Last week we talked about the continual war that is raging between the grace of God and demonic influence, God bowing down to help us up and the Devil rising up to put us down.
• Grace of God vs. Demonic Adversary
John 1:17b (NIV) ... grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
1 Peter 5:8b (NIV) ... Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
• Satan’s deceitful purposes and schemes
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV) in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Thayer Definition: advantage; pleonekteo to have more, or a greater part or share; to be superior, excel, surpass, have an advantage over; overreach
2 Corinthians 2:11 (The Message) we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NLT) so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes.
Rev. 12:9 (NIV) The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Thayer Definition: Deceive; planao
1) to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way
2) metaphorically: to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive; to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin; to sever or fall away from the truth
2) metaphorically: to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive; to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin; to sever or fall away from the truth
Five of the Deadly Devices of the Devil
We will look at five of the “evil purposes” (noeôma) that the Devil uses to deceive us and to frustrate the grace of God.
1.) Doubt: Makes you question God's Word and his goodness. Satan will attack us with doubt when we are most vulnerable. Disobedience, disappointment, and sickness can prompt doubt.
Genesis 3:1-5 (NLT) Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the LORD God had made. “Really?” he asked the woman. “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat it,” the woman told him. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent hissed. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.”
The doubter is characterized by hesitation. Uncertainty throws the doubter off balance and interferes with their decision-making. The opposite of doubt is faith.
James 1:5-8 (NLT) If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.
Acts 27:25 (NIV) So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
“Beware of doubt—faith is the subtle chain that binds us to the infinite.” —Elizabeth Oakes Smith
Doubt sees the obstacles; faith sees the way. Doubt sees the darkest night; faith sees the day. Doubt dreads to take a step; faith soars on high; Doubt questions, “Who believes?” Faith answers, “I.” —Unknown
2.) Discouragement: Makes you look at your problems rather than at God.
Discouragement: 1. To deprive of confidence, hope, or spirit, 2. To hamper by dis-couraging; deter, 3. To try to prevent by expressing disapproval or raising objections.
John 1:34-36 (NIV) I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”35The nextday John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
Matthew 11:2-3 (NIV) When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples [3] to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
Exodus 6:6-9 (NIV) 6“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judg- ment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyp- tians. 8And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’”9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discour- agement and cruel bondage.
1 Chron. 28:20 (NIV) David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and coura- geous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
Galatians 6:9 (NLT) So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
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