Dissecting the Serpent: Exposing Twenty-One of the Devil’S Most Destructive Devices

By Rick Shoemaker

Have you ever been the victim of a con artist? It seems as though every day we hear of increasingly clever schemes used to bilk people out of their money. It isnt always new cons, either; tried and true schemes are used time and again.

Author Rick Shoemaker and his church fell victim to a scheme concocted by two con artists during the Christmas season. And while these criminals scammed churches across the country of more than $250,000, they are not the biggest con artists at work today. In Dissecting the Serpent: Exposing Twenty-One of the Devils Most Destructive Devices, Shoemaker tells you how to recognize the work of the ultimate con artistthe Devil. You can learn what is necessary to ward off each of his most frequently used attacks. Whats more, if you have already fallen victim to Satans traps, Shoemaker teaches you how to break free and return to life in Christ.

Dissecting the Serpent offers a biblical investigation into the arsenal the Devil has devised for your destruction. You can have the strength and tools needed to fight back and return to a life of hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512701869

Rick Shoemaker

Rick Shoemaker graduated summa cum laude from Cumberland College and continued his theological training at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the pastor at First Baptist Church of New Carlisle, Ohio, and a certified Christian conciliator with Church Transformation Ministries. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two grown daughters and three grandchildren.

Book preview

Chapter One

Understanding Our Enemy’s Modus Operandi

L ife is a minefield. All around us, we see the fields of life littered with wounded hearts, broken relationships, paralyzed potential, and shattered dreams. The scars of satanic shrapnel in my own soul tend to ache when the weather grows cold. Your old injuries may still throb as well. Perhaps your fresh wounds are still bleeding or are so life-threatening you need to be on spiritual life support. I pray that this book helps you recover and avoid further damage.

Throughout my forty years of ministry, I have swept the minefields of life, trying to lead as many people as possible safely to the other side. Scripture and the shared experiences of wise mentors have been my primary minesweepers. I have also sometimes learned the hard way through painful personal blunders made when I failed to heed the wisdom of God and the warnings of others. It is far better to learn the easy way!

Jesus said, While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares (Matthew 13:25) in the field. Tares are irritating weeds that tend to ruin the harvest. Perhaps if Jesus were speaking to twenty-first century disciples, He might suggest that the terrorist of our souls has planted landmines in our fields as well.

The Good Shepherd delights in leading His flock through the green pastures of the Twenty-third Psalm, but on this journey through life, we need to beware of those demonic trip wires that tend to pervade our pathways. Staying close to the Good Shepherd certainly will help us avoid those painful pitfalls. The Lord can and will guide us each step of the way.

The book of Proverbs is filled with clear, concise advice to the reader as to how to avoid temptation’s trip wires. Proverbs 1:17 states, Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. In other words, even a bird is smart enough to keep from walking into a snare that he can clearly see. Sometimes we would do well to be so bird-brained. This book offers numerous accounts, both biblical and contemporary, to help you discern and thus avoid the explosive devices designed by the Devil to destroy your life and the lives of those you love.

Every criminal has a modus operandi, or method of operation. Investigators become adept at tracking down culprits by investigating a variety of evidentiary fingerprints that help to define a particular felon. The behavior of habitual criminals commonly assumes a distinct pattern. For example, thieves who find a successful method of robbery rarely deviate from their unique strategy. Rapists tend to focus on the same type of victim and utilize signature methodologies, seemingly oblivious that they create a profile of evidence that often leads to their own arrest and conviction. Serial killers leave a trail of forensic breadcrumbs that include their routine choice of victims, weaponry, and motive. Investigators develop the murderer’s profile, hoping to prevent others from becoming projects for the coroner. Terrorists have signature methods of planting and detonating their bombs for maximum destruction. As you can see, understanding the modus operandi is invaluable in defeating the criminal mind. I know one pastor who learned this lesson the hard way.

Pastor, a hopeful voice pleaded. Do you remember me? My name is George Simpson. My wife and I visited your worship services a couple of weeks ago. We are moving to your area and really like your church. In fact, we have decided that when we get settled, we want to join. You do remember us, don’t you?

The pastor, not wanting to appear insensitive, replied, I remember meeting several new couples about two Sundays ago, but I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name. My memory fails me sometimes.

Mr. Simpson continued. Pastor, I just got a new job with the General Machinery Corporation, and we will be moving into a house on 2977 Albany Road not far from the church. In fact, we are on our way there now, but our car broke down near Kokomo, Indiana. A very kind farmer and his family have taken us in for the night. His son is a mechanic and says he can fix the problem, but the part he needs will cost $156. I hate to ask, but I was wondering if you might be able to wire us the money. If you could do that for us, I promise to repay the money as soon as I get my first paycheck. We are just about tapped out with the move and all. Just getting the utilities turned on and paying the miscellaneous expenses was more than we had planned. Now this transmission trouble! It couldn’t come at a worse time with Christmas and all. If you can send the money today, the mechanic promises he can fix our car, and we can be in church this Sunday.

I know what you are thinking. That pastor surely didn’t fall for a con like that! But before you judge too harshly, remember, it was the season for giving. Having a compassionate heart (and always eager to add to the rolls of the church), the pastor conferred with two deacons. Though the proposition sounded somewhat risky, what if this need was indeed genuine? All three men recalled memories of days when they had known financial catastrophe often as the result of unexpected automobile breakdowns. Besides, it was Christmas. So soon they transferred the money via Western Union into the gleeful hands of the Simpsons. This family has yet to arrive for Sunday worship after two decades. Perhaps the pastor should have wired a map!

Two years after this expensive embarrassment, the FBI sent an agent to the office of First Baptist Church. Special Agent Smith was accumulating evidence in an interstate fraud investigation against a man and a woman who had used this scam to con hundreds of churches out of over a quarter of a million dollars. Comparing notes, the pastor of First Baptist Church learned that the ministers of the local Christian and Lutheran churches had fallen prey to the Simpson Broken Transmission script as well.

Since that Christmas deception, the pastor of First Baptist Church has heard the same sob story on two separate occasions from two other stranded families. However, now wise to the modus operandi of the caller, the pastor easily rejected the desperate request both times. He only wished he could have turned the tables and captured the crooks through some sort of sting operation. (The identity of this pastor is being withheld to save myself the embarrassment of acknowledging how easily I was conned!)

If you have e-mail capability, you might have received correspondence from a desperate but wealthy refugee who promises to share millions of dollars with anyone who is willing to help reclaim his family fortune. The message explains how this man hopes to salvage his considerable bank accounts from the grasp of terrorists who overthrew the government of his African nation. This plea for assistance sounds legitimate, especially to ambitious Americans seeking to strike it rich themselves. Astonishingly, scores of people have taken the bait only to be humiliated and robbed of thousands of hard-earned dollars. Ignorance plus greed are a volatile combination. However, those who know the truth about schemes like these are far less likely to become victims of the criminal mind. (I thankfully didn’t fall for this one!)

The criminal mind of Satan has inspired countless lesser criminal minds throughout the centuries with a modus operandi of his own. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:11, Lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices. Perhaps Christians in first-century Corinth were clearly informed of the satanic strategies and were indeed not ignorant of his devices. Sadly, many twenty-first century believers are not so keenly aware. Throughout the pages of the Holy Scriptures, the Lord has revealed the Devil’s methods of operation. From Genesis through Revelation, the criminal activity of the Evil One is clearly seen. The victims of hell’s schemes include such luminaries as Adam, Abraham, Moses, Samson, Saul, David, Solomon, Peter, Paul, and so on. Each of their failures is recorded in the Bible to enable us to learn from their mistakes so we might not repeat their sometimes-disastrous blunders (1 Corinthians 10:11).

No man has been exempt from the onslaught of satanic attack. The Devil was so unabashedly bold that he even dared to confront the only begotten Son of God to entice Him to do evil. Thankfully, Jesus Christ could see through the deception and emerged victorious on every occasion (see Hebrews 4:15). Indeed, Christ’s conquests of the subtle serpent provide much-needed insight into how God’s children can overcome evil as well.

Throughout the years of my Christian experience, I have encountered personal battles with the demonic as has every believer in Christ. The apostle Paul reminds us, For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens (Ephesians 6:12).

From both victories and defeats, I have learned much. Throughout my forty years of evangelistic and pastoral ministry, I have observed hundreds of people who have become casualties of demonic destruction. Sometimes, friends have been blindsided. At other times, despite clear warnings, I have watched people step on spiritual landmines that were in plain sight and become mortally wounded. Hopefully, as people become more aware of the satanic schemes, they will avoid the pitfalls that lie in wait. Dissecting the Serpent: Exposing Twenty-One of the Devil’s Most Destructive Devices is an attempt to glean from Scripture the modus operandi of Satan. Through revealing the strategies, I hope you will be awakened to the plots and schemes of the demonic con man/terrorist lest you become his victim. In addition, as each demonic strategy is revealed, defenses are provided and highlighted based upon the armor of God found in Ephesians 6.

Learning how to detect and escape the devices of evil may require Biblical Bomb Squad Training. These chapters seek to provide just that. Please read and discuss each chapter with great care and much prayer, preferably in a small group setting, which will enhance your understanding. The Devil prefers working in the darkness. Bringing to light his cunning ways will be potentially lifesaving to you and those you love and will be most disturbing to the Enemy. I certainly hope so.

Chapter Two

The Source of Evil: Is the Devil a Real Being?

H ave you ever wondered why it seems so easy to do what is wrong and so hard to do what is right? I have never heard anyone say, "I am having a terrible time trying to break this good habit." Yet people who struggle with certain behaviors and habits (i.e., addictions) often seem powerless to overcome them.

Comedian Flip Wilson used to explain his evil ways by joking, The Devil made me do it. Eve used the same excuse for her sin in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:13). While it can be a convenient cop-out to put all the blame on the Devil, Scripture does reveal that Satan and his demons are indeed a significant factor in the wide array of evil practiced by mankind.

Critics of the concept of a personal being as a key influence for the evil that abounds in the world prefer to blame heredity and environment for people’s choices. They dismiss the idea of Satan as mythical fantasy. The red-suited, pitchfork-toting personification of evil is the object of ridicule for any reasonably intelligent individual in the third millennium AD. (Not that the Devil wears a red suit and carries a pitchfork. That cartoonish imagery may contribute to the easy dismissal of his existence.)

Certainly, heredity and environment do factor heavily in life’s chaos. The Bible would agree that the lust of the flesh (heredity/sin nature) and the world system (environment) (1 John 2:15–16) are two key components in the wrong and foolhardy choices that people make. However, the Bible includes a third factor as well. In 1 John 2:14, the apostle speaks of overcoming the wicked one. This trinity of evil has been referred to as the world, the flesh, and the devil.

According to the book of Genesis, God created man with a perfect genetic code and placed him in an idyllic environment called the garden of Eden. The Creator also endowed mankind with the capacity for free will, the quality necessary to relate to God, who is love. The very nature of love requires men to have the capacity to respond to God’s love in a positive fashion and thereby develop a loving relationship with Him in return. Love also provides the option through free will to reject God’s love since a forced, robotic love is not really love at all.

Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, saw to it that Adam and Eve had every provision. Only one tree in that paradise was strictly forbidden to them. God clearly warned them that to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil would result in death. I would define death as the tragic state of separation between man and God. as evidenced by their expulsion from paradise. (Genesis 3:24)

Genesis 3 records the sad account of the seduction of Eve and Adam to disregard God’s warning and deliberately disobey the Lord. In this chapter, a third character is introduced into history, Satan, who appears as a creature called a serpent. The serpent speaks to Eve and convinces her to partake of the forbidden delicacy. She in turn uses her influence with her husband, Adam, and he likewise eats. With that single act, the floodgates of sin and rebellion are opened. The Scriptures leave no doubt as to the serpent/Devil’s role in the origin of evil in our world.

Old Testament Roots

The prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel provide insight into the beginnings of almighty God’s adversary. In Isaiah 14:12–14, God’s enemy is called Lucifer. In Ezekiel 28:11–19, this being is called the King of Tyre, implying that the evil Prince of Tyre, whom the prophet denounces in Ezekiel 28:1–10, was sired by a far greater monarch before him. From these prophetic utterances, we learn that this creature was originally a magnificent work of God. He is described as the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty, and this once-majestic being was said to have been in Eden, the garden of God. Hence, we see the connection with the serpent of Genesis 3. He is called the anointed cherub that covers, likely referring to the two archangels that are portrayed at the mercy seat in the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies guarding the very throne of God. (Ezekiel 28:11-17)

Both Isaiah and Ezekiel speak of the day when Lucifer grew discontented with his less than preeminent place in the universe and, for some sad reason, grew envious and aspired to the very place occupied by God. Ezekiel suggests that the matchless beauty and splendor of this angelic creature contributed to his prideful ambition (Ezekiel 28:17).

Isaiah 14:13–14 reveals the thoughts of the rebellious archangel. "I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the congregation, on the farthest side of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High (emphases added). Notice that the phrase I will" appears five times in these two brief passages. Certainly, this self-will mentality is the essence of sin.

Both Isaiah 14:15 and Ezekiel 28:16–17 speak of the casting down of Lucifer from his high standing on the mountain of God. Revelation 12:7–9 sheds more light on this prehistorical conflict. Apparently, the Devil incited a number of other angels to join him in his quest, so they were also cast out of heaven in the aftermath of a terrible war. These fallen angels are understood to be the demonic hordes spoken of in the New Testament. (Some scholars see fallen angels and demons as two distinct beings. See Chapter 23, The Device of Demonic Possession, for further explanation.)

Why Bother with Mankind?

Several theories have been proposed concerning why Satan chose to inject himself and his influence into the affairs of men. These are the Worship Theory, the Revenge Theory, and the Perfect Justice Theory.

The Worship Theory is based upon Satan’s compelling desire to be the center of attention. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, the Devil offered Him the kingdoms of the world and their glory if Jesus would just fall down and worship him (Matthew 4:1–11). Satan seemed to be seeking a momentary expression of praise from Jesus and was willing to offer a considerable price for it. That may sound rather extreme until one considers the passionate hunger for attention many people possess. To gain their fifteen minutes of fame, some people have been known to sacrifice integrity, self-respect, or wealth just to be recognized as a person of distinction. What inspires a daredevil to risk life and limb for applause? Glory for self continues to inspire all sorts of evil and high-risk behavior.

The Revenge Theory recognizes the high value the Creator has placed upon mankind. Satan, knowing God’s great love for man, saw his entrance into Eden as the way to break his conqueror’s heart. The Enemy delighted in driving a wedge between Adam and Eve and the Lord. When Adam and Eve took a bite of the fruit from the tree in the midst of the garden, it must have brought happiness to the serpent’s heart as he watched the once-innocent creatures hide from the presence of God. By leading the first couple into sin, the Devil hoped to inflict pain upon Jehovah. Certainly for most of us our greatest vulnerability lies with those we love. Hurt my children and you hurt me! It is possible Lucifer thought this to be the Achilles’ heel of the Almighty.

The Perfect Justice Theory represents the possibility that Satan, realizing his certain doom, hoped that his enticing Adam and Eve to sin would cause God to dismiss their wrong because of His great love for them. When Satan told them that they would not die after eating the forbidden fruit, he may have hoped that would indeed be the case. Satan may have reasoned that if the holy and just God ignored Adam and Eve’s sin, Satan would have cause and legal precedent to appeal his own rebellion against the throne and be restored to his former glory. His argument might have been, "You overlooked their sin. To be the perfect and just God you claim to be, you must likewise dismiss my transgressions!" The serpent must have been dismayed to see judgment enacted against Adam and Eve, thus preserving the holiness of the righteous judge.

Perhaps the motive behind the master criminal mind was a combination of the three or even a fourth not theorized. Certainly, the Devil’s involvement into the affairs of men was motivated by some self-serving reason.

God’s allowing the serpent’s unwelcome activity indicates that the Almighty chose to use the satanic rebellion for some greater eternal purposes. But in the end, when those Divine purposes have been accomplished, we know that "the devil who deceived them will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10, emphasis added)

Chapter Three

The Device of Deception

T here’s a sucker born every minute is a quotation attributed to P. T. Barnum, founder of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Actually, a man named David Hannum was the source of that quote, not Barnum. Apparently, George Hull, a brilliant con man, devised a scheme to create a stone giant that he subsequently buried. He left the statue in the ground for about a year and then arranged to have it discovered when well diggers were conveniently instructed to find water at the sight of the burial. Located on the farm of a fellow conspirator and his cousin, William Newell, curiosity seekers swarmed the place for a glimpse of this prehistoric giant. Thousands paid money to see this amazing find.

Seeing a good investment, David Hannum purchased a two-thirds interest in the spectacle for thirty thousand dollars. P. T. Barnum, seeing the potential for increasing his own wealth, offered to purchase it for fifty thousand dollars, but Hannum rejected his offer. But Barnum would not be thwarted. He had a giant of his own made and declared to a naïve public that his giant was real and that Hannum’s was fake. Newspapers printed Barnum’s version as true, and thousands paid money to view P. T.’s version.

Hannum was unaware that both giants were fake. Speaking of the many being deceived by Barnum’s phony giant, he said, There’s a sucker born every minute. It wasn’t until he brought a lawsuit against Barnum for calling his giant a fake that he heard the testimony under oath by the con man George Hull that he (David Hannum) had been a sucker as well. (For more details on this scam, see www.HistoryBuff.com P. T. Barnum Never Did Say, ‘There’s a Sucker Born Every Minute.’ )

In John 8:44, Jesus speaks thus of the Evil One, When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars. Deception is at the root of many of the Devil’s devices.

In the account of the wilderness temptations of Christ (Matthew 4:1–11), we see the Devil’s subtlety as he attempts to entice Jesus to sin. Examine carefully with me three primary areas that are especially susceptible to the Devil’s deception. Which one are you most susceptible to?

Feelings and Deception

The first area prone to deception is in the realm of feelings. For thirty years, Jesus was prepared for His role as Messiah of the Jews and Savior to the world. As the day dawned when He would emerge for His three-year mission, Jesus had a mountaintop experience when John baptized Him. At that moment, The heavens suddenly opened for Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. And there was a voice from heaven; ‘This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him’ (Matthew 3:16–17 HCSB).

What an awesome affirmation of Jesus! You might think that immediately after this the Spirit would have led Jesus into the Holy City where He would be crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Instead, chapter four opens with a perplexing announcement. Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil where He would proceed to fast forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1–2).

Mental health professionals warn us that following an especially euphoric time, people are prone to a corresponding emotional plunge. Delight can collapse into a deluge of depression. So during this especially vulnerable time, the Devil suggested to Jesus that perhaps His status as the Son of God was not such an honor after all. While likely feeling both physically depleted and strangely alone, Jesus heard Satan whisper, "If You are the Son of God, You shouldn’t be fasting in the wilderness. You should be feasting in Jerusalem! Tell these stones to become bread" (Matthew 4:3, HCSB emphasis added).

Certainly this man who would later turn water into wine for the wedding guests in Cana of Galilee and multiply the loaves and fishes to feed the five thousand had the ability to turn stones into bread if He so desired. Jesus, however, refused to exercise His divine power for personal gain (see Philippians 2:7–8).

Satan was trying to capitalize on Jesus’ emotional vulnerability and physical hunger. Under such stressful conditions, what could possibly be wrong with turning some stones into bread? Would anyone have criticized Jesus had He done so?

One line in the song You Light Up My Life says, "It can’t be wrong, cause it feels so right (emphasis added). And Proverbs 14:12 says, There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Certainly the intensity of Jesus’ temptation was more severe than one might assume. Fortunately, though, Jesus saw through what Satan was trying to promote, which was If You were my Son, You would never starve like this! What kind of a father would allow his child to go hungry?"

Jesus conquered this temptation by quoting Deuteronomy 8:1–3 (take a moment to read this passage). Jesus knew that since the Father had allowed the children of Israel to know hunger in the wilderness before He provided manna from heaven, the Father would surely meet Jesus’ need as well. In each instance, God taught His people and His Son to trust Him rather than their feelings. When Jesus said, Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4 HCSB), He was saying, I have chosen to put My trust in God—no matter how hungry I get!

Feelings can be frightfully deceiving. The mind can be swayed toward all manner of foolhardy behavior when under the influence of depression, anger,