Welcome to the
Crestview Church of Christ
Marshall, Texas



The Devil's Doorways

God CANNOT tempt us to do evil.  
If Satan can only tempt us and, as he offers the temptation,  God is providing a way of escape, why does the Devil take us down so easily?
 If God promises to supply all of our needs, why do we fall for the Devil’s lies constantly?
 If God warns us what to be careful of, why does the Devil fool us so quickly?

 AND what did Jesus have that kept Him from giving in to temptation?  
He WAS tempted! Heb. 2: 17 Therefore, (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.    18  For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Jesus’ temptations were as found in Luke 4:
    1. IF you are the Son of God, command these stones become bread.    
    2. IF you worship me, I will give you all the kingdoms of the world.
    3. IF you are the Son of God, throw yourself from the temple.
WHAT is the power that these three temptations have that explains how Satan gets us to open the door and let him in?  
WHAT is it inside each of us that unlocks & opens the Devil’s Doorways?
IT BEGINS in the word “IF”.   If = uncertain possibility (Apply to the three temptations above)
WHERE in any of God’s Word does there exist an uncertain possibility?
    1. Just ONE church?    what makes us think that many faiths will be saved?
    2. Just ONE baptism?   what makes us think that any baptism is perfectly fine?
    3. Will I be saved?        what makes us question what God has declared as Truth? The Devil has three Doors that allow him into our lives.  He tried each door in the three temptations of Jesus in the wilderness.  Each of us have these exact same three doorways that let the devil in to tear us down.  Let’s look at the three Doorways, how they work, & how Jesus kept them shut against the devil’s temptations.

     1. IF you are the Son of God, command these stones become bread.  WHY NOT? Gen. 25: 29  When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; 30  and Esau said to Jacob, "Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished." Therefore his name was called Edom. 31  But Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright."32  Esau said, "Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?"
Heb. 12 calls Esau an immoral & godless man who was rejected by God.  WHY?
    He thought God's Word was subject to random chance & circumstance!
 Why did Abraham go to Hagar’s tent?  
    He thought God's Word was subject to random chance & circumstance!
Why did Moses refuse God’s first offer to deliver?
    He thought God's Word was subject to random chance & circumstance!
Why did Elijah run away and hide in a cave?  
    He thought God's Word was subject to random chance & circumstance!
Why did Peter stand condemned by Paul?
    Get the pattern?  God's Word does not bow to chance & circumstance!    
ALL of these people opened the door of the devil because of PRESSURE
What if I starve & die?  
What if I have no son?  
What if the children of Israel reject me?
What if Jezebel succeeds in killing me?  
What if the Jews reject me because of the Gentiles?
The Devil knows that the FIRST thing to do is apply PRESSURE in a “what if” situation! What if my friends laugh?  What if my parents get angry?  What if I lose my job?  What if I lose my possessions?  What if I look foolish?  What if I don’t get what I want?  What if I fail?
Satan was aski