The Great Deceiver
Notes
Transcript
Intro; In the south we take pride in our heritage, our faith, our way of life, football and sweet tea. We are a strong people who use logic and common sense and we are not gullible or easily fooled to be taken advantage of by others. And above all, as Christians in the bible belt, we are so deeply rooted in our faith that we would not be swayed by false teachers that we would sin against God! Yea, right. So Adam and Eve living in Paradise with God really didn’t have a chance, either. Folks, satan sees us as easy pickins’ if we are prepared for him.
This morning I want us to look at satan as “The Great Deceiver”
Text; Gen. 3:1-7
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
Prayer
Deceive- to cleverly mislead someone into believing something different than what they already know and trust
1. Satan target’s the Mind; 1
1. Satan target’s the Mind; 1
When satan wanted to see God’s family fall into sin, he attacked the mind of Eve.
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Why would satan attack our mind?
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
Our mind is the epicenter of our life. It can look into the past through memory or it can reach into the future through imagination. And both will effect what the mind contemplates the present. Our thinking affects our feelings and our feelings often influence our will to do things. Satan knows the power of the mind and that is why he tries to capture it for himself.
2. Satan’s Lies; 1, 4-5
2. Satan’s Lies; 1, 4-5
To lie is to make a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive. Satan is great at doing this for Jesus rightly says “for he is a liar and the father of lies” [John 8:44].
Satan lies to Eve by questioning God’s Word [3:1] … “Has God indeed said?”
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;
Satan then lies by denying God’s Word [3:4] … “You will not surely die.”
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Satan lies by substituting God’s Word with his own desire [3:5] … “You will be like God.”
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
3. Satan’s Purpose; 6-7
3. Satan’s Purpose; 6-7
Satan’s main purpose in deception is to make one ignorant of God’s Word by distorting the truth and manipulating our decisions.
When satan approached Eve, he didn’t attack her, he attacked God’s Word. [Has God indeed said, you will not surely die, you will be like God]
Satan attacks God’s Word because God’s Word reveals God’s will!
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
If satan can make one ignorant of God’s Word then he can rob one of God’s blessings!
[v.2] Eve took away from God’s word; she omitted “freely” like God was holding out on her
[v.3a] Eve added to God’s word; she added ‘touch it”, making God’s word more harsh than God intended
[v.3b] Eve changed God’s word; God did not say “lest you die” [perhaps/maybe]. He said “You will surely die.”
When christians are ignorant of God’s word we are easily deceived! When we are deceived we suffer the consequences of our sin!
4. Our Defense;
4. Our Defense;
Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Inspiration/inspire- to draw air into the lungs, give life; the word of God is the very breath of God and life to the believer!
Our defense against satan is not to just paraphrase what God’s word might say, it is being confident in what God’s word actually says!
Jesus did not defeat satan during the wilderness temptation by supernatural powers or the working of miracles. He defeated satan through the inspired Word of God!
We must study the Word of God
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We must memorize the Word of God
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
We need to meditate on the Word of God
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
We must use the Word of God
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Close; Take a quick inventory of our faith
Do I take time daily to read, study, meditate and memorize God’s Word?
Do I believe what I read in the Bible and take it as absolute truth, or do I wonder to myself, “Has God really said that?”
Do I automatically think “Bible” when I am tempted or face some tough decisions, or do I try to handle things myself?
Do I find myself better able to detect satan’s lies at this point in my life or am I still vulnerable to his attacks?
Is the Word of God becoming sweeter to the taste and more wonderful in it’s ways?
128 Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.
