One of the greatest problems that mankind faces today is the continued effort of the Devil to bring him into bondage and hold him there. The Devil’s forces are continuous and will not subside until the individual is completely void of righteousness. Some of the methods used by the Devil are documented in the following study, they are:
1 – “The lust of the flesh: (See KJV below). 1939 epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah); from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden): KJV– concupiscence, desire, lust (after). The desire of the flesh is the root of this particular sin.
2 – “The lust of the eyes” (See KJV below) 1939 epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah);
from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden): KJV– concupiscence, desire, lust (after). That observed with the eyes is the source of this particular sin.
3 – “The pride of life.” (See KJV below). The source of this sin is inordinate pride -pride is the position gained or applause of man the perpetuator of this sin.
(Source of all three Greek definitions: Strong’s with numbers included)
I John 2:15-16 – “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (KJV)
CONSIDER THIS:
In the very beginning (i.e., in the Garden of Eden) the Devil (i.e., the serpent) used the method pointed out in our text by John, note the following reading please:
Genesis 3:1-6 – “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (KJV)
The Devil has not changed his approach, he still uses the same methods of temptation today. The Christian has an advantage over the non-Christian in that the Christian is aware of the Devil’s devices and his evil intentions, the non-Christian may not be aware of the Devil’s devices. For this reason the Christian ought to be consistently involved in dispensing his/her knowledge about the Devil’s intentions to the unsuspecting relative, friend, or co-laborer at the place of employment.
In consequence of these facts about the Devil, temptation, and life beyond the grave, may we use our knowledge of these things to encourage the lost and the fallen:
(cf., Gal 6:1-6): “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”(KJV).
Remember this, we have only this life to do good, therefore let us take advantage of every opportunity to reach out the hand of assistance to anyone in our path of life.