The Devil Your Adversary

 

Flip Wilson, comedian and television personality of the 1960’s & 70’s was famous for his humorous quotes about life. “The cost of living is going up and the chance of living is going down.” “I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.” And of course, his most famous, “The devil made me do it!” Do we really know who the devil is?

Satan desires one thing, which is the spiritual demise of all humanity. He wants every soul to end up in Hell with him (Matthew 25:41). Satan accomplishes his mission by getting people to live their lives in sin. Satan “entered in” Judas and caused him to betray the Lord (John 13:27). Satan filled Ananias’ heart to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). Satan deceived Eve to disobey the Lord (Genesis 3:1-6; 1 Timothy 2:14). Jesus told Peter, “…Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…” (Luke 22:31-32). The devil is always busy trying to devour people with sin (1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:8; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 2:11). So, when we sin, is the devil responsible for our transgressions because he caused us to do it?

The devil does tempt us to sin. He even tried to tempt Jesus to sin (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). However, if the devil is responsible for our sins, then why will we one day be accountable for them (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-12)? It is because the devil cannot “make” us do anything. He only plays a part in our sin by dangling the carrot, so to speak. James wrote, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death (James 1:14-15). The devil only tempts, and it is we who either resist or transgress. This is why God “…will render to each one according to his deeds…” (Romans 2:6-11). We have the ability through Christ (Philippians 4:13) and the responsibility as Christians to “…submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). After resisting, the devil leaves but only until another opportune time (Luke 4:13). Nevertheless, we have “endured” that temptation to sin and will be rewarded for our faithfulness (James 1:12). Furthermore, with every temptation we are given all the help necessary to withstand the devil, as God will not allow any temptation to come upon us beyond our individual power to resist, and also gives each and every one of us a faithful escape out of each temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

[Ephesians 2:2] Yes, the devil rules this world, and he came after Jesus again to tempt Him not to go to the cross (John 14:30). The ruler of darkness of this world is he that we fight our battles with all the day long. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). This active, living being, that is fallen of God, is a threat to us all for he is a liar. “…he was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). Not only that, but he is the enemy of God and man. Remember the parable of the tares of the field in Matthew 13? The devil is the one that sows the bad seed of Christ. We see how this enemy will be handled at harvest time in that the tares will be bundled up and burned in the fire.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Are you using sound, Biblical judgment and watching for an escape, so the devil’s temptations don’t lead you away from God?