Over the course of the last two days, we have taken a peek into the toolkit of our adversary the devil and examined four of the many devices he uses against us in his efforts to cause man to stumble and turn away from God. First, we discussed Satan's use of our own DESIRES. Second, we looked at the devil's use of EVIL COMPANY. Yesterday, the third device we examined from the devil's toolkit was VANITY followed by a fourth tool, IGNORANCE. Now, just as some tools are made to work well with other tools, the devil uses ignorance very effectively with the fifth and final tool I'd like us to consider today.
Friends, I repeat: it is important that we realize the tools employed by the devil as he seeks to lure us away from the path of righteousness. If we are ignorant of his devices, he will take advantage of us (II Cor. 2:11). Our adversary has many devices at his disposal, but the ones we considered in our time together today and in days past are among the most effective. Again, those tools we considered are:
As a memory aid to help use remember these five devices, notice that the first letter of each spells the word DEVIL. By knowing some of the contents of the devil's toolkit, we can better equip ourselves to "stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph. 6:11).
From the days of my youth, I remember watching cartoons where occasionally one character would use a saw to cut the floor out from under another. Such is humorous in cartoons, but do we realize that Satan is trying to do the same to us on a daily basis using these devices and so many more? Do not be deceived "because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (I Pet. 5:8). Yes friends, the devil is out to get us, and he will try with all his might to cut the floor out from under us. Only by standing on a firm foundation of faith and knowledge of God and His word will we be safe from his devices. "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).