“And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light!” (cf. 2 Cor. 11:14, CEB).
“… it will happen through Satan’s effort, with all kinds of fake power, signs, and wonders,” (cf. 2 Thess. 2:9, CEB).
“They will pay attention to spirits that deceive and to the teaching of demons…” (cf. 1Tim. 4:1, CEB).
‘Satan has blinded the minds of them that believe not…” (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4).
“… Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,” (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8).
“We are not ignorant of His schemes” (cf. 2 Cor. 2:11). He uses mind games and psychological warfare. He isn’t afraid to lower the bar and get dirty. The devil is devious and deceptive; there is not truth in him for he is a liar nd a murderer from the beginning and cannot tell the truth. He cloaks his lies in half-truths, misinformation, and disinformation. He’d do anything to perpetuate his lies and deceptions. For propaganda to him is a way to control the masses and to exercise public lies and disseminate his poison. He works just like any of his minions or wicked servants under his influence to tempt and to discourage. . All in all, it is paramount to know our enemy! To win any war, Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, “know your enemy!’
But “God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform” (cf. Isaiah 45:15), citing the song by Robert Cowper. Mysteries are hidden but can be known, but lies are counter to truth and are destructive to the soul. The finite cannot understand the infinite and our limited minds must realize God is too deep to fathom (“Canst thou by searching find out God?” —cf. Job 11:7). “How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out,” (cf. Romans 11:33).
The devil is incapable of performing wonders for he is easily perceived as limited and incompetent—he is most predictable and incapable of being original but is fully a slave to himself with destructive habits that control others too. The funny thing is that he overestimates himself! His boasting reveals his insecurities.
Wonders bring glory to God but the devil tries to bring glory to himself and steal God’s glory.—he really desires adoration, fame, attention, and worship. Everything relates to him and revolves around him as a selfish and megalomaniac if you will, for he cannot see the future like God and is near-sighted and short-sighted without any wisdom for the long term (he thought he defeated Christ at the cross—cf. Acts 2:23; 4:28).
Worst of all, he appeals to the lower nature of man and this makes him desirable for he knows our weaknesses and can tempt us and lead us into evil if we let him. Does any of this sound familiar for we all have our own demons. Now that we recognize him, we shouldn’t give the devil an opportunity (cf. Eph. 4:27).
In summation, the devil is not unlike any of his faithful and fallen servants even if they are unbeknownst to them; there is a little devil in all his minions and wicked men—where do you think they got their ideas from (you may not feel you know the devil, but you may find out by looking at his children!)—their father is the devil, who is the “god of this world? [age]” Soli Deo Gloria!
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