Deceive, Divide, Destroy: The Devil's M. O.
M. O. stands for modus operandi, a Latin phrase that speaks of a person's or group’s usual way of doing something, often used in criminal investigations to describe a criminal's usual method of committing a crime. The devil, satan, the original criminal, has a typical way of ding things against us. He characteristically deceives, divides, and destroys. Jesus overcame all of these in the wilderness.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Matthew 4:1-11 (KJV)
If the devil can deceive us, he’ll divide us. if he can do that, he can destroy us. The devil is a liar and the father of all lies, so he lies to deceive us, and to divide us -drawing us away from God. If he can draw us away from God and His protection, he can destroy us.
The devil lies to try to convince us that God won’t keep His promises, attempting to divide us from God’s promises and from God. Once we have moved away from the Lord, we are fair game for the enemy to devour us.
The enemy also likes to lie to us to get us to think we are missing out; that sin is more pleasurable than serving God. Yes, sin is pleasurable- but for a season only. Then, payday comes and the wages of sin is death! However, the gift of God is eternal life.
Another deception of the devil is to tell married couples to hold back on physical intimacy, which causes a divide in the relationship. Then, he can ruin the marriage.
These are just a few of the lies he uses as part of his M.O. Devil in Greek is diabolos, which means accuser, slanderer. The name satan means adversary. He is always accusing God’s children, and he is our adversary- our opponent and enemy.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (KJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. I Peter 5:8-9 (KJV)
We are to submit to God and be self-controlled and watchful. we are to sober-minded, not thinking like a drunkard. The devil seeks to devour us. we must resist him steadfast in the faith in Jesus’ name (Mark 16:17). As we remain submitted to God and ad in active resistance to the devil, we can’t destroy us. The devil wants to destroy us where there is nothing left of us. However, if we know God’s Word, we can use it as a weapon against him, and we will not be deceived. If we aren’t deceived, we cannot be divided from God and His plans for us. And if we are united with God, the enemy cannot touch us. Try thought he might, he won’t be able to take us out.
As we walk in truth, knowledge, revelation, and discernment, we will walk in unity with God and with other believers. In this unity, the anointing flows among us to destroy the modus operandi of the devil. As we destroy the devil’s plans and send him packing, he flees away empty-handed. He shows himself for the defeated foe that he is.
As we walk in the light of God’s Word, we won’t be deceived.
As we walk in unity with God and our fellow believers, we won’t be divided.
As we use the name of Jesus and God’s Word to enforce our victory, we won’t be destroyed.
