The Bible teaches us that Satan’s objective is threefold: to steal, kill, and destroy. As Jesus said in 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.” While Satan’s mission is to bring destruction, Jesus’ mission is to offer us abundant life.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus explains how the devil employs strategies to steal the Word of God sowed in our hearts.  Although many people hear God’s Word, not all become fruitful. The reason is that satan steals the Word or distances us from the Word, because he knows if the Words gets inside of us, it will change us.

The parable describes four types of soil: the footpath, the rocky ground, the thorny ground, and the good soil. The seed represents the Word of God, and the soil symbolizes the condition of our hearts. The outcome depends on the type of soil; thus, the state of our hearts determines how fruitful we will be. To bear fruit, we must prepare our hearts to receive the Word and let it take root. Satan works tirelessly to keep us away from the Word, but by understanding his strategies, we can overcome them and allow God’s Word to transform our lives.

Strategies of the evil one

Here are the 3 strategies of the evil one, and the 3 ways to overcome them.

1.Passivity: Overcome with Prayerfulness

Passivity is the first strategy the devil uses to keep us from God’s Word. He will try his best to make sure the Word doesn’t get inside.

In the parable of the sower, some seeds fell on the pathway soil, and as soon as they were sown, birds came and took them away. Jesus explained that the devil (referred to as Satan or the evil one in other scriptures) snatches away the Word.

Matthew 13:19: “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.”

Mark 4:15: “Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.”

Luke 8:12: “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”

How does he do this? One method he uses is by distracting us from listening to the Word.

When we are passive while hearing the Word, we become easy targets. Whether we are attending a service or listening to a sermon, we must ask ourselves: Are we fully engaged with the Word of God? Do we listen carefully and pay attention? Satan is always at work, trying to distract us because he knows that once the Word takes root in us, we will begin to be blessed.

Have you noticed how distractions seem to arise whenever we are trying to focus on God’s Word? It could be a mobile notification, a call from work, or even sudden sleepiness. These are not mere coincidences; Satan is actively trying to divert our attention. We must be wise and handle such distractions, ensuring that we give the Word our full attention.

So, how can we counteract this strategy of Passivity?

The answer is Prayerfulness.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). We need to be prayerful while listening to the Word so that God’s Holy Spirit can help us, protect us, and aid our understanding. We should also do our best to eliminate distractions.

What else can we do?

Take a short nap before studying God’s Word, have a coffee, turn off all notifications, complete any pressing tasks, and set aside dedicated, undistracted time for the Word.

2. Persecution: Overcome with Perseverance

Satan’s second strategy is to make sure that the Word sowed doesn’t take root or last long.

To achieve this, he bring persecutions or troubles against us because we believe the Word. Jesus described the second type of soil, the rocky soil, where there isn’t much depth. The seeds are sown and start to grow, but without deep roots, they cannot withstand the heat of the sun or grow effectively. External factors like the sun’s heat affects the growth since the roots are shallow.

Matthew 13:20-21: “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”

Mark 4:16-17: “Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”

Luke 8:13: “Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”

These verses highlight terms related to time: “at once,” “short time,” “quickly,” and “for a while.”

Notice Satan’s strategy: he ensures that the Word doesn’t last within us. He tries to destroy our faith by bringing troubles, confusion, and temptations that prompt us to give up. This is when we need to hold on to our faith, a practice known as perseverance.

Perseverance is the steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. The Bible repeatedly encourages us to persevere in our faith. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” Here, perseverance under trial is directly linked to receiving God’s blessings.

Romans 5:3-4 also teaches us about the value of perseverance:

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” This passage highlights a chain reaction: suffering leads to perseverance, which in turn builds character, ultimately resulting in hope.

In Hebrews 12:1, we are urged to

“run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” This imagery of a race reminds us that perseverance is not a passive state but an active and continuous effort. Just as a runner must keep going despite fatigue and obstacles, we must persist in our faith despite the trials we face.

Finally, Galatians 6:9 encourages us not to give up:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” This assurance reminds us that perseverance will ultimately lead to a fruitful outcome if we remain steadfast.

By holding on to these scriptures and holding on to them, we can counteract Satan’s strategy of persecution. When trouble and persecution come, we need to deepen our roots in faith, rely on God’s promises, and continue steadfastly, knowing that our perseverance will be rewarded.

3. Poverty or Prosperity: Overcome with Persistence

The third strategy Satan uses is to entangle us in the worries of poverty or the deceitfulness of prosperity, both of which can divert our focus from God’s Word. Jesus described this in the parable of the sower as seeds falling among thorns, where the plants get choked by worries, wealth, desires, and pleasures, rendering them unfruitful.

From these verses, we can identify at least four types of thorns: worries, wealth, desires, and pleasures.

Matthew 13:22: “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Mark 4:18-19: “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Luke 8:14: “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

Satan can make us worry about a lack of money (poverty), such as what we will eat and drink (Matthew 6:31). Or, he can make us anxious about managing wealth (prosperity), leading to unwanted troubles, or he can tempt us with ungodly desires and worldly pleasures that spoil our relationship with God, thus choking our spiritual growth.

Worries of Poverty:

Satan can make us anxious about our basic needs—what we will eat, drink, or wear—thus distracting us from trusting in God’s provision (Matthew 6:31). These worries can stifle our faith and spiritual growth.

Deceitfulness of Prosperity:

Conversely, wealth can lead to a false sense of security and independence from God. Prosperity can tempt us to prioritize material gains over spiritual health, causing us to neglect our relationship with God.

Desires & Pleasures

It could be an unhealthy relationship, or gazing into lustful videos, or wandering in the world of internet.

Overcoming with Persistence:

We must be aware of this strategy. How do we overcome this?

To overcome this strategy, we need to persistently focus on God’s Word, regardless of our financial situation. Persistence in God’s Word means continually prioritizing it over worldly concerns. It involves:

• Trusting in God’s Provision: Believing that God will meet our needs, as stated in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
• Maintaining Spiritual Discipline: Regular prayer, Bible study, and meditation on Scripture help us stay grounded and resist the temptations of wealth and the worries of poverty. We must cultivate our soil and ensure nothing ungodly is growing alongside. If there are sinful thoughts, lust, pride of life, or any tempting sinful pleasures, we need to recognize them as attempts to destroy our spiritual life. If we do not address them, these thorns will eventually choke us.
• Seeking First God’s Kingdom: Matthew 6:33 encourages us, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” By prioritizing God’s kingdom, we place our trust in Him to handle our earthly concerns.
• Eliminating Distractions: Actively removing or minimizing sources of worry and temptation, such as unnecessary financial pressures or materialistic pursuits, to focus on spiritual growth.

By persistently prioritizing God’s Word and maintaining a strong spiritual discipline, we can overcome the choking effects of both poverty and prosperity, ensuring that our faith remains fruitful and vibrant.

Finally: Nurture the Seed

When Jesus spoke about the fourth soil, He described it as good soil, ready to receive the seed. It had depth, and it grew well, bringing forth good results. God desires us to be in this category.

To be in this good soil category, we need to overcome the first three strategies of the devil.

• When Satan tries to distance us from the Word, we must draw closer to it.
• When he tries to ensure the Word doesn’t last within us, we must hold on to it.
• When the Word starts to grow, and he tries to hinder its growth, we must remove every obstacle and allow the seeds to flourish.

How can we grow?

Firstly, we must allow the seed to get in (defeating the first strategy). Then, we must let the Word take root (defeating the second strategy). Finally, we must allow the seed to grow without any hindrance (defeating the third strategy).

Then, nurture it until it produces fruit.

God causes it to grow.

As it is written in 1 Corinthians 3:7:

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

And in Isaiah 55:11:

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

By focusing on nurturing the seed, we align ourselves with God’s plan and allow His Word to accomplish its purpose in our lives.

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