Did the Devil make me do it?

The Devil Made Me Do It

It’s embarrassing when you hear a Christian attribute most, if not all, of their problems to the Devil. For those who are listening to them, especially unbelievers, it probably sounds as if they’re making excuses for their evil thoughts, accusatory words, and sinful behavior. Indeed, the spirit of the Devil, the spirit of self-perception, the spirit of the world system, the spirit of self-reliance, and the spirit of self-gratification are the same spirit that characterizes the sinful nature of every person who’s born into this world.

When an unbeliever becomes a believer, they receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, who provides for them a new nature that’s comprised of the spiritual elements of character and access to them. The apostles of Christ, who were used to disseminate new revelation to the church, some of which was regarding the Devil and his demonic forces, had walked with Christ on a continual basis for three years. What I’m trying to say is that their ability to spiritually discern the deceptive workings of the Devil and his evil forces probably took a while to develop. This can only happen as we learn how to rely on the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God on a day-to-day basis. This begs the question.



How many Christians have learned how to rely on the ministry of the Holy Spirit?

I can only speak for those I’ve come into contact with over the years, and my guess would be very few. Some get impacted by the Spirit on Sunday morning and live like hell the rest of the week. So, as Christians, let’s no longer assign most of the problems in our lives to the Devil.

If you’re attending a Spirit-filled church, then find out where God can use your time, talent, and treasure to edify it. If you’re being taught to address your weaknesses and put on the new person who God has made you be, then you’re in a place where you’ll grow spiritually. If there’s an admixture of Law with grace teaching, you’ll have to decide how much of the Law you’re willing to tolerate. If you’re taught that sin can be condoned as long as it promotes the furtherance of the kingdom of God, then I’d attempt to address this unscriptural admonition with those in authority. If unsuccessful, it’s simple: don’t stay there. If you’re told you’re a Christian because you attend church and perform good works, then you’re involved with religion and not godliness. Becoming a Christian has nothing to do with evidencing good deeds. Find a church where the gospel of Christ is declared, and subsequently, those who respond to it will have their lives changed from the inside out.

Ephesians 3:9-10 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

As we learn to apply what we’ve been taught in this study, all men (humanity) will begin to see (become acquainted with) in our words and actions what is the fellowship (gracious dispensation) of the mystery (God’s plan of providing salvation for men through Christ, which was once hidden but now is revealed).75 And not only so, but it will also be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places by us, the church, the manifold wisdom of God (the beauty and variety of God’s wisdom in His great plan of salvation).76

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Thanks for reading this study. Now that you’ve become acquainted with the tactics of the forces of evil and the given strategies to combat them, you’re equipped to partake of the divine nature and continuously overcome the world (the forces of the [world system of evil, the flesh (totally depraved nature), and] the devil77).



Endnotes

75Thayer’s Greek Lexicon Pc Study Bible version 5, 2006. BIBLESOFT. WEB. 16 November 2023

˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

76The Bible Exposition Commentary/New Testament, 1989. BIBLESOFT. WEB. 16 November 2023

˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

77Weust’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament Pc Study Bible version 5, 2005.

BIBLESOFT. WEB. 17 February 2023

˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.



Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ITJ1wj

Website: https://bit.ly/3mWKJ2r