The Devil’s Devices 2 Co.2:11 Take advantage of Take advantage of: outwit, defraud, cheat Device Device: purpose, design, plot

I. WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF 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 INFORMED OF HIS DEVICES, Gn.3

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

Genesis 3 1. 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 3 1. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe 2. Great knowledge, 1 – has all answers Leaders in apostasy were brilliant

Genesis 3 1. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe 2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers 3. Direct, confident, aggressive, 1  Sounds logical / persuasive  “Certainty” attracts the weak

Genesis 3 1. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe 2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers 3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 1 4. Spiritually minded, 1 “Good to talk about spiritual things” Judaizers did so in Galatia…

Genesis 3 1. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe 2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers 3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 1 4. Spiritually minded, 1 5. Personal and caring, 1 – opens a door:  Has God been too restrictive / strict?  “He’s such a good man”

Genesis 3 1. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe 2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers 3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 1 4. Spiritually minded, 1 5. Personal and caring, 1 6. Focuses attention on something God did not say, 1  Drawn from good things to negatives  Her overstatement (2-3)

Genesis 3 1. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe 2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers 3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 1 4. Spiritually minded, 1 5. Personal and caring, 1 6. Focuses attention on someth. God did not say, 1 7. Direct contradiction of God’s word, 4 “God: liar; can’t be trusted” “Not” in the “tale” Eve KNEW two things...

Genesis 3 1. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe 2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers 3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 1 4. Spiritually minded, 1 5. Personal and caring, 1 6. Focuses attention on someth. God did not say, 1 7. Direct contradiction of God’s word, 4 8. Slanders God’s character, 5 “Fruit: open eyes; make you like God; give knowledge” Envy... Kindness... Promises... the Fall To doubt goodness of God is to doubt badness of sin. 2 Kings 17: Thes.2:12

Genesis 3 1. Fellow creature, 1 – thus safe 2. Great knowledge, 1 – has answers 3. Direct, confident, goes on offensive, 1 4. Spiritually minded, 1 5. Personal and caring, 1 6. Focuses attention on someth. God did not say, 1 7. Direct contradiction of God’s word, 4 8. Slanders God’s character, 5 9. 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 parley of 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 Eve 1 Distorts the commandment. Ro.3:8 Some murder the Scriptures –Tertullian 2 Denies that disobedience will be punished. Ro.11:22 3 Doubts God’s good will by perverting the commandment. 2 Pt.3:16

I.WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES III. WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO HIS DEVICES, 2 Co.11:13-15 II. WE ARE NOW INFORMED OF HIS DEVICES

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