The Devil’s Devices2 Co.2:11

Take advantage of: outwit, defraud, cheat

Device: purpose, design, plot

I. WE ARE NOT IGNORANTOF HIS DEVICES, 2 Co.11:1-3

2 Co.11:1-3 “I’m sure you’ll bear w. my foolishness” (as

you bear with others’) “I promised to keep you a virgin for Christ” “I’m afraid the crafty snake that bit Eve will

deceive you too” (v.4)

I. WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES

II. WE ARE NOW INFORMEDOF HIS DEVICES, Gn.3

Genesis 3 His Talent, 1 – crafty, shrewd, cunning His Tricks, 1-5

Genesis 31. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe

Free moral agency: power to misuse gifts

Gn.3:1 = Mt.4:3, food

Good things may be misused.Mt.4:5-7, 8-10

Genesis 31. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe2. Great knowledge, 1 – has all answers

Leaders in apostasy were brilliant

Genesis 31. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers3. Direct, confident, aggressive, 1

Sounds logical / persuasive “Certainty” attracts the weak

Genesis 31. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 14. Spiritually minded, 1

“Good to talk about spiritual things”Judaizers did so in Galatia…

Genesis 31. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 14. Spiritually minded, 15. Personal and caring, 1 – opens a door:

Has God been too restrictive / strict? “He’s such a good man”

Genesis 31. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 14. Spiritually minded, 15. Personal and caring, 16. Focuses attention on something God

did not say, 1 Drawn from good things to negatives Her overstatement (2-3)

Genesis 31. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 14. Spiritually minded, 15. Personal and caring, 16. Focuses attention on someth. God did not say, 17. Direct contradiction of God’s word, 4

“God: liar; can’t be trusted”“Not” in the “tale”

Eve KNEW two things . . .

Genesis 31. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 14. Spiritually minded, 15. Personal and caring, 16. Focuses attention on someth. God did not say, 17. Direct contradiction of God’s word, 48. Slanders God’s character, 5

“Fruit: open eyes; make you like God; give knowledge” Envy . . . Kindness . . . Promises . . . the Fall

To doubt goodness of Godis to doubt badness of sin.

2 Kings 17:14-152 Thes.2:12

Genesis 31. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 14. Spiritually minded, 15. Personal and caring, 16. Focuses attention on someth. God did not say, 17. Direct contradiction of God’s word, 48. Slanders God’s character, 59. Never apologizes for their fall, 6

Lessons:1. Jn.8:44

Murderer Malice, not concern

Cost them everything

Rv.12:9

Fellowship with God

Eden / Blessings

Life (Ro.5; 1 Co.15)1 Tim.2

Lessons:2. Smooth speech, pleasant promises,

talked Adam & Eve out of paradise Ro.16:17-18

When the Spaniard comes to parleyof peace, then double bolt the door

– French proverb

Lessons:3. Some are never content – even in

paradise

Many who want more, get more . . . than they bargained for

Lessons:4. Many have to lose blessings to

appreciate them

Lessons:5. Satan uses same deceptive devices on

us as on Eve1Distorts the commandment. Ro.3:8Some murder the Scriptures –Tertullian

2Denies that disobedience will be punished. Ro.11:22

3Doubts God’s good will by perverting the commandment. 2 Pt.3:16

I. WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES

III. WE ARE NOT IMMUNETO HIS DEVICES, 2 Co.11:13-15

II. WE ARE NOW INFORMED OF HIS DEVICES

2 Co.11:13-15The church, a second Eve . . . Espoused to Christ, the second Adam, 1 Co.15:45 . . . Must not listen to the voice of the tempter, who always lies in wait to deceive . . .

And lose the privileges she was destined to enjoy

“But I’ve never seen satan”

2 Co.11:13-15Human agents now as a snake then (Gn.3)