First off, no one likes being lied to. In fact, if we believed something to be true, because we were told such, then find out later it was all a lie, we’re offended. We can become angry, hurt, and/or upset. We can even feel foolish for being so gullible.
Jesus called the Devil “the father of lies.” To understand his tactics let’s go back to the Garden of Eden. (Genesis Chapter 2 & 3)
It all started with a conversation. Why is this important? Well, like the truth, lies are convaied that way.
If Eve hadn’t conversed with the serpent, who was possessed by Satan, she wouldn’t have sinned. (We’ll visit demon possession in detail later on)
It all started with a suggestion of doubt. Doubt in if what God said was true. “Hath God said?” Further, to question God’s motive behind what she and Adam were told. And if God lied to her. Gen 3 “You won’t die..God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
The first thing he did was to sow and element of doubt in God’s motive. Ironically, he accused God of evil intent. God was keeping her from something good. Next he envoked the desire for the forbidden fruit. Next, he drew her attention to the fruit. Her desire was now to eat it. “She saw that the tree was beautiful and it’s fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.”
Note, that prior to her conversation with the Devil those thoughts were nowhere in her mind. So then the first mistake was to even have a conservation with the Devil. Secondly, that she believed him.
Understand, that the Devil has no power over you other than the power of suggestion. He can’t make you do anything. God created us with a will. It’s one of the things that is like God, in that we have a will to choose. His goal is to get us to choose rebellion. To rebel against God. He apeals to our desire to be something we’re not… God. It’s what the Devil wanted. He said, “I will be like the Most High.”
And now, in his fallen nature, man strives to be God. He placeses himself on the throne of his heart. That is the essence of sin. And the Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” And that, ” death has spread to all mankind.”
(More to come)