The apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:8-9: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”
James likewise writes: “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (4:7-8).
The devil is cunning. He uses all the tricks in the book to direct our attention away from God or steal our hearts away from Christ. We will discuss three major tricks:
He keeps you out of the church of Christ. He knows Christ died for one. There is but one church (Ephesians 4:4; 1:22-23). Jesus said, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). All the saved are in this church (Acts 2:47).
All the promises of God are available in this church. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, Paul writes: “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.” To be in the church is to be in Christ, where all the promises of God are “YES!” Every spiritual blessing is in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
What does it mean to be lost? In Ephesians 2:12, Paul reminds us: “remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
If one were to be added to the church by Christ, Satan’s next trick is to get you to go back into the world. He knows that the last state would be worse than the first (2 Peter 2:20). It might even be impossible to renew such a person to repentance (Heb. 6:4).
If one were to be added to the church but, in some way remain dedicated in the church, Satan has one more trick up his sleeve: render you worthless to the church.
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Satan knows how to trick you. Do not attend all the time (Heb. 10:25-26). Do not study the Bible (and stay ignorant; 2 Tim. 2:15). Do not pray (nor fall in love with God). Do not eat the Lord’s Supper (our spiritual food; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20-28). Do not give much (Remember, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” – Matt. 6:21).
Do not do evangelistic work. You might drive him out of the hearts of other people, giving you great encouragement to keep it up (Matt. 28:19). Be a watchdog, criticizing and finding fault with other members of the church. (It is easy to tear down; it is hard to build up.) You can be sure a horse that is kicking is not pulling.
Every day of our lives, there is a big election. Your vote will determine the results. God wants you saved. The devil wants you lost. How will you vote?
–Paul Holland
• the late Wayne Holland
notes from a sermon preached in
Bayou La Batre, AL – 7/13/80
Hiawassee, GA – 5/22/83
Roxboro, NC – 3/25/90 & 7/2/02
