SCRIPTURE: Revelation 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
INTRODUCTION: Explanation of the context of this portion of scripture.
PROPOSITION: To use this portion of scripture and others to show How and why Satan deceives the whole world, and also to show that those who come to Christ and are known by him can escape the snare of the devil and inherit eternal life through the precious blood of Christ.
A.) How does Satan deceive?
1.) By casting doubt in the minds of sinners concerning the truthfulness of the word of God. Genesis 3:1 "Yea, hath God said..."
2.) By denying what God has said, about the consequences of sin.
Genesis 3:4 "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:"
3.) By casting a shadow of doubt upon the character of God.
Genesis 3:5 "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
4.) By disguising his lies as the truth.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
5.) By adding to and taking away from the word of God. Revelation 22:18-19 "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
6.) By offering sinners a counterfeit gospel and a counterfeit Jesus.
2 Corinthians 11:4 "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."
7.) By blinding the mind of sinners to the truth.
2 Corinthians 4:4 "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
8.) By tempting sinners to satisfy their appetites in an unlawful way. 1Corinthians 7:5 "...that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency."
James 1:14-15 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
9.) By targeting sinners at their weakest points, "the lust of the flesh", "the lust of the eyes", and "the pride of life". sinners are coveteous by nature, and because of this they are insnared by the devil and taken "captive by him at his will". 1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
2 Timothy 2:26 "And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."
B.) Why does Satan deceive sinners?
1.) Because he hates God and desires to exalt himself above God. Isaiah 14:13 "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God..."
2.) Because Satan is full of rage for mankind who was made in the image of God. Revelation 12:12 "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
C.) How can us foolish sinners keep from being decieved by Satan?
1.) By becoming a child of God through a new birth. this is accomplished at the moment we repent of our sins and put our complete trust in Christ. When we become a child of God we receive the Holy Spirit who guides us into the truth.
John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, they shall DECEIVE the very ELECT."
2.) By studying God's Word and comparing it to what we are taught by fallible man. Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
3.) By praying for wisdom and protection. Luke 11:4 "And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."
CONCLUSION: We can believe and submit to a temptation, or yield to and believe Gods promises, but the foolish children of men would rather believe a temptation than a promise. 1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
