What Jesus said about ... (series)

 

What Jesus said about ... the devil.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

Let us make one thing clear. The devil exists all right. He is not a euphemism for "evil". He exists and is a malevolent spirit. We cannot possibly believe in God and not believe in the devil. But he is cunning in camouflaging his existence from a sophisticated modern world which does not know what to believe any more. Satan and his demons are roaming free throughout the world causing trouble everywhere they go; but, (this is important), they do so within strict limitations by God.

The devil tried to tempt Jesus, (Matthew 4:1-11), so we should not be much of a challenge to him. Jesus cast out Satan from many people who were possessed by the devil and his followers. Jesus was accused of having the power of the devil in casting out demons.

In Matthew 12:22 we read as follows: 

“A blind and mute man possessed by a demon was brought to Jesus and He healed him, He drove the demon out of him.

“When the Pharisees saw this, they said, ‘Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.’ In other words, they accused Jesus of being one of Satan’s demons.

“Jesus replied that a kingdom divided against itself would fall, and every city or house divided against itself would also fall, so how could it be possible that Satan would drive out demons out of a man? Surely his kingdom would also fall.

“Then Jesus adds, ‘If I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive out demons?”

And on another occasion, when seventy-two of Christ's disciples reported "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven." Luke 10:18.

In referencing Satan’s fall from Heaven, Jesus was quoting Isaiah 14:12, “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!” 

The fall of Satan that Jesus saw happened after Lucifer’s sin, before Adam and Eve’s temptation in the Garden of Eden. In his pride, Lucifer had lifted himself up, but God had cast him down out of his original place in heaven. Jesus’ statement in Luke 10:18 speaks of Jesus’ pre-existence and the Lord’s defeat over the power of Satan in a general sense. 

In summary:

The devil, (Satan), exists. He is a spirit who is intent in derailing us away from God through temptations and lies. He knows our weaknesses and plays with our minds when we least expect it. His greatest trick is to lead us to believe that he does not exist, He is a liar. The best way to stand up to him is through prayers.

"Get behind me, Satan!" Matthew 16:23

AMAZON LINK HERE

How is Satan in your life?

 

I would like to thank Mevely for her last post and for linking to her Pastor's recent sermon. Visit here and follow the link to the sermon.

It is the best sermon I have heard for a long time. I wish that Pastor was in our churches over here teaching this message.

Over the years, we have been accustomed to easy-going nice-sounding sermons which make us feel good and cuddly. I don't mean just my church, but all churches in all denominations. The strategy is to be nice to the congregation so they don't leave church altogether.

This is false teaching. Church is not a theatre or cinema for people to attend as an audience and see the priest or pastor perform. Church is a hospital for sick souls. 

The sermon we hear in church is not meant to make us feel happy and comfortable. It is meant to make us change. To make us be more like Jesus.

The wonderful Pastor at Mevely's church said that the Holy Spirit actually exists. He is a living Person. The third Person of the Holy Trinity. 

Many people, including Christians, don't understand this fact and are woolly in what they believe. In our church we recite the CREDO every Sunday but I wonder how many truly understand it.

The Pastor also said that the devil actually exists. He is a living spirit intent on taking us astray from God. He is not a euphemism for evil. I wish that kind of sermon was preached in our churches over here.

I truly believe that we are living in the "Me ... Me ... Me ..." generation where we legitimise and we celebrate ignorance and we have no knowledge or fear of God.

Often on TV quiz shows contestants are asked the most basic of Christian questions; like name one of the apostles, and they fail completely. Celebrities too, often proclaim that they don't believe in God as if it was something to be admired and emulated.

Christianity is not generally taught at school or in the family and we have a generation which will grow up unable to teach their children either. We are making the devil's job easier for him by our ignorance and stupidity.

No wonder the world has lost its moral compass and does not even know where to find it.

Which is why we need more straightforward sermons, like the one by Mevely's Pastor, explaining the facts of eternal life. Meanwhile, I fear many are sleep-walking their way into hell.

Blessed by the Devil

 

This is likely to be controversial. I'd appreciate your views.

Can you be blessed by the Devil?

When I say "God bless" to anyone of you I am asking God to look after you, to take care of you, and to gift you and your family good things. I am praying to God on your behalf. And I believe God listens and responds in His time and in His way. The same applies when you pray for me your much needed and appreciated prayers.

But if God blesses people; does the Devil also blesses people?

We often see people who do not believe in God, who perhaps deny Him publicly, and encourage others to do the same by what they say and do. They are role models to a secular society. They may be successful in business, or are famous politicians, celebrities, singers, comedians, sportsmen or whatever; some may well be dishonest in their dealings with others and in their behaviour; yet these people are doing well in life. Certainly better than you and me.

We ask ourselves, perhaps enviously, (beware the sin of envy), "why are such bad people so successful and I am not?" We say, "I'm a good Christian", (beware the sin of pride), I go to church regularly, I give to charity ... blah ... blah ... blah ... yet I am not as successful as them." (Beware the sin of coveting your neighbour).

So the question applies: Does the Devil bless people? Give them good things in life to keep them on-side. In his camp. Amongst his followers. His job is to recruit as many as possible, so can he do so by giving them goodies in this life in preparation of the next?

The answer is, in my view, probably yes.

The Devil blessed Jesus. Or attempted to.

"Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness. 'All this I will give you,' the Devil said, 'if you kneel down and worship me.'

Then Jesus answered, 'Go away, Satan! The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’ " Matthew 4:8-10

So you see. The Devil tempted Jesus with goodies. Do this and I'll give you all that. 

And if he tempted Jesus, we should not be much of a challenge to him.

No Chocolate Eggs And Bunnies

 

Matthew 16:21-23

From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

As often happened, Peter was the one to speak first. He takes Jesus aside and tries to stop Him from saying that He would be killed. Jesus says the memorable phrase, "Get behind Me, Satan".

As we approach Holy Week, let us consider for a moment this passage from Matthew's Gospel and what it means for us.

Jesus is not accusing Peter of being Satan. He is pointing out that the way Peter is thinking is the way that humans think, no doubt, often, influenced by Satan. This is very significant for us.

There is no possible way that we can think like God; because we are not God, we are not Jesus. We cannot love like God, or forgive like God. The sin of Adam and Eve was not that they ate a forbidden fruit; it was that they wanted to be like God. They were influenced by Satan in their thinking.

So was Peter influenced by Satan at this moment in time when Jesus told His disciples what must have seemed as terrible horrific news. He was going to be killed. Their leader and master for so long, the one they had put their faith and trust in, was going to be killed. They could not see beyond, Christ's death, they could not see the Resurrection and what it meant, because they were thinking like humans. 

And so are we, sometimes, often, influenced by Satan in the way we think, act and do. He is clever that way. He knows us well and knows how to tempt us and influence us to his way of thinking. After all, Satan tempted Jesus, so we should not be much of a challenge to him.  

He seeks out a weakness in our character and plays on that. It may be a temptation for something or other, a fear of something or someone, a hesitation and a doubting in our faith, and Satan uses this as a way to lead us astray.

Unlike in the times of Jesus, the devil no longer needs to possess people as we read in the Bible. Although he can do so and he does.

These days he is much more subtle. If he were to possess people it would frighten the **** out of us and we'd all go running to Jesus' arms for protection. Somewhat self-defeating a strategy for Satan to use. So he tempts us instead. He makes us think like humans. And uses our own broken fallen character as a weapon against us.

That's what Jesus meant when He called Peter "Satan".

He did not accuse him of being the devil, but that he was thinking like a human and as such he was susceptible to the devil's influence.

" ... but deliver us from the Evil One." (Matthew 6:9-13)

Sunday Sermon

Have you noticed how Sunday sermons these days are full of niceties and platitudes and sentiments that everyone would generally agree with. At least round where I am, the sermons are always like that.

The priests talk about a loving and forgiving God, full of kindness and mercy, and the fact that He loves us all and welcomes us to Heaven.

Of course, all this is true, and is indeed Biblical. We read that "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Jesus did indeed come to this earth to reach out to humanity. He came so that we may see Him, hear and listen to Him, and witness His love for us. He died so that we may be redeemed once more.

It is of course right that sermons should proclaim this message. That God loves and welcomes us all into His Kingdom.

But this is only half of the reality that is God. Priests do God no favours by preaching half of the truth for fear of "frightening the horses". 

There are many people who turn down God's invitation to love and to join Him in His Kingdom. People who constantly, and willingly, defy God. People who stand up against Him, daring not to believe in His existence, (which is indeed a privilege afforded them by God), and also proclaiming their defiance and belief for others to emulate and to follow. 

Whilst God is ever loving, merciful and forgiving, He is also just.

Surely the time will come that these people who willingly and intentionally oppose God will be judged and found wanting.

The ever merciful God will say to them, "OK ... you've made your decision, let your will be done!"

And they will have excluded themselves from God's love and from His Kingdom.

But you don't hear this message from the pulpit on Sunday, do you? At least I don't in the churches I attend.

I can't remember when a priest last talked about hell, about Satan, about the results and effects of our disobedience and turning our backs on God. 

The Church needs the people. They are the clients and customers of this big business called Religion. No successful business turns its customers away.

The Church will not talk about the devil and hell in case customers stop going to church altogether. Already regular church attendances are at an all time low. About 5% of the population in the UK according to latest statistics.  

Besides, if you were to ask people if they believe in hell, or the devil, or the final judgement by God, I would guess the numbers would be just as low. Although most would also claim and believe they'll go to Heaven, whatever they perceive it to be.

Surely, the Church, and its priests, bear a responsibility for the current state of affairs. Their job, which they took on freely and willingly, is to shepherd the herds of sheep back into the arms of a loving God who welcomes all to His eternal Kingdom.

I believe when a priest gets to meet God face to face, he will be asked, "How many of the people I put in your care did you lead into Heaven?"

Meanwhile, I fear many of us are sleep-walking our way into hell. Willingly so.