Devices: Good or Bad? Proverbs 1:31 I. Introduction. A. Devices: A plan or a scheme(often used in a negative sense). B. Device: A clever, often devious means for achieving an end; trick; maneuver; bluff; gimmick; ploy; ruse(American Heritage Dictionary). C. Ever been had by someone's scheming? 1. How did you feel? Good taste or bad? 2. You learned a lesson(hopefully) by your experience. D. The Proverb writer said: "There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand"(Proverbs 19:21). II. Body. A. For the disciple, one must be informed and warned of the Devil and his angels who use temptation to capture saints. 1. II Corinthians 2:11. "...that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices." 2. The way to deal with the devices that face each of us daily is to inform ourselves of the devices used by Satan. 3. "A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah; But a man of wicked devices will he condemn" (Proverbs 12:2). a. A contrast: Men can use what they have or what they devise for good or for evil. b. Even, sometimes, what was intended for good can be spoiled by the efforts of Satan. B. The source of all devices, good or evil, originate in the minds of men. 1. "Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me"(Job 21:27). 2. While we cannot read minds, we can weigh and examine the fruits. 3. "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee"(Proverbs 3:7). C. Men will often seem to have their way in iniquity, but eventually they fail through their own actions and thoughts. 1. "Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices" (Proverbs 1:31). 2. I am the architect of my life. a. I may seek to blame others, but it is my fault when I follow those who would lead me astray: whether friends, family, brethren or whoever. b. Our own thoughts and actions influence our behavior and standing in God's sight. D. Anger has caused many a person to act without reason and without thinking. 1. "He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated"(Proverbs 14:17). 2. Interesting that these two words are joined(soon angry and deal foolishly). 3. There are many who are jailed because of their lack of control. E. Speech is often the source of much anguish among humans. It is also the means of spreading the truth. 1. "And the instruments of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the meek with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right"(Isaiah 32:7). a. A common device of men is misrepresentation. b. Occurs in business, in sports, in politics, and other areas. c. Who, at times, has wished that he could recover his words. d. "Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he ` will despise the wisdom of thy words"(Proverbs 23:9). F. At times, all humans have a stubborness of heart. 1. Especially in morals and religion, people tend to be stubborn(is it because they don't want to believe they are wrong?). 2. "But they say, It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart."(Jeremiah 18:12). 3. There are those who refuse to change even when they know something is wrong: due to stubbornness. G. Men invent ways in which they can deceive others. Can happen in any area, including religion. 1. "Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words"(Jeremiah 18:18). a. A device, used by men, is the tongue. b. "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" (James 3:5). c. Every person has, at times, been deceived by the speech of another(in business, in the home, in schools, in business--no limits!) d. Christians do not use their speech to deceive others; they use words to open hearts. H. The Christian must be aware that Satan never sleeps and he uses many devices to deceive the disciples. 1. We need to inform ourselves: "that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices"(II Corinthians 2:11). 2. The way to deal with the devices that face each of us daily is to inform ourselves of the devices used by Satan. 3. In the days of Esther, there was a wicked man who used his influence to try to destroy the Jews. 4. The devices of Haman led him and his sons to be "hanged on the gallows." 5. Evil desires and plots can backfire! III. Conclusion. A. Out of the evil plots of men can come mercy and righteousness. B. "But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered"(Jeremiah 11:19).(Used in regard to the death of Christ.) C. "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty"(II Peter 1:16). D. Satan is smart: so are his followers. His cunning has led many a saint to stray. And...constantly deceives those who are not disciples of Christ.-jy