"Lest satan should get an advantage of us:
for we are not ignorant of his devices."
- 2 Corinthians 2:11

Wow, was he a smooth talker!

"Mr. Brown, this is a courtesy call on behalf of Blah Blah Blah Credit Card Company and we'd like to tell you about a limited time offer..."

"I'm not interested."  Click.  The receiver went quickly back into its position.  You see, I wasn't about to listen to this guy's "offer."  Why?  Because I've learned one thing about telemarketers...

...if you don't hang up on them quickly, you might buy something you don't really want!

Telemarketers are clever.  They try to convince you that they are doing you a favor, thus the "courtesy" call.  They want you to believe that what they are about to share is really in your best interest and they are trying to be a help...

...yeah, they want to help you right into making a decision that you don't really want to make!

I've got to credit telemarketers with on thing, though.  When you quickly hang up on them, they usually don't call you back again that day.

The guy that called me didn't.  Oh, he may call me again some other day, but for now he is leaving me alone.

Friends, satan is a master telemarketer.  His skills are razor sharp.  His technique is flawless, precise and well rehearsed.  He knows his stuff.  And, wow, is HE a smooth talker.

"Brother (or Sister) Christian, this is a courtesy call on behalf of  SSI (Satan's Systems International...but he doesn't tell you what it stands for!)  We'd like to inform you about a limited time offer.  If you act fast you can avoid giving your tithe by...(input your own excuse)    We've got a really great deal on unforgiveness and ill will, you can develop a lifelong grudge in just seconds, it's so easy.  Oh, let me tell you about the special of the day...little white lies, why you can get a whole case of them for all kinds of occasions.   What about these handy little devices...excuses.  Why we've got plenty of them for you to choose from.  There's one to keep you from reading your Bible each day, here's one to help you avoid prayer time, this one will allow you to sleep in on Sunday mornings, there's one for..."

You see what I'm saying?  Satan is a master telemarketer.  He's smooth and silky.  Let him keep talking and you're asking for trouble!  If you don't hang up on him quickly, you might just buy something you don't really want!

There's good news, though.  There is a way to get him to shut up, at least for a little while...

...the Bible says in James 4:7, "resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  In other words, hang up!  Oh, he most definitely will call again, but at least for now he will leave you alone.

Make no mistake about it, Christian.  Sometime today that spiritual telephone is going to ring.  Satan will call, you can count on it.  When He does...

...tell him your not interested and hang up the phone!