1. We shouldn't talk about Satan because it glorifies him.
The issue with this idea is found when you read these verses:
[2 Corinthians 11: I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.]
[James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.]
[Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.]
We are in a war, not just a mental exercise. This is real. Yes we are called to set our minds on things above Col 3:2 where Jesus Christ is, the way to do that is by renewing our minds (Romans 12:2) and the only way to enter into the freedom from sin Jesus Paid for is to be aware of the lies we are believing, since:
[Romans 8:7 The mind, governed by the flesh is hostile to God]
[1 John 5:6 ...The Spirit is Truth]
[John 8:32 If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free]
[John 8:44 ..When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies]
Jesus also said ["I am the way, the truth and the life"] but truth in the New Testament is meant for this purpose:
[2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness]
This lines up with what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, also in 2 Corinthians 5 we are told that Jesus died that we might become "The Righteousness of God" which is "justified freely", so for those who believe Jesus is our righteousness, but Satan can send his demons and they can give us lying thoughts, which leads me to the next subject:
The Firey Darts of Satan:
[Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.]
[Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.]
Satans flaming arrows are carnal thoughts that come from outside and are not your thoughts, really they are temptations. They can come out of the heart, which is deceitful above all things (Jer. 17:9) but Jesus teaches that whatever you fill your heart with is what will come out of it, so even if your pastor quotes Ezekiel 36:26 which says "I will give you a new heart" the teaching of Jesus Christ must still apply.
See the diagram below:
The Attack of Satan
[2 Corinthians 11:4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.]
So we see that Christians can be demonized, and if you have seen the demonic strongholds in the church, this is evidence enough.
Jesus set and example and taught that we should not be offended by persecutions or people, because offense and insults are promised:
[2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,]
and his best example was going to the cross and dying for us without a word, and even forgiving his offenders as his body was cursed.
[Isaiah 53:7 he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.]
How can we do this as well?
First of all we must take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5) and be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) as we are renewed in the image of him day by day.
What is Satans Process:
This is when Satan will try to make you justified in taking revenge, when it is God's job to take revenge, and we are to entrust ourselves to his perfect judgement. These demons will tell you "This is not fair" and then comes in the rebellion demons that tell you "you are right". I could say this depends, but be careful and use discernment, God has the government in place for justice, but again, we are to entrust the Government god has placed to bring justice, not allowing sin against us to produce sin inside of us.
2. Bitterness
You are on the second step toward the road to sin, Jesus wants you to be thankful in all circumstances:[1 Thes. 5:18] but since you stumbled, did not trust God, made your issues bigger than Jesus and let life speak louder than Jesus, the demon of bitterness has jumped in legally since you have did not take captive the lie of "Not fair" [Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.]
3. Envy
You now see other people who are happy, you are looking for a way to be free from this darkness, but you might even be disappointed in God at this stage, if you are, there is no hope for your situation, the demons will trash your life, the key to end all this would be to repent and be thankful. [James 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.]
4. Strife
Since you are a righteous branch in your spirit, but believe you are envious, jealous and bitter, and the demons have told you something that may have brought you justice, such as revenge, now you decide to divide and take a different position than the other person who offended you, you begin to argue with great contention. [2 Tim 2:23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.]
5. Confusion
Now that the demons have created enough divisions in the body of Jesus Christ, aiming for the neck of faith which connects us to Jesus Christ, the body is divided from other parts of the body, and now the demons are happiest because you didn't see any of their work which is behind the scenes, the strife has caused the confusion demons to come and maybe anxiety, and so the lies and the fear cause emotions which make the lies real. Always Lies first, and then Fear. This is how Satan begins to control your life, bringing you in to falsehood, which is the opposite of the Freedom Jesus paid for through Truth. [1 Cor. 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.]
6. Evil Works
Now Satan has removed Faith, Hope and Love from your life. Then the Lust demons come and tell you how you can be free from the darkness for a moment, but in the long run you are done for. Eventually these thoughts come faster and faster and if you don't take them captive into obedience to righteousness, then they begin to take over your mind automatically until you have serious insanity, bipolar, addiction, anger, Mental illness or you are dead. [Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.]
Concluding Comments:
Your spirit man is still saved during this whole process through faith, but you can see how important it is to step into walking like christ.
[2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.]
The bible is clear: we should repent and turn away from sin, and it is possible to be free from sin through living in the truth of your purpose, value, and destiny in Jesus Christ.
If the yoke is not easy, and the burden is not light, something is wrong, if you are not encouraged in what you are hearing in your thoughts, it is not God, because he is all powerful and perfect love, he has called you to be like the wild ox. Strong and steadfast, so be holy, as he is holy.
Recommended reading: 2 Peter 1, Matthew 15:12-14 (offense), 1 Peter 3:7 (honor),
Seek righteousness for it reveals truth about right and wrong (Hebrews 5:13-14
I believe it is hard to lose your salvation but that is a different study.