* Who's Fooling Who?

 

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their works.  
2 Corinthians 11:14-15

The power of God is the visible demonstration of His desire to reveal Himself to man. Spiritual power is God's Kingdom in action. It brings spiritual life.  God is the source of power and has many ways He reveals His power on earth. But God's great power does not go unchallenged.  There is still a power struggle going on in the world today. It is not a war of flesh and blood though that is certainly occurring even as I speak. It is the struggle of a very challenging counterfeit rebelling against God.  That counterfeit is Satan.  This time I’m not speaking about our wayward self-nature or the influences of the world – but Satan, He’s truly a challenging imitator.  It was Apostle Paul in his efforts to teach us to take heed, that said:

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.  2 Corinthians 2:11

 Satan has a powerful organization. His followers can do powerful acts. And yet, Jesus informs us that Satan is not the one to fear and he’s definitely not the one to bow or surrender to – the one we must fear is God; he has both the power to take our life and the authority to cast our soul into hell. So, he’s the only one we need to fear.

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.  Luke 12:5

Just know God has greater power. Jesus said:  

. . . Greater is He (Jesus) that is in you than he (Satan) that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

We know through the word how Jesus came with great power and authority to destroy the evil works of Satan and how Jesus delegated power over all the power of the enemy to believers.  He left us with strategies and tools for facing the power of the challenging counterfeit.

The first step in overcoming the power of Satan is to recognize that Satan imitates God's power.  

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

God, through His Holy Spirit gives us a measure of discernment. It is an unusual ability given by God to immediately discern the intent or motive of another person's spirit and know if the spirit working within them if they are good or evil. Use it to determine whether people's spirits are of God or Satan. 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

In addition to this, God has provided other methods of detection. 2 Peter 2 and the book of Jude lists the characteristics of people with seducing spirits to help you identify them. No matter how spiritual or powerful a person may appear, evaluate him on the basis of God's Word.

Because Satan imitates the power of God through supernatural manifestations of miracles, signs, and wonders, God has provided a way to evaluate ministries. Jesus compared men to fruit trees:

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.  Matthew 7:18, 20

Satan can imitate spiritual gifts and God's power, but he has no imitation for a holy life exhibiting the fruit of the Holy Spirit which includes . . .

. . . love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance . . . Galatians 5:22-23

Evaluate ministries by spiritual fruit instead of supernatural manifestations of power.

In order to recognize false doctrines of Satan's teachers, apostles, prophets, and ministers, we must know what is taught in the Word of God. Paul told Timothy:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Even though Apostle Paul was a great spiritual leader in the early church, the believers at the city of Berea checked everything he said by God's written Word:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  Acts 17:11

To avoid being deceived by Satan's power, examine everything that is taught in light of God's Word. Evaluate the lives of those who are teaching powerful doctrines or performing signs and wonders.

We should not accept any teaching, doctrine, revelation, or miracle that is not in harmony with God's Word. The power of Satan often attracts believers through so-called "special revelation of new truth." People claim special dreams, appearances by angels, visions, voices, or other supernatural events. But Apostle Paul warned:

. . . but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from Heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.   Galatians 1:7-8

 and which does not come to pass:

When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18:22

We should not accept any revelation that leads us away from God and the truth of His Word

If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder he foretells to you comes to pass, and if he says, Let us go after other gods—gods you have not known—and let us serve them, You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being.  You shall walk after the Lord your God and [reverently] fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and cling to Him. Deuteronomy 13:1-5

The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.  Proverbs 21:16

God warned Israel to avoid every type of Satanic influence:

. . . destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places. Numbers 33:52

God gave specific instructions to the Israelites. Israel was to have no contact with the work of Satan in any form:

When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.  You must be blameless before the LORD your God.  The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.  Deuteronomy 18:9-14

We too should destroy anything we own that has to do with witchcraft or the work of the devil. This includes idols, lucky charms, potions, amulets, crystal balls, games, divining devices, and other similar items. Destroy any evil literature and music that does not glorify God. This is what people did in the New Testament when they became believers:

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men, and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. Acts 19:19

We should not spend time in places where there is evil influence.  The Bible records that God manifested Himself in special places such as the Old Testament temple and the upper room of a house on the Day of Pentecost. It is equally true that Satanic power can be manifested in special places dedicated to evil. This includes places where evil pictures are shown, drinking and riotous behavior is occurring, seances are being held, worship of Satan is occurring--anywhere sinful practices are going on.

We should avoid such environments, because Satan's power is especially strong there. We cannot pray, "Lead me not into temptation," and then put ourself in such a place:

. . . and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.  1 Corinthians 10:20

We should not associate with false leaders, teachers, prophets, ministers or apostles:

Abstain from all appearance of evil.  1 Thessalonians 5:22

God's organization, the true church; the body of Christ, is more powerful than that of Satan:

(God) hath put all things under His (Jesus) feet, and gave Him (Jesus) to be the head over all things to the church. Which is His body . . .  Ephesians 1:22-23

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. Ephesians 3:10

Jesus is the head of the Church. Believers are the body. If all things (including Satan and his religious structure) are under the feet of Jesus, then they are also under our feet because we are the body. "Under the feet" means they are under the power and authority which God has delegated to us.

Jesus said we have power over "all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19). This includes spiritual wickedness in high places. Satan and his hosts challenge God's power, but they certainly are not a threat to Him or His people. The Church is actually to demonstrate God's power to these evil principalities and powers!

Through the Gospel, Prayer, His Holy Spirit, love, and the Word we understand the principles of God's power, and will not be deceived by or ignorant of the counterfeit works of Satan.

Sermonette

Our Purpose In God

 

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be 
with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, return to thine own house, and shew how 

great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published 

throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.  
Luke 8:38-39

God has a purpose for all people, including a general purpose for believers and as we can see from the passage above a specific purpose for each individual

I’ve been stuck in this account of the man plagued with a legion of demons for a while now. Through this account, we see Jesus' miraculous power at work in the man and in the city that the man came from, we see Him in His authority over Satan, we see faith personified with some of the people of the city and we see how Jesus gave purpose to the man that He freed from the demons.  After this man is delivered, he’s found to be sitting at the feet of Jesus, that’s what he wanted to do, just sit at the feet of Jesus and follow Jesus around.

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.  Mark 5:18

This sounds like a good plan; just sit at the feet of the one that just restored you to wholeness.  But that was God's purpose for this man.

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.  And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. Mark 5:19-20   

God doesn’t save us to sit and just luxuriate in our salvation.  He certainly doesn’t save us to get spiritually fat and lazy; too bloated to be of any use.  No!  Then for what purpose does He call us?  He calls us to the harvest field where there is plenty of work to be done.   It’s the responsibility - our obligation to bridge the gap of a sin-sick world to a forgiving Father.

In order to do that, negative factors; our infirmities, our struggles and our deficits must be dealt with.  God knows that and that’s why He gave us power to help us overcome. 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me . . .  (Acts 1:8)

It’s like preparing the ground for planting in the natural world. The ground must be broken up and the rocks and thistles removed before it’s ready to receive the seed.  We must right the wrong in our life according to biblical principles and standards.  There is preparation that must occur so that we don’t end up in one of the negative categories of the planting of the seed parable; which is the word of God.

All the way back to Old Testament times, God had a purpose for the ones that He called.  The children of Israel had a purpose.  God raised up a nation born of Abraham named Israel as the people through which He could reveal His plan of salvation to the world. After Israel rejected Jesus, God raised up a new group of people through which He would actively work in the world. That group is known as the body of Christ or the Church. The Church is still in existence today and still has a special position and purpose in God's plan for the nations.

After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, He appeared several times to His followers. Each time, He presented an urgent challenge to them. That challenge was their responsibility to reach the entire world with the Gospel message. This mission, assigned to believers, by Jesus has become known as the "Great Commission." It’s the greatest assignment ever given man. It is the responsibility to reach every living person with the Gospel. 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:18-20                                                                                                                                      

He also told His followers,

". . . As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."   John 20:21

The Great Commission began with God. Over the years God repeatedly sent His messengers, the prophets, to draw sinful man to Himself. These messengers were often rejected. Finally, God sent His only Son, Jesus to save us from our sin. 

Everything God required of Jesus as a messenger, He also requires of us since we are sent "as" the Father sent Him. So, what was required of Jesus?

Ø He came to the world with a divine mission.         

Ø He left all He had to come.

Ø He was willing to identify with fallen humanity.

Ø He was willing to suffer and die for the mission.

Ø He fulfilled His mission by both declaring, decreeing and demonstrating and

Ø finishing the work God sent Him to do.

Jesus revealed His purpose and the continuation of what He started to us.  Known as the key to the Scriptures. It reveals God's plan for the death and resurrection of Jesus.

It calls for sharing the message of redemption to the nations of the world. 

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witnesses of these things.  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.  Luke 24:45-49

It’s not enough that Jesus died for the sins of men unless there is a revealing of the gospel of the kingdom of God. Lost men aren’t automatically saved. We have to share the Gospel with them and lead them to God. Everyone should know that the penalty; the payment for sin is death. 

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.   (Romans 6:23)

Believe that!  Sin comes with a price.  If I knew that death is what I owe for my indulgence in unrighteousness but knew that there was a different way; I do believe my choice would be a different one.   I believe that we could stand flat-footed and tell the devil, our flesh and the world, no thank you; you keep it, the cost is too high.  I’m good right where I am serving God to the best of my ability!

Because of sin, every man and woman is headed for Hell. Only those who accept Jesus and receive forgiveness for sin can get off the broad path and walk the narrow path that leads to salvation.  The broad path is the way that leads to destruction—nearly everyone chooses that crowded road!  Dare to put your faith in God where, yes, the way is difficult, but it’s the path that leads to eternal life—so few even find it!”

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  Matthew 7:14

God doesn’t want one single person to perish:

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

There is no question as to God's desire for everyone in the world to be saved:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (Romans 10:13)

That gets us back to our purpose as followers of Jesus:

√         How can the “whosoever” call on God for help if they’ve not yet believed?

√         How can they believe in the narrow way if they’ve not yet heard of the redeemer?

√         How can they learn of the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the way to salvation; eternal life if there is no one out there; in the highways and byways or the hedges as the bible calls it if there is none to proclaim it?

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14)

God wants everyone to be saved, but someone must tell them this good news.

To the believers, the followers of Jesus, the command is to "go."   Go where?  The destination is "all the world." Not just to our family, our friends, our places of comfortability, but every place where we see the lost.  The Gospel is to be preached to every creature. Jesus promises to work with those who go by powerful demonstrations of miraculous signs.

Some people seek signs in their ministry when they’re not fulfilling the command to go and then they wonder why they have no power.  Jesus rebuked the disciples for their unbelief and hardness of heart and in His rebuke He told them again:

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  Mark 16:14-16

In other words he was saying, don’t concern yourself with who won’t or don’t believe you; just go do what I said.

Jesus has chosen and ordained us to go and bring forth spiritual fruit. We are the extension of the kingdom.  Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. It is the life-flow of Jesus within us that brings spiritual harvest.  We’ve been chosen of God:

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  John 15:16

Jesus said "all power" was given to Him by God. Because of this, Jesus had authority to commission His followers to circle the globe with the Gospel.  

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.  Matthew 28:16-20  

Note in this passage: 

Personnel are the people Jesus is calling to the task. "Ye" [all believers] are the messengers.

The power of God is the motivation that enables the messenger to go forth. It is the power of the Holy Spirit of God, not the power of man and his methods.

"Go" is the mandate given in this record of the Great Commission. It is to be the priority of our life, not an option.

Teaching and preaching are the methods to be used.

The purpose is to make disciples of all nations. This is the multiplication of the Gospel.

The people to be reached are "all nations." This is the magnitude or scope of the command. It includes the entire world.

The one who is to go with us is Jesus. This is the manager of the program. He will guide and direct us through His Holy Spirit as we fulfill the Great Commission.

The message is to be taught.  The message to take to the world is the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Sermonette