind us who He is, who we are, and what is true. The Holy Spirit brings God's promises to mind when we need them most. We can have victory over Satan's tricks, deception, tactics, gimmicks, plot, scheme and devices by filling our minds with the truth of the Bible. Here are 10 verses to remember as you face the battles ahead with victory in mind: Ephesians 6:10-11 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ~ 91 ~ Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." 2 Thessalonians 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." James 4:7 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." ~ 92 ~ 1 Peter 5:8-9 "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." Romans 8:37-39 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~ 93 ~ John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Colossians 1:13-14 "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." John 16:33 "I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." ~ 94 ~ God has us fully covered! Hallelujah! No reason to panic; no cause to be alarmed and certainly nothing to fear. ~ 95 ~ The day we Christians have this truth fully engrained on our spirit man will be the day our fear of Satan and men will cease. A revelation that the Eyes of the God of the whole earth, who sits in Heaven and makes the earth His footstool are on us, will put to stop every panic about the gang up of evil forces and their human agents. Now we know through this book that our true enemy is the devil, who tempts us and desires our destruction. He hates God and all those who follow Jesus. There is nothing he desires more than to get you to listen to the lies he whispers to us. As Christians and followers of Jesus, we need to understand that the devil will do everything he can to get us to fail. But if we are to win this battle then we have to know who we are battling with and his tactics. ~ 96 ~ According to first Peter chapter 3 verse 12, "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of Lord is against them that do evil". The Shield of God is roundabout every child of God. Every day, for life, one of the greatest privileges available to us as believers is that the Eyes and Ears of God are on us. There is no distance too far that He cannot see us and there is no depth too low that He cannot hear us! More importantly, there is no where they take our names to do evil that He does not see and there is no where they whisper against us that He does not hear. There's no trap, plot, scheme, trick, pit prepared against us that His eyes did not see; no conspiracies against us that His ears didn't pick up. ~ 97 ~ Night and day are the same to our God for He neither slumbers nor sleep (Ps 121:4-7). God has us fully covered! The understanding of this truth will make us bold and effective in prayer: The Ear of God are open to our prayers! Satan will rise up against us in several ways but will fail woefully (Isaiah 54:17) David had this understanding. This was the secret of his confidence. He knew God had him covered! "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed us quick....." (Ps 124:2-3). "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps 27:1) To keep the Eyes of God on us and His Ears open to our prayers whenever we're caught in Satan's dart and wiles, we have a major role to play: ~ 98 ~ We must be born again. Rededicate and surrender your life to Jesus in totality by saying this prayer: 'Lord Jesus, I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness please come into my life and be the Lord of my life. AMEN'. This is necessary because it is our responsibility to ensure that we clean up and stay clean, for God is too pure to behold iniquity. "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on iniquity...." (Hab 1:3). It is written, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro the whole earth to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him..." (2 Chron 16:9) Secondly, in addition to holiness it's in our interest to follow peace with all men and eschew bitterness. Bitterness defiles and God will not stay in a defiled atmosphere (Heb 12:1415). Thirdly, it is our sacred duty to ensure that thanksgiving and praise never depart from our hearts through our lips to Him. ~ 99 ~ The truth is this: everyone that has breath owes God thanks (Ps 150:6). Not thanking Him is murmuring against Him for giving us life. No prayer has access to the Ears of God without thanksgiving. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving... (Ps 100:4). As the Scriptures enjoin us," "Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Heb 13:15). The Bible warned that “When people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before” – (2 Peter 2:20). Therefore, to combat the wiles of the devil, followers of Christ must stay completely clothed in the armour of God. ~ 100 ~ We must stay immersed in His Word so that we recognize deception. And when we realize we have been caught in the wiles of the devil, we must quickly repent and seek godly accountability. With the information contained in this book, we now know the devil's easiest means of capturing and enslaving any Soul is through the lust of their own eyes. “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entices us and drags us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death”. – (James 1:13-15) ~ 101 ~ Psalm 37:23-24 encourages those who desire to live godly lives: “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he falls, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.” When the Lord holds our hand, the devil’s wiles cannot harm us. The Bible clearly teaches that, in living out the Christian life, you will experience real spiritual battle with Satan and his army of demons with victory already guaranteed in Christ Jesus. Having successfully learned how Satan entangles a soul, the 12 tricks he uses and the escape plan, you have become fully armed as a watchman of Christ. ~ 102 ~ GOD BE PRAISED FOREVER! The reason I’m here on earth is for a purpose and that is to use my unique, God-given gifts and talents in Gospel Evangelism to build up the Kingdom of God Almighty, Father God in heaven, El shaddai, God of grace, my maker, the Lord of Hosts. My Lord and Redeemer, the Holy one of Israel, my God, my King, the God of all the earth and heaven above, Adonai crowned in praise, Most High, Prince of peace. ThankGod Chimenem Wanyanwu is a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, motivational and inspirational writer, from Rukpokwu Community in Port Harcourt city, Rivers State, Nigeria. A fan of technology, music, and writing. A Book Reviewer and member of Assemblies of God Nigeria. Bachelor of Science degree holder in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) from the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), India. ~ 103 ~ T. C. Wanyanwu is a Kingdom Man, commissioned to Empower, Motivate, Educate, Help and Inspire people to be like Christ. A lover of humanity, Zealous for change, dedicated and committed to the things of God and to inspire his world into positivity via determination. “In my positive affirmation; I know that my influence is eternal. My impact is critical. My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is crucial. My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine. My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised. And My God is real. I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged, or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature or veneration. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender because Salvation is my Ultimate Goal”. ~ 104 ~ T. C. Wanyanwu has authored several other books including: Jesus Is A Black Man: An Inconvenient Truth, Judgment Day of the Lord, GAMBLING: My Ordeal & Past Experience, Awake Through Self-Discovery - an action call to self-actualization & destiny fulfillment, 6 Simple Steps to Digitize and Market Your Book by Yourself….and others awaiting publication. ~ 105 ~ From the year 2014 to 2016, I was the worst gambler imaginable. I had zero selfdiscipline, living in fear and timidity. A victim of gambling addiction one of the 12 tricks of the wicked one against the children of God. If Jesus the Son of the Living God can be tempted by Satan, no mortal man is immune to temptation, trials, darts, tricks, schemes, plots and attacks of Satan. Every true Christian all over the world is going through some kind of spiritual, emotional and physical attack by Satan and his forces because of their belief in God. So, if you have been caught in any of these 12 tricks of the devil, just know that you are not alone. In view of the above, this book is carefully written to help the readers, Christian students and teachers, to unravel Satan’s battle plans and discover the outlined victory strategy over him. ~ 106 ~ Through this book, you are sure to gain: ● Knowledge of how Satan entangles a Soul with emphasis on the P.E.A.I - syndrome: Pride, Envy, Anger and Ignorance. ● Exposition of Satan's major assignment which is to steal, kill, and destroy souls using the 12 Enslavement Tricks in his arsenal. ● Understanding of the six pieces of God's armour also called spiritual protection which are available tools in the hands of the believer to combat the wiles of the devil. ● 10 spiritually fortified verses to remember as you face the battles ahead with victory in mind. All humans have a supernatural enemy whose aim is to use pain and pleasure to make us blind, stupid, and completely miserable forever. The Bible calls him “the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world and accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:9-10), “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), and “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). ~ 107 ~ Whoever first said, “To be forewarned is to be forearmed”, could have been thinking of the believer’s defence against Satan. The more we know of the tricks, deception, tactics, gimmicks, plot, scheme and devices of any enemy, the better able we are to prepare our defences and thereby, remain unmoved. With regard to Satan’s strategies, we explore practical steps to outwit him in this book. Apostle Peter in one of his epistles says: "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are" (1 Peter 5:8 & 9). The aim of this book is to learn how to combat the wiles of the devil. Every Christian must stay clothed in the armour of God. We must stay immersed in His Word so that we recognize the deception strategy of Satan. And when we realize we have been caught in the wiles of the devil, we must quickly repent and seek godly accountability. ~ 108 ~ This book has 5 Chapters in total: It is important to learn how Satan entangles a soul, the 12 tricks he uses and the escape plan so that you can become fully armed as a watchman of Christ. Read and save a soul with this book! ~ 109 ~ NOTE: This book is given out daily on charity. God has been using it to open blind eyes, bringing out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house, setting the captives free and preaching salvation across the nations of the world. If God touches your heart to sow financially into our Teaching & Revival Ministry (TRM), our account details is below. You will not miss your reward. Amen! International Bank (PAYONEER) Bank name First Century Bank Account number 4025364473751 Account type CHECKING Beneficiary name ThankGod Wanyanwu PAYPAL: [email protected] LOCAL BANK (NIGERIA) Access Bank Acc no: 2252832459 Acc Name: ThankGod Wanyanwu ~ 110 ~ Be our partner: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30) Receive free copies of this book from the author for mass distribution in partnership for the soul winning commission. CONTACT: E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: +234 (0) 9021174386 Website: www.tcwanyanwubooks.com I thank you for the patronage and support! ~ 111 ~ 1. King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible (World Wide Printing Dallas, 2003). 2. New King James Version (NKJV) 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 3. New Living Translation (NLT) Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2nd edition (October 1, 2006). ~ 112 ~