.  Living Hope Fellowship Church....Sermons by the Pastor 

LITERAL DEVIL

by Pastor Kevin Badgley, 05/26/01

            1 John 3:8 says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”     

            Wherever there is sin, there is a devil present controlling the situation, because whosoever committeth sin is of the devil!  If there is strife, unbelief, fear, hatred, lust, or bondage in any form, the devil is present.  People think of the devil as a non-personal, non-entity, abstract thing, but he is a personality.  All sin, all madness, all sickness, all bondage, all lust that you would like to get rid of and can’t, is of the devil. 

            There is more than one devil.  A third of heaven’s angels fell with the Devil (Lucifer, Satan) out of heaven, and they are at his disposal.  Rarely does the individual deal with the Devil himself.  Different entities in the devil’s league have different amounts of power.  Some devils are easier to resist and defeat, and some are more difficult. 

            1 John 4:4 says, “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.”  However, if we quench the Spirit of the Lord or disobey the Word of God, it does not apply!      

            Some churches have gone more to psychology that tries to teach people how to behave.   However, when a devil is present, they can’t behave.  The cart is before the horse.  You’ve got to cast out the devil!  Jesus said to cast out the unclean spirit.   You can’t destroy the work of the devil without getting rid of the devil!  If you are free, then you can behave.  It is no accident that liberal thinking does away with personal discipline.  Discipline requires us to face up to the fact that we’ve sinned.

            Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. . . .”  The devil deceives, blinds, and seduces souls away from the things of God!  1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

            Jesus came to destroy that power, and when we are filled with the Holy Ghost, we have power over all the power of the enemy.  (See Luke 10:19.)  Most of God’s people today are not fasting and praying; hence, there is confusion.      

            The Word of God indicates that the devil operates in all age groups, ethnic groups, intellectual groups, and wealthy or poor people.

            If you can’t quit something, you are dealing with a devil.  Whatever it takes, get the devil out of your house, out of your family, and off of your street!  If you don’t have victory in your finances, get the devil out.  It is a spirit of poverty, and it is not of God. 

            The devil being present can motivate or control your thoughts and activity.  Any thought that is against faith in God, or against a sound mind, or holiness - is of the devil. 

            The devil will rarely bring you something you don’t like.  James 1:14 says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”  If you have a propensity for something, that is what the devil will capitalize on.

            The devil can make a perverted thing look absolutely right to you.  He can even put a “God” label on it.  In Matthew 7:21 Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”      

            Luke 11:21-22 says, “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:  But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.” 

            Some people try to serve God without even being born again!  They are trying to make it in by some other way than Jesus, and that makes them the same as a thief and a robber.  (See John 10:1.) 

            Luke 11:24-26 says, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. . . .” 

            Here we see where a devil comes, and goes, and makes plans, and has cooperation with other devils to overtake an individual.  There is conscious thought on the part of the devil.  He walks, talks, thinks, and schemes.  He can speak in the spirit realm or use the tongue of human beings. 

            People think when they get saved that the devil won’t bother them any more, but Luke 11:24 tells us that the devil returned.  Receive the Holy Ghost so he cannot reenter.  Use the Word of God against the devil. 

            When you press on toward God, things sometimes get a little difficult!  The devil will back off if you will make a deal - to make you lukewarm, but you lose!  When God makes a covenant with you it is awesome, because He never breaks His side of it.

            Sometimes the devil attacks directly, but he is also expert at seduction.  Don’t listen to him.  The devil will manipulate your life so that you don’t have any time to give to God.  If you don’t say NO, Satan takes it as a yes. 

            Physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, whatever, the problem is the devil. 

            When you get saved, the devil changes his tactics and comes at you in a religious format.  He is extremely versatile.  Satan can take things that would gag a maggot and make them delicious to you, so that your appetite for those things will destroy you, but there is liberty in Jesus!

             Compromise, worldliness, self will, and rebellion takes people down.  Don’t try to pick and choose what is right and wrong.  What used to be sin is still sin! 

            James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 

            Bondages will break if you will study the Word of God and obey it.  Fast, and pray, and ask God to set you free.  Tell the devil to leave, even if he promises you something you like!  If it is crossways of the Word of God, vow to dislike it!

            If you need help, you can call us and we will pray for you.  I claim loosing for every captive that reads this in Jesus name!