The Devil Wants You!
Our message this Sunday morning is about the devil. When I say that; what image comes into your mind? Do you think of the devil as a little guy with a toothy smile, with two little horns and a pitchfork to match his red pointed tail?
Actually, the devil wants you to picture him like that. He want you to think of him as a cartoon character who presents no threat or danger to you or your family. He wants you to consider him to be a fum loving being with no harmful intentions toward you and your family. After all, adverse to what Flip Wilson said, the devil cannot make you do anything. (If you're under 45 years of age, you may want to google "Flip Wilson").
Some people think the devil would be the ultimate grotesque, twisted wretch, with bad breath and scales. But lets see what the Bible says about his looks. From the book of Ezekiel we read,
"You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.[a] Your settings and mountings[b] were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you."
A guardian CHERUB?! Isn't that the innocent little angels you see in statues and pictures? Yes, that is exactly how Satan wants you to think of him today. And actually, that is what he once was. But them he sinned!
No, Satan is not grotesque to look at. In fact, he is the picture of beauty and everything on the earth that tempts you today.
One final thought....If Satan was created a cherub, then fell from grace, "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Jesus' words); how must the Lord feel when we sin. It must wound Him all over again. Consider the nearly perfect deception of Satan, when next you are tempted to sin.
1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." [endif]