DOES YOUR DREAM HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE?
Revelation 12:7-9
Satan’s dream for everyone is to lead all people away from God’s dream for us. The goal is to have people die apart from God for eternity. All people have one of two Fathers! The Devil or God.
John 8:42-47 NLT
[42] Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. [43] Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! [44] For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. [45] So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! [46] Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? [47] Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
Satan deceives us through his lies. A great liar can sell ice to an Eskimo!
God’s dream for us:
John 10:6-10 NLT
[6] Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, [7] so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. [8] All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. [9] Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. [10] The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
1) DOES FOLLOWING JESUS INTERFERE WITH YOUR WAY OF LIFE?
Mark 5:1-20
Although we cannot be sure why demon possession occurs, we know that evil spirits can use the human body to distort and destroy people’s relationship with God and likeness to him. Even today, demons are dangerous, powerful, and destructive. While it is important to recognize their evil activity, we should avoid any curiosity about or involvement with demonic forces or the occult (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
If we resist the devil and his influences, he will flee from us.
James 4:6-7
[6] As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [7] So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 NLT
[9] “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. [10] For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, [11] or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. [12] Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. [13] But you must be blameless before the LORD your God. [14] The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things.”
The demon screamed at Jesus, “Why are you interfering with me?”
It was a shriek of fear, defense, and rebellion against God. No one today would like to admit to being demon possessed, but most of our society, like the demon, is screaming at God, the church, and Christian values, “Why are you interfering with me? Get out of my life!” When people reject Jesus Christ and his authority, they put themselves on the side of the demons and are heading in the same direction.
Every person must ask: Will I choose autonomy and self-will leading to destruction, or will I choose Christ’s loving leadership over my life, giving me forgiveness, healing from sin, cleansing, and true freedom? The answer has eternal implications.
How our hearts respond to God’s Word, the Bible, exposes whether we are influenced by a demon or God’s spirit?
John 12:47-50 NLT
[47] I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. [48] But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. [49] I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. [50] And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
James 2:18-20,24,26 NIV
[18] But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. [19] You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. [20] You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? [24] You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. [26] As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
At first glance, this verse seems to contradict Romans 3:28, “We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”
Deeper investigation, however, shows that the teachings of James and Paul are not at odds. While it is true that our good deeds can never earn salvation, true faith always results in a changed life and good deeds. Paul speaks against those who try to be saved by deeds instead of true faith; James speaks against those who confuse mere intellectual assent with true faith. After all, even demons know who Jesus is, but they don’t obey him (James 2:19). True faith involves a commitment of your whole self to God.
Revelation 20:10-15 NLT
[10] Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. [11] And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. [12] I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. [13] The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. [14] Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. [15] And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Satan’s power is not eternal—he will meet his doom. He began his evil work in people at the beginning (Genesis 3:1-6) and continues it today, but he will be destroyed when he is thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The devil will be released from the bottomless pit (“his prison,” 20:7), but he will never be released from the fiery lake. He will never be a threat to anyone again.
At the judgment, the books will be opened. The Book of Life contains the names of those who have made Jesus Lord to save them. These books also contain the recorded deeds of everyone, good or evil. Everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated.
No one is saved by deeds, but deeds are seen as clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with God. Jesus will look at how we have handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience and service. Each of us must serve Christ in the best way we know and live each day knowing the books will one day be opened.
2) BE DECEIVED NO MORE!
ASK GOD WHAT YOU MUST DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?
Luke 12:16-21 NIV
[16] And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. [17] He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ [18] “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. [19] And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ‘ [20] “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ [21] “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
What’s interfering with your Salvation?
1 John 2:3-6 NIV
[3] We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. [4] Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. [5] But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: [6] Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
1 John 4:16 NLT
[16] We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
(God is love), and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
Are you obeying Love/God?