Do you pray like the devil?

One way to understand the essence of a Christian act is to look at what the devil can do with it. For example, when James explains what saving faith is, he says: «Do you believe that there is one God? You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.» (James 2:19) In other words, saving faith must be more than what the demons can do. Look at this and find out what they can do. Never settle for a definition of faith that requires only what the devil can do.

The Devil's Exegetical Principle

There is an exegetical principle that is useful in many biblical contexts. The principle is this: When you seek to understand the meaning of a biblical duty, ask yourself how much of that duty the devil can do; pay attention to that and do not equate the biblical duty with what the devil can do. Every Christian duty that the Bible teaches involves more than what the devil can do.

In 1 Cor. 12:3 Paul says, «No one can say, »Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” So, applying the devil principle, we remember that the devil has no doubt about Jesus’ lordship over the world and all demons. He knows that Jesus is Lord, and his demons say so.

«"No one can say, 'Jesus is Lord!' except by the Holy Spirit.".

In Matt. 8:29 the demons cried out to Jesus: «What have we to do with you, [Jesus], Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?» And in Mark 1:24 the demon says to Jesus: «What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.» These expressions «Son of God» and «Holy One of God» clearly acknowledge Jesus« authority. This is even clearer when you see that the demons say that Jesus can do »torture us« and »destroy us.” The devil knows and acknowledges that Jesus is stronger than he is and that the devil’s days of freedom are numbered.

The devil believes that Jesus is Lord

So it is clear that the devil can say, «Jesus is Lord.» In fact, he does. This helps us to understand better the meaning of Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 12:3, when he says, «No one can say, »Jesus is Lord,« except by the Holy Spirit.» Since the devil can say, “Jesus is Lord,” we know that this obligation—recognizing Jesus as Lord—means more than just believing and acknowledging that He is the most powerful. The devil believes this and speaks of it.

The same thing happens when we add Rom. 10:9, where Paul says, «If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.» Now we see that Christians not only confess that Jesus is Lord, but they also believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead.

The devil believes that Jesus is resurrected

Does the devil believe that God raised Jesus from the dead? Yes, he does. Much of his effort is to blind people’s minds so that they cannot see «the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ» (2 Cor. 4:4). And that glory is the glory of the crucified and resurrected Christ, which shines forth in the gospel. The devil knows that God raised Jesus from the dead.

Therefore, the obligation to confess Jesus as Lord and to believe that God raised Him from the dead must mean something more than what the devil confesses and believes. My point is that this «devil principle» is a very useful exegetical tool for a deeper understanding of the reality that Paul is talking about.

Demonic faith and saving faith

Rom. 10:9 gives a clue to a deeper reality: «If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.» It is clear that the reference to confession «with your mouth» and belief «in your heart» comes from Deut. 30:14 «For the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.» But what is the point of what Paul is saying? Here is the question.

«"Christians don't just believe the same facts as the devil. We love and embrace the truth about God.".

What does Paul mean by «in the heart»? That you joyfully acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and willingly accept His resurrection as His glorious entrance into the saving reign. We know this because Paul speaks in Rom. 6:17 of «obedience from the heart,» that is, not under compulsion, but with joy. He directly contrasts a voluntary desire «in the heart» with a desire «with regret or under compulsion» (2 Cor. 9:7). This is exactly how the devil acknowledges the resurrection and reign of Jesus—with regret and under compulsion.

So, going back to 1 Cor. 12:3: «And no one can say, »Jesus is Lord,« except by the Holy Spirit.» Paul means that without the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ with a joyful and willing acceptance of the Lord Jesus as his supreme treasure. The devil recognizes His power and ultimate victory, but he hates it. Only through the Holy Spirit can we love it. And that is what makes us Christians—not just believing the same facts that the devil believes.

Abide in Christ

I recently came across the words of 2 John: «Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son» (2 John 1:9). This is obviously extremely important, because the absence of God leads to death without Him.

So I wondered what it means to «abide in the doctrine of Christ.» My eternal life depends on it. If I don’t, I don’t have God. If I do, I have «both the Father and the Son.» So I applied the devil principle. In what sense can the devil «abide in the doctrine of Christ»? Well, he is very knowledgeable, has a supernatural memory, and was present when all this teaching was taught. So I suppose he can «abide» in the doctrine of Christ in the sense that he «remembers» it and «believes» it to be true. This means that when John says that we must «abide in the doctrine of Christ,» he means more than just «remembering» it and more than «believing» it to be a fact.

When the devil remembers the teachings of Jesus and believes them as fact, he hates them. He does not love the teachings of Christ. He does not cherish them or value them. But in the minds of Jesus and John, abiding in the teachings or keeping the word of Jesus flows from love for Jesus.

Jesus answered him: «Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me» (John 14:23–24).

Applying the devil’s principle has led me to seek what it means to truly abide in the teaching of Christ. It must be more than what the devil can do. And it is more! It means to hold on to, to cherish, and to obey, because it is the teaching of the One we love above all else.

Shock treatment required

My own belief is that thousands of nominal churchgoers would benefit greatly if pastors asked, "How is your faith different from the devil's faith? How is your 'abiding' in the teachings of Jesus different from the devil's?"«

In fact, every believer, not just nominal Christians, should ask himself, «How are my prayers different from those that the devil would approve of—or even fulfill?» (The devil asked God for things in Luke 22:31.) Satan has no problem with people praying for food, clothing, health, peace in relationships, financial success, good grades on exams, and so on.

«"You don't have to be born again to want food, clothing, health, and success.".

The reason the devil is not opposed to such prayers is that they express desires that we have in common with unregenerate people. You don't have to be born again to want food, clothing, health, and success. And you don't have to be born again to ask God to provide them.

But the devil never prays or helps anyone to pray: «Hallowed be Your Name.» Or: «Lord, may Your Name be glorified, magnified, and honored!» The devil never prays or helps anyone to pray: «Lord, advance Your saving kingdom against the powers of darkness.» The devil never prays: «I am sorry for my sin. I hate it, I confess it, and I ask You, Father, for forgiveness in the name of Jesus.».

So, it would be wise to apply the devil's exegetical principle to the duty of faith, the duty of abiding in the doctrine of Christ, the duty of prayer, and dozens of other duties.

Without such shock treatment, the nominal Christian and the worldly Christian may never wake up to the fact that they believe, dwell, and pray as the devil does.