John 10  (v. 10) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

.…as soon as you breathe your first breath, the devil has assigned a demon to chase after your life.…From the first breath you take, the devil and his demons plans are to keep you away from the truth of knowing where you came from, away from knowing that you were designed to have a relationship with your creator….^[1]

I Pet 5  (v. 8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Satan himself is the enemy who tempts man to sin, and then destroys him if he can; and when he has made sure of his victim, then he exults in the ruin he has wrought.  If permitted, he would sweep the entire race into his net.  Were it not for the interposition of divine power, not one son or daughter of Adam would escape.[2]

Matt 16  (v. 22) Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” (v. 23) But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”   

Satan’s strategy is to int​roduce his thoughts and ideas into your mind and deceive you into believing they are yours.…If satan can place a thought in your mind (and he can), it isn’t much more of a trick for him to make you think it is your idea.  If you knew it was satan, you would reject the thought, wouldn’t you?  When he disguises his suggestions as your thoughts and ideas, you are more likely to accept them.  That is his primary deception.^[3]

Col 1  (v. 21) And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.

Demons have many attack strategies they can use to undermine the faith of a believer.  However, the mind of a person is the main focus of attack.  They will plant thoughts in the unguarded mind of a believer and intensify the evil that is already in one’s human nature.  Satan and his demons assault the believer’s mind with doubts and fears.  They put forth challenges to the believer’s faith and undermine his confidence in God’s goodness and promises.  A believer will then have perceived inconsistencies, or vain imaginations, in God’s treatment of His people or others.^[4]

Lev 19  (v. 26) You shall not....practice divination or soothsaying. (v. 31) Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. 

Satan's Bewitching Power: The magicians of heathen times have their counterpart in the spiritualistic mediums, the clairvoyants, and the fortunetellers of today.  The mystic voices that spoke at Endor and at Ephesus are still by their lying words misleading the children of men.  Could the veil be lifted from before our eyes, we should see evil angels employing all their arts to deceive and to destroy.  Wherever an influence is exerted to cause men to forget God, there Satan is exercising his bewitching power.  When men yield to his influence, ere they are aware, the mind is bewildered and the soul polluted.  The apostle's admonition to the Ephesian church should be heeded by the people of God today: "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph 5:11).^[5]

John 8  (v. 44) You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.…there is no truth in him.  When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Satan has no authority or power over you except what you yield to him when you are deceived into believing his lies.…In my ministry I encounter false beliefs in nearly every counseling session.  Many Christians are hearing voices in their minds, but they are afraid to tell anyone for fear others will think they are going crazy.^[6]  

II Cor 10  (v. 4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (v. 5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

The first thing the enemy attacks is your mind.  The enemy knows that the battle is in the mind, and he knows if he can capture the territory of your mind, your thoughts, and the way you operate, he’s got you in a stranglehold.  The next move he makes will be to attack your soul.  This includes your mind, will, and emotions.  Once he’s got a person’s soul, he will paralyze that person and bring them down to nothing.  He has done this for centuries.^[7]

Rom 12  (v. 1) I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (v. 2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

More is going on in your mind than prior negative conditioning.  You are not just up against the world system in which you were raised and the resultant flesh patterns you have chosen to adopt.  You are also up against the devil who is scheming to fill your mind with thoughts that are opposed to God’s plan for you.^[8]

Once a believer is deceived in their mind by demons into doubting God’s goodness and promises, then the believer will automatically doubt God’s Word as well.  This renders the believer powerless.  They have believed the lies of the enemy instead of God, who is the source of all truth.^[3]

Winning the battle for our minds: First, you must “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2).  How do you renew your mind?  By filling it with God’s Word.  To win the battle for your mind, you must “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Col 3:15) and “let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (v. 16).  As you continue to stockpile your mind with God’s truth, you will equip yourself to recognize the lie and take it captive.^[9]
 

Exod 34  (v. 6) And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious....….(v. 7) keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.

Most of the believers I minister to, have some form of a sin pattern following them.  A sin pattern is a genetic weakness in the flesh that occurs in some or all of the people in a particular family.  Many ministers claim these sin patterns are “a curse”.…Demons are opportunists.  They wait for the child to act out on any of these sin patterns, thereby making a provision in the flesh.  Once that sin begins, it becomes an open door for demons to use to take them into bondage.^[10]

II Pet 2  (v. 19) While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

The Scriptures are indeed fulfilled in this, that the blind are leading the blind.  For by whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  These deluded souls are under the most abject slavery to the will of demons.  They have allied themselves to the powers of darkness and have no strength to go contrary to the will of demons.  This is their boasted liberty.  By Satan they are overcome and brought into bondage, and the great liberty promised to those they deceive is helpless slavery to sin and Satan.^[11]

Demons are sly and subtle.  They use doorways of sin and disobedience to their advantage and even use generational sins as well.^[3]

Num 14  (v. 18) The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.

If a believer continues to practice willful sin, satan will send one or more of his demonic agents that is compatible with that particular sin.  The demon will dwell with the believer, tempting him to engage in that sin more.  Then each time the believer gives into that sin, the demon spirit takes over in assisting the believer to carry it out.^[12]

I  Jn 3  (v. 8) He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Through self-exaltation Satan works to ruin the soul, and his working may be seen in every church.  My brethren and sisters, keep strict guardianship over your spirit.  Guard your words, lest Satan lead you to repeat his own history. Guard your thoughts.  In these closing days of earth's history, Satan is working with desperate effort to seduce souls into sin.  Keep your tongue as with a bridle.  Keep your thoughts upon the word of the living God.  The same spirit that prompted rebellion in heaven is at work in our churches.^[13]  

Psm 34  (v. 13) Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. (v. 15) The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. 

Satan is constantly accusing Christians as the cause of loss, misfortune, and suffering, instead of allowing the reproach to fall where it belongs, upon himself and his agents….The Saviour desired His followers to have a knowledge of the foe whom they were to meet, that they might not be deceived and overcome by his devices.[14]

Prov 21  (v. 23) Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. (v. 24) A proud and haughty man: "Scoffer" is his name; he acts with arrogant pride.

I am instructed to bring to your attention the light contained in the book "Great Controversy."  If you have not this book, get it and read it prayerfully.  We are living in the last days of this earth's history, and Satan is making determined efforts to subvert the mind.  Oh that those who have for years been at war with the Testimonies God has graciously given in warnings to save His people from the snares of Satan, would come into harmony with the requirements of God.  Light, precious light, has been given, and is the genuine higher education.^[13]

If you would like a copy of the book "Great Controversy" (click on this link).  And leave your mailing address in the (message box) of where to send the book at no charge.

Doorways are opened to demons when a believer steps out of submitting his mind and/or body to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  When a believer sins in this way and does not choose to turn to God in repentance, he then becomes open for demonic attack and dominion....The demons want to lead believers into captivity to do their will....A believer will become so preoccupied with his sin that it will cause him to feel that he is not worthy to serve God.  Demons are crafty liars, deceivers, and twisters of God's truths.  They will seek to destroy a believer's abundant life and walk with God, to make him ineffective for the kingdom of God.^[15]

II Tim 2  (v. 24) And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patiently, (v. 25) in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, (v. 26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 

Demon personalities knit very tightly with the victims, and it requires some spiritual discernment to expose them.  Demons attach themselves to "sin areas" of a believer's life, and work continually to increase control or domination of those areas.  This is demonization.  A person is demonized when they become hopeless and defeated in an area of their life, such as with unforgiveness or addictions.^[3]

Jam 4  (v. 6) ....Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (v. 7) Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (v. 8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you....

Demons promote pain and suffering in the world.  This helps to perpetuate the lie that God does not exist....Families hurt each other and sins can be passed down through generations as a curse upon the children....Now that you understand the deceptive tactics demons use against you, you can begin to recognize when, and how, they attack you.  Whatever area in your life they attack around, apply God's truth to it.  Stand in the truth, and stay free![16]

References:

1. John Ramirez, (2015). Unmasking the Devil, p.19-20, Destiny Image Publishers.

2. E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p.534, par.2, Pacific Press Publishing

3. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory Over the Darkness, p.159-160, Bethany House Publishers.

4. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.57, Real Deliverance Ministry.

5. E.G. White, Mind, Character, and Personality (vol.2) p.700, par.1

6. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory Over the Darkness, p.161, Bethany House Publishers.

7. John Ramirez, (2015). Unmasking the Devil, p.20, Destiny Image Publishers.

8. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory Over the Darkness, p.159, Bethany House Publishers.

9. Neil Anderson, (2013). Victory Over the Darkness, p.162, Bethany House Publishers.

10. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.121-122, Real Deliverance Ministry.

11. E.G. White, The Signs of the Times (12 Apr 1883) “The Working of Satan” par.16

12. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.56, Real Deliverance Ministry.

13. E.G. White, Pacific Union Recorder (6 May 1909) par.7

14. E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p.515, par.1, Pacific Press Publishing

15. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.58, Real Deliverance Ministry.

16. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.59-60, Real Deliverance Ministry.