Weekend Message/Devotion
July 28, 2019
Back to Basics
(seventh in a series)
Sermon Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I stand before Your people, to deliver Your message. Though the words are mine and I prepared this message, I pray that this message is Your message in its entirety. I pray your blessing and anointing on the message, its delivery, its reception - and most of all, its application in our lives.” Amen
Weekend Message/Devotion
Today, we are continuing a series of messages entitled “Back to Basics”. The series will be to review basic biblical doctrines. In other words, reviewing what our beliefs and practices are based upon. We are utilizing Bible Doctrines (A Pentecostal Perspective) authored by William Menzies, Logion Press 2001; The Great Doctrines of the Bible by William Evans, Moody Press 1974; and of course, God’s Holy Word.
The Doctrine of Satan
Before we ease into the study of the doctrine of Satan, let me just add a couple of points to conclude last week’s message dealing with the Doctrine of Man.
To me, it’s always been very puzzling how so many truly dedicated Christians either deny any form of sin in their lives or strongly resist any thought or mention of sin, as it pertains to them. Let me tell you this – I absolutely believe that when Satan sees that in your daily life, he absolutely jumps for joy and wallows in our failures.
“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:9-10
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Ephesians 2:3
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18
Certainly, we can say that assuredly all men do not wish to sin. But if we read the preceding verses and direct quotes from Scripture, it becomes VERY VIVIDLY TRUE, that we are incapable of living sinless. So, do we just give up and give in to Satan and the lure of sin?
REPEAT with me a resounding “NO!”.
We acknowledge that we are sinners. We confess daily (at least) our sins; ask forgiveness; and ask the Triune God to help us resist the devil.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
Okay, we got that out of the way. I am always impressed by those who tell me that they are in constant prayer with God, all throughout the day. Is that possible? Sure, it is. It doesn’t mean stopping the everyday demands of a job or lifestyle. It means as you are driving down the road, you might speak to the Lord and say something like, “God I just want to thank you for being with me and especially that all went well at that meeting this morning.” “God, You know that I messed up again and let fly with that temper tantrum using language that is most offensive to you. God, I am truly sorry, and I ask for your forgiveness and pray your Holy Spirit will hold me in check the next time that kind of temptation wells up.”
I think you get the picture. Praise, Thanksgiving, Confessions and Entreaties are never out of style. Beyond the daily ongoing communication with God, let me encourage you to not neglect a dedicated, uninterrupted time of prayer, study and meditation with God.
Remember a few weeks ago, we shared a message entitled: “Jesus Relishes Extravagant Worship”?
When we do exercise that worship, the devil moans and groans.
Now let’s move on to the Doctrine of Satan.
For anyone that doesn’t believe in the devil, the devil himself jumps for joy! It empowers him over you.
I find: Willmington, Harold, "The Doctrine of Satan" (2018). The Lucifer File, to be a good resource dealing with the Doctrine of Satan.
We all realize that a great many folks just do not believe in the devil. Many encapsulate Satan in a cartoon image of a mean looking ogre type, all in red with horns protruding from his head.
Because Satan is everywhere, like The Triune God, I believe that he exists in a spirit form.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8
However, Satan is in no way divine and never was. Satan was CREATED, as were man, the heavens and the earth, and all that is within.
“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:15
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16).
The exact origin Satan has been a subject of debate for a very long time. Most explanations come from inferences and even traditions. Is he a fallen angel? Quite possibly! Created? Certain!
Attributes of Satan:
Destroyer – “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.” Revelation 9:11 (Abaddon = Hebrew for destruction. Apollyon = Greek for destroyer)
Master of Temptation – “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Matthew 4:3 Jesus was forty days and forty nights without food. You think He might have been a tad hungry? Did He resist that powerful temptation?
I once wrote a simple little song which had a verse in it that went: “Ole man Satan, he’s just awaitin’. It’s gonna get hot if he can find a weak spot!” Very true, isn’t it? You see, Satan knows all about our weak spots and knows just how and just when to put that temptation in front of us. That is exactly why we really need to be in constant communication with God. That is exactly when we need to quote; “Get thee behind me Satan!” [But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan} Matthew 16:23
Accuser – “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10
Have you ever been accused of wrongdoing, unjustly? I think we all have. It seems like the harder we try and convince of our innocence, the worse it gets. Well, let me tell you this. When Satan plants guilt in your head and there seems no way to get rid of that guilt, turn to Jesus. When we pray and ask forgiveness and believe that we have been forgiven, sometimes the self-guilt lingers and we struggle to forgive ourselves, don’t we? That is the work of the devil. You are not God; I am not God! When Jesus says you are forgiven, who do we think we are to hold on to that guilt?
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12 Get it? God says, “…their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Beloved, that is good enough for me.
Deceiver –
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9 Now that pretty well speaks for itself!
Liar and Murderer – “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44
“Lusts of your father you will do”! If you are not very careful, you can fall into the trap that Satan has laid before you. You know that temptation thing that is ALWAYS right there in front of you. You may want to get ahead so badly that you spread lies and false rumors about your competition, hoping that you will gain ground in your aspiring efforts. When you do that, you become a child of the devil. You can sit back and fill chapters with your own observations of ones who have fallen into that trap.
One of my favorite examples is the inflating of claims for damages in an insurance claim. If you haven’t done that, you surely know someone who has. Have you ever fudged on our taxes?
So, you say that is just part of doing business. NO, that is STEALING and yielding to the lies of Satan.
Learn to recognize Satan in his disguises and with his lies. Read and study God’s Holy Word. Learn to put on the “ARMOR OF GOD” daily as part of your dedicated time with God.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:10-18
Next week, we will continue this overview of Biblical Doctrines.
Let us pray.
I humbly and sincerely ask for your prayers!
https://churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/311609-how-to-pray-for-your-pastor-ronnie-floyd.html?utm_source=outreach-cl-daily-nl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=read-more&utm_campaign=cl-daily-nl&maropost_id=&mpweb=256-7370272[HG1]
Note: It is the practice of this church to preach straight from the bible. We follow the lectionary assigned readings from which the sermon/messages are derived.
________________________________________
