“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but [...] against the wicked spirit forces that are in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
1. Against whom do we, the servants of Jehovah, fight? (Ephesians 6:11, 12).
We, as servants of Jehovah, do not fight against people or take part in the wars of this world. Isaiah 2:4 and John 18:36 show that our position is entirely different. Our real struggle is spiritual, against Satan and the demons, as Ephesians 6:11, 12 explains.
This is important because if we forget who our true enemy is, we could end up seeing our own brothers as adversaries. To overcome, we need to trust in Jehovah and understand the tactics Satan uses to attack us.
This leads us to believe that we shouldn't analyze all conflicts or difficulties solely from a human perspective, as there could be a strategy of Satan behind them. Therefore, within the congregation, we must be very vigilant and strive to protect peace and unity.
2. What will we analyze in this article?
In this article, we will analyze two additional tactics of Satan. The first is to try to destroy our unity by causing brothers and sisters to clash, criticize, or distrust one another. The second is to use persecution to frighten us or make us so focused on defending ourselves that we lose sight of our preaching mission.
This leads us to believe that Satan doesn't always need to get us to abandon Jehovah directly. Sometimes, it's enough for him to distract us or turn brothers against one another.
In daily life, we may encounter situations that test our patience, especially within the congregation. But if we identify these tactics, it will be easier to avoid falling into them. How reassuring it is to know that Jehovah teaches us to recognize them before they harm us.
SATAN IS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR UNITY
3. What is Satan's strategy to try to divide us?
Satan's strategy is to make us see our own brothers and sisters as enemies. He knows we live surrounded by people who can be cold, cruel, or distrustful, and he wants us to adopt those attitudes. So, we might start by criticizing a brother or sister, then suspect their motives, and finally, harbor resentment against them.
Romans 16:17 encourages us to be vigilant against those who cause divisions. This reminds us that Satan can use something seemingly small to create a much bigger problem. For example, a comment that bothers us or a difference of opinion can create distance if we keep dwelling on it.
On the other hand, when we make an effort to understand our brother and act in love, we show that we do not want to give Satan the satisfaction of dividing a congregation that Jehovah wants to remain united.
4. Why did King Saul want to kill David? (See also the image).
Saul came to want to kill David because he allowed jealousy and envy to control his heart. At first, he admired David and valued his skills as a warrior, but everything changed when he heard the people praising David more than him.
According to 1 Samuel 18:9-11, Saul began to regard David with suspicion and eventually tried to kill him. The saddest part is that Satan would have been very pleased about this situation, since Jehovah had chosen David to be the next king, as shown in 1 Samuel 16:13.
This makes us think about how dangerous it is to allow jealousy to grow. We may never go to the extreme of Saul, but constantly comparing ourselves to others can cause us to lose affection for a brother. How important it is to sincerely rejoice when Jehovah blesses others.
ILLUSTRATION
Saul burns with jealousy as the Israelites celebrate David's victory by singing and playing tambourines. Jonathan looks at David, who is standing beside him, with a broad smile.
Saul was envious of David and stopped trusting in Jehovah, but Jonathan did have faith in Jehovah and supported David (see paragraphs 4 and 6).
5. Why does Satan want us to envy one another? (James 3:14-16).
Satan wants us to feel envy because he knows that jealousy destroys love and, therefore, unity. Psalm 133:1 highlights how good it is when brothers are united, while James 3:14-16 shows that jealousy and rivalry can produce disorder and all kinds of evil.
Therefore, if we start comparing what we have, our abilities, or the privileges that others receive, we may end up seeing our brothers as competitors.
This suggests that envy doesn't always manifest itself in obvious ways. Sometimes, it simply begins with a comparison we harbor within ourselves.
In the congregation, another brother may receive a responsibility that we desired. If, instead of feeling bad, we rejoice for him, we protect something far more valuable than any privilege: our friendship with Jehovah and the peace of the congregation.
6. What does Jonathan's example teach you? (See also the image).
Jonathan teaches us that love and loyalty can completely overcome jealousy. Humanly speaking, he had reason to feel threatened by David, because David was Saul's son and he might have thought he himself had a claim to the throne.
However, he acknowledged that Jehovah had chosen David and humbly supported that decision. At 1 Samuel 23:16, 17, Jonathan even strengthened David by telling him that he would be king of Israel. This helps us to understand that true humility allows us to rejoice when Jehovah uses or blesses another person.
In the congregation, it may happen that a brother or sister has abilities or privileges that we do not have. Instead of comparing ourselves to them, we can imitate Jonathan and become people who encourage and strengthen our brothers and sisters.
7. What can we do to avoid giving the Devil any opportunity? (Ephesians 4:25-27).
To avoid giving Satan any opportunity, we must resolve problems as soon as they arise and strive to increase our love for our brothers and sisters. Ephesians 4:25-27 encourages us to speak honestly and not let anger linger, because that could give Satan an opening.
Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 12:12 reminds us that we are all one body. This leads us to believe that differences in personality, culture, or opinion should never make us forget that we are on the same side. If a disagreement arises, we can take the first step, talk calmly, and seek peace.
When we remember that our brothers and sisters are also fighting alongside us against Satan, as 1 Peter 5:8, 9 indicates, our perspective on them changes. They are not our rivals, but fellow fighters whom Jehovah wants us to care for.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
To give Satan no opportunity, we must resolve problems quickly and not allow resentment to fester. Ephesians 4:25-27 shows that we should speak honestly and not prolong anger.
Furthermore, let us remember that our brothers and sisters are not our enemies. We are all fighting against Satan. Therefore, when disagreements arise, let us prioritize peace, love, and forgiveness. In this way, we will protect our unity and avoid falling into one of Satan's most dangerous traps.
8. What should we do if a brother or sister says or does something that hurts us?
If a brother offends us, we must remember that we are all imperfect and that we too can make mistakes. Ecclesiastes 7:20 acknowledges precisely this reality. That is why Colossians 3:12-14 encourages us to be patient, compassionate, and willing to forgive.
This doesn't mean what happened doesn't matter, but rather that we don't allow an offense to damage our relationship with the brother or the unity of the congregation. This makes us think that perhaps we need to make a conscious effort not to dwell too much on something that hurt us.
John 17:20, 21 shows how much Jesus wants his followers to be united. When we choose to forgive and move on, we are protecting something that Jehovah and Jesus value highly: unity.
SATAN INCITES PEOPLE TO PERSECUTE US
9. What other tactic does Satan use against us?
Another tactic of Satan is to use persecution to try to divert us from our spiritual goal. 2 Timothy 3:12 reminds us that true Christians may suffer persecution.
When this happens, we may become so focused on achieving justice, clearing our name, or seeing those who have wronged us punished that we neglect preaching. Romans 12:19-21 reminds us that vengeance is not our place and that we must overcome evil with good.
This leads us to believe that Satan doesn't need to make us abandon Jehovah directly. It is enough for him to make an injustice occupy so much space in our minds that we end up losing our spiritual energy.
In difficult times, continuing to preach and maintaining a good attitude shows that we will not allow opposition to take away our joy in serving Jehovah.
10. What did Isaac do when he suffered an injustice?
Isaac responded to the injustices with calm and patience. The Philistines were envious because Jehovah was blessing him and even stopped up the wells that Abraham's servants had dug. When Isaac dug other wells, they fought over them as well.
Instead of engaging in constant conflict, Isaac chose to move and seek a place of peace. Genesis 26:19-25 shows that Jehovah blessed this attitude. This reminds us that not all injustices have to become a personal battle.
Sometimes we may have a right to complain, but it may be wiser to yield and prevent the problem from escalating. In the congregation or in the family, remaining calm can require great humility. However, when we sacrifice our desire to be right in order to preserve peace, Jehovah can bless our efforts.
11. How did Jesus react when he suffered injustices?
Jesus endured many injustices, but he never allowed them to distract him from his service to Jehovah. His family members even began to think he had lost his mind. Religious leaders questioned his authority, Judas betrayed him, and finally, they succeeded in having him condemned to death.
However, Jesus never sought revenge. Even when Peter cut off a slave's ear during his arrest, Jesus rectified the situation and healed the wound, according to Luke 22:50, 51. This suggests that our reaction to injustice can demonstrate how much we resemble Jesus.
In daily life, we may face criticism, unfair accusations, or even opposition because of our faith, but we must not allow these situations to rob us of our peace. Continuing to do Jehovah’s will when others treat us unjustly is a powerful display of faithfulness.
12. According to Matthew 5:43, 44, how should we treat those who persecute us or oppose our work?
Jesus taught us to treat with love even those who persecute us or oppose our work. In Matthew 5:43, 44, he commanded us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Therefore, if someone mistreats us, we should not respond in kind.
1 Corinthians 13:4 reminds us that love is patient and kind. This makes us realize that our reactions can be an important part of our testimony.
Perhaps a family member opposes our faith, or someone treats us with contempt for being Jehovah's Witnesses. If we respond with respect and patience, we demonstrate that our faith is truly transforming our character.
Furthermore, we never know how a person's heart might change over time. Maintaining a kind attitude, even in the face of opposition, can open a door we may not yet see.
13. Why should we respect rulers even if they oppose our work? (See also the image.)
We must respect rulers because God's Word commands us to do so, even when some of their decisions make it difficult for us to serve Jehovah. Romans 13:1, 2 explains that we must recognize the authority of governments, while Proverbs 24:21, 22 warns us against getting involved in conflicts with the authorities.
This helps us maintain a neutral position. Satan would like us to react impulsively to political injustice, to participate in protests, or to criticize those in power. But John 15:19 reminds us that Christians are not of the world.
This leads us to understand that neutrality is not simply about not voting or not participating in politics, but also about controlling our words and emotions. We can have personal opinions about a decision, but we continue to respect the authorities and trust that Jehovah's Kingdom will ultimately resolve injustices.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
We respect rulers because Jehovah commands us to do so. Romans 13:1, 2 shows that we should recognize the authority of governments, even though some of their decisions make our lives difficult.
Satan would like to take advantage of these situations to make us lose our neutrality and react like the world does. That is why we maintain a respectful attitude and let Jehovah handle justice.
ILLUSTRATION
A young man on a motorcycle watches a group of people protesting. One of them gestures for him to join them.
Will we resist the world's pressure to stop being neutral? (See paragraph 13).
14. What should we keep in mind when people turn against the truth?
When someone opposes the truth, we must remember that people can change. 1 Timothy 1:12, 13 reminds us that Paul himself had persecuted Christians before becoming a faithful servant of Jehovah.
Therefore, even if someone insults us or says bad things about us, as Matthew 5:11 mentions, we should not lose our patience. We can pray that those in authority will allow us to continue worshiping peacefully and also ask Jehovah to help us reach the hearts of our family members and colleagues.
This leads us to believe that someone who strongly opposes the truth today may accept it tomorrow. Patience may seem to produce no immediate results, but it can have a tremendous impact over time. Therefore, let us continue to treat people with dignity and love, without giving up.
15. Why is it not worth trying to fix all the injustices we see or suffer in this world?
It is not worthwhile to dedicate all our energy to trying to correct the injustices of this world, because we know that no human effort can completely solve its problems. Ecclesiastes 1:15 acknowledges that there are situations that human beings simply cannot right.
But Jehovah clearly sees what we suffer, as Psalm 37:18 assures us, and by means of his Kingdom he will definitively eliminate the consequences of sin and Satan's influence. 1 John 3:8 and Revelation 21:5 give us that hope.
This makes us realize that we must choose wisely how we invest our time and energy. We may feel indignation at injustice, but instead of dwelling on it, let us use our strength to help others draw closer to Jehovah.
WE CAN ACHIEVE VICTORY
16. What will help us to win in our fight against Satan and the demons? (See also the pictures.)
What will help us to overcome is strengthening our faith in Jehovah and in Jesus. James 4:7 assures us that if we oppose the Devil, he will flee from us. And 1 John 5:4, 5 shows that faith enables us to overcome the world.
Furthermore, Ephesians 6:16 compares faith to a shield capable of extinguishing the enemy's attacks. But faith is not limited to our beliefs; it compels us to action. A person with strong faith strives to love their brothers and sisters, forgive, maintain unity, and continue preaching despite opposition.
This makes us realize that every time we choose peace over conflict, we demonstrate our trust in Jehovah. And every time we remain united, despite our differences, we thwart Satan’s plans. It is wonderful to know that even our small acts of love can contribute to our spiritual victory.
ILLUSTRATION
Images of brothers and sisters promoting an atmosphere of love and unity: 1. Two brothers of different ages and races converse in the Kingdom Hall. 2. A young brother working on a construction site at one of our facilities gives instructions to an older brother. 3. A group of sisters of different ages and races talk in a car while traveling in the ministry.
We can win in our fight against Satan and the demons by fostering love and unity among brothers (see paragraph 16).
17. What are we determined to do?
We are determined not to fall into Satan's traps, even though he continues to try to divide and discourage us. We know that Jehovah and Jesus will help us as long as we remain close to them.
We will also remember that our brothers are not our enemies, but comrades who fight alongside us. And, following Jesus' command in Luke 6:27, 28, we will continue to treat even those who harm us with kindness.
This leads us to understand that victory does not consist in never having problems, but in preventing Satan from changing our behavior or leading us away from Jehovah. There may be times of pressure, injustice, or disappointment, but we can decide how we will react.
If we remain united, maintain our neutrality, continue preaching, and treat others with love, we will have the assurance that Jehovah will be with us.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
In what ways does Satan try to destroy our unity?
Satan tries to destroy our unity by making us see each other as enemies. He may use jealousy, envy, suspicion, criticism, and disagreements to create distance between us.
The example of Saul and David demonstrates how destructive envy can be when we stop trusting in Jehovah. To resist this tactic, we must resolve problems promptly, forgive, and remember that our brothers are fighting alongside us against the same enemy.
What does Satan do to try to stop us from preaching?
Satan uses opposition and persecution to discourage us. He can make us so anxious about an injustice that we expend all our energy trying to defend ourselves, obtain justice, or retaliate against those who harm us. But Jesus taught us to love even our enemies and to keep doing Jehovah’s will.
Therefore, even if we face opposition, we must remain calm, respect the authorities, maintain our neutrality, and continue preaching. In this way, we demonstrate that no tactic of Satan will succeed in diverting us from what truly matters.
What convinces you that you can win your fight against Satan and the demons?
I am reassured by the knowledge that victory does not depend solely on our own strength. Jehovah helps us, and Jesus also supports us. James 4:7 assures us that we can oppose the Devil, and 1 John 5:4, 5 links victory to our faith.
Therefore, as long as we strengthen our trust in Jehovah and Jesus, remain united with our brothers and sisters, and continue to show love even in the face of injustice, we will be able to resist Satan’s tactics. We are not alone in this fight. Jehovah has given us everything we need to remain faithful and, with his help, to achieve victory.
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