Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
Be careful of the Laban's and Jacob's in life, the con-artists.
Friday, July 19, 2002
12. A good con-artist must cultivate certain mental attitude sins - implacability, vindictiveness, and cruelty - as well as verbal sins such as flattery and lying, JDG 16:4-21.
“Delilah” - dainty one = describes her overt appearance but not the wickedness of her heart.
She betrayed Samson to the lords of the Philistines for 1,100 pieces of silver, JDG 16:5.
Deceiving Samson into believing she loved him, Delilah persuaded him to tell her the secret of his strength - his long hair, the symbol of his Nazirite vow.
She made him sleep upon her knees, and then called the men who were waiting to help her who “cut off the seven locks of his head,” and so his “strength went from him.”
12. A good con-artist must cultivate certain mental attitude sins - implacability, vindictiveness, and cruelty - as well as verbal sins such as flattery and lying, JDG 16:4-21.
13. The con-artist always lives to regret his function as a con-artist, ROM 12:19, ISA 35:4.
ISA 35:4 say to those with anxious heart, “take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, and He will deliver you.”
14. When someone catches on, the more the con-artist has conned, the more he will protest - a part of that defense mechanism, direct attack.
When Moses discovered the conspiracy of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, the first thing that they did was to protest and attack Moses even more.
15. The con artist gains everything through deceit but loses everything worthwhile in life.
16. The con-artist constantly watches people and gathers intelligence about their private lives for personal use and advancement.
LUK 20:20 And they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and the authority of the governor.
17. Con-artists always use those who are unstable as a part of their con, Jude 16.
18. The con-artist knows that his best chance for gain is to work on someone who is stable.
In verse 6, all of this comes because their thoughts in their heart are deep - amoq = exceedingly mysterious.
There comes a time when God will vindicate His people, and when He does it will only be realized by those who have enough humility and doctrine to recognize what God has done.
19. The con-artist who is really a pro never tries to con an unstable person unless it is to add numbers to his opinions.
There are some con-artists who never face the one they have conspired against; they let others do their dirty work.
20. The arrogant con-artist likes to manipulate those who are predictable, stable, and reliable.
If they operate under the principle of 1CO 13:7 that love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, then the con-artist takes advantage of the fact that the believer thinks like this.
If the victim operates under the principle of 1PE 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins, the con artist knows that his sins will not be exposed by the victim if he cons the victim.
21. Honorable people are always much more vulnerable to duplicity than dishonorable people.
22. The con-artist will say the right things, even have the vocabulary down, and he uses truth to gain his evil ends, PHI 1:15-18.
23. A good con-artist knows that it is always better to use truth to deceive than a lie because once they are caught in their lies, their con becomes weak.
24. The only reason a con-artist tells the truth is because you can deceive better with the truth than with a lie.
25. Every con-artist has a limit and when he goes over the limit he exposes himself.
26. The con-artist loves to gain favor by destroying the reputation of someone else.
Robert R. McLaughlin All Rights Reserved 2002