Tricky Devil

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

 

Have you ever been called a tricky devil? If so, it might surprise you to know that you are not alone in the world of trickery. The devil, since before time, has been a schemer. He was supposedly the guardian angel for God's throne. Then he coveted that place of supreme authority and was tossed out of heaven. He was the very first sinner and has not stopped since. 

Maybe that is why he is called the father of lies. Jesus told the Pharisees that their father was the Devil, who was a liar and a murderer from the beginning. Look at that exchange in John 8:44, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

So, what do we gather a lot from this conversation?

1. The devil has children. The devil, being a spirit being, cannot procreate. However, he can and has made children by the billions. Every nonchild of God is a son of the devil. 

I recently brought this fact to light in an in-home Bible study. When I told the lady that there were only two types of children in the world, either son of God or sons of the devil, her face went into a semi scowl. I think that she was the devil's daughter because we've never been invited back for another study. 

The lying devil's children follow him. They look to him without knowing that they are seeking his guidance. This devilish family thinks that they follow God when they bow to their lifeless images, ideas, or plans. They forge a life of lies so strong that they seemingly can't be persuaded to abandon it. "We are on the right path,” they say as they walk down the broad way to their destruction. 

Why do they do this? It's because their father is a liar. The devil is so good at what he does that he fools most. And he does not stop there. 

2 He's a murderer - When do we see the devil killing anyone? Jesus said that he is a killer from the beginning. Well, there you have it. When Satan used that snake to start a conversation with Eve, he was on a mission. He wanted to stop God's perfect world before it could go much further. When Adam and Eve ate that fruit, they died. 

God had told them that they would die the day that they ate, and they did. They died in their walk with God. They became separated from the source of life and started to follow their lying and murdering father. 

3. The devil is also a traitor. We see this in Judas' evil deed. John 13:27, 30 put it like this, "As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, 'What you are about to do, do quickly.' As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night." 

I have always thought that last verse so telling. Judas went out, and it was night. Satan possessed Judas, and he thus became the vilest of people in his betrayal. He betrayed the innocent lamb of God. When Judas decided to betray Jesus, he opened his heart to the real betrayer, Satan himself. 

Satan is always looking to betray. His demon angels too. He uses circumstances, situations, and happenings in our lives, coupled with our evil hearts, to push us into sin. Then when we do wrong, he uses our conscience to accuse us. Have you noticed that? You sin, and immediately you feel guilty. When we let sin entice us to sin, we then stand accused by the devil. He is a tricky devil.