Most Christians believe the Devil is someone, or something, that is outside of them. He is someone they have to defend against from without. But the reality is that the Devil continues to exist by the spirit in each one of us until He is destroyed in the lake of fire. The proof of his existence in you is the continuance of sin. The manifestation of sin is how you know the Devil is at work in you. It's time to look at the works of the Devil so that you will know his ways of thinking. In doing so, you will not find purpose in them and will cease to continue in his works.
Based on 1 John 3:3-10, we ask the question.
1 John 3:3-10 (ESV) And everyone who thus hopes in Him (Jesus) purifies himself as He is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that He (Jesus) appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil~, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Question:
What are the works of the Devil?
Answer:
The practice of sinning.
What makes you a sinner is not that sin is present; it's the practice of sinning that makes you a sinner.
Explanation:
The word "works" in the English Bible is often used to put actions to your beliefs. You believe in something and begin to put work into it. The same word is sometimes used as deeds, doing, or labor. In this case, you could also say that the Son of God came to destroy the deeds of the Devil or even the doings of the Devil. The Devil is a doer, and what he does best is sin against God. He sins by thinking evil and then acting on evil to oppose every commandment of God. Everyone who practices sin is of the Devil because practicing sin is the devil's work.
The Devil is a sinner; he has been sinning from the beginning. Being a sinner means that his works are the manifestations of sin. It's by nature that the Devil is a liar, a murderer, an adulterer, and fornicator. He is a thief and a robber, a deceiver, and a manipulator. These are all in his heart to do; therefore, when he goes to work, he acts on everything in his heart. His works become lying, stealing, cheating, gossiping, accusing, and deceiving; the list is long, but everything in this list will result in the practice of sin. (Remember, sin is a way of thinking; therefore, by acting out sin, you are doing the works of sin.)
The works, or actions, of the devil, is to manifest sin, and he has perfected it.
To say that you are born of God and have overcome the Devil is to say that you have stopped sinning. If you are free from sin, you are free from the practice of sinning. You stop sinning against God. Jesus destroyed the works of the Devil by being obedient to God in His thoughts and actions. His every word and actions were in alignment with God. No one could convince Jesus of sin because sin was not present in Him, which is also to say He didn't practice sin.
What to do:
Be born of God and join yourself to Jesus. Be transformed by Him, and renew your mind with the word of God that obeys God. Look at the words of Jesus and learn how He worked them in manifestation. Follow His deeds to understand His sinless thoughts and act on them. By doing good, you will put a stop to evil.
In simplicity, continue in the truth. Walking consistently in the truth will free you from the Devil's works because you will be doing God's works, righteousness, and truth.
Scriptural references:
1 John 3:1-10; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 10:4-6
Other teachings:
Teaching number 38, "How Jesus Overcame the Sins of the Flesh."
Teaching Number 52, "How to Overcome the Devil."
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