I. A Snake in the Grass
A. Text: Psalm 58:3-5
B. I want us to look at a word today. It’s a word that is often used too loosely among believers. It is one that we must begin to recognize and take notice of and know it’s really meaning. That word is: charm (charmed, charming).
C. No doubt you have told someone how charming they were. Or you may have had someone tell you how you charmed them. It was – most likely – meant as a compliment.
D. However, if we really knew and recognized the true meaning of the word – we wouldn’t have considered it to be a kind word toward us!
E. Consider some of the words Webster’s Dictionary uses to define the word ‘charm’ – lure; spell; entice; enchant; to conjure; to captivate; to entice; incantation; bewitch; to beguile; to hypnotize and mesmerize; exorcism; magic; sorcery – in essence to charm is witchcraft!
F. Paul was quite concerned for the Colossians, twice stating that he desired that no man would beguile (or charm) them with enticing words (Col. 2:4, 18).
G. Now, I ask you, is this something that you want others to say of you? That you are charming…. being translated…. that you are bewitching?
H. The word ‘enchantment’ speaks of fantasy. Think of the children’s cereal Lucky Charms, for example. This cereal’s mascot is a leprechaun. A character of fantasy who desires to find his luck by locating the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
I. One of the items I bought my wife for our recent anniversary was a charm bracelet. While I was studying for this message – I took time to look at that bracelet again and was relieved to find that it only included hearts on it.
J. When charm bracelets first came out, most of them had specific items dangling from them such as a frog or an owl. Is it a coincidence that frogs and owls are two animals used often in witchcraft and they hang from a piece of jewelry called a ‘charm’ bracelet? Of course not.
K. Nowadays, jewelers will include just about anything on a bracelet. Most items today have nothing to actually do with ‘charm’ (or luck) such as hobby items and employment related items.
L. However, in the 50s & 60s, when charm bracelets were most popular, young girls would often collect the lucky charms totaling 13 altogether. Having 13 ‘lucky’ charms was supposed to eliminate the bad luck number of 13. The items that the charms would include were as follows:
1) A silver heart which spoke of love for the individual who would wear the bracelet.
2) A brass heart pierced by an arrow, which spoke of someone who was smitten by romance. (We’re going to look a little closer at that word ‘romance’ also later. We have to be cautious about who we are romancing!).
3) A horseshoe, which was supposed to attract good luck. Historically, the horseshoe was supposed to be magically protective. This was the reason many people would hang horseshoes over the doorposts of their homes and barns.
4) A gold wishbone set with a pearl, which was to symbolize wishes come true.
5) Another item is a silver horseshoe on which is placed a wishbone, a four-leaf clover and another wishbone.
6) A gold and green four-leaf clover, which represents good luck.
7) A brass heart padlock that represented faithful love.
8) A double gold horseshoe set with an artificial diamond to represent luck with money.
9) A silver spread of playing cards to represent luck in gambling.
10) A brass moneybag marked with the number ‘1,000’ to represent wealth.
11) A silver moneybag with a $ sign on it to represent fortune.
12) Another horseshoe, this one copper, with a four-leaf clover on it – again to represent luck.
13) And, finally, a silver horseshoe which, again, represented drawing, or attracting, good luck.
M. Now, this is not a sermon about, for, or against charm bracelets or cereals. However, it is to inform you that to be charming is not a compliment!
N. Satan is a deceiver and he desires to twist words and phrases to make us think it means one thing while it truly means another. Satan is the original charmer! Think about it:
II. A Crafty Serpent
A. Genesis 3:1 tells us that the serpent was more subtle than any other creation. That word ‘subtle’ means crafty, or deceptive.
B. In other words, the serpent – Satan the snake himself – ‘charmed’ Eve into eating the forbidden fruit!
C. In fact, in II Corinthians 11:3 Paul seems concerned that the church become like Eve for he said: “I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
D. Paul writes to you and I also today suggesting that we not be lured away from our relationship with Christ! That word ‘subtle’ there indicates trickery or shrewdness.
E. Proverbs 31:30 declares that charm is deceitful.
F. And Satan is the ultimate deceiver! Revelation 12:9 prophecies of how Satan, the devil who deceived the whole world will be cast out!
G. Folks, charmers are listed in the Word of God among others who practice witchcraft.
H. The reason is that someone who charms someone else does so to take control over him or her. That is witchcraft!
I. Listen to Deuteronomy 18:10-12 “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire [to be burned as an offering to an idol], or that useth divination [fortune telling/witchcraft], or an observer of times [clairvoyant/astrologist/psychic], or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer [one who conjures spells], or a consulter with familiar spirits [a medium –someone who goes between the dead and the living] , or a wizard [like Harry Potter], or a necromancer [someone who calls on/or ‘romances’ the dead/séance]. For all that do these things are an abomination [detestable] unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”
J. So, the Word of God lists charm among the most deadly of witchcraft and evil!
K. There are several places throughout the Word of God that speaks of the evil of charmers.
L. When one is charmed – one is deceived. And the Word gives direct and clear warnings against being charmed, or deceived!
1) Ephesians 5:6-8 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light…”
2) II John verse 7 calls equates this type of deception to that of the antichrist spirit! Those who would not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh!
3) Jesus warned in Luke 21:8 to be careful and not be deceived as many will come in His name and that this is a sign of the end times. He declares, ‘do not follow after them!’
4) Paul declares that the purpose of the five-fold ministry (that of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) is for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ…listen…until we all come into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God…. that we no more be like children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine {or hot air of doctrine as I like to interpret that}, by the sleight of men and the cunning craftiness where they lie in wait to deceive. (Ephesians 4:11-14)
M. Now, lets not forget who was the first to be cunning and crafty! The serpent – Satan, the snake himself!
N. Deceit is nothing more than lies! And, who is the father of lies? Satan!
O. Paul writes to the church at Corinth and says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” (I Corinthians 15:33)
III. The Original Prince Charming
A. Now, think about this for a moment. Satan came, in his craftiness, in the form of a snake in Genesis chapter 3.
B. He charmed Eve and deceived her into disobeying God’s command.
C. Those men who sit on a mat and play their little flute-like instrument so that the snake will come out of the basket are called snake charmers. They charm the snake. In Genesis 3, the snake charmed Eve.
D. I ask you today this very important question: Are you attempting to charm the charmer? Think about it.
E. Ladies, when you were growing up, did you dream of meeting your prince charming and riding off into the sunset?
F. If so, let me tell you that the original Prince Charming is Satan himself!
Satan argued with Jesus one time about who had the greater power! Satan said, ’I can do anything you can do only better.’ Jesus replied, ’Ok, prove it, go ahead and try creating a man.’ Satan said, ’No problem,’ as he reached down and picked up a handful of dirt and began to mold and shape it. With that, Jesus slapped his hand and said, ’Get your own dirt!’
G. Satan is known as the prince of the power of the air (Ephes. 2:2), and the prince of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11) and Matthew & Mark often call him the prince of all the devils (Matthew 9:34, 12:24, Mark 3:22).
H. He is deceitful. He is a charmer. He is Prince Charming!
I. Although Disney cartoons have tried to make Prince Charming out to be a hero – the truth is that he is not! In fact, in the movie Cinderella, it is considered to be an enchanting evening when the two finally meet and dance together. You bet it is! Enchanting doesn’t always mean delightful.
J. Even in the movie Snow White – the first animated full-length movie put out by Disney – one of the main characters is a wicked witch and a magic mirror.
