2. Top Scams for 2012 Phishing: criminals use emails & websites appearing to be from reputable banks, businesses, or the government asking for your personal information. Advance Fee Loans: Claims are made guaranteeing loans once you’ve sent in the fee. Financial Elder Abuse: Seniors are exploited by scammers who take advantage of their hearing loss, loneliness, impaired mental faculties, etc. Do not give out your Social Security number, birth date, or credit card numbers or you may find yourself a victim of identity theft.

3. The Devil Wants to Steal Your Treasure We aren’t giving you consumer warnings just to protect you from scams but to warn you that in a similar way the devil has scams that he uses on us. Jesus said, “The thief has come to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10) The devil is like a thief in that he wants to steal away these treasures in heaven through Christ (Eph. 2:7) and he counts on your being naïve, gullible, or greedy so that you will submit to do his will. Let us put on God’s armor so that we stand firm against the devil’s schemes (Eph. 6:10ff; 2 Cor. 2:11).

4. The Devil Uses Subterfuge Subterfuge- “an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.” The thief hides his true motive of stealing by promising a reward and hoping you’ll avoid common sense. (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-5). The devil used this tactic with Eve in order to get her to sin by telling her she would not die if she disobeyed and be like God (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-5). The devil gets people to believe that there is no God or punishment in hell The devil gets people to believe that there is no God or punishment in hell (Ps. 10:4, 11, 13; Mk. 9:43ff). Satan has ministers preach that man is saved by faith only and once you’re saved you’re always saved. (2 Cor. 11:13-15; John 3:16; Js. 2:20, 24; Gal. 5:4)

5. The Devil Uses Craftiness The devil appealed to Eve through the lust of the flesh to look at the forbidden tree which was good to eat (Genesis 3:6a) The apostle Paul warns Christians, “I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The devil gets us to believe that if you look (lust) but don’t touch, you will not be harmed (Mt. 5:27-28). He deceives man to believe that if you love each other, you can live together w/o marriage (Heb. 13:4) or divorce and remarry with impunity (Mt. 19:3-9).

6. The Devil Allures with Riches If you are gullible, you might be tempted by the reward of millions of dollars to give to the thief your bank account or social security number. In the same way, the devil allures people through the lust of the eye (1 John 2:15). The devil uses the greed of false teachers to make merchandise of you with false promises and many follow (2 Peter 2:1-3). It is hard for those who desire or have riches to enter into heaven (Mt. 19:21ff; 1 Tim. 6:9-10). Solomon learned this lesson (Eccl. 5:10-12).

7. The Devil Magnifies Your Pride The devil makes you think that you are wiser than you really are (1 John 2:16; Rom. 12:3). Nebuchadnezzar thought he made Babylon by his own power. God took it away from Him (Da 4:30; 5:20). Haman’s pride caused him to have the king sign a decree to have all the Jews killed because Mordecai refused to bow down. But he was put to death. (Esther 3:5ff; 7:10) The religious leaders persuaded the people to have Jesus crucified (Matthew 27:20). The apostles were humbled (Mt. 18:1-4; 20:25-28). Pride goes before destruction (Pr. 16:18; 29:23).

8. Conclusion We are thankful for warnings about scams which protect us from thieves who would steal what we have and ruin our good name. How much more should we be thankful for God’s warnings about the scams of the devil who would take away our treasure in heaven through Christ? Don’t let the devil use subterfuge to get you to believe that there are no eternal consequences for your sinful behavior (Galatians 6:7-8). Don’t let the devil use his craftiness to deceive you into believing that you can’t maintain your purity in a wicked generation. You can! (Titus 2:11-14)

9. Conclusion Don’t let the devil allure you with riches so that you forget about the true riches which are eternal in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:7). Don’t let the devil magnify your pride so that you begin to think that you are greater than you are because you will be humbled in the end (Luke 18:14). God exposes all the scams of the devil and will lead you to the promised land of heaven if you will trust and obey the Lord (Hebrews 5:8-9). “Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16).