Pastor Kent Christmas | Being Smarter Than The Devil | December 4, 2024
You’re watching KCMI TV, and I’m glad you’ve joined me. Today, I want to talk about being smarter than the devil. All of us have likely looked back at times in our lives when the enemy tricked us, leading us off the path, even if just for a short period. I want to highlight a verse from 2 Corinthians 2:11: “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
In this verse, Paul is writing to the Corinthians, urging them to be cautious. He emphasizes that we don’t want the devil to gain the upper hand in our lives. “Advantage” here means superiority, while “devices” refers to the devil’s thoughts or purposes. Paul is reminding us that we are not ignorant of his schemes; we understand his tactics. This ties back to verses about casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself above the knowledge of God. We are instructed to bring every thought into obedience to Christ.
Paul wouldn’t have mentioned these warnings if it weren’t possible for the enemy to deceive us. In Ephesians 6:10, Paul tells us, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” We are also urged to put on the full armor of God so we can stand firm against the devil’s tricks. “Wiles” means trickery, and we all know people who were once strong in the Lord but have since fallen away because they were tricked by the devil.
One example is Samson in the Old Testament. He was born with a great purpose, and his mother was told exactly how to raise him. Yet, despite knowing his purpose, Samson was deceived by Delilah. He laid in her lap, and after being worn down, he revealed the secret of his anointing—his hair. Delilah called the enemy, and Samson’s anointing was taken. He didn’t realize the Spirit had left him until it was too late.
