The Devices of Satan (Part 3)

We know that Satan is up to no good. He is not interested in our well being at all and in fact seeks our eternal loss. He is deceitful and untrustworthy. Falling prey to Satan's lies we can become easily deceived ourselves. The only cure is to look to the Lord and hang onto His every word as He warns us about the devices of Satan.

Satan will appeal to an apparent need. In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus had been fasting 40 days and was hungry. Satan tempted Him to fill His hunger by making stones into bread. Satan was trying to get Jesus to see that the apparent need outweighed any evil that could result. Satan uses this tactic often on folks today.

When Satan tries to sell himself to people today, he attacks a "perceived" need. There is the liberation offered by divorce as married folk seek the "need" of being free. Other people are in financial need so the lottery meets their need. Men and women live together without being married because there is a need to avoid government taxes. Homosexuality runs rampant because there is a need for personal freedom and expression.

Churches are not immune from this either. There is a need for more members so entertainment schemes are cooked up. Of course, more money is always needed so all sorts of money making ventures are invented rather than living within their means (1 Corinthians 16:1-2.) Churches get into bingo or casino nights to raise money for all sorts of "good" causes. The devil is always trying to make sin look respectable.

Someone once said there is no good way to do evil and no evil way to do what is good. Well said! Paul reminds us this way, "shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?'(Romans 6:l.) You know the answer.