The Submarine
A submarine’s primary deception tactic is acoustic masking. This technique allows submarines to conceal their presence and movements from enemy sonar systems.

Key Aspects of Acoustic Masking:

• Noise Reduction: Submarines minimize their own noise by adjusting machinery operations and using sound-dampening materials.
• Environmental Sounds: They use background noise from ocean currents, marine life, and other vessels to blend in and avoid detection.
• Countermeasures: Submarines deploy decoys or devices to mislead sonar, creating false targets.

These strategies make submarines nearly impossible to detect, hidden and waiting to strike.

The Enemy Below: Satan
Satan’s primary tactic of deception is much like acoustic masking. He conceals his presence and movements from Christians by blending in with the noise of life.

Key Aspects of Satan’s Acoustic Masking:

• Noise Reduction: Satan minimizes his presence by adjusting his operations so you won’t recognize him at work.
• Environmental Sounds: He uses the “background noise” of life, family pressures, friendships, culture, and worldly desires, to blend in and avoid detection.
• Countermeasures: Satan deploys false images, fake promises, and distractions to mislead believers and create false targets.

His stealth makes it difficult for Christians to stay alert, serve faithfully, and evangelize effectively.

Genesis 3:1-6
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

What Is Truth?
Just as a submarine silently waits beneath the surface, Satan quietly manipulates our thinking.

In Genesis 3:1, Satan asks, “Has God indeed said...?”
The key word here is every. He twists God’s words just enough to plant doubt.
Eve responds correctly, but the seed of uncertainty has already been sown. Satan’s subtle approach is always the same: “Did God really say?”

Louie Giglio, in Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, reminds us that we are constantly in the presence of our enemy.

Psalm 23:5 – “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies...”

Satan whispers,
“How’s it going with your spouse? I’d leave.”
“That boss of yours? I’d quit.”
“But you do what you want…”
His voice is disguised as reason, concern, or logic, always mingling the mind with doubt.

Examples from Scripture where the mind is mingled with doubt and fear:

• Abraham: Satan whispers, “They will kill you!” Abraham responds outwardly by saying, “She’s my sister.”
• Jonah: Satan accuses, “You don’t want them to repent; you hate them!” Jonah replies, “When is the next boat leaving?”
• Peter: Satan whispers fear, “They will kill you as well.” Peter responds by denying: “I don’t know Him!”

These are mind games: fear, doubt, and self-protection masquerading as logic. What is truth? The enemy mixes facts and fears until obedience becomes clouded.

Like a submarine hidden beneath the waves, Satan convinces you he isn’t really there.

Genesis 3:3–4  “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”

Satan’s message is always the same: “That won’t happen to you.”
He whispers:
“Why is your life falling apart if God is good?”
“Didn’t Jesus say He’d never leave you? Looks like He did.”

John 8:44 – “When he (Satan) speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Warren Wiersbe once said,

“Satan’s target is your mind, and his weapon is lies.”

When Satan mixes lies with truth, disobedience follows.

Genesis 3:6 – “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), that it was pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and desirable to make one wise (pride of life)…”

They had seen that tree many times before, but now, deception had changed their perception.
When disobedience becomes an option, Satan gains a 50/50 chance at victory.

He whispers:
“It’s just a small compromise.”
“It’s not really cheating.”
“It’s only a text.”
“All is good…”

Just like a submarine waiting to strike, Satan hides beneath the surface of your thoughts, undetected, until it’s too late.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Only the inspired Word of God can reveal and defeat the devil’s lies. You cannot reason with Satan, nor can you safely converse with him.”

Even Jesus used the Word when tempted in Matthew 4:1–11. He didn’t use divine power, He used Scripture.

Matthew 4:1-11
Satan Tempts Jesus (Power Points Just the verses marked)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
11 Then the devil left Him . . .


Our Weapons:

• Memorize God’s Word: Psalm 119:11
  “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”
• Meditate on God’s Word: Psalm 1:2
  “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
• Use God’s Word: John 14:26
  “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Ephesians 6:11–18
“Put on the whole armor of God…”

Challenge: Read this passage every day this week. Armour up!