Countless descriptions have been said about the devil and there is no place in the bible where he ever admits to any. Are those a correct description of who he is? Has he lived up to those names?
He has received names like The dreaded beast, the Hell Master, Red-tailed dragon, Serpent, Satan, and so on. On the contrary, JESUS also received different names and he lived up to those. He has received such names as Light, Vine, Bread, Shepherd, Way, Truth, Resurrection, Life, etc.
Is the Devil
- The obvious Black when God is white?
A testimony is told about how the Devil his angels and fallen human beings were formulating ways to distract the children of God during worship.” Let’s make them sleep during service, one suggested”. “Let there be whispering and noise during service, followed another”. “Let’s absorb their minds, another said”. As the suggestions kept coming forward it is said that one of the demons stood up and asked a question, ‘’What about the hypocrites, what should we do about them” to which the Devil responded, “leave them alone, for they are like me, I am a Hypocrite”. Sounds rehearsed right but notice the following:
Which group of people did Jesus Christ have complications with? And what did he say about them?
Were they Christians?
Not!
John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine
Were they Gentiles?
Not!
John 8:48
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
In this case, Jesus is being referred to as a Samaritan who was one of the gentile nations at the time. To call Jesus a Samaritan was to call him a gentile and it is quite clear in this passage that Jesus did not have problems with gentiles.
Were they prostitutes?
Not!
Matt 21:31
31… Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Were they sinners?
Not!
Luke 19:7
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Who were they?
But Jesus had difficulty with the scribes, Sanhedrin, Pharisees and some of the priests, and some Jews in general. Several times Jesus calls them Hypocrites! Read the whole passage (Mat 23v 1-39)
Matt 23:1-3
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
What else did he call them?
Not only hypocrites but
- Pretenders v14
- Child of hell v15
- Blind guides v16
- Fools v17
- Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers v33
- Whited sepulchers, v27
- Therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. v14
- Extortionist v25
- Unclean v27
- Murderers v35
Why did Jesus descend on them so much?
Never in the bible was Jesus so direct… so pointed… and so personal. To understand why Jesus made these remarks you and I need to know the meaning of a hypocrite.
What is a hypocrite?
Mat 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Remember when we first started and we were discussing the devil and his mission. We had the devil declare himself a hypocrite and order that such be left untouched. Why you may ask? This is because like the Pharisees, they help accomplish the devil’s mission which is to prevent the people of God from entering the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore being the devil or a devil is not necessarily being an opposition party. Even proclaimed men of God are pure devils.
Rev 3:15-18
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Have you ever had of a person who is said to be sitting on a fence? You cannot tell which side they are on. They are undecided. How confusing are they to those who want to make a genuine decision? That’s exactly how the devil works and what it means to be a hypocrite. The devil does not reveal himself in the obvious ways that we recognize him to be. If he did so he would not achieve many results.
2 Cor 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Is it true that people sin because of Satan?
The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ, before Satan can exercise his power upon us. But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold.
(Desire of Ages by E.G. White page 666)
Fact
There is a difference between Satan and being Satan. That is why the Devil said of the hypocrites “let those alone for they are like me for I am a hypocrite”? In real life, they were church leaders and had families and so on but through their actions they were satanic. How are your actions not satanic? If God would examine your life today will not be your actions found to be deceptive. People will tell you God hates a true sinner but there is more hope for a sinner than there is for a hypocrite. Why? A sinner is simply lost and can be saved through repentance. A hypocrite on the other hand professes a godly life whilst at the same time denying its power. To such people, there is no remedy no wonder God says “So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
There is hope for the lost
1 Tim 1:15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
To escape eternal damnation we need to forsake our ways and seek the Lord whilst he may still be found.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
One question was asked on a popular family TV Show “Family Feud” and it read “in which place do you find the most sinners?” To my surprise the most correct answer was Church. On one side I thought definitely yes because that is where people get saved and restored. On the other, I said yes because the devil knows that if he keeps Christians in a state of Lukewarmness then he will have a large number of lost souls to his side both the sinners and professed Christians. Many of us be thinking that we are on God’s side whilst alas we are not even close. The Bible has declared “not everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” and that is a bonus to the devil. He knows that with many who have already wandered away from the truth he still has an additional group of Christians. How can you and I make sure that our ways are right before God?
Choose today?
Choose today?
Mat 6:24
• No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other…
God bless you as you choose him as your master forever. See you in the next lesson.
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