Articles
What Would the Devil Say (2)
What Would The Devil Say? (2)
By Greg King
Jesus calls Satan a murderer and liar (John 8:44). His territory over which he prowls is not limited (2 Cor. 4:4). He is bent on the frightful business of human misery, endless and eternal destruction. He wears a multitude of disguises, including the mask of an angel (2 Cor. 11:14). In the first article we addressed why and how the father of lies might try and convince someone that: “The Church is not important, and you don’t need to be a part of it.” If the Devil were allowed to have our attention he might also say?
“There is no need to attend all the services of the church!”
If he can’t keep one out of the church, perhaps he can get them to backslide. Why? What would be his reasons for doing so?
(1) It has worked in the past, why not try it again? It worked with Demas. (2 Tim. 4:10 Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica…”)
James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
(2) He knows that if he can get them to backslide, they will be worse off than before. (2 Peter 2:20-22 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.")
How would Satan go about trying to get them to backslide?
(1) Urge them to keep evil company (1 Cor. 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals.").
(2) With subtlety, as with Eve, convince them that seeking their own pleasure is the highest good.
(3) Help them to fall in love with the world once again.
(4) Help them to overlook sin in their life making it easier for them to sin and fall away from the Lord. Sin is addictive, seductive and brings temporary pleasure (Heb. 11:25). Sin will capture your heart, ruin your influence, and drag you back into the muck and mire of the world.
Don’t listen to the father of lies! John 8:44
