A Cure For The Serpent's Poison Part 1

Christians have given the global foothold in their lives.

The result is often tragic, believers were burdened by satanic influence need not remain in bondage. They need to know that there is an antidote for the serpent's evil poison from the Moody Church in Chicago. This is running to win with Dr. Erwin Luzerne whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line are currently in a series on God's devil. The incredible story of how Satan's rebellion serves God's purposes. After Luzerne, I hope today you have some good news. Tell us about a cure for the serpent's poison. Dave, I have to say that the good news always revolves around Jesus Christ and his victory over Satan and you know, we can perhaps put this in different words but I always like to use this illustration. If you want to get rid of flies get rid of the garbage. Satan uses sin in our lives to exploit our weaknesses and to lead us astray. That's why this ministry is so important because what I want to do is to be able to enable people to stand against Satan. Would you consider becoming an endurance partner that someone who stands with us regularly with their prayers and their gifts of the ministry of running to win can expand. Here is what you do go to RTW offer.com when you're there, click on the endurance partner button or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337. I'll be giving you that contact info again. Let us listen carefully as we once again understand the victory of Christ over our enemy and ask you something.

Would you be offended Hope you're in a good mood. Would you be offended if I were to say that you probably have some of the same characteristics as the devil, because believe it or not, you and I very probably do because let us remember that a little drop of his rebellion has fallen on every single human heart. I want you to take your Bibles and turn for just a moment to Galatians chapter 5 Galatians chapter 5 where we had the works of the flesh that are listed. Always remember that even if Satan were banished from this planet right now we have many of the same sins committed still read many of the same headlines we would still be in much the same predicament around the world because we had enough sinfulness in our nature to do many terrible thing. Galatians chapter 5. List the deeds of the flesh and it says they are verse 19 immorality impurities, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, striped jealousies, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, and being drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, quite apart from the devil.

These are the things that we are capable of doing one of the things I want you to notice is the diversity of the list. It is everything from sorcery to drunkenness to outbursts of anger to all manner of impurity something else about this list that is striking. Let's think of every one of these sins as branches on a tree. Actually, God has cursed the whole tree see.

Perhaps you look at this and think oh I would never be involved in drunkenness is not my temptation.

I don't drink, well, that's wonderful. If that's true of you but is there envy is there dissension are there factions is there impurity.

It's not as if we can pick and choose. In that sense because God says I hate the entire tree. It is all first let me answer another question. What is the root of the tree. What is it that really is what lies at the heart of the evil that is within us and the answer to that in a single word or a hyphenated is self will self will, which is of course Lucifer said I will be like the most high.

This happens to be number seven in a series of messages on Satan, the serpent of Paradise and we learned that it was because of that pride.

Because of that desire to be number one.

It is then that sin began in the whole sordid story began to be. What I'd like to do today is to make first of all some parallels between us and Satan. Yes, that's what were going to do. Maybe you didn't expect that coming into church but that is what you are going to be served in this message. But then afterwords what were going to do by God's grace and it does take God's grace is to put the acts to the very root of the tree and deal with that thing that we call self will, which is the playground of the devil, that's the agenda. First of all some of those similarities. Some of those parallels and for this.

I'm going to be quoting verses of Scripture. I will give you one verse. We may not turn to all the verses you simply jot them down and then you can read them later.

First of all, verbal slander, verbal slander and very interesting passage occurs in first Timothy chapter 3 verse 11.

That's the verse to write down first Timothy chapter 3 verse 11 where the apostle Paul is talking about the qualifications of leadership and he says this about the wives of deacons have you're a deacon here at the church, listen up. At this point and if you are an elder. Listen up.

And if you're a staff member.

Listen up because it really refers to all those who are leaders and all believers in every era. This is what Paul says these as I exhort the wives of deacons that they be not my translation says malicious gossips.

The King James says slanders but you know what the Greek says I exhort them not to be Diablo loose devils. That's the Greek word that he uses because the word devil means slander. That's the way it's translated in the New Testament whenever you have a reference to Satan. It is Diablo loss and the plural of Diablo losses Diablo loose. I exhort the women that they be not devils. What is he talking about. He saying that if you slander someone you are doing the devils work that's his job description. That's what he does, day in and day out and you speak ill of others and you are on his playground on his turf. Of course, slander refers to making accusations that are false in order to ruin the reputation of someone else.

Have you ever had that I know that you have. We all have you ever had that good feeling of being able to tear down somebody else, especially in an area in which you are strong. That's when he feels the best. This is not my problem. Think of what he is doing slander was with a young pastor recently in another state who is having a conversation with one of the staff members and they were getting along very well and eventually I think one or the other is going to have to go but anyway he was telling the staff member. Here are three things we need to be reconciled about go home and pray about it.

Then come back and tomorrow we'll talk about young staff member went home, called all of his friends. Pastor's phone is ringing off the hook with all of these false accusations. My dear friend that is the devils work. Do not be a devil. Don't you dare pick up the telephone and call someone who is neither a part of the solution, or a part of the problem and the slander someone else.

Now I have a question for you. What is the difference between Satan, whose main business is slander are in fact that's was named means what is the difference between him and some carnal Christian who goes about stirring up strife, slandering other believers. There may be some difference but a drop off Satan's rebellion has fallen on every single human heart.

When we slander we do this work phone number two you're getting seven of them so we need to go quickly. Number two, the refusal to publicly confess Christ the refusal to publicly confess Christ someone says what you know. I can talk about the World Series. I can talk about politics there's lots to talk about politics, but the problem is that I cannot do is speak about Christ to anyone, even if God opens the door. My tongue is tied suddenly to Christian men tell me was sitting in a barber chair and the barber actually began to ask him questions about what he believed about Christ and the whole bit.

I think it was as if the barber was saying here I am, tell me about Jesus immensity couldn't open his mouth and you know it's interesting in first Corinthians chapter 12 verse three first Corinthians 12 verse three. The apostle Paul is talking about speaking in tongues. Remember this the devil wants your tongue. We learned that about slander just a moment ago you say will what is the most important part of my body that the devil would want answer your voicebox Tom because that's the way you can best do his work will he wants to use your tongue to slander people, but he wants to make sure also that your tongue is not used, to witness for Christ and Paul says that no man speaking under the inspiration of an evil spirit will call Christ Lord demons never confess Jesus Christ as Lord, unless they are forced to well but there believers who are not willing to publicly confess Jesus Christ as Lord. Maybe I'm being a bit hard on us because certainly there is a difference. A believer would love to be able to confess Jesus Christ to be Lord, but maybe he doesn't know how to do it.

Maybe he needs some training.

He has to overcome fear and so there is a difference, but there may be dissimilarity, but whether it is Satan who will not confess Christ Lord or a Christian who was afraid to confess Christ Lord. The similarity is that both of those actions stem from a lack of fervent love for Christ.

We love to single file is in tongues to sing and God gives us a good one that really works.

We find we can't use it to witness for Christ. So secondly, the refusal to confess Christ publicly third, uncleanness, uncleanness 20 times in the New Testament. At least the Bible uses the word uncleanness to refer to evil spirits. For example, in Luke chapter 9 verse 42 it says Jesus rebuked the on clean spirit that were not talking about physical uncleanness were not talking about that, you know, according to a poll I think a majority of Americans actually believe that the expression cleanliness is next to godliness is from the Bible and that is rather humorous. I want you to know that that is not found in the Bible and I already know that I'm telling you something that you already know so we can hurry on talking about physical uncleanness. Cleanliness may be next to godliness in America got lots of soap and water, but it may not be that way in other parts of the world I'm talking about moral uncleanness second Peter chapter 2 verse 10 uses the very same word uncleanness that is used for evil spirits to speak of the lust of uncleanness. That said, the same kind of uncleanness. A woman in whose heart God had done a wonderful work of transformation. She had come to a crisis in her life, and finally dealt with an issue that had dogged her spiritual life for years and years and years she had to burn more than 300 trashy novels.

She said it was like taking a file drawer, opening it up and then turning it upside down and allowing all that trash to just fall away and cleaning this file drawer and that's what she referred to it as cleaning because the novels were on clean this.

You want to know what uncleanness is turn on the talk shows on modern-day television, uncleanness, movies, videotapes, so that is and what I want to save CDs certain kinds of music videos and filled with uncleanness and impurity. I have a question for you. The difference between an unclean spirit, and a carnal Christian with a very cluttered on the clean life.

Both are the fruit of self-will, all hurrying along number four a passion for control a passion for control and there are so many passages that could be used or you can just simply write down Mark chapter 5 Mark five that will do member. The demon who wanted to control that man who was there in the tombs and he did a pretty good job until Jesus Christ came along and cast the demons out and they went into the swine to listen carefully. This passion to control his demonic is a characteristic.

First of all, of cults.

Therefore skulls to say you come to us. We will train you. We cut you off from your family. You can talk to anybody who disagrees with us. We want you to know longer have association with your friends and anyone else in your church because we will tell you the whole truth, and then they stick with you all the time. You can never really be alone because you must come under their authority and they will tell you what to wear, what to believe. Who you can speak to and they'll do it under the name of scriptures and say well this is just obedience to elders and what they want his demonic satanic control, get out of a cult like that if you happen to be in it get out. Don't believe there lies here in the Chicago area. There was a man years ago who in effect left and evangelical church and belong to a cult and he wanted to meet with me for some reasons and at the end he wanted me to come under his authority. I was supposed to be totally dominated by him and then I was to kneel at his coffee table and repent. Basically of my unwillingness to submit to his authority. You know I felt I felt that if I had melted that coffee table. It would not of been to God would've been to him.

I can still see those beady eyes saying I want to control you devil devil you know that we can see the extremes.

But what are some of the non-extremes. Do you happen to live with a person who is always right.

Who has to win every argument in every fight.

I wasn't expecting any. Amen. So I'm not surprised that I have all of the silence. Somebody was always right. He has to be.

He has an ego need to prove that he's right. I need to control. I need to hang onto who I am. This macho oh my, how God has had to drag some people from one briar patch to another to humble them to finally break them and smash them and I've seen people on their deathbed finally admit to their families that they had been wrong. Think of what it took to get a confession like that out of their mouths until God finally took all the control away until something serious was happening in their lives that they could have no control over whatever they were dying.

And now, suddenly, they say I was wrong.

What a tragedy to wait until a time like that or somebody who hangs onto his possessions. Same thing control power God gives them the opportunity to earn money and they think that when we have an offering a church that they are really doing God a favor by giving something, when in point of fact number one we are always only giving back what God has already given to us, but there is no joy there is no generosity. There is no hilarity. There is no willingness to take risks with giving because they want to play it safe control control.

I wanted to be mine ownership demonic ownership.

What's the difference between Satan who wants to control others and someone who can maybe can't control others, but he wants to control himself and his wealth and all that he is. There may be some difference but in every case, it is the fruit of self will number five and here's one for you if you haven't been hit yet it's coming. Just wait were only now at number five, and we still have three to go.

Number five the love of praise the love of praise Matthew chapter 4 verse nine. Satan takes Christ and shows in the kingdoms of the earth and says if you worship me. I will then give them to your chest. Worship me notice me admiringly bow before have you ever been miffed because you have been overlooked and not properly thanked, admired, and appropriately praised. I was working on the sermon and you know you've heard me say that my sermons do me a whole lot more good than they ever do you, but I remember in first, your Bible school. My roommate was elected to the class president and he was a fine enough chap, but I thought to myself what a wrong decision that the class made.

I thought this guy's roommate would've been much more qualified for the position.

I also remember that this guy's roommate later on was elected student body president two or three years later and thought well it was about time somebody recognized the gifts that God had given him all tell you something in the love of praise. Can't you see my gifts in my being properly thanked of my being properly honored what what I want to say the word, though I'm over stressing the point demon in all of us.

That must be slain, the love of praise. Oh, Satan wants it, and you and I wanted to. And sometimes God takes us through circumstances where we are stripped from that, just to see what's there just to make sure that we have come to a death to self will, which is what were going to talk about just a moment number six lawlessness lawlessness in here.

Second Thessalonians chapter 2 verse eight says that Satan or the Antichrist is that lawless one second-best two verse eight but here you can also put John chapter 8 verse 44 you are of your father the devil, notice those characteristics. Christ said of the Jews of his day. He says the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and he was a liar and you murder in your heart if not literally.

And you lie and you deceive and that is the devils work that is characteristics of demons and finally we must hurry on number seven, self deception, self-deception. You see, Satan was deceived about himself because he thought that he could rebel against God and things might in the end go well with him. I think he expected God to kind of tap him on the wrist so to speak.

In fact, in the first message you remember we emphasize that point and so he was self deceived about himself. He was deceived about God and now he wants to lead us into deception know the Scriptures talk about Satan's ability to deceive. Second Corinthians chapter 11 verse three Paul says I fear that just as Satan deceived Eve, that your heart should be deceived from the simplicity, which is in Christ, listen very carefully.

Did you know that if you are deceived you don't know it. You don't know because if you knew it, it would not be a genuine deception of this is Pastor Luther. That certainly makes us think doesn't the fact is that we might be deceived and not know it and I'm so thankful for the ministry of running to win that goes into 20 different countries in three different languages I'm holding in my hands a letter that we received from someone in New Mexico. They talk about the fact that they are just learning what it means to be a new believer living on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. The reason that warms my heart is I was there, perhaps 25 or 30 years ago, and I recall a woman who came up to me and said that she takes care of animals cows.

I think it was out on the range and she listens to the ministry of running to win on her transistor radio. Remember back then when we all had transistor radios. You have a part in the lives of these people who are blessed as a result of running to win thanks to the many of you who support this ministry, running to win continues to expand. Would you like to become an endurance partner. Of course you need more info. Here is what you do go to RTW offer.com when you're there, click on the endurance partner button that's RTW offer.com the endurance partner button or call us at 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us at running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614. The devil can do lots of damage when believers let him gain a foothold. Slandering others is only one of the said results. Believers need to rid themselves of every evidence of these strongholds otherwise much damage can be done to the cause of Christ. Next time I'm running to win. Dr. Luther will continue his message on the cure for the serpent's poison and he'll talk about how we can be deceived for Dr. Erwin Luzerne this is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the Moody Church