Defeat the Devil’s Schemes

In the Garden of Eden long ago, Satan perceived a new threat.  A new creation of God’s that might ruin his plans to rule, man.  If he had any chance of usurping God’s authority, he had to get to man.  He had to destroy man.  He was partially successful when he got man to sin.  He convinced Adam and Eve to throw away their favored position.  God gave them one commandment to obey.  They were not to eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  They failed.  Then in Genesis 3:15, the first prophecy, God pronounced judgment on Satan.  One would be born to a woman who would “crush his head.”  This was a death blow and Satan knew it.  He also knew that God would never lie or issue an idle threat.  The one born would be our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Since the Garden, Satan and his fallen angels have been doing everything in their power to keep the “skull crusher” from being born.  They also have marked all men as their mortal enemy.  From the believer to the Satan worshiper, Satan is the enemy of every human being.  But the believer has protection against this ancient enemy.  He has God’s Word.  And why is knowing God’s Word important?  Because Satan has twisted God’s very words as a strategy to deceive man.  In the Garden, Eve already had God’s word twisted and wrong as she told the Serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” (Gen. 3:2-3)  She added “or touch it.”  God never said that.  Eve added to God’s Word because she didn’t know it or even understand it.  Her source of protection was skewed, making it ineffective.  

My encouragement for you today is to treat God’s Word like a professional would treat a manual.  What I mean is this, if you want to learn how to be a plumber, there is a manual that teaches you everything there is to know about plumbing.  The manual is gospel.  It directs the novice plumber in the correct way to do everything!  In other words, it is the source material.  God’s Word is our Manual for life.  It teaches us everything we need to know for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).  When you are in trouble, consult the Manual…when you are feeling down, consult the Manual…when you have no answers, consult the Manual.  If the believer does not know God’s Word nor let it sink into their very being, then Satan will find that person easy prey.  Putting on the full armor of God involves much more than Bible reading.  Don’t just occasionally read the Manual, but study it, memorize it and apply its principles.  In doing so, you will thwart any attempt that Satan uses to trip you up!!!

Dave F. 

‘69 / ‘76 / Egg Harbor Twp   NJ

Bonus Verse 1 Timothy 6:11