Intro.: Last week, I preached on the subject, Insuring Success In The I's Of God. My main points were that we need to Solicit a special intimacy with God, Study for God's instruction, Strive for illumination in our life, Seek upright integrity , Strategize our life for involvement in God's projects, and Start a procedure of self-inspection. As I preached last week, I believe if we will do these things, we can have the success in our lives that God wants for us.
Today I want to take time and look at a different
type of success. A success by most of the world's view, but not the success
God wants us to have in our lives. Satan's success is very different than
God's success. Let's start.
Pro. 16: 25 There is a way that seemeth right unto
a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for
his mouth craveth it of him.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips
there is as a burning fire.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer
separateth chief friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth
him into the way that is not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:
moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
We first need to understand…
Satan is a great Imitator
2 Cor. 11: 14 And no marvel; for
Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their
works.
He will encourage the…
Substitution of religion for salvation
Talking the talk, but not walking the walk (in private)
Attendance of services (but no change of heart)
Pretense of knowing Christ (even if to get Christians off their
back)
Satan is the great influencer for evil
1 John 2: 16 For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of
the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
He fills your eyes with lustful images
James 1: 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I
am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth
he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away
of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth
sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
He fills your heart with immoral ideas
He gives your ego doses of pride and self-importance
(cause us to hinder God's work)
Ro. 12: 3 For I say, through the grace given unto
me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly
than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt
to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and
all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and
every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the
grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according
to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:
or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that
giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence;
he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that
which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly
love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit;
serving the Lord;
He fills your mouth with hurtful words
Pro. 18: 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
He fills your brain with gainful plans
1 Tim. 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.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and
follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal
life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession
before many witnesses.
It should be clear to all of us when we see immorality in our society that…
Satan is the champion of immorality
Gen. 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any
beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman,
Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat
of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall
ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall
not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof,
then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and
evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good
for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired
to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave
also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Calls it fun (even superfun) ("Get all the gusto!")
Calls it harmless ("Boys will be boys.")
Calls it normal ("They can't help themselves
they were born this way!" )
Calls it needful ("You only life once!" "It
is a person's choice" "It is a person's right!)
We often see how…
Satan is the persuader of inactivity
He wants you to do nothing for Christ and His work (local church, missions, etc.)
He wants you to value your free time
He wants you to compare yourself with others
(that are doing little or nothing)
Lest you think Satan is not involved with Christians,
we need to know…
Satan is great impediment
to godly living
He proposes it as unnecessary
He proposes it as too vague
He proposes it as too outdated
He proposes it as boring
He proposes it as non-profitable
He proposes it as for others not you
And last let us understand…
Satan is the great crier of indifference
Prov. 123: 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist Church - 011401am