Satan, known as the adversary, operates as a tempter with cunning and subtlety, using words as his primary weapon to deceive and lead astray. His tactics have remained unchanged since the rebellion among the angels, where he slowly corrupted others through persuasive speech, turning one angel, then more, until a full rebellion emerged. In the account of Eve, satan employed words to sow doubt and mix lies with truth, questioning God's command and promising wisdom and power independent of God, ultimately leading her to justify sin through her own reasoning. Similarly, satan's approach with Christ, right after His baptism, targeted Him in a weakened state after fasting, tempting Him with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Yet, Christ countered each attack with the words of God, demonstrating the power of divine truth as the armor against deception. Satan's persistence is evident as he does not relent easily, continuing his assault until thoroughly defeated, showing patience and strategic timing in striking when vulnerabilities are greatest. Satan's attacks often come through words that trigger thoughts, leading to actions and sin, exploiting moments of weakness caused by personal struggles or doubts. His influence can emerge from within close circles, using familiar voices to deceive, much like subtle words can spread and grow into broader deception. He also twists Scripture to mislead, emphasizing the need to know God's words deeply to counter such distortions. Ultimately, satan's goal is spiritual destruction, roaming ceaselessly to deceive and kill, both spiritually and physically, making constant vigilance and reliance on God's words essential for protection.

Satan emerges as a persistent tempter, stirring confusion and disorder among God's people. His influence is evident in the lack of peace, as his ways produce discord and instability, contrary to God's path which fosters righteousness. He manipulates human desires, turning them into unlawful pursuits that lead to clashes and conflicts, exploiting the natural inclinations of individuals to create division. As the ruler of this world, he entices people to adopt worldly values, leading them to prioritize self-satisfaction over divine truth, thus subjecting themselves to his dominion. His tactics are cunning and relentless, taking advantage of human nature to sow discord and undermine spiritual life. He stirs the pot of human desires, creating bad relationships and fostering environments where righteousness struggles to flourish. Described as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, he stalks invisibly and soundlessly, far surpassing human intelligence and power, making awareness and resistance a daunting challenge. He aims to undermine confidence, sow discord, and push individuals toward carnality, exploiting even positive emotions to lead them astray. Satan's persistence is seen in his repeated attacks on Christ, seeking new angles and toeholds to induce sin, undeterred by failure. He targets both weaknesses and strengths, approaching with personal and varied assaults, knowing that his temptations will not cease until God's Kingdom is fully realized. He manipulates fears and desires, subtly removing the fear of God's consequences, as seen in the Garden of Eden, where he convinced humanity to act against divine command by diminishing the immediate threat of death. His cynicism is revealed in his interactions with God, believing humans will do anything to save themselves, a tactic he uses to exploit desires for personal gain. Even when quoting truth or scripture, he twists it with perverse intent to mislead. Yet, resistance is possible through vigilance, self-control, and reliance on God's truth. By resisting unlawful desires and not giving him a foothold, especially through unchecked emotions like anger, individuals can thwart his schemes. God's protection, as a hedge around His people, ensures that Satan's temptations are not beyond what can be endured, affirming that victory over him is assured through faith in Christ's triumph.

Satan is identified as a tempter who manipulates through disinformation and by affecting attitudes, aiming to shift reasoning processes toward self-satisfaction. This focus on self over God and others is the essence of sin, and satan's primary goal is to push individuals in this direction. Described as the prince of the power of the air in Ephesians 2, satan's influence often operates indirectly, with the air surcharged with his spirit, to which humans are naturally tuned. Yielding to this influence feels natural due to lifelong exposure, though it fosters enmity against God, as noted in Romans 8:7. Satan's persistent efforts to lead individuals to sin can be subtle and unrecognized, as sin becomes ingrained and often goes unnoticed until its fruits—confusion, division, and warfare—become evident. These outcomes reflect satan's work in personal lives, institutions, and cultures. The origin of this pattern traces back to satan's vanity over his beauty and abilities, leading him to believe a lie that he was not receiving his due, despite God's intrinsic love and fairness. This lie fueled further deception, prompting satan to enlist other angels in rebellion against God, resulting in division and warfare. Satan's effectiveness as a deceiver is profound, capable of leading people into conflict against God even after extended periods of divine governance. In specific instances, such as with Ananias and Sapphira, satan's influence moved them toward self-satisfaction, leading them to lie about their contribution for greater recognition, ultimately causing their separation from God's church and life itself. Similarly, in the interaction between Peter and Jesus Christ, satan's temptation mirrored earlier attempts in Matthew 4 to offer Jesus Messiahship without suffering, promoting self-satisfaction over self-denial, which Jesus immediately recognized and rebuked. Satan exploits situations of perceived unfairness or unmet desires, as seen in the temptation of Adam and Eve, suggesting that God withholds what they deserve, thus encouraging self-elevation. In various life contexts—government, employment, and marriage—satan stirs emotions to provoke feelings of being taken advantage of, pushing individuals toward rebellion rather than submission to God's will. Peter's writings emphasize the need to control emotions and submit to God, following Jesus Christ's example of enduring unjust suffering without retaliation, recognizing that satan seeks to exploit emotional vulnerabilities to foster self-centeredness. In church settings, satan's influence manifests as confusion, division, and conflict, as observed in the Corinthian church, where self-righteous pride led to attacks on one another rather than unity in God's Spirit. Satan's tactics often involve subtle reasons for withdrawal from fellowship, moving individuals toward self-indulgence rather than love. Ultimately, satan's direction is always toward self-centeredness, the true opposite of love, guiding individuals to operate at the expense of God and others, countering the path of self-denial that leads to the Kingdom of God.