Three Things the Devil Wants to Do

The devil is not just a figure of folklore or myth. He is a real adversary who seeks to destroy our faith, pull us away from God, and render us ineffective in our Christian walk. Peter warns us, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NASB).

The battle between good and evil is not something distant or removed from our daily lives. It is happening now, in our choices, in our priorities, and in the way we live each day. The devil has specific goals, and if we are not watchful, he will accomplish them in our lives without us even realizing it.

Today, we will examine three key things that the devil seeks to do: keep us out of the church, pull us back into the world, and render us useless as Christians. As we go through these points, take a moment to reflect: Are any of these strategies working against me? Am I standing firm in the faith, or am I unknowingly falling into the devil’s trap?

1. The Devil Wants to Keep You Out of the Church

The devil knows where salvation is found. He knows that the church is Christ’s body and that those who are in the church are among the saved. Paul writes, “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23, NASB).

Why does the devil fight so hard to keep people out of the church?

The saved are in the church. The church is not just a gathering place—it is where God adds the saved (Acts 2:47). If the devil can keep you from being part of the Lord’s body, he can keep you outside of salvation.
The blood of Christ is in the church. Paul reminds us, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28, NASB). The cleansing power of Jesus’ blood is found within the church, and the devil wants to keep people away from it.
Through the church, we glorify God. Paul writes, “To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21, NASB). The devil does not want God to be glorified, so he tries to discourage people from being part of His church.

How does the devil keep people out?

By making them believe one church is as good as another. But Jesus built only one church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23).
By telling them church membership is not essential. Yet Christ is the head of His church (Colossians 1:18), and only those in His body are saved.
By ridiculing and misrepresenting the church. Many attack the Lord’s church because they are displeased with God’s commands.

Ask yourself: Do I truly value the church as Christ does? Am I letting the devil keep me from fully committing to it?

2. The Devil Wants to Pull You Back into the World

Many Christians have started their journey strong, only to be lured back into worldly living. Paul speaks of one such person: “For Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10, NASB). The devil is persistent, and he will do everything in his power to pull us back into the life we left behind.

How does he do it?

By making sin look appealing. The world offers temporary pleasure, but at what cost? James warns, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4, NASB).
By convincing us that leaving God isn’t that dangerous. Peter paints a different picture: “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first” (2 Peter 2:20, NASB).
By surrounding us with bad influences. Paul warns, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NASB).

Are we holding fast to Christ, or are we slowly drifting back into the world?

3. The Devil Wants to Render You Useless as a Christian

Even if the devil cannot pull you completely away from Christ, he will work to make sure you are an ineffective Christian—lukewarm, complacent, and distracted.

Jesus said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2, NASB). A fruitless Christian is in danger of being removed.

How does the devil render Christians useless?

By keeping them ignorant and satisfied. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” If Satan can keep us from growing in knowledge, he can keep us from growing in faith.
By fostering stinginess and selfishness. Generosity reflects God’s love. “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor” (Proverbs 11:24, NASB).
By encouraging negativity and excuses. Paul reminds us, “Do all things without complaining or arguments” (Philippians 2:14, NASB). A complaining, excuse-making Christian is not an effective worker for the Lord.

Are we actively working for the Lord, or are we allowing Satan to render us fruitless?

Conclusion

The devil is strategic. He knows exactly how to keep people out of the church, how to lure them back into the world, and how to make them useless once they are in Christ. We must be vigilant.

Paul warns, “So that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11, NASB). We must be aware of his tactics, so we do not fall victim to them.

But here’s the good news: The devil is not in control. James tells us, “Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, NASB). If we stand firm in our faith, if we hold tightly to the truth, and if we remain committed to Christ’s church, Satan will not win.

So, let’s ask ourselves:

Am I fully committed to Christ and His church, or is the devil keeping me out?
Am I standing firm in my faith, or am I slowly being pulled back into the world?
Am I bearing fruit for God, or has the devil rendered me useless?

The battle is real, but the victory belongs to those who stand fast in the faith. Will you stand with Christ today?