(8) The Devil & His Devices

THE DEVIL AND

HIS DEVICES

Discipleship II - Chapter 8

THE DEVIL AND HIS DEVICES

The Halloween caricature of the Devil in red flannels with horns, a long

tail, and a pitchfork cold not be further from the truth. Don’t be deceived into

believing that the Devil is a myth, like Santa-Claus and the tooth fairy!

The Bible is unmistakably clear in its teachings about Satan. Satan is a real

personality with real goals, ambitions, and desires. The literal existence of

Satan is taught in seven Old Testament books and by every single New

Testament author.

Satan is a “deceiver” (Rev. 12:9). One of the greatest deceptions he has

used in our day is the false notion that he does not exist. Biblical signs of

demon possession (split personality, self-abuse, violence, etc.) are no longer

attributed to demonic sources. In our days these problems are seen as psychi-

atric disorders.

Satanism is becoming one of America’s fastest growing “religions.”

Inverted crosses, pentagrams, and goat heads are frequent reminders of the per-

vasiveness of satanism in today’s rock culture. News stories about grave rob-

beries and ritualistic child abuse remind us that satan is “alive and well on the

planet earth.” This should not cause us to “marvel; for satan himself is trans-

formed into an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14). (Reflect on the Bible’s

“angel of light” description as it applies to modern “out of the body experi-

ences” which report being drawn towards a great inviting light.)

With satan working so aggressively in our day, we need to be warned of his

desires and his devices.

SATAN’S DESIRES

Have you ever seen someone under deep conviction during a church serv-

ice or while you are witnessing to him? You feel certain that he will answer

the invitation to be saved. Yet, he turns away. When this happens Satan wins

another battle.

1. Satan desires to keep people from being saved. Jesus said, "When anyone

heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the

wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart"

(Matthew 13:19). Satan makes every attempt to distract, harden, or con-

fuse those who draw near to conversion.

2.Satan desires it destroy the child of God. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us that our

"adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he

may devour." He may snare us with temptation or discouragement. One

thing is for certain, he does not want to see us prosper in the cause of

Christ.

Discipleship II - Chapter 8

3. Satan desires to be worshiped like God. Isaiah 14:13-14 records Satan's

thoughts at the time of his fall. He said, "I will ascend into heaven, I will

exalt my throne above the stars of God…I will ascend above the heights of

the clouds; I will be like the most High." Every advance of Satanic cultism

gives the Devil great delight.

SATAN"S DEVICES

Jesus said that Satan "is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44). As we look

at Satan's devices, we would do well to remember that all of Satan's lures are

based upon lies, for "there is no truth in him" (John 8:44).

HIS ALLUREMENT

Satan has used three basic tools to entice men for centuries. 1 JOhn 2:16

describes these tools as, (1) “the lust of the flesh, (2) and the lust of the eyes,

(3) and the pride of life.”

Satan used these three temptations to deceive Eve. Genesis 3:6 tells us that

when Eve “saw that the tree was good for food [flesh], and that it was pleas-

ant to the eyes [eyes], and a tree to be desired to make one wise [pride], she

took of the fruit thereof.”

Satan attempted to lure Jesus Christ with the same temptations that he used

in his successful deception of Eve. Matthew 4 pictures Satan attempting to

cause Jesus to fall by inviting Him to make stones into bread (flesh) v.3, to cast

Himself down so the angels can deliver Him (pride) v.6, and to worship Satan

so Satan would give Him rulership of the world.

HIS GOAL

Satan will so anything in his power to draw you away from Christ. He will

bring temptations. He will cause friends to discourage you. He will even bring

adversity into your life to make you doubt God’s kindness (remember Job).

When temptations assault you, remember “all things work together for

good to them that love God, to them who are called according to HIs purpose”

(Romans 8:28)

“ GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU, THEN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD”

(1 John 4:4)

Discipleship II - Chapter 8

FROM YOUR READING

1. What the Bible often calls symptoms of demonic activity, modern

man often calls ________________________________________

2. What are Satan’s three great desire?

a. __________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________

3. Satan’s fall was caused by his desire to be ___________________

______________________________________________________

4. All of Satan’s lures are based upon _________________________

5. Satan’s three great enticements are:

a. __________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________

Discipleship II - Chapter 8

GROUP TIME

Punctuality is “showing high ____________________________ for other

______________________ and their time.” (Bill Gothard)

1. Ezekiel 28 tells us that Satan is ____________________________ (v. 12)

and _______________________(v. 13).

2. Satan deceives many men through much that is called psychological and

much that is called “out of body.” Explain: _________________________

___________________________________________________________

Discipleship II - Chapter 8

The following material is given for your personal Bible study and Christian

growth. The basic assignments for the course are given and a special “achiev-

er” assignment is suggested for those who desire to go the extra mile. Before

you begin, pray that God will allow you to really grow through this endeavor.

SCRIPTURE ASSIGNMENT

Read Your Bible and Answer the Following:

Before you look up the answer to these questions, pray that God would help you

to learn about Satan so you can escape the many traps that he wants to set for you.

1. Describe Satan before his fall (Ezekiel 28:12-19). _________________________

_________________________________________________________________

2. Find the following titles that the Bible gives Satan, and then make a note of what

this title tells you about him.

a. II Corinthians 4:4 _____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

b. II Corinthians 11:14 _____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

3. What do you learn about the sources of temptation from the following verses?

a. Matthew 4:1-3 _________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

b. James 1:13 ____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Discipleship II - Chapter 8

4. What must we do to avoid temptation?

a. Matthew 26:413 ________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

b. James 4:7 _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

5. What is Satan’s destiny? (Revelation 20:3,7) _____________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Achiever Questions

Read ephesians 6:10-18. Describe the conflict that we are in and our

defense in this conflict. ___________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

MEMORY ASSIGNMENT

Books of the Bible: Learn the names of the 12 books of “History” this

week. Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings,

I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

Verse: I Corinthians 10:13

“There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that

ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.”

Achiever’s Verse: I Peter 5:8

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roar-

ing lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Discipleship II - Chapter 8

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT

Satan uses the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of

life to tempt us. Can you identify three ways in which you see Satan

using each of these devices in the world today?

1. The lust of the flesh

a. Example - drugs

b. __________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________

d. __________________________________________________

2. The lust of the eyes

a. Example - promiscuous advertisement

b. __________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________

d. __________________________________________________

3. The pride of life

a. Example - love yourself philosophy

b. __________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________

d. __________________________________________________