The Work of the Evil One
And he [the serpent] said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said…? Genesis 3:1
Read 1 Timothy 2:9-15
We first meet the devil, the great adversary of God, in the likeness of a serpent. Once the scene is set, he immediately begins his most vicious pastime, namely, to cast suspicion on God. Through this successful undertaking he is able to bring both Eve and Adam to sin against the Lord. How often this is also true in our lives.
Therefore we must try to understand the tactics Satan employs, doing so in a sober way, not displaying an unhealthy interest in the devil and the occult. It is essential that we are able to say with the apostle Paul that we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Cor. 2:11).
Our text warns us to beware of the most “innocent” suggestions the devil makes. There is a reason why he is called the wicked one. When he addresses us we must be careful, for his purposes are malicious.
How can the serpent engage us today? One things he does is that he endeavours to enter into our thought processes by way of the music we listen to and the websites we look at. Beware of the various disguises he uses to entice you. If Eve had seen him for what he is, she would have fled from his presence immediately. But, because he came in the form of a serpent, she was not afraid of him.We live after the event recorded in Genesis 3, in a world occupied by the devil. Therefore you must be on guard!
Question: How do you arm yourself against Satan’s attacks?
Tip: To better arm yourself against Satan’s attacks, read Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks.
Psalter 385:1 (based on Psalm 140) Deliver me from evil, Preserve me, Lord, from wrong; Against the foes that gather Be Thou my helper strong. From those who plot to hurt me And spread their treach’rous snare Preserve me, Lord, and keep me Safe guarded in Thy care.