Satan and False Teachers
This is Sunday and my pastor is taking a Sabbatical, so this is a sermon I did for the church.
Luke 8:22-25 (New International Version) Jesus Calms the Storm
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"
He
got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided,
and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In
fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands
even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
Often, when we're the most overworked and over-stressed, Satan will send someone to attack a true follower of Christ. Many of you who have worked hard to teach the truth know this. It's happened to most of us.
Satan is the father of lies and has practiced his deception to try to destroy those who love God since at least the Garden of Eden.
King James Version (KJV)
Genesis 31Now the serpent was more subtil 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?
2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3But 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.
4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5For 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.
6And 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.
7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Satan pretended to be a friend and deceived Eve. He twisted God's words then conned Eve into seeing the tree as being good for food and made it appear pleasant to her eyes. His purpose was not to help her become more God-like, but to lead Eve into destruction, making her think that it was for her own good.
Satan is the father of lies. His purpose is to destroy those who would do God's will. He watches to see when we are weakest and attacks at every opportunity. He sews discord while presenting himself as someone who is correcting you for your own good, but there is no truth in him.
King James Version (KJV)
44Ye 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.
Sometimes these people can appear to be ministers. The Apostle Paul had to deal with such problems.
King James Version (KJV)
11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
What did Paul do? He says in verse 12 that he cut off their occasion from them.
Sometimes, we need to cut people out of our lives. If they're there only to cause trouble and anxiety, there is no need to continue communicating with them. They drag us down and keep us from being at our best in serving the Lord.
We can only do so much. We can try to teach them the better way, but with some it's useless and to continue trying to do so is destructive to us.
King James Version (KJV)
6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
God gives us the gift of discernment, but He also gives us common sense. We should use both things that God gave us since Satan can be particularly tricky at times.
We know that God is love.
King James Version (KJV)
8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Ask yourself... is the person coming to you trying to calm the seas as Jesus would, or is the person trying to rock the boat and tip it over? This is something we all must do when we feel we're on the edge lest they tip us over the edge and drive us insane.
King James Version (KJV)
43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Once we have cut off the offending limb, we can rest and rejuvenate in the Spirit of the Lord. Then we shall be strong enough to face the enormous tasks at hand.
King James Version (KJV)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
These times are trying and we need to do what we can to be at our best. If we try the spirits through scripture, we can see that those who condemn others are not walking in Christ's will and are not serving His purpose. We are to try to do good for others. Our works will do most of the talking, for actions speak louder than words.
King James Version (KJV)
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Sometimes we have to sit back and let our actions do the talking while we regain our strength. What actions? Have we done things to help others? Have we consoled them when they were down? Have we given them help when they needed it most?
King James Version (KJV)
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
The way we treat others is what Jesus looks at. Whether we do good or bad to others, that is what we have done to Jesus as well. Remember these things and act accordingly.
Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Is With Us All,
Cal-el
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