Not Fact but Fraud: Standing Against the Devil's Wiles
Dr RJ Sing, 21 July 2019, 51 min
This is the whole service. The video opens where he begins, at 54:10.
Originally preached as “The Fight of Faith”
Sermon outline
The fight of faith is not a physical tussle with the devil but standing firm on God's Word against his wiles, the lies and suggestions he throws into our minds, because whatever he says is not fact but fraud.
Main text
- Ephesians 6:11-13
Opening
He speaks of the anointing that flowed through handkerchiefs from Paul and through Peter's shadow, demonstrates by stepping onto his own shadow, and prays for a man in pain. He recounts Paul shaking off the viper on Malta, saying the book of Acts has no 'amen' because we are still writing it, and prays that God will receive all the glory. He recaps the series on the principles of financial increase, including a fourth part preached by his wife, but says he felt in his spirit to interrupt it to teach on the fight of faith, which applies to finances, health, relationships and every crisis of life.
The cock and the fox
He reads Aesop's fable of a fox who told a roosting cock the 'good news' that all the animals had agreed to live in peace, and begged him to come down to celebrate. When the cock said he could see a pack of dogs coming, the fox ran, saying the dogs might not have heard the news. The cock had outwitted a crafty enemy, and the devil is just like that fox.
Illustration: He adds a light warning to the young people: be careful of foxes.
“And that's how the devil is. It's just like the fox.”
The devil comes with suggestions
The devil does not come with a red tail and a pitchfork; he comes with suggestions, thoughts, innuendos and fiery darts into the mind. He did not slap or shoot Eve; he simply asked, 'Has God said?', and she swallowed it hook, line and sinker. He may whisper that someone doesn't like you until you avoid them and doubt their smile, but who injected that thought?
“He comes with suggestions. He comes with thoughts.”
- Ephesians 6:16
- Genesis 3:1
The fight of faith is to stand against the devil's wiles
Some believers look for a devil under every speaker and stone, but the fight is not a physical tussle; it is standing against the devil's strategies. Translations call them tricks, strategies, schemes, craftiness and devices: cunning plans to deceive, outwit and double-cross. Everything the devil does is fraudulent, because there is no truth in him.
Illustration: He suggests one easy word to remember it by: 'foxiness'.
“Whatever the devil does is not fact. It is fraud.”
- 1 Timothy 6:12
- John 8:44
Having done all, stand
We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers, and in the evil day we are to put on the whole armour of God and, having done all, stand: not run to someone selling oil or giving fortune-teller prophecies, but stand on the Word. When a doctor names a condition, put that name under your feet and keep saying 'by His stripes I'm healed', even when the pain presses and healing is not instant. He is not against doctors, who fight disease in the natural, while believers fight in the spirit.
“It doesn't say go backwards, forward, sideways. He says, just stand.”
- Ephesians 6:11-13
- Psalm 23:1
- Isaiah 54:17
- Deuteronomy 28:7
- Proverbs 6:31
- Isaiah 53:5
Cast down the thought and realign it with the Word
Believers are not impressed by Satan's threats: they cast down imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God and realign their thoughts with the Word, the sharp sword that cuts down every lie. If he says you are first on the retrenchment list, answer that God is your protector and, even if you are retrenched, He will give you a better job. Don't hold conversations with demons, and don't believe every story you hear: check the source.
Illustration: He once heard in the gym that a great preacher had died and went home heavy-hearted, only to learn it was a rumour; now he phones three or four people before believing such news. A message whispered down a line of twenty people comes out twisted.
“Realign your thoughts with the Word of God and use the Word of God against those things that are attacking you.”
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
- Hebrews 4:12
- 2 Corinthians 11:3
Satan is a fraud: you have a covenant-keeping God
Drawing on a theological dictionary, he defines the devil's wiles as mental impressions, perceptions and corrupt thoughts. Believers belong to a royal priesthood with a covenant-keeping God: Israel had light while Egypt was in darkness and the blood protected their homes, and the devil needed permission even to touch Job, whose latter end was better than his beginning. Like Joseph and Daniel, you will come through, because you cannot bury truth and keep it buried.
Illustration: While people gossip about you at work, God has angels 'gossiping' good things about you to the boss.
“You cannot bury truth and keep it buried.”
- 1 Peter 2:9
- Exodus 10:23
- Exodus 12:13
- Job 1:12
- Job 42:12
- Daniel 6:26
- Colossians 1:13
- John 8:44
- 2 Corinthians 1:20
Don't judge; pray for one another
Every day is not summer: one person is in summer while another is in winter, so don't judge those going through hard seasons but pray for them, and God will raise up intercessors for you in your winter. He declares that barrenness is a lie from the devil, that those who are sick will be healed and that God will deliver those in financial trouble.
“Just pray for one another. Don't judge them.”
Putting it into practice
- Recognise the devil's suggestions and refuse to swallow them.
- Put on the whole armour of God and, having done all, stand.
- Cast down negative thoughts and answer them with the Word.
- Check the source before believing rumours.
- Pray for those going through a winter instead of judging them.
Closing
He closes with Proverbs 4:20-22, has the church declare 'The devil is a liar' and 'Satan is a fraud', and says one person with God is a majority. He then holds a healing line, first for women with physical needs and then for men, binding the devil and laying hands on the sick while anointing cloths are given out, and prays over a photograph of someone unable to be there, sealing the healing with the word that God sent His word and healed them.
Declarations he led
- Satan is a fraud.
- I am going to make it. All is well.
- You are the answer.
- The devil is a liar.
In his words
- “Whatever the devil does is not fact. It is fraud.”
- “He comes with suggestions. He comes with thoughts. He comes with innuendos.”
- “Don't have conversations with the devil. Just cast him out.”
- “You cannot bury truth and keep it buried.”
- “With God on your side, you have the majority.”
Every scripture in this message
- Acts 19:12
- Acts 5:15
- Acts 28:3-9
- John 15:5
- 1 Timothy 6:12
- Ephesians 6:16
- Genesis 3:1
- John 8:44
- Ephesians 6:11-13
- Psalm 23:1
- Isaiah 54:17
- Deuteronomy 28:7
- Proverbs 6:31
- Isaiah 53:5
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
- Hebrews 4:12
- 2 Corinthians 11:3
- 1 Peter 2:9
- Exodus 10:23
- Exodus 12:13
- Job 1:12
- Job 42:12
- Daniel 6:26
- Colossians 1:13
- 2 Corinthians 1:20
- Proverbs 4:20-22
- Psalm 107:20