If I Were The Devil

08 IF I WERE THE DEVIL

CBC 2 COR 4 VS. 3,4 (adapted from a story by Paul Harvey)

INTRODUCTION: PAUL TELLS US PLAINLY THAT SATAN HAS BLINDED THE EYES OF THE UNBELIEVER.

I HAVE OFTEN NOTICED DURING THE HALLOWEEN SEASON, A LOT OF SCENERY ABOUT DEMONS AND THE DEVIL. (INNOCENT CHARACTERS)**

PEOPLE SEEM TO ACCEPT THE HOLLYWOOD AND COMMERCIAL IMAGE OF THE DEVIL.

HE CERTAINLY DOES NOT POSE AS A RED COVERED CHARACTER WITH HORNS AND A TAIL, CARRYING A PITCHFORK; IN FACT, THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT HE IS OFTEN CONCEALED AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.

HE COMES DISGUISED AS A FRIEND OR MESSENGER, BUT IN REALITY IS A DECEPTIVE DEMON WHO WANTS TO RUIN AND CONTROL YOUR LIFE, AND DISRUPT THE WORK OF GOD.

LET ME SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, A FEW THINGS THAT I WOULD DO IF I WERE THE DEVI..

I. I WOULD GAIN CONTROL OF THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST POWERFUL NATION IN THE WORLD.

(A) I WOULD GO AFTER THE NATION WITH THE MOST POWER AND THE MOST INFLUENCE, AND USE THE PEOPLE OF THAT NATION TO FURTHER MY CAUSE.

1. I WOULD TRY TO BREAK DOWN THE RELIGIOUS AND MORAL STANDARDS THAT HAD BEEN SET AND USED FOR MANY YEARS TO CARRY OUT THE GOOD WORK OF THAT NATION.

2. OUR GREAT NATION WAS FOUNDED UPON THE CHRISTIAN AND MORAL PRINCIPLES AND HAS ENJOYED THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY BECAUSE OF THIS.

3. AMERICA STRUGGLES TODAY TO HOLD ON TO THESE GREAT PRINCIPLES BUT IS IN GRAVE DANGER OF LOSING THEM AND GOING DOWN THE DRAIN WITH THE ATHEIST, AGNOSTICS AND INFIDELS.

Ps 33:12

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Prov 14:34

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

IF GOD DOESN’T PUNISH THIS NATION FOR HER SINS, HE WILL HAVE TO DIG UP SODOM AND GAMMORAH AND APPOLOGIZE.

(B) I WOULD DELUDE THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE INTO THINKING THAT THEY HAD ACCOMPLISHED BLESSINGS INSTEAD OF BLESSINGS COMING FROM THE HAND OF GOD.

THEY WOULD DISREGARD THE LEADERSHIP OF GOD AND PLACE THEIR TRUST IN HUMANISTIC EFFORTS.

1. THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THIS NATION DOES NOT LIE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, NOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, NOR THE INDEPENDENT PARTY NOR EVEN THE PITY PARTY, BUT IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD AND GOD’S WILL.

3. SPIRITUALLY UNLEARNED AND UNSAVED MAN WILL TELL YOU THAT WE EVOLVED FROM THE MONKEY FAMILY (SOME DO ACT LIKE IT SOMETIMES)

STORY OF THE CONFUSED APE AT THE ZOO (BOOK OF EVOLUTION IN ONE HAND AND THE HOLY BIBLE IN THE OTHER HAND) ????? AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER OR MY KEEPER’S BROTHER????????

2. UNSAVED AND SPIRITUALLY UNLEARNED MAN WILL TELL YOU THAT MAN’S EFFORTS AND MAN’S KNOWLEDGE WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE HIM TO A LEVEL OF PERFECTION WHERE EVERYONE WILL LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY, (UNIVERSAL UTOPIA)***

GOD’S WORD DECLARES OTHERWISE:

2 Tim 3:13-17

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

KJV

II. (IF I WERE THE DEVIL) I WOULD DECEIVE EVERYONE THAT I COULD INTO THINKING THAT MAN HAS THE SOLUTION TO LIFE’S PROBLEMS AND NOT GOD.

(SATAN HAS TRIED THIS ALREADY WITH THE FIRST FAMILY IN GENESIS CHAPTER 3 AND IT WORKED QUITE WELL IF YOU WILL REMEMBER)***

(A) SATAN WILL TRY TO CONVINCE YOU THAT ALL YOU NEED IS WISDOM OF MAN AND SELF-EFFORT TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS IN LIFE.

1. HE HAS CONVINCED COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS NOTION, YET HE HIMSELF IS DECEIVED THE MOST.

Isa 14:12-15

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

KJV

(B) SATAN IS STILL TRYING TODAY

1. HE WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE THAT LEGALIZING ALCAHOL IN EVERY COMMUNITY OF EVERY STATE, WOULD SOLVE ALL OUR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS** (REFERENCE 1962 CALHOUN COUNTY AL.)