Do Not be Ignorant of his Devices
The world is deceived. Muslim vs Christianity that cannot both be right; Opposing views 75% are wrong at least.
Christianity and Islam make mutually exclusive truth claims so both cannot both be true.
Law of contradiction: A = B; A does not equal B (both cannot be the truth). So, if God and Allah cannot be the same!
The truth is they are all grossly deceived
Satan deceives the whole world: Revelation 12:9
The whole world includes the Church – it is just that we are considerably less deceived
On a personal level: Do you know how you are deceived?
It is frustrating to me not to know how I am being deceived.
What can be done about it?
We can better know what’s in Satan’s toolbox
Satan’s methodology
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
His greatest lie, that he does not exist and that those that appear to be ministers of light are actually him.
2 Corinthians 2:10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
2 Corinthians 2:11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Satan has designs on each and everyone of us and we are to be completely aware of his intentions
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
His Tools
1 John 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. [in ways that God does not allow]
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
“MIRACLES”
Unexplained things going on
More often than not it is explainable
Sometimes it may not be
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
Beast and False Prophet
Revelation 13:13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
Revelation 13:14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth—by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
Matthew 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.
Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:25 See, I have told you beforehand.
Matthew 24:26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
FALSE DOCTRINE
John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
John 8:35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Isaiah 30:10 Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.
Stick close to the trunk of the tree. Let the bible prove the bible.
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
2 Timothy 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
COVETING
Coveting, temptations (see this message for more info: Coveting the Forgotten Commandment)
The forgotten commandment. I am not talking about some obscure reference in some pages of the Bible that haven’t seen the light of day since who knows when, but one of the 10 Commandments codified at Mt Sinai. We forget it, gloss over and yet God thought it important enough to be one of the 10.
Perhaps because we think it is the least abused commandment while in reality it is broken more than all the others…
Lets read it in its entirety in:
Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
to desire unlawfully or inordinately. It is sometimes translated lust if that gives you an idea of what it means
It is the desire to have something that you shouldn’t
The Bible defines it as idolatry Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth (in other words – put to death your worldly impulses); fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
What is it about this desire that makes it so bad and important enough to be one of the Ten.
1. Takes our Eyes off of God and Puts Him Second
So what we are seeing here is that God considers coveting a form of putting something else before Him. Interestingly this ties the bottom or last of the 10 Commandments with the top or the first.
To covet, to desire inordinately, any thing of your fellow man is to put God second. In one sense you are telling God who watches over you and looks after all your needs that He isn’t doing a good enough job providing for you…and we know that not to be the case. God provides for the sparrow that falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29) and he sent His Son that we may have life more abundantly. (John 10:10)
2. Leads to More Sin
I started making a list from the Bible of what covetousness leads to:
LEADS TO: Injustice and oppression Proverbs 28:20; Micah 2:2; Foolish and hurtful lusts
1 Timothy 6:9; Departure from the faith 1 Timothy 6:10; Lying 2 Kings 5:22-25; Murder Proverbs 1:18; Proverbs 1:19; Ezekiel 22:12; Theft Joshua 7:21; Poverty Proverbs 28:22; Misery 1 Timothy 6:10; and etc.
It was then that I realized that it is really at the heart of almost all sin
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
While it is a sin in and of itself COVETING is A STARTING POINT FOR BREAKING ALL THE OTHER COMMANDMENTS
It takes us away from God and His Ways
1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Ultimately IT IS UNFULFILLING
These goods will not bring happiness any way (Example of Sam Walton)
Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
Psalm 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
COVETING –
What it boils down to is PHYSICAL V SPIRITUAL and that we are not to covet the physical but to covet the spiritual, the things of God.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
International Standard Version Galatians 5:17 For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, and so you do not do what you want to do.
Good News Bible Galatians 5:17 For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do.
Contemporary English Version Galatians 5:17 The Spirit and your desires are enemies of each other. They are always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should.
In essence this is perhaps the most difficult of all the commandments to keep because we are to bring every thought into captivity, but we can do it with the help of God.
PRIDE
Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 the first sin of Lucifer which, along with everything else, led him to become Satan
He used it in Genesis 3:5 when he said you will be like God
When we think that we know better than God we are falling into this trap.
Thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought; we lack;
God will push us away if He sees that and Satan knows this; eventually if we continue in this frame of mind God will punish us.
1 Timothy 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Obviously we are to counter this with humility and the right perspective
We are to submit to God and His ways
LYING
1 John 2:4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” [What a clever suggestion…casting doubt]
Genesis 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
Genesis 3:3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
Genesis 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [LIE not completely wrong]
Genesis 3:5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Pride was an issue in deceiving them.
Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
DIVISION
Satan is the god of this world, influencing nations to do his bidding. Notice how they are fighting each other
Matthew 12:25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
Matthew 12:26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
Satan’s plan is to break up the potential Family of God in any way that he can:
He wants groups to break up; doing a good job on that; but Satan wants this all the way down to the individual: husband and wife; parents and children; men and women; friends
Division turns into Irreconcilable
God has given us repentance and reconciliation
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
This in turn can lead to the unpardonable sin
God is not the author of confusion or division
Christians need to pray for their enemies. Bless those who curse you. That is the Christian way! That is how we can overcome Satan’s infectious attitude of hate and bitterness.
FEAR and DOUBT
Direct attack on our faith – review sermon: No Fear
Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
Hebrews 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “TODAY,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
Matthew 8:24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
Matthew 8:25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
If we are to have faith we can’t be fearful. This is not the same fear as … The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but a fright
Hebrews 10:38 NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition [we are not to be the timid ones; but the ones that keep moving forward into the battle], but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
1 John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
#2 DOUBT
Matthew 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Matthew 14:29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
SOLUTION
Proverbs 22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;
Proverbs 22:18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
Proverbs 22:19 So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you.
Proverbs 22:20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
Proverbs 22:21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?
We are to know that every Word of God is true and just and then of course live by every word of God. Study and know that you know and show yourself approved before God
Conclusion
He was this way from the beginning
Satan foists himself on us in every way possible with every wrong attitudes and thoughts. We are to ignore those and push them aside and rather listen to God through His Holy Spirit and think on the good and pure things.