(2 Cor. 2:1-11) "We are not ignorant of his devices..."
Paul said, the devil would not take advantage of us, because we are not ignorant of his devices.
But, I think many Christians don’t have a clue as to what is going on in the spiritual world.
There is a spiritual war going on in the life of every person, especially God’s people.
The devil will attack lost members of your family to keep them from Christ, and hurt you as a Christian.
He will do anything and everything to ruin people’s lives.
AND MOST ARE IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES.
Five things the Bible makes clear about the devil...
1. He is a leader. [John 8:44] "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do..."
> He leads his followers to perform his lusts!
> He leads people as a father leads his children.
> Those whom he leads, follow!
2. He is a murderer. [John 8:44] "...He was a murderer from the beginning..."
> The Bible says Cain, the first murderer on earth, was of that wicked one.
> Behind every murder is a demon, sent from the devil.
3. He is a liar. [John 8:44] "When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it..."
> All lying begins in the heart of the devil, and ends in the heart of the speaker.
4. He desires to destroy God’s people. Jesus told Simon Peter, "Simon, satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat..."
[1 Pet.] "satan walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour..."
> He would destroy you if God let him.
5. He will do whatever necessary to keep lost people from getting saved (2 Cor 4:3-4).
> He will hide the gospel from their minds.
> He will blind the minds of them that believe not.
Still Paul said we could avoid allowing the devil to take advantage of us, if we were not ignorant of his devices.
The Devil’s Devices
I. He is Subtle (Eph. 6:11).
A. The "wiles" of the devil.
1. Greek "methodeia" - where we get our word METHOD.
> The methods of the devil.
2. You may go through your life without much planning or direction...
> But I guarantee you, the devil has a methodical plan to ruin you.
3. You may be ignorant of the devil’s devices...
> But, if you are a Christian, or the family member of a Christian, then devil has his plans for you!
B. Subtlety (2 Cor. 11:3).
1. "But I fear..."
> As I look upon the absolute chaos in our world...
> As I consider the direction of our young people...
> As I see the next generation headed toward destruction and ruin...
> I FEAR!
> I’m afraid it’s going to take more than just casual involvement to get a hold of this...
> Weve got to wake up & LOOK AROUND
2. "Lest by any means..."
> He will use any means to destroy you.
> He will use Money; Career; Fame...
> He will use your FAMILY to ruin you...
3. "As the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety..."
> By his cleverness.
> By his sly approach.
> He is not going to confront you head on, but is going to TRICK YOU.
> 35% of all internet teen-age chat room guests are ADULT PERVERTS.
> They pretend to be teen-age girls or boys, and lure unsuspecting young people.
> THAT IS EXACTLY HOW THE DEVIL WORKS.
> He pretends to be something he’s not so that he can lure you.
4. "So your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
> He wants to corrupt your mind!
> Talk to a young person, and you will find that they have no clue as to why they do certain things...
> "Why are you doing that?"
> "I Don’t Know!"
> How can they not know why they are doing something?
> Because the devil has corrupted their minds!
II. He Changes the Way You Think.
A. The Apostle Paul feared that our "MINDS would be corrupted..."
1. Evidently the devil has the ability to put thoughts INTO our minds.
> He can plant ideas and desires into our minds.
2. A person who is ignorant of his devices thinks its her own thought.
> When a thought comes into your mind, do you stop to consider if perhaps the devil put it there?
> No! We don’t think that way.
> We just assume it was our own thought, and process it as if it was!
B. Three things the devil always puts into the head of those he oppresses:
1. Nakedness (Luke 8:26-27).
> He "ware no clothes..."
> It is an obvious sign of demonic influence.
> This is the most prevalent attitude of our society.
> They see NOTHING wrong with showing off their body.
> Little 12 year old girls want to dress like a 40 year old harlot.
> AND PARENTS LET THEM!
2. Death (Luke 8:27) "in the tombs..."
> (Mark 5:1-5) "Dwelling among the tombs..."
> Why would a young 13-14 year old person want to commit suicide?
> I know that it doesn’t matter how great your life is...
> It doesn’t matter that your parents love you and are there for you...
> It doesn’t matter that you are smart, good looking, or personable!
> Studies show that the people who do this have good families & friends!
> SO WHY?
> Because the devil fills their minds with a pre-occupation with DEATH!
3. Self-Mutilation (Mark 5:5 "cutting himself...")
> This is not a foot note: This is part of the plan.
> It is the devil’s method. It is one of his devices!
> Have you not noticed the rise of tattoo and piercing parlors?
> There is a great trend to get all parts of your body pierced.
> Cutting oneself has become common...
> Cutting is a way some people try to cope with the pain of strong emotions...
> It release intense pressure, or upsetting relationship problems.
> People who cut may not know better ways to get relief from emotional pain or pressure.
> Why would a young person, with everything going for them, feel such emotional pressure?
> BECAUSE THE DEVIL IS MESSING WITH THEIR MINDS!
C. (2 Tim 2:25-25) Captive at his will.
1. The devil has taken some CAPTIVE.
[Eph 6:12] "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
> If a pervert walked through your door you would do everything in your power to protect your children.
> But, if he comes subtly through the back door, you’ll just let him in!
> Some have allowed the devil to take their children CAPTIVE!
> It’s time we take ACTION, and declare WAR on the devil!
2. Some are in the devil’s stronghold!
[2 Cor 10:3-4] "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
> A stronghold is a DUNGEON or Prison!
> It is a place where the devil has locked away the minds of some.
III. "Recover themselves..." (2 Tim. 2:25-25).
A. Listen to the Preacher (2 Tim. 2:24; 25-26).
1. Paul is addressing Timothy, the young pastor of the church.
> He is instructing Timothy about protecting his own walk with God...
> And also about helping his church walk with God.
2. He tells Timothy to INSTRUCT those that oppose THEMSELVES...
> The devil has so taken the minds of these people that they literally oppose THEMSELVES...
3. But, God said, if the preacher would instruct them...
> They could "recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."
4. You has better listen to this preacher.
> I am trying to help you!
> Unless you open your mind to this, the devil will get the victory over your soul...
> DON’T MISS WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICES; I’m teaching on the Whole Armor of God...
B. Don’t be IGNORANT of his devices.
1. "Try the spirits..." (1 John 4:1-3).
> Not everyone who tells you something is telling the truth.
> There are far more LIARS than there are people with TRUTH.
> There are more PERVERTS than there are PURE people.
> There are more that would want to HURT you than those that want to help you.
2. If your going to ERR, err on the side of CAUTION.
> If you don’t know its RIGHT assume its WRONG.
> If you have any bad feelings about it, It’s probably WRONG!
3. Keep in mind that the devil has a PLAN for you.
> It is not just a coincidence that you came across this information.
> Its not a coincidence that you met this person...
> The devil is METHODICAL!
> He will spend years setting the stage for your fall!
C. Stay close to God.
1. The devil is no match for the Lord...
2. God will strengthen us if we let Him...
3. If we resist the devil, God will MAKE him flee...
4. Listen to your preacher.... Parents...
5. Stay away from evil influences...
