Saturday, June 8, 2013

The Devil Made Me Do It


Genesis 3:4-5 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

What do we know about the devil and where did we get our information? From movie, books or video games with horns and a tail (which was actually taken from the Greek god of the wild – Pan)? Our small group home Bible study on “overcoming the enemy” learned that as a follower of Christ, it is important that we know exactly who the adversary is, because his goals involve us personally, but not because our goals involves him. Satan deceives and tempts in order to sow a seed of doubt that brings out anger, jealousy and pride to produce division between us and our heavenly Father. My study Bible says that the “great deceiver” insinuated a falsehood and portrayed rebellion as clever, but essentially innocent, self-interest. By causing the woman to doubt God’s word (by leaving a word out, adding a word and changing word), Satan brought evil into the world. As I wrote in August on “original sin” - to even begin to consider that perhaps the “Word of God” that we have been given isn't really God’s Word is just how we come to believe the satanic lie that “God lies. The “Father of Lies” offers up a different (false) truth claim in saying that God lied, which tempts the flesh and mind that leads to doubt, distrust, disobedience and death.”

James 1:14-15But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Deceived by half-truths, twisted meanings and outright lies, the devil is really saying: “Believe me and doubt God. I tell the truth, but God lies. Trust me and have suspicion of God. I watch out for you, but God is holding things back from you and doesn’t have your best interests in mind. So act upon your passions and desires apart from God because you are the lord of your Lord and make the decisions what’s right for you.” Remember that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was planted in the garden and commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from as a test. Who do we trust and obey? Sovereign Lord God, Creator of the heavens and the earth?

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explains in Matthew 13:37-39 “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. Do we see “wheat and tares” in our world today?

The “Evil Adversary” of God and man lies and tempts, appeals to the senses of sensual man, finds and exploits human weaknesses, and subtly turns people against God. The “Fall of Mankind” was great and still is. As the “deceiver undertakes to alienate man from God, while as the “accuser”, the devil acts to alienate God from man. The terms Stan and the devil both refer to a single entity – our enemy. Devil means “accuser, slanderer.” Satan means “adversary, the enemy. We must guard our hearts against our enemy. In Genesis 3:13, the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate”, and changed the course of human history. May we never say: “The Devil made me do it.”

To end on a good note: Revelation 12:9-11And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.”

In Christ, Brian


2 comments:

T-Childs said...

Great post Brian. It seems that so many people are deceived and even when not deceived we all struggle with something, like I am struggling with certain issues at the moment. At least we are aware of this and that is a start isn't it? May God give us the strength to serve Him with a whole heart.

Brian Ray Todd said...

Thanks Tim for the great points in your comment. The first step is to see and know that there is a problem, otherwise we get that "if it isn't break, then don't fit it" mentality. "Deceived" is a key word and main point of attack by the devil, but as you say, there is the god-rejecting world system and our our sinful flesh desires that work to deceive us all and cause us to "struggle with certain issues". You are so right that "awareness" of the deceptions, distractions, temptations and lies is the start and a lifelong watch and audit because the Lord's work continues daily for the Ambassadors of Christ. I believe that this is what the Apostle Paul is explaining in Galatians 5:16-25, about walking in the Spirit, recognizing the battle going on in ourselves and in the world till Jesus comes again.

The passage says: "16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

I hear that ignorance is not an excuse, but ignorance is not an option when it comes to Sin & Salvation. Knowing the enemy, being aware and whole-heartedly fighting the good fight as we run the good race set before us, in the strength of Him that we love and serve; not as do, but as who we are ... a child of the living God, Creator and Sustainer of all. Thanks for writing brother.