DEVICES SATAN USES AGAINST US
?Bible Reading: II Corinthians 2:1-7. “lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”?Aim: To know and to reject the main devices that Satan uses against us.??Introduction:?“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” ?II Corinthians 2:11. To grasp victory, we must know the strong points or devices that Satan uses against us.??
- DISAPPOINTMENT?We have all been disappointed by not getting what we wanted at times. But to the knowledgeable Christian, ALL disappointments are God’s appointments and must be viewed as such, lest Satan gain the advantage. To be disappointed is to forget
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them?who are the called according to his purpose.”- DISCOURAGEMENT?Discouragement is the second stage. Disappointment leads to discouragement.?“Fear not, neither be discouraged…our brethren have discouraged our heart.” Deuteronomy 1:21,28.
- DESPAIR?Despair is the third stage of disappointment and discouragement. Unless checked, it?can destroy your Christian life. To despair is to forget II Corinthians 4:8, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.” To despair is to forget that God is working in our lives.
- DOUBT?Satan attacked Eve in the Garden of Eden with doubt, by getting her to doubt God’s Word. “He said unto the woman, yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1.?To doubt is to forget to PRAY and to forget I Timothy 2:8, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
- DISBELIEF?Disbelief is the final form of doubt. Genesis 3:4,5. To disbelieve is to forget Hebrews 3:12. “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”
- DISTRACTION?One can be side-tracked from God’s perfect will by family or job. The real enemy of the BEST is not the WORST, but the GOOD. To be distracted is to forget Matthew 14:30, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” PETER
- DOUBLE MINDEDNESS?A “double minded” man in Greek means to be “double souled.” To be double minded is to forget James 1:8 and 4:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” Matthew 6:24; Ephesians 4:14; I John 2:15-17.
- DISHONESTY?We can be dishonest by: a) lying or cheating, b) holding back certain facts, or c) being less than we should be as pastors, parents or workers which is to cheat our people and children.?It is estimated that over $500 million is raised each year by false “faith healers” who?cannot do what they claim. To be dishonest is to forget II Corinthians 4:2, “But have?renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” CAR
- DOUBLE MINDEDNESS?A “double minded” man in Greek means to be “double souled.” To be double minded is to forget James 1:8 and 4:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” Matthew 6:24; Ephesians 4:14; I John 2:15-17.
- DISTRACTION?One can be side-tracked from God’s perfect will by family or job. The real enemy of the BEST is not the WORST, but the GOOD. To be distracted is to forget Matthew 14:30, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” PETER
- DISBELIEF?Disbelief is the final form of doubt. Genesis 3:4,5. To disbelieve is to forget Hebrews 3:12. “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”
- DOUBT?Satan attacked Eve in the Garden of Eden with doubt, by getting her to doubt God’s Word. “He said unto the woman, yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1.?To doubt is to forget to PRAY and to forget I Timothy 2:8, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
- DESPAIR?Despair is the third stage of disappointment and discouragement. Unless checked, it?can destroy your Christian life. To despair is to forget II Corinthians 4:8, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.” To despair is to forget that God is working in our lives.
- DISCOURAGEMENT?Discouragement is the second stage. Disappointment leads to discouragement.?“Fear not, neither be discouraged…our brethren have discouraged our heart.” Deuteronomy 1:21,28.
- DECEIT?”With all deceivableness of unrighteousness.” II Thessalonians 2:8-12.?”For we are not as many, which corrupt the Word of God.” II Corinthians 2:17.?”Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but?have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handlingthe word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to?every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” II Corinthians 4:1,2.?”For many deceivers are entered into the world.” II John 1:7.?To be deceived is to forget Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
- DULLNESS?Dullness means sleepiness to the things of God. The readers of Hebrews suffered dullness. They needed sound Bible teachers to bring them to their senses. Because they were dull, they could not be used by God: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first?principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” Hebrews 5:12-14.?To suffer dullness is to forget Hebrews 5:11, “Of whom we have many things to say, and?hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.”
- DEADNESS?Deadness means unchecked dullness. Don’t be dead like the Sardis Church, “I know thy?works, that thou has a name that thou livest, and are dead.” Revelation 3:1.
- DEFAME?How often are Christians guilty of criticising or belittling other believers. If we have something against a believer, tell him to his face. To defame someone is to forget Psalm 101:5, “Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.”
- DISCORD?To sow discord is to forget?Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
- DISCONTENT?One of Satan’s favorite lies is to tell people that things will be better if they go elsewhere.?For example, if they: a) change marriage partners, b) change churches.?”Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5.?”Having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” I Timothy 6:8.?”I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11.
- DELAY?Delay is used to, (a) postpone salvation; and (b) postpone service to God.?”I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” Psalm 119:60.
- DEBT?“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7.?“Owe no man anything, but to love one another.” Romans 13:8.?When we borrow money, we make ourselves vulnerable to many evils such as:?a) Losing our job and being unable to pay the interest.?b) Dishonest or incompetent business partners may steal or waste our money.?c) The market price falling in what we are investing in so that we can’t pay back the?bank. As a result, the bank will take your house or other securities.?d) You can be tempted to be dishonest with money to bail yourself out.?Hence, great risks are associated with borrowing money. We should avoid debt because?the devil can enslave us into working long hours to pay off bank interest and debt, so we?have no time or energy left to serve the Lord.??Conclusion: Be sober, be vigilant. Don’t be destroyed by Satan’s devices.
- DEBT?“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7.?“Owe no man anything, but to love one another.” Romans 13:8.?When we borrow money, we make ourselves vulnerable to many evils such as:?a) Losing our job and being unable to pay the interest.?b) Dishonest or incompetent business partners may steal or waste our money.?c) The market price falling in what we are investing in so that we can’t pay back the?bank. As a result, the bank will take your house or other securities.?d) You can be tempted to be dishonest with money to bail yourself out.?Hence, great risks are associated with borrowing money. We should avoid debt because?the devil can enslave us into working long hours to pay off bank interest and debt, so we?have no time or energy left to serve the Lord.??Conclusion: Be sober, be vigilant. Don’t be destroyed by Satan’s devices.
- DELAY?Delay is used to, (a) postpone salvation; and (b) postpone service to God.?”I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” Psalm 119:60.
- DISCONTENT?One of Satan’s favorite lies is to tell people that things will be better if they go elsewhere.?For example, if they: a) change marriage partners, b) change churches.?”Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5.?”Having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” I Timothy 6:8.?”I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11.
- DISCORD?To sow discord is to forget?Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
- DEFAME?How often are Christians guilty of criticising or belittling other believers. If we have something against a believer, tell him to his face. To defame someone is to forget Psalm 101:5, “Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.”
- DEADNESS?Deadness means unchecked dullness. Don’t be dead like the Sardis Church, “I know thy?works, that thou has a name that thou livest, and are dead.” Revelation 3:1.
- DULLNESS?Dullness means sleepiness to the things of God. The readers of Hebrews suffered dullness. They needed sound Bible teachers to bring them to their senses. Because they were dull, they could not be used by God: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first?principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” Hebrews 5:12-14.?To suffer dullness is to forget Hebrews 5:11, “Of whom we have many things to say, and?hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.”