The Devil Has A Plan For Your Life

The Devil Has a Plan for Your Life (Gen. 3:1-20)

Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, kill and destroy, but I came that you might have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

The devil sought to distract Eve and Adam from the goodness of God. They enjoyed 99% of the desires of the heart, but the tempter tried to get them to focus on the 1% of what they did not have. Many of us get in to trouble when we concentrate on what we do not have instead of praising God and thanking Him for His goodness, greatness and gracious gifts that are so freely ours in Christ.

God’s plan promises love, joy, peace, and fruitfulness, but too few people choose correctly. Instead, they subtley surrender to the devil’s plan for their lives and suffer as Adam and Eve did in the garden.

Illustration: He’s Dad

Two 6 year olds struggled with the problem of the existence of the devil. One boy said, “Oh, there isn’t any devil.” The other, rather upset, said, “What do you mean, there isn’t any devil? It talks about him all the way through the Bible!” the first replied, “Oh that’s not true, you know. It’s just like Santa Claus, the devil turns out to be your dad.”

G. Lewis, Demon Possession, ed. J. Montgomery

Illustration: Counterfeits

1. False Christs Matt. 24:24; 1 John 2:18

2. False apostles Rev. 2:2; 2 Cor. 11:13

3. False teachers 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Tim. 3:8

4. False brethren Gal. 2:4; 2 Cor. 11:26

From the Book of 750 Bible and Gospel Studies, 1909, George W. Noble, Chicago

Be on guard against every form of greed, covetousness and lust. NO good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Consider some of the following disobedient ways that the devil plans to wreck destruction, defeat and discouragement to billions every moment of every day in every way:

1. DOUBT and DEMORALIZE - The devil began to cast doubt on God’s authority, love and truthfulness. His word and His message when he said, "Has God really say you must not eat any of the fruit of the garden?" (Gen 3:1) When we start to question the truthfulness of God’s word, His will and His authority we allow the seed of doubt to shake the foundations of our faith in a God who cannot lie or alter His word.

2. DELUDE - Satan tried to fool and deceive Eve by casting false impressions about God to the woman. When people become delusional they start to believe their hallucinations. The devil said to Eve, "You won’t die! God knows that you eyes will be opened when you eat of the fruit. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil." (Gen. 3:4) So many people are deluded in their view of God, His word and His will for their lives. Consequently, their lack of discernment causes them to think they are doing fine when in fact they are deceiving themselves. James wrote, "Be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." (James 1:22)

3. DIVERSION - Satan tried to make the forbidden fruit seem attractive so that the woman would want it more than the right things. So many people follow Satan’s plans for their lives because they naively allow their attention to get diverted to useless, harmful or things that appear to be attractive but are shadows of what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, admirable and praise-worthy. (Phil. 4:8) Failure to pursue the things that please the Lord in all respects only spells defeat. We are told to flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love and peace with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. Do not get distracted by worthless arguments. (2 Tim. 2:22-24)

4. DISSUADING and DISDAIN - Satan tried to dissuade Eve by persuading her that she would be like God. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be more like Jesus Christ, but there is a subtle error into thinking we can assume the power, authority and omniscience of God. Paul wrote, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." (2 Tim 1:12) Notice, Paul allowed the Lord to persuade him and he would not allow anything to dissuade him. Abraham staggered not in unbelief but grew strong in faith being fully persuaded that what God had promised He was able to perform." (Rom 4:20,21)

5. DISOBEDIENCE and DISRESPECT - Satan tempted Eve to disobey God and to obey his own devilish plans. When she convinced Adam to share in the forbidden fruit, immediately sin wrecked havoc in their lives. "The woman was convinced as the fruit looked fresh and delicious and it would make her so wise. So she ate of the fruit. she also gave some to her husband who was with her." (Gen. 3:5)When we disobey God in thought, word, deed or in assumptions about His character, we can expect to have to suffer from the consequences of sowing a seeds of our self-destruction. The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom 8:6-8) Disobedience can come in numerous ways, but the chief way is to fail to do what God tells us to do with a whole heart of love, faith, and hope in His holy and just character.