The Devil's Tricks

Aim: To be wise to the devil's tricks—as we trust always in Christ.

Doctrine: Satan (and his horde) are obsessed with Christ's church (and her ministry). This is because we possess what they will never have, and their only resort is to attempt to deceive and destroy us.

Exegesis: How the church is to manage the devil's tricks: we are to be wary of his advances (vv. 1-2); we are to keep focused on Christ (and His gospel) (v. 3); we are to be stubborn (in our refusals to budge) (v. 4).

Further application: Why churchmen need to be awake to the devil's tricks: because life in a fallen world is dangerous, despite the fact that delievers are covered by Jesus' blood atonement.

Key verse: v. 3 ''So I sent messengers to them, saying, 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?'''