The Devil Deceives with Miracles, Spiritual Experiences and even with Scripture Itself!

The devil deceives with miracles, spiritual experiences, and EVEN with Scripture itself! We witness this from the very beginning of the bible, in Exodus 7:11–12, Pharaoh’s magicians—sometimes called sorcerers or wise men—mimicked the miracles Moses and Aaron performed.

When Aaron threw down his staff and it became a serpent, the magicians did the same by their secret arts. They also turned water into blood (Exodus 7:22) and brought up frogs onto the land (Exodus 8:7).

But the devils deception through signs and wonders doesn’t end in the Old Testament. In Matthew 4:5–8, the devil did more than just whisper suggestions—he actually transported Jesus to different places and showed Him things in ways that can only be described as supernatural or “miraculous” experiences:

Matthew 4:5 “Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple.”

Available NOW on Amazon

Matthew 4:8 “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.”

These were not ordinary temptations. Being taken instantly to the pinnacle of the temple or a very high mountain, and being shown “all the kingdoms of the world” at once, implies a supernatural act.

This shows us two things:

Satan has limited power – he can perform real signs, visions, and even miraculous-looking events. Just like Pharaoh’s magicians, he can mimic God’s works to deceive.

Personal/spiritual experiences aren’t proof of truth – Jesus didn’t trust the experience. Instead, He answered every temptation with the written Word of God, showing us that Scripture, not spiritual experiences, is the standard for truth.

Satan deceived in this manner in the beginning, in the time of Jesus, NOW, and in the days to come!  That’s why passages like 2 Thessalonians 2:9 warn that the coming of the lawless one (antichrist) will be “in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders.”

If the devil had the audacity to tempt Jesus Christ, how much more so will he come to tempt you and me?

Look at Mathew 4. First, notice the devil quotes Scripture to deceive. The devil will absolutely use the Bible to attempt to confuse and lead astray believers. Notice Jesus teaches us that we must know the Scripture IN CONTEXT with its co-text. Also, notice in this event that the devil quotes the promises and not the warnings.

Second, notice how the devil gives Jesus a "spiritual" experience and performs what can be described as miracles. What happens in Matthew 4:5 & 8 are miraculous events.

Notice that Jesus did not assume that these miracles or spiritual experiences were sufficient

evidence to prove that the devil was working as a messenger from God, or even someone worth listening to.

• Jesus uses the Written Word IN CONTEXT to refute the devil's lies, miracles, and spiritual experiences.

  
  

• If the devil used these tactics against Jesus, he will use them against us.

  
  

• The Written Word is our ONLY measurement for Truth, NOT experiences.

Satan is actively roaming around like a lion, looking for whom he may devour! And how exactly does a lion hunt its prey? It looks for the weak, the small, the ones who wander just far enough away from the herd to be taken.

There is safety in numbers. The shepherd protects His flock with the rod and staff, so do not wander from the flock! Remain strongly grounded in the Word of God, read it daily! It is the truth, your strength, your foundation, your protection from deceit.

Read Deuteronomy 13:1-11; Matthew 7:22-23; Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:14 & Revelation 16:14

Deceitful people can perform false signs and wonders and even give false prophecy, “word of knowledge,” etc., to you. Do not be deceived!

1 John 4:1-6

“1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”