The Shrewdness of the Devil

The devil is the master of setting out what appears to be an elegant array of choice, but it's nothing more than a death trap of illustrations set out to kill you.

One of the major problems that unsaved people face every day of their lives is the fact that they don’t really believe that there is a real devil. For those who say they believe, well in their corrupted minds they see him as an ugly demonic being. So, unless they are faced with something very scary, the concept of him being real is diminished. Many people are so focused on all the movies and videos that they have seen; they have become blinded with illusions; so, now they have no feelings when it comes to the truth about anything concerning the devil. Nevertheless, he is who he is, and he is not ugly at all, and this is just one way he captures lost souls. Listen, if you think the devil is ugly; then he can come to you in the form of a handsome man who says he wants to marry you, but inwardly he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Ok, let’s look at what the word says about him, the evil one. This is what happened to the devil when he decided in his heart that he wanted to be like God.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the side of the pit. {Isaiah 14:12-15}.

The first thing you need to see is:

1. The evil one fell from grace because of a self-induced belief that he could be just like God.

2. He was the son of the morning which means he was very handsome, and he knew it to be so.

3. His vanity became the dictator of his chosen way of life.

4. Vanity can corrupt your nature and cause one to become very flamboyant.

5. The devil developed the "I will" syndrome.

6. Corrupt people have influence over other week people.

Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, expect he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house {Matthew 12:29}.

Listen, once a person has been convinced that I can do whatever I want to do, it will become very hard to persuade them otherwise. I have met many people who really believe that just because they have a stunning body or a beautiful face, they are all that. Nevertheless, such folk who now have developed this corrupt belief are clearly showing evidence of then being out of alignment with the will of the Lord. Ok, it’s like this; When the demons take over your body, it’s because some other demonic soul that you have chosen to be connected with is the stronger force, and you are now under their control. OK, let’s view it like this. Your girlfriend sleeps around with many men. You don’t really think that’s cool, but you tolerate it because she is your friend girl. Let’s not forget that you crave her approval so that you can feel the connection to her, but after a while you too will begin to be a hoe just like her. Once more, your action will be changed because of that other stronger spirit who now has full influence over you. One of the sad parts of this situation is that the victim isn’t consciously aware they are slaves. Listen, the longer your affiliation with such a friend, you must be pushed into the realm of conceitedness, and the next thing you know is that you will be showing your goods on social media. By the time that spirit is done with you, depression will set up shop inside of you. At that point you will become angry with anyone who does not agree with your worldly action as you show off your private parts in the name of modeling. Again, when vanity is having its perfect way in your life, you can become a victim of suicide!!! No acceptance can push people over the edge. You need to know that the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy your life and anyone you are connected with. Listen, falling from grace is a clear sign that you are out of the will of the Lord.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thin own understanding. In all thy way acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. {Proverbs 3:5-8}

However, the scripture will mean absolutely nothing to any persons who are willfully under the influence of a demonic person/friend. When anyone leaves the protection of the Lord, clearly they have chosen to take matters into their own hands. Meaning to say, (I don’t need the help of the Lord, I got this!!!). But the truth is, you are lost and without divine protection. You have no possible way to receive nourishment that can sustain you as you go through all the traps that the enemy sets out. Please look at the word of the Father:

Brethren, My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have the zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. {Romans 10:1-3)

In other words, if you are not led by God's Holy Spirit, well than, you will be guided by the spirit of the devil. This also indicates that you have a zeal for what's right (a need to believe that you are part of the good thing and not of the bad things); yet the facts prove without a doubt that you are no longer connected to the truth. So, you can’t help but develop your own way of thinking and doing what you believe is the best way to live out your own life. Once more I must remind you that this was the same thinking of the devil and that is what got him kicked out of heaven and the will of the Father. The shrewdness of the devil is very real, and it can overtake anyone who is out of the will of the Lord. Let’s go back to the so-called girlfriend. When a woman is overtaken by demonic forces, she can’t help but become the victim of men or women who are influenced by evil spirits. Let’s read the word.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts, ever learning, and never able to come into the knowledge of the truth. {2 Timothy 3:6-7}

In other words, you are a silly woman when you don’t follow the word of the Lord, which also means that you will become a trophy of any man that you have sex with, and you will always be someone's captive, bound by lust that has complete control over your mind and body. You can be the most intelligent female on the earth; but when it comes to the things of the salvation, you will always be learning but you will never be able to obtain the truth of the Lord because you have chosen your own path like the devil did. If I had a conclusion, it might go like this:

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. {James 4: 7-8}

I pray that these words of wisdom have touched your heart and mind to the point that you will now seek the Lord while he may be found. And then you can be set free forever.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the Author. For information regarding permission, write to Saints On Wheels Ministry P.O. Box 1586 Tucker Ga 30085 Copyright 2017(C) by Ray K. Payne All rights reserved.

I pray that these words of wisdom have touched your heart and mind to the point that you will now seek the Lord while He may be found, and then you can be set free forever.