The father of all Evil

The father of all Evil

 

    Revelation 12:9   "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

 

If you recall, it was that old serpent that beguiled Eve to partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Then Eve gave it to Adam and thus sin entered into the world, because God had warned them that they could partake of the fruit of any tree in the Garden of Eden save this one, nor could they even touch it, lest they die. (Genesis 3:1)

 

God has warned us numerous times about the deceit of the devil through His Word.  Let’s look at a few of these verses.

 

John 8:44   "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.”

 

Ephesians 4:27   "Neither give place to the devil.”

 

Ephesians 6:11   "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

 

 1 John 3:8   "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

 

 Revelation 12:12   "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

 

Have you ever wondered why God warned us so many times about the deceit and treachery of the devil?  Everything that God stands for, the devil is for the opposite.  God is love (1 John 4:8), and He has offered mankind salvation through Jesus Christ His Son.  He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9 says, "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.”  Whereas; the Devil is seeking, whom he may devour, to spend eternity with him and his angels in the flames of torment.  

1 Peter 5:8   "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

 

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught many wonderful lessons.  Matthew 5:1-12 reads, "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, His disciples came unto Him:  And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying, blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”  Remember that the devil is against everything that God says and stands for.  Have you ever thought of what his beatitudes might be?  I would like to share with you the POSSIBLE beatitudes of the devil:

 

1.     Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend four hours a week with their fellow Christians – they are my best workers.

2.     Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked – I can use them.

3.     Blessed are the touchy, who stop going to church – they are my missionaries.

4.     Blessed are the troublemakers – they shall be called my children.

5.     Blessed are the complainers – I’m all ears to them.

6.     Blessed are those who are bored with the minister’s mannerisms and mistakes – for they get nothing out of his sermon.

7.     Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church – for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.

8.     Blessed are those who gossip – for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.

9.     Blessed are those who are easily offended - for they will soon get angry and leave.

10.  Blessed are those who do not give an offering to carry on God’s work – for they are my helpers.

11.  Blessed is he who professes to love God, but picks and chooses his brother and sister in Christ – for he shall be with me forever.

12.  Blessed are you who, when you hear this, think it is about other people and not yourself – I’ve got YOU too!

 

You might think, because this list is man-made, that it is a bit far fetched or that some of these things listed are not all that bad, but that’s where the devil fools us!  The devil uses Christians all of the time.  Maybe one Christian disagrees, on some insignificant fact with another Christian, the negative reaction is the devil at work within you.  Maybe one Christian says "I hate the preacher made that statement to you” this is the devil at work trying to stir up trouble.  These over simplified statements can cause a person to lose his or her soul.  That’s why the scriptures so often tell us to beware of the devil.  He is selfish, and makes us hateful, hurtful, hesitant, and a church splitter.

 

Ephesians 6:11  "Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
 
 
Jimmy
Antioch church of Christ
09/26/10