The Devil’s Mission

2002053
Subject: Satan
Introduction

Untruth is of the very essence of the devil's character - Rev. 12:9. Cf. 20:3.

B. The lie is the devil's principal tool or weapon - 2 Cor. 11:3.

Persuading us to accept as true something that is false is the means by which he influences us to go against what we know to be God's will.

Every sin is committed on the basis of some lie that the devil has promoted. Cf. Gen. 3:1-6.
The lie at the root of a given sin may not be obvious -- indeed, it is in the devil's interest to keep us from seeing it easily.
Also, there is usually more than one lie at work in a given situation.

But mark it well: the business of defeating sin comes down to looking for the lie!

I. IN OVERCOMING OUR OWN DIFFICULTIES

A. At times we are perplexed and frustrated and feel it would really help if we knew why we do what we do. Cf. Rom. 7:15,19.

1. Sometimes we struggle to eliminate faults and foibles from our lives, seemingly with little success.

2. Sometimes we feel helpless in the face of temptation.

B. In the midst of these kinds of difficulties, we always need to be looking for the lie that is influencing our behavior, the false premise on which we are acting.

C. We will not go down the path of sin without being misled into doing so - Hb. 3:13. Cf. Eph. 4:22.

D. Jesus met temptation with truth! Cf. Mt. 4:1-11.

E. Truth is a wonderfully liberating force.

F. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:32).

II. IN HELPING WITH THE PROBLEMS OF OTHERS

A. Few things can be any more challenging than trying to help others with difficult personal problems.

B. But just as with our own problems, truth is the key to setting others free from the sins that oppress them.

C. When his Galatian brethren got into trouble spiritually, Paul had no doubt that they had been hindered from obeying the truth - Gal. 5:7.

D. Helping others overcome difficulties amounts to helping them see where they have bought into concepts that are false, uncovering the lies that are the root of the problem, etc.

E. Repentance requires knowing the truth, having come to our senses - 2 Tim. 2:24-26.

III. IN CONVERTING THE LOST

A. Those in sin have always, in one way or another, substituted untruth for truth - Rom. 1:25.

B. Being saved comes down to turning around and obeying the truth - Ac. 26:18. Cf. 1 Pt. 1:22.

C. Hearing the truth, the only person who would not obey it is a person whose mind continues to be blinded by some untruth deeper down - 2 Cor. 4:3,4. Cf. Jn. 3:17-21.

D. No one ever rejected the gospel for a good reason -- whatever keeps anyone from obeying the truth is a lie!

E. In our studies with those who have not yet obeyed the gospel, it will help us continually to be asking ourselves: "What is the untruth that obstructs this person's progress spiritually?"

F. Our job is to discern the lies that keep people from their salvation -- and wisely apply the power of God's truth to the situation.

Conclusion

A. Satan's effort is to "bewitch" us, confuse us, lie to us.

1. "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" (2 Cor. 11:3).

2. "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?" (Gal. 3:1).

B. In the vast majority of cases, the basic lie of the devil is the one which makes the short run look like the only thing to be considered.

1. Satan is a master at presenting to us only a part of the truth, hiding from us the end of the road, the downside of an action, the full consequences, etc.

2. This is the essence of fraud.

a. "Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words" (Col. 2:4).

b. "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (Col. 2:8).

C. But truth is what can set us free. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:32).

D. Whatever the problem in life, we need to be able to seize the ugly untruth that is causing the pain and drag it out into the sunshine of truth where it will wither away.

E. For the sake of ourselves and those around us, is there any better reason to study our Bibles diligently so that we may grow in wisdom and discernment? Cf. Psa. 19:12-14.

F. I N V I T A T I O N



The Devil’s Mission 2002053 Subject: Satan Introduction Untruth is of the very essence of the devil's character - Rev. 12:9. Cf. 20:3. B. The lie is the devil's principal tool or weapon - 2 Cor. 11:3. Persuading us to accept as true something that is false is the means by which he influences us to go against what we know to be God's will. *Every sin is committed on the basis of some lie that the devil has promoted. Cf. Gen. 3:1-6.* The lie at the root of a given sin may not be obvious -- indeed, it is in the devil's interest to keep us from seeing it easily. Also, there is usually more than one lie at work in a given situation. But mark it well: *the business of defeating sin comes down to looking for the lie!* I. IN OVERCOMING OUR OWN DIFFICULTIES A. At times we are perplexed and frustrated and feel it would really help if we knew why we do what we do. Cf. Rom. 7:15,19. 1. Sometimes we struggle to eliminate faults and foibles from our lives, seemingly with little success. 2. Sometimes we feel helpless in the face of temptation. B. In the midst of these kinds of difficulties, we always need to be looking for the lie that is influencing our behavior, the false premise on which we are acting. C. We will not go down the path of sin without being misled into doing so - Hb. 3:13. Cf. Eph. 4:22. D. Jesus met temptation with truth! Cf. Mt. 4:1-11. E. Truth is a wonderfully liberating force. F. *"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:32).* II. IN HELPING WITH THE PROBLEMS OF OTHERS A. Few things can be any more challenging than trying to help others with difficult personal problems. B. But just as with our own problems, truth is the key to setting others free from the sins that oppress them. C. When his Galatian brethren got into trouble spiritually, Paul had no doubt that they had been hindered from obeying the truth - Gal. 5:7. D. Helping others overcome difficulties amounts to helping them see where they have bought into concepts that are false, uncovering the lies that are the root of the problem, etc. E. *Repentance requires knowing the truth, having come to our senses - 2 Tim. 2:24-26.* III. IN CONVERTING THE LOST A. Those in sin have always, in one way or another, substituted untruth for truth - Rom. 1:25. B. Being saved comes down to turning around and obeying the truth - Ac. 26:18. Cf. 1 Pt. 1:22. C. Hearing the truth, the only person who would not obey it is a person whose mind continues to be blinded by some untruth deeper down - 2 Cor. 4:3,4. Cf. Jn. 3:17-21. D. *No one ever rejected the gospel for a good reason -- whatever keeps anyone from obeying the truth is a lie!* E. In our studies with those who have not yet obeyed the gospel, it will help us continually to be asking ourselves: "What is the untruth that obstructs this person's progress spiritually?" F. Our job is to discern the lies that keep people from their salvation -- and wisely apply the power of God's truth to the situation. Conclusion A. Satan's effort is to "bewitch" us, confuse us, lie to us. 1. "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" (2 Cor. 11:3). 2. "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?" (Gal. 3:1). B. In the vast majority of cases, the basic lie of the devil is the one which makes the short run look like the only thing to be considered. 1. Satan is a master at presenting to us only a part of the truth, hiding from us the end of the road, the downside of an action, the full consequences, etc. 2. This is the essence of fraud. a. "Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words" (Col. 2:4). b. "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (Col. 2:8). C. But truth is what can set us free. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:32). D. Whatever the problem in life, we need to be able to seize the ugly untruth that is causing the pain and drag it out into the sunshine of truth where it will wither away. E. For the sake of ourselves and those around us, is there any better reason to study our Bibles diligently so that we may grow in wisdom and discernment? Cf. Psa. 19:12-14. F. I N V I T A T I O N