This digital guidebook was written and produced by Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah. Turning Point s mission is to deliver the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world. This digital guidebook is one way we are fulfilling our God-given mission. For more on the ministry of Turning Point, visit our official website at DavidJeremiah.org
Introduction When Clerow Wilson turned sixteen, he was ready to get out of foster homes and reform school, so he lied about his age and joined the U.S. Air Force. Blessed with a non-stop personality, he entertained fellow airmen with so many funny stories they claimed he was flipped out. The name stuck. Leaving the Air Force, Flip Wilson found work as a bellhop in San Francisco and started performing between paid acts at the hotel s stage show. Before long he was appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and just about every other popular variety show on television. In 1970, he debuted his own variety series, 3
The Flip Wilson Show; and TIME Magazine dubbed him TV s First Black Superstar. One of Flip s most popular characters was Geraldine Jones, whom he portrayed in a dress, a copper-colored wig, and with exaggerated facial expressions. Geraldine was constantly misbehaving, crossing the line, and violating her conscience. But she had a one-sentence explanation for her behavior: The devil made me do it. Audiences howled in laughter. Flip Wilson passed away in 1998 at the age of sixtyfour, suffering from liver cancer. But his phrase, The devil made me do it, is part of entertainment lore. I wonder why. On its surface, it s not a particularly funny line. Sure, it was delivered with comic timing and a deadpan mug. But perhaps it struck our funny bones because it struck a nerve. We know we re sinners. We violate our consciences. We hurt others and ourselves. We re bewildered at how easily we do wrong and how hard it is to do right. We need a rationale for our evil habits, or at least an excuse. We want to blame someone or something for our sinful inclinations. So when a gifted comic says, The devil made me do it, it hits close enough to home to be funny. It s as good an excuse 4
as any. In some way, Flip Wilson s tagline became an expression of national self-justification. What the Devil Can Do It s true that we mustn t underestimate the devil. His very title devil comes from the Greek word diabolos, from which we get our English word diabolical. The word literally means slanderer. He s called Satan in the Bible, meaning Adversary. But he has more names and titles than a blue-blooded, upper-crusted British aristocrat. He s referred to in Scripture as the serpent, the dragon, the enemy, a roaring lion, Beelzebub, the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air, a liar and the father of lies, the thief, a murderer from the beginning, the tempter, and the wicked one. Seven books of the Old Testament speak of Satan, as does every single writer of the New Testament. He is referred to as a real person, not just an impersonal force or influence. The pronoun he is attributed to him. Satan is not an it. He can do damage, for Jesus warned, The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10a). He lays traps for us, attacks and 5
accuses us, rejoices when we fall, and kicks us when we re down. There s no doubt Satan can tempt us to sin. He tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7). He tempted David to number Israel (1 Chronicles 21:1) and Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the early church (Acts 5:1-11). He tempts believers to immorality (1 Corinthians 7:5). He even tried to tempt Christ, the Sinless One (Matthew 4:1-11). Satan is cunning, cruel, deceptive, and dangerous. It s foolish to underestimate his power in this world. We shouldn t be fixated on him or dwell on his demonic realm, but we should be aware of his devices. Just think of what he did to the patriarch Job. Think of how he sifted Peter as wheat. Paul told the Thessalonians he was worried that by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain (1 Thessalonians 3:5). He warned Timothy to watch out for younger widows who become gossips, busybodies, and sensual. Some, he warned, have already turned aside after Satan (1 Timothy 5:15). He warned the Ephesians to put on the whole armor of God so they could stand against the devil s schemes, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:11-12). 6
When it comes to measuring Satan up against God, there s no contest. We already know who wins. SHARE: 7
What the Devil Cannot Do But let s not give the devil too much due. He can tempt, but he can t force us to sin. He can bring pressure to bear, but he can t violate our will. Flip Wilson was wrong in his theology. The devil doesn t make us do anything. We can resist him. Ephesians 4:27 commands: nor give place to the devil. Are you giving the devil a foothold in your life? The context in Ephesians 4:27 involves harboring a bitter and angry spirit, but there are many ways of letting Satan gain leverage in our heart and habits. Sexting. Pornography. Unkindness. Hurt. Consumption. Materialism. Apathy. Anxiety. Unbelief. Satan may tempt with these things, but he cannot triumph without our cooperation. Here s the way Charles Stanley put it: Many people make the devil their scapegoat. They refuse to be responsible for anything bad that comes their way. But the devil probably doesn t deserve as much credit as we give him. 8
I am not denying the power of Satan, wrote Stanley. The devil does not make us commit sinful behavior. The devil tempts us, and we do the sinning! 1 When we fall, we must take responsibility. Repent. Confess your sin to the Lord as yours alone, then seek His help in turning from it. When we blame the devil, we re giving him too much power. He s not omnipotent. He s not omniscient. He is not the opposite of God. He may well be the opposite of Michael, the archangel. But the devil is a created being. He can cause a lot of stress and trouble, and he s a powerful creature who can attack us. But when it comes to measuring him up against God, there s no contest. We already know who wins. When Satan tried to tempt Christ in Matthew 4, Jesus knew what to do. He relied on the Holy Spirit ( Jesus led up by the Spirit verse 1), devoted Himself to fasting and prayer (verse 2), chose to say No to Satan (verses 4, 7, and 10), and quoted Scripture in the moment of temptation (verses 4, 7, and 10). He outlasted the temptation. Satan finally threw up his hands and left, not knowing what else to do ( Then the devil left Him verse 11a). 9
That s the winning strategy for us. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit, pray, say No to temptation, and use the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. When we falter and fail, we must take responsibility. Don t blame your sin on Satan. He didn t make you do it. He may have tempted you, but the final decision is yours and mine. Corrie ten Boom survived the Nazi Holocaust to become one of the most beloved devotional writers of the last century. In her book, I Stand at the Door and Knock, she wrote that when God forgives our sins by the shed blood of Christ, a great miracle takes place. Our sins are cast into the depths of the sea, and the Lord posts a sign saying, No Fishing! Won t you be tempted anymore? asked Corrie. Yes, of course. The devil definitely won t leave you alone, but now I can recommend a wonderful habit, and that is to bring your sins to the Lord immediately. You need to do that immediately. So the devil has nothing left to say. 2 Instead of blaming Satan, defeat him. He has no answer to sincere repentance and confession. He has no answer to a humble heart that accepts responsibility. He has no 10
answer to the blood of Jesus Christ. When faced with the power of the cross, Satan is powerless. As Martin Luther wrote long ago: The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for Him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure. One little word shall fell him. That little word is Jesus. If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1b). And our Adversary is no match for our Advocate. 1 Charles Stanley, Advancing Through Adversity (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996), 18. 2 Corrie ten Boom, I Stand at the Door and Knock (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), 21-22. 11
Instead of blaming satan, defeat him. When faced with the power of the cross, satan is powerless. SHARE: 12
About the author David Jeremiah is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He is the author of several books including What Are You Afraid Of? Facing Down Your Fears With Faith. His popular syndicated radio and television Bible-teaching program, Turning Point, is broadcast internationally. David and his wife, Donna, have four children and eleven grandchildren.