Internal Corruption (2)
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Turn to and read Genesis 3:1. Pray.
Notice these words in Genesis 3:1:
“…And he [Satan] said unto the woman...”
I don’t think we fully realize the gravity of this. Here we have a situation where Satan, a spiritual being, taking possession of a physical being - a serpent, and then physically speaking with Eve.
The spiritual world is more real than the physical world you see.
The spiritual world is more real than the physical world you see.
You have heard me make this statement before. However, it bears repeating in this context.
Turn to and read 2 Kings 6:14-17.
I believe there are at least two reasons why I can confidently say that the spiritual world is more real than the physical world you see.
The physical world was made from that which could not be seen.
The physical world was made from that which could not be seen.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
The physical world had a beginning and it will have an end.
The physical world had a beginning and it will have an end.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look upon the earth beneath: For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, And the earth shall wax old like a garment, And they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: But my salvation shall be for ever, And my righteousness shall not be abolished.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Your spiritual enemy uses devices of the physical world to carry his messages into your spiritual being
Your spiritual enemy uses devices of the physical world to carry his messages into your spiritual being
I believe that we have already seen this from Genesis 3:1. However, let’s allow this truth to really sink in.
Turn to and read Luke 4:33-36.
Vs. 33 - “…there was a man...” - the physical
Vs. 33 - “…a spirit of an unclean devil...” - the spiritual
Vs. 33 - “…and cried out with a loud voice,” - The spiritual, through the use of the physical, spoke. The message of this spiritual being is recorded for us in vs. 34.
Pastor Campbell, what’s your point? Your spiritual enemy uses devices of the physical world to carry his messages into your spiritual being.
What are these “devices of the physical world?” Just as in this passage of Scripture, I believe that you will find that the “devices of the physical world” which are most often used by our spiritual enemy are human beings.
Now, before you get all “spooked out,” I want you to understand that this is not something to fear. It is something to be aware of...
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Next...Turn to and read 1 John 4:1-6. I want to draw your attention to several truths from this passage of Scripture:
There are two kinds of spirits that speak in our world - the Spirit of God and the spirits not of God.
There are two kinds of spirits that speak in our world - the Spirit of God and the spirits not of God.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
This verifies the spiritual battle, the lies and deceptions that we are going to be hounded with so long as we live on this planet.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
Think about this. These spirits of the world actually speak and the world hears them! These spiritual entities, enemies of the cross, actually have voices that can be heard in the physical realm - voices that are pleasant enough to be listened to.
Obviously, the destructive power of these voices is masked by something much more attractive - bait that the world wants. Yet, they speak - clearly and physically. And the world hears them! Think about that. The world listens to, absorbs, physically understands and accepts these voices!
But...
We are “of God” and should give our ears to a different voice.
We are “of God” and should give our ears to a different voice.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
It would be good at this point to ask the question: “Are you ‘of God?’” Have you been made a part of the family of God by faith in His only Son, Jesus Christ?
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Have you received Jesus Christ? If not, that is the most crucial part in this spiritual battle.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Now, back to the point that we were making...
We are “of God” and should give our ears to a different voice.
We are “of God” and should give our ears to a different voice.
In 1 John 4:4, God is emphatically stating that there are some spirits that we should have nothing to do with, because we are of another Spirit - We are “of God!”
We need to remember, we’re not talking about “Casper, the Friendly Ghost” here. We’re talking about bait, hooks, battle, deception, lies, and spiritual butchery! These ungodly spirits intend to lead you astray, lie to you, and destroy you!
God is greater than the other spirits.
God is greater than the other spirits.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
With this admonition, we need to recognize the significance of this heart level corruption which we spoke of last week, together with the truths that we have encountered this morning. Then, we must...
Protect your heart from internal corruption by giving your ears to the right voices.
Protect your heart from internal corruption by giving your ears to the right voices.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
Satan wants your heart first, because it is the wellspring of your life.
Satan wants your heart first, because it is the wellspring of your life.
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
“Out of the heart proceed...”
Whoever, or whatever, controls your heart will control your life. It is a Biblical principle that none of us can escape.
Parents and teens are both susceptible to the voices and corruption of the world.
Parents and teens are both susceptible to the voices and corruption of the world.
Satan is no respecter of persons. He doesn’t care if your young or old; rich or poor; educated or un-educated; blue collar or white collar; working or retired. This message is for each on of us. We must all understand that Satan wants to destroy each one of us from the inside out. We must therefore be diligent to guard our hearts.
Turn to and read Proverbs 4:20-27.
This morning, let’s once again listen to the prayer the King David offered...
Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.