The Great Deceiver
The devil uses two opposing methods to destroy us: our sins and our virtues, often using our virtues against us with astonishing success.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the cunning nature of the Devil as a master strategist who employs both sin and virtue to lead believers astray. He warns that while many fall into sin, the more insidious tactic is using our virtues against us, which can weaken the community of believers. Tozer draws parallels between Satan's tactics and subversive political groups that manipulate laws for their own gain, highlighting the need for vigilance in spiritual warfare. He reminds us that the fallen heart can be complicit in these deceptions, making it crucial to remain aware of both external and internal threats. Ultimately, Tozer calls for a deeper understanding of the enemy's strategies to fortify our defenses against spiritual attacks.
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The Devil is a master strategist. He varies his attacks as skillfully as an experienced general and always has one more trick to use against the one who imagines he is well experienced in the holy war. By two radically opposite things the devil seeks to destroy us-by our sins and by our virtues. First, he tempts us to sin. This might be called his conventional device. It worked against Adam and Eve and still works after the passing of the centuries. By means of it millions each year are, as Paul said, drowned in destruction and perdition.
One would think the human race would learn to resist the blandishments of its sworn enemy, and it probably would except that there is an enemy within the gate-the fallen heart is secretly on the side of the devil. It is, however, Satans wiliest stratagem to use our virtues against us, and this he often does with astonishing success. By means of temptation to sin he strikes at our personal lives; by working through our virtues he gets at the whole community of believers and unfits it for its own defense.
A parallel to Satans technique may be seen in the activities of certain subversive political groups who use the Constitution of the United States as a shield while they work to destroy that Constitution. By unctuous pleading for the right of free speech they seek to destroy all freedom of speech. By talking piously about government by law they push our country toward the place where there will be government by dictatorship and all laws will mean what a ruling clique of base, cynical men want them to mean. So diabolical is this method that one can only conclude that those who use it learned it from their father the devil, whose they are and whom they serve.
Sermon Outline
- The Devil's Strategy
- The Devil's Methods
- A Parallel to Satan's Technique
- Temptation to Sin
- Using Virtues to Destroy the Community
Key Quotes
“By two radically opposite things the devil seeks to destroy us-by our sins and by our virtues.” — A.W. Tozer
“So diabolical is this method that one can only conclude that those who use it learned it from their father the devil, whose they are and whom they serve.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be aware of the devil's strategy and tactics in order to resist his attacks.
- Our virtues can be used against us if we are not careful, so we must be vigilant and not let our guard down.
- The enemy within - our fallen heart - is a major obstacle to resisting the devil's attacks.