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1. Disappointment: The devil uses disappointment to make us forget God’s goodness. To be disappointed is to forget Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
2. Discouragement: The devil tries to capitalize on our discouragement. But let us not forget First Samuel 30:6 – “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. “
3. Despair: Once Martin Luther was so despaired that his wife sewed a black dress and told him she is dressed up to attend God’s burial. Martin Luther, surprised, repented of the sin. To despair is to forget Second Corinthians 4:8: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair”
4. Doubt: Satan makes you doubt your salvation to the extent that you even refuse to witness. To doubt is to forget First Timothy 2:8: “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;”
5. Disbelief: The devil makes us disbelieve God’s promises especially in trouble we disbelieve “Lo, I am with you always.” To disbelieve is to forget Hebrews 3:12: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God”
6. Distraction: The devil causes us to be distracted from the best which is in Christ. To be distracted is to forget Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." and also Matthew 14: 30: "But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
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7. Double Mindedness: When President Jimmy Carter of the United States of America was campaigning for his re-election; one of the vexed issues was the issue of Abortion. His Political Party, the Democratic Party was pro-abortion and Jimmy Carter as a known Christian was not to support the killing of unborn babies which people call abortion. It was important for the American voters to know his personal stand on the issue especially the Christian voters. So Dr. Jerry Falwell, in his Radio and Television programme decided to interview President Jimmy Carter to air to the American audience his personal stand. Part of the interview went like this:
Jerry: President Jimmy, the American Christian voters will like to know your personal stand on the issue of abortion. Your party the Democratic Party is Pro-abortion; what is your personal stand?That statement made the opinion poll to drop in favour of Ronald Reagan who was direct in answering that he is bitterly opposed to abortion. It cost Jimmy Carter the Presidency.
Jimmy: You know brother Jerry, the abortion issue is a very vexed issue. Some of my very good friends support it and some others of my very good friends are very bitterly opposed to it; but you know, I am for my friends.
Jerry: Which of your friends?
Jimmy: I say, I am for my friends
Jerry: So viewers, you have heard him yourself, he is for his friends.'
To be double-minded is to forget James 1:6-8 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" and James 4:8: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
8. Dishonesty: To be dishonest is to forget Second Corinthians 4:2: “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
Read More: The Heresy of Hearsay
9. Deceit: To be deceitful is to forget Jeremiah 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”
10. Dullness: To be dull is to forget Hebrews 5:11-12: "of whom we have much to say and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food."
11. Deadness: Lack of fruitfulness. To be dead is to forget Hebrews 9:14: “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" and Revelation 3:1: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘these things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead."
12. Delay: Many who had hoped to be saved at 7.00PM died at 6.45PM. Today is the only day you have. To delay is to forget Proverbs 27:1: "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." and Psalm 90:12: "Oh teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
13. Discord: The devil sows the seed of discord. To allow the devil to do this through you is to forget Proverbs 6:14; 16 and 19: "Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, and He sows discord... These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."
14. Defilement: God has never used a defiled vessel. Devil tries at all times to defile us. To be defiled is to forget First Corinthians 3:16-17: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."
15. Defamation: This is the evil’s oldest weapon and it is still very potent. He tried to defame God in Genesis 3. This made Eve fall. It is his main job today –defaming Christians. To allow yourself to be used of the devil to defame anybody is to forget Psalm 101:5 “Whoever secretly slanders his neighbour, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.” and Proverbs 10:18: “Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.”
Read More: The Devil Defames but God Sustains
16. Disobedience: It ruined Saul, the first King of Israel. It still ruins many lives today. To be disobedient is to forget First Samuel 15:22-23: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”
Dear brothers and sisters, you now know the weakness and the strength of the devil. How strong are you or how weak are you? Make a personal examination.
God bless you all.
Let us pray.
Here are other posts in this series on the Devil:
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