Keeping Ourselves unspotted from the world (Lesson 45)
Introduction:
1. According to James 1:27, "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world" is a requirement for practicing "pure and undefiled religion before God." 2. Let us appreciate the fact that God has revealed information in His Word that will help us to remain free from the world's spots. 3. Previously we studied the admonition in 1 Peter 5:8-9 to resist the devil. 4. To resist Satan we need to be familiar with the devices that he uses. a. Ephesians 6:11 mentions "the wiles of the devil." b. 2 Corinthians 2:11 says: "we are not ignorant of his devices." 5. We can learn about Satan's devices by examining how he interacted with various Bible characters. 6. In our lesson we are considering the devices that Satan used against Eve, David, Paul, and Jesus. a. Eve and David gave in to Satan's devices and suffered the consequences. b. Paul and Jesus show us that Satan and his devices can be resisted.
Discussion:
I. SATAN INTERACTED WITH EVE IN GENESIS 3:1-6
A. Satan's devices: 1. (vs.1) He questioned God's command (see 2:16-17). 2. (vs.4) He perverted God's command. B. From vs.6 we learn that Satan's appeals fall under 3 categories (1 John 2:16): 1. "the lust of the flesh" -- Eve "saw that the tree was good for food." 2. "the lust of the eyes" -- Eve saw that the tree "was pleasant to the eyes." 3. "the pride of life" -- Eve saw it as "a tree to be desired to make one wise." C. We also see the temptation process in action (James 1:13-15). D. It is sad that Eve disobeyed God's will, but from her mistakes we are able to learn about several of Satan's devices.
II. SATAN INTERACTED WITH DAVID IN 1 CHRONICLES 21:1
A. Satan led David to trust in the size of his army rather than in God's power. B. Even Joab knew that David was wrong (vs.3). C. By giving into Satan's device, David caused many people to suffer (vs.7, 14). D. Thankfully, David repented and asked God to forgive him (vs.8, 26).
III. SATAN INTERACTED WITH PAUL IN 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7
A. Paul was given "a thorn in the flesh" that was "the messenger of Satan." 1. According to vs.1-6, some very special information was revealed to him. 2. This "thorn in the flesh" prevented him from being "exalted above measure." 3. Satan's purpose was to "buffet" Paul. B. (vs.8) Paul thought he would be better off without this "thorn in the flesh." C. (vs.9a) The Lord did not remove it from him. D. Paul learned a valuable lesson about the sufficiency of God's grace (vs.9b-10).
IV. SATAN INTERACTED WITH JESUS IN MATTHEW 4:1-11
A. Satan's devices: 1. He tried to get Jesus to prove He was God's Son by turning stones into bread (vs.1-4). 2. He tried to get Jesus to "tempt" God (vs.5-7). 3. He tried to get Jesus to "worship" him (vs.8-11). B. Jesus helps us understand what is written in Psalm 119:11 and James 4:7b.
Conclusion:
1. By studying Satan's interactions with Bible characters we can learn about his devices. 2. Being familiar with Satan's devices will help us greatly in resisting him so we can keep ourselves unspotted from the world and practice the kind of religion that pleases God.
