From the Elder's Pen "The Devil" 7/6/03 Past/Future Articles

He is the great tempter.  The devil is not very far from any of us and will work until he gets us.  He only wants Christians because he has won all the non-Christian.  We must keep our guards up at all times.

We read in Rev. 12:9 that the devil is a great deceiver.  He will neutralize it, water it down, dilute it, so that man may perish in hell.  He will try to get us to add to “God’s Word.”  God has never allowed men to add to His word (Rev. 22:18; Deut. 4:2).  He will also try to get us to take away from “God’s word.”  God has never allowed men to do this.  If we do take away from His word, we will end up in hell (Rev. 22:19).  We must not let the devil allow us to substitute something for what God has commanded.  Nadab and Abihu died because they substituted a different fire than what God commanded (Lev. 10:1-2).  Denominations today substitute “fund raisers” in place of the “first day collection” (I Cor. 16:1-2).  We could list a full page of substitutes.  There is no end of man substituting for God’s divine arrangement.

The devil disguises himself as an “angel of light”.  “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light”  (2 Cor. 11:14).  Let’s not find ourselves ignorant of his devices and cunning ways (2 Cor. 2:11).

“Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you...”  (James 4:7-8).