what sounds are made when the devil appears to grant our deepest desire
Rev. DON GRANT
Whether we similar it or not, every Christian must come to terms with the fact that there is a existent enemy. Known by many names, including Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, and the devil, he makes it articulate from his first encounter with mankind in Genesis 3 that he has nada but malicious intent for God'south creation.
So much and then that Jesus says this regarding his graphic symbol in John 8:44, "He was a murderer from the showtime, and has zero to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the male parent of lies."
In other words, there is no truth, no adept, no love, and no promise that tin can come from the devil. When we permit the words of the enemy to have power in our lives, we come into agreement with things that direct oppose God's Discussion. His desire is to "impale, steal, and destroy" anything that brings God glory, including bringing destruction to mankind themselves.
To Brand You Uncertainty
God'southward Give-and-take
Satan shows his greatest play tricks during the first encounter with mankind in Genesis 3, "Now the snake was more crafty than any other creature of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, "You[a] shall not swallow of any tree in the garden"?' The woman said to the ophidian, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, only God did say, 'You must not swallow fruit from the tree that is in the heart of the garden, and you must non touch it, or you lot will die.'" "You volition not certainly die," the snake said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from information technology your eyes will exist opened, and y'all will exist like God, knowing practiced and evil."
Yep! Satan has been convincing people to incertitude God's Give-and-take since the beginning of time. To this mean solar day, the enemy has convinced people to incertitude the inerrancy of the Bible and even the promises that are listed in His Discussion. Many have become skeptics and spend more time trying to prove God wrong than accepting God's dearest for them. By doubting even one word of what God has spoken, nosotros starting time to second guess all other things that accept been said and that will be said. Only like faith tin motility mountains, one seed of doubt can spread like an infection beyond entire families, causing many to stumble, just like nosotros see in the Garden of Eden. Above all else, nosotros must remember that God does non lie.
Numbers 23:nineteen tells usa that, "God is non human, that he should lie, non a man being, that he should alter his mind. Does he speak and and so not human action? Does he hope and non fulfill?"
To Paralyze You lot With Fear
Fearfulness is another tactic of the enemy. If our lives have become riddled with fear, we will notice that we are consumed with the "what ifs." Life becomes focused on what we tin and cannot control versus putting consummate organized religion in God. Fright volition keep usa from taking a step of faith into a new career, praying for a friend who may pass up us, and fifty-fifty beingness able to residuum. God does not give u.s.a. fright. Instead, His Word brings peace, wisdom, love, and a sound mind.
Just like it says in one John 14:18, "At that place is no fearfulness in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to exercise with penalization, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."
To Silence You
From Sharing the Gospel
A Christian who hoards the gospel to themselves is an ineffective Christian. I of our main roles every bit a follower of Christ is to encourage others to be followers of Christ. In fact, Matthew 28:19, would deem it to be our greatest mission. However, one fob of the enemy is to silence Christians. We see this in modern social media every bit many Christians experience nervous to share God's Word for fright of being nigh attacked.
Although we cannot give the enemy 100% credit for this nosotros can see how many Christians prefer to worship quietly to not crusade anyone to exist offended in a world that is offended past everything. Yet, followers of Christ should take every moment they tin to share the Gospel. When we shrink dorsum from doing then, the enemy wins! If nosotros aren't existence an influencer for Christ, the enemy will certainly notice opportunities to influence those effectually the states. Let united states no longer be aback to share the gospel, by any means necessary.
Romans 1:16 reminds us, "For I am not aback of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes — the Jew first and as well the Gentile."
To Cause You
To Live In Shame
Reminding you of your past indiscretions and sin or current insecurities is another scheme of the enemy. In fact, if the enemy can convince you that your past has disqualified you from receiving God'south love or grace, you will never come to have the Word of God fully. In this manner, you will remain defeated and frustrated, only accepting some of God's Give-and-take. Shame keeps our eyes focused on ourselves, reminding us over and over of what we did wrong or how we don't measure up.
Truthfully, the enemy has no issue reminding you of these things and making you feel like you lot aren't worthy to worship God, do things that He has called you lot to practise, or to receive His promises. Even more and then, this shame will keep you from praying to God and even sharing the gospel with others. If the enemy can keep you in self-pity, yous will never walk in God's peace. Think, nosotros are not a sum of our past behaviors. Instead, when we make a choice to turn away from sinful desires and walk towards God'south honey, He will show us how to live a life that is rewarding and where nosotros can be gratuitous from condemnation.
1 John 1:9 encourages us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and but to forgive united states our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Romans eight:1 and so reminds united states of america, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk non after the flesh, but later the Spirit."
For Y'all To Worship An Idol
An idol can be annihilation that we place earlier the Lord. In the Quondam Testament, this was clear to run across every bit they worshipped literal objects. Although nearly Christians don't have a golden calf or statue of Jesus that they praise, there are withal many idols that have taken their place in our hearts.
From worshipping our favorite celebrity, to spending hours on social media, to living a life that is extremely focused on cocky, we can make annihilation an idol. This trick of the enemy is much cleverer equally it may not be realized right away. In fact, we can spend years worshipping things that seem good on the exterior only suddenly go an obsession to where "it" becomes our chief focus in life. Thus, what started every bit a positive thing such as going to the gym daily, going on vacations, making money, or finding a spouse, can become our principal source of hope and happiness instead of God.
Shortly, we can start to look to those things more than nosotros wait to God. This can be dangerous, as when these things fade, we are left with a sense of hopelessness. Although God wants u.s. to accept practiced things, we can never worship them more than the ane who gives them to the states. Nosotros must be willing to lay down whatever the Lord leads united states to, if information technology is continuing in the way of a life that is submitted to the Lord.
Exodus xx:three-vi explains it similar this, "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved paradigm, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Y'all shall non bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the tertiary and the fourth generation of those who hate me, simply showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments."
For You To Be Deceived
It has never been more important for Christians to stand on the Word of God. In today's civilization, we meet so many accommodating the Word to fit their lifestyle instead of all-around their lifestyle to match the Word.
This form of trickery/deception is Satan'due south attempt to make Christians pick and choose which aspects of the Bible make them experience adept.
Instead of seeking a life that follows the Holy Spirit, nosotros look to our ain mankind and concept of morality to detect truth. In many ways, we become like Eve wanting to simply accept portions of God'due south Word merely preferring our volition over His. The truth is, if the enemy tin proceed Christians lukewarm and hypocritical in their religion, he tin cause many to not want to follow the Lord.
Nosotros must call back that Satan will do annihilation to crusade defoliation. We must know that annihilation nosotros believe that contradicts the Give-and-take of God is simply another ploy of the enemy. Let usa not give the enemy any more power over our minds and action and walk fully in God'southward Give-and-take.
2 Timothy 4:iii-4 sounds this warning, "For the fourth dimension is coming when people will not endure audio teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will plough away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
Follow what God has for you and tell Satan, the enemy, to take a hike.
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week'due south column comes from Rev. Don Grant of Hillview Wesleyan Church building, Flemington.
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Source: https://www.lockhaven.com/news/religion/2021/06/finding-faith-six-things-satan-wants-more-than-anything-else/
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