Spiritual Warfare Series — Devotional #14
Blinding People
This is our final post in addressing the question: How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting, and derailing them from being involved in God's great mission?
As we survey Pauline literature, we discover fourteen tactical strategies the enemy uses against God’s people—along with Spirit-empowered antidotes to resist them.
Tactic 14: Blinding People
"A leader's gentle reaction and sound instruction are their greatest weapons." – Gary Rohrmayer
Biblical Foundation
2 Timothy 2:26 – "Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."
Paul reminds Timothy that spiritual blindness is not simply ignorance—it is bondage. Satan takes people captive, using lies, quarrels, and controversies to blind them to the truth of the gospel. The hope for release is not found in harsh arguments or clever reasoning, but in God granting repentance through the faithful witness of gentle, truth-centered leaders.
The Problem: Spiritual Blindness
J. Robert Clinton warns:
"Satan blinds people to the truth."
The enemy thrives on deception, and one of his most effective strategies is to keep people from seeing clearly. Blindness comes through pride, false teaching, controversies, and sin that dulls the heart. Leaders can inadvertently make matters worse when they respond to opposition with anger, harshness, or defensiveness—reinforcing division instead of opening eyes.
The Antidote: Gentle Instruction Rooted in Truth
Clinton offers this counsel:
"Gently persuade people, winning them over by manner as well as truth."
The way we handle opposition is as important as the truth we proclaim. God uses leaders who embody humility, patience, and gentleness to break through spiritual blindness. Paul lays out this pattern in 2 Timothy 2:22–25:
Flee youthful passions – Resist impulsive, flesh-driven reactions.
Avoid foolish quarrels – Refuse to be baited into endless controversies.
Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace – Model what life in Christ looks like.
Correct with gentleness – Speak truth in love, trusting God to open eyes.
Gentleness is not weakness—it is Spirit-empowered strength under control, a posture that disarms hostility and creates space for God’s truth to pierce the heart.
Reflective Questions
What are some of your natural responses when you face opposition?
How might the enemy use those natural responses to worsen the problem?
How can the enemy use youthful passions to derail leaders? (See 2 Timothy 2:22)
How can quarrels and controversies deceive and distract the church? (See 2 Timothy 2:23–24)
Why is gentleness such a powerful response in these situations?
How many of the elder qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 deal with emotional maturity? What does that reveal about leadership character?
Prayer
Father in Heaven, Gentle Savior, sanctify our hearts to trust You rather than our own impulses. Empower us with the Spirit of gentleness, teaching us to rely not on the force of our personalities but on the strength of Your truth. Protect us from reacting in anger or pride when opposed. Instead, may our patience, humility, and sound teaching open blind eyes and set captives free. Break the chains of spiritual deception and division, and grant repentance that leads to life. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
