Grace and Peace Worship Guide for August 23, 2020

Opening Prayer

Call to Worship Psalm 95:1-3, 6-7b

Song1 “Speak O Lord”

Scripture John 8:39-47

Sermon2 “Your Father, the Devil” Pastor Sherwin

Prayer

Giving3

Song “Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)”

Benediction 2 Corinthians 13:14

1 Lyrics are provided in this PDF. 2 full transcript of the sermon is provided in this PDF. 3 You can give online through our website, our church app, or by mail. Speak O Lord CHORUS: Living He loved me, dying He saved me Speak O Lord as we come to You Buried He carried my sins far away To receive the food of Your holy word Rising He justified freely forever Take Your truth plant it deep in One day He's coming Shape and fashion us in Your likeness O glorious day (glorious day) That the light of Christ might be seen today In our acts of love and our deeds of faith One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain Speak O Lord and fulfill in us One day they nailed Him to die on a tree All Your purposes for Your glory Suffering anguish despised and rejected Bearing our sins my Redeemer is He Teach us Lord full obedience The hand that healed nations stretched out on a tree Holy reverence true humility And took the nails for me Test our thoughts and our attitudes In the radiance of Your purity CHORUS Cause our faith to rise Cause our eyes to see One day the grave could conceal Him no longer Your majestic love and authority One day the stone rolled away from the door Words of power that can never fail Then He arose over death He had conquered Let their truth prevail over unbelief is ascended my Lord evermore Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him Speak O Lord and renew our minds From rising again Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us Truths unchanged from the dawn of time CHORUS That will echo down through eternity And by grace we'll stand on Your promises One day the trumpet will sound for His coming And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us One day the skies with His glories will shine Speak O Lord till Your church is built Wonderful day my beloved one bringing And the earth is filled with Your glory My Savior Jesus is mine CCLI Song # 4615235 Keith Getty | Stuart Townend CHORUS © 2005 Thankyou Music CCLI License # 3240311 O glorious day, glorious day

O glorious day Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me) CCLI Song # 5638022 One day when heaven was filled with His praises John Wilbur Chapman | Mark Hall | Michael Bleecker One day when sin was as dark as could be © 2009 My Refuge Music Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin CCLI License # 3240311 Dwelt among men my example is He The Word became flesh and the light shined among us His glory revealed

The following are questions that can be used for personal reflection or group discussion on Pastor Sherwin’s August 23rd sermon:

1) Should the Bible’s teaching on the activity of the devil in the world make you worried or fearful? Why or why not?

2) What was the original lie that the devil used to ensnare humanity? What are other ways or places in which you see the same lure in your life or in the world?

3) What are the four things the devil cannot do to you if you believe in Jesus?

4) If someone asked you, what is the main thing you learned from the text or the sermon this week, what would it be?

August 23, 2020 “Your Father, the Devil” Pastor Sherwin Kwon

John 8:39-47

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to , “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

One of my all-time favorite movies is “The Lord of the Rings.” And one my favorite scenes in it, is when the good guys (the Fellowship of the Ring, group of courageous heroes) encounter the Balrog – an ancient and powerful demon-like evil. And though these are powerful and seasoned veterans, the Balrog is an enemy unlike any they’ve encountered before. Only one of them, Gandalf the wizard, knows what the Balrog is. He says, “This is a foe beyond you… your weapons are of no more use here.”

That’s a lot like what we see in our text today. We see Jesus, recognizing this enemy – ancient, powerful evil. An enemy that is active on the scene with those who are hearing him… an enemy that is active and on the scene with us today. Jesus sees him, points him out, and our helplessness before him, ultimately to point us to the only sure hope and certain strength against him… which is Jesus himself.

We’re looking at the devil today. By way of outline, here is what we see today:

1. The Devil is Real 2. The Devil is Strong 3. Jesus is Stronger.

THE DEVIL IS REAL

Our text is part of an ongoing discussion that Jesus is having with some of his hearers, the Jews. And it’s rocky, because Jesus is explaining to those who don’t believe in him, WHY they don’t believe in him: “It’s because we come from different fathers.” Jesus said (verse 38): “Everything I say is nothing more than what I get from my Father (THE father, the heavenly father)… and likewise, everything YOU do (opposing Jesus, and even seeking to kill him), you’ve gotten from YOUR father.”

Now (verse 39) Jews assert: “You’re talking about our father? Abraham is our father.” They’re speaking about the great forefather of the Jewish people, a man who was chosen by God to literally birth a people, a nation, that God would claim as his very own people. The Jews are saying, “We are descendants of that line, the people of God. We’re Abraham’s children.”

Jesus: (verse 39) “No you’re not. If you were truly children of Abraham, you’d be doing as he did. Abraham was not perfect, but he was an example of faith and of obedience to the word of God (you can read about him in Genesis 12-22). (verse 40) But look at what you’re doing: you oppose me, and you seek to kill me. That’s not Abraham-like. That’s not what children of Abraham do. (Verse 41) He’s not your father. You don’t resemble him. You resemble another father.”

You can feel the Jew’s offense to this in verse 41: “Another father? We weren’t born out of sexual immorality. Possibly a dig at Jesus! (Unlike you) paternity confusion wasn’t a part of our story. In fact, we claim God as our true father.”

Jesus responds in verse 42: “No He’s not. If you were truly God’s children, you’d love me. Why? Because I came from God. He sent me. I’m here by His will. But you don’t love me. So you can’t be of God.”

Jesus gives more paternity proof in verses 43 and 44. “I speak to you nothing but the truth, and you can’t handle it. You hate the truth. And let me tell you why: it’s because your father hates the truth. You’re his loyal children, and want to do as he wants, because he hates the truth, you

hate the truth, and you hate me. Who’s your father? The devil. The very enemy (real, invisible, spiritual) of God, and of God’s people. You’re his children.”

Jesus is totally willing to offend people! He’s just speaking truth. He knows that what people see is just the tip of the iceberg, what we can see above the surface… there’s a massive reality below the surface… he’s telling us what it is. Here’s the reality: the people’s unbelief in Jesus is not just the result of a failure to comprehend Jesus… it is actually showing a spiritual allegiance to the devil… an allegiance that powerfully impacts how they feel about Jesus. An allegiance that makes them allergic to truth. Jesus clearly understands that what he’s seeing in his hearers is the activity and influence of someone outside them, who is against them, and against him. Jesus sees demonic influence.

In our text, we’re given a picture of what demonic influence looks like in the lives of people. It’s right here on display for us, in the hearers. What do we see?

1. First, it is normal. What do most people think when they think of demons, demonic influence? “The Exorcist.” Bizarre, grotesque, weird… heads spinning, people acting in bizzare, monstrous ways… obvious ways where something is clearly off and unusual. But Jesus saw demonic influence in what might look on the surface as a “normal” conversation with otherwise “normal” people. These were not people explicitly involved the occult… but regular religious people. Not very Hollywood-y. Not bizarre. Very mundane, normal, everyday life… here is where we see demonic influence lived out. 2. Second, it is anti-Jesus. Jesus sees, they can’t stand the truth/HIM. He recognizes the devil’s handiwork, craft. The devil has a measure of power, skill, and influence in the world. How does he use it? 2 Corinthians 4:4. “The god of this world (the devil) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” To blind people to the truth, the truth of the gospel, the truth of Jesus… THAT is demonic activity. When people resist Jesus… We are doing exactly what the devil wants. We are moving towards him and aligning with his will. 3. Third, it is covert. The people’s allegiance and loyalty to the devil… is an allegiance that they’re blind to. We don’t see people saying, “Yep you got me, that’s me, I acknowledge I’m a child of Satan.” When Jesus brings it up, they’re offended. And yet, despite the fact they don’t see it, it’s real, and it’s there, and it’s keeping them from Jesus. There are powerful things at work in their lives that they don’t understand, nor even see.

How do we apply all this? We must not be naïve. We must wisen up about the world, and about how life works. Ephesian 6:12“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” You don’t even see what you’re wrestling against. When you think about life, about the world, there is more than meets the eye. There are more

things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophies. You’re not in total control. You are not the sole actor in your life. You need to be sober and watchful about these things, or you’re at the of these forces. The devil is real.

THE DEVIL IS STRONG

Jesus knows the devil. Quite well. Verse 44, he tells us about him – who he is, what he does.

One thing Jesus tells us is that the devil is a father. He’s on the lookout for followers, for disciples, for children. 1 Peter 5:8. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” He’s our enemy. He’s ambitious. He’s power-hungry, and he’s got his sights on humans, to capture them to do his will.

Second, Jesus tells us (verse 44) that the devil is a murderer and has been one from the beginning. He’s an ancient being. Very early on in history, the Bible tells us in Genesis 3, that even though humans were created to live forever with God and with one another, death entered the world when our first parents sinned. Our first parents sinned, when they listened to the “serpent.” The devil tempting humans, speaking lies, and as a result, brought death (which was not part of God’s creation) into creation. He’s a murderer. If he had his way, everyone would be dead.

Another thing Jesus tells us is that the devil is a liar. “[He] does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Truth doesn’t come out of him, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he is simply doing that which is consistent with his character – He lies because he IS a liar.

In the Bible, the devil does a range of things, but his main power is verbal power: influence, persuade, tempt, convince, deceive, seduce… to tell lies that bait and trap people. 2 Timothy 2:26: “They may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, being captured by him to do his will. The devil lays snares. He lures and baits people.

If you’ve ever gone fishing, then you know exactly what the devil does. When you fish, you first have to get the bait. For me and my dad, that meant worms. Finding big, meaty worms that to the fish will look appetizing, enticing. But… it’s a lie. It’s a lure, because if they bite… they’re caught. They realize too late that it was a hook. What looked good actually spelled their doom. They’ve been ensnared.

The main bait of the devil, the main thing he wants people to do, the main worm on his hook is this: to get us to play God. To get creatures to act like the Creator. To get human beings meant to live under God’s rule, to usurp God’s rule and God’s place.

We see this again in Genesis 3. The original lie that ensnared humanity? “You will be like God.” It ensnared our first parents. It ensnares people today. We see this very lie spun again and again today. Self-worship is the main worm of the devil.

We see this in obvious ways – whenever people are boastful and arrogant and selfish and self- promoting… we see how they’re playing God. But it also shows up in very subtle ways. Ways in which we take the lure of self-worship.

We can see self-worship show up in our anxiety. Our minds become preoccupied with thoughts of what we think might happen, what could happen, what disaster could befall us. We can live in those thoughts as if we know they’re going to happen, and as if our predictions of what’s going to happen will come true. When we do that, do you know what you’re doing? You’re playing God. You’re assuming knowledge of things, of the future, that you don’t have… knowledge only God has. In a subtle way, we can be proud and play God.

We can see self-worship show up in our anger. In the courtroom of our minds we run through the exhibits and evidence of what other people have done, we put them on trial, we’re the judge, the jury, the executioner, we exonerate, we punish… when we’re angry, do you know what you’re doing? You’re playing God. You’re arrogating to yourself things, knowledge, roles that are God’s.

These are just 2 of many common everyday ways we can play God.

We do it. The devil wants us to do it. That is Satan’s will. To get you to worship yourself. When you put yourself first, you do exactly as Satan wants. That is exactly what Satan wants. We’re playing right into his snare.

This is really important because when it comes to the devil, many people will say, “I’ve never set foot in the church of Satan. I’ve never encountered the occult.” According to the Bible, you don’t have to. In order to be a child of Satan. All you have to do is worship yourself. Play God. Put yourself first.

When we worship and exalt ourselves… we resemble Satan. The more we do it, the more we are like him, for that’s what the devil does. He’s the ultimate fraud and imposter. The more we do that, the more we are formed into HIS image. Whether its men, women, little children… when we put self first, we look like Satan.

When we realize this, we realize that demonic influence is everywhere. In all levels of society. In nations, civilizations, institutions, cities, communities, families, our own hearts. 1 John 5:19:

“The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” The world we live in is a world in which the devil has a wide reach. A world in which every corner there are his lures… in invisible, but real and powerful ways.

How do we begin to battle this? How should we live?

We must realize that no matter how great the enemy, no matter how beyond our ability the spiritual battle is… in Jesus ultimately, we have hope and strength and weaponry that will suffice against so great an enemy. It’s in Jesus.

JESUS IS STRONGER

In a very dark passage, here is the shining ray of hope: (verse 47) “Whoever is of God hears the words of God.” Despite people’s inability and unwillingness to hear the truth from Jesus… despite their strong, blinding allegiance to the devil… there are people who do hear God’s words and believe. Who are they? They are anyone who is “of God.” We’ve seen this terminology before in John (like in John 3, those who have been “born again” “born from above”). Those whose “origin” or source is God himself.

This means that God himself does what is impossible for blind and deaf people to do. God himself has undertaken the task of making sure that when the light of Jesus shines… those in darkness WILL see it and follow it. That when the truth of Jesus goes forth… those trapped by evil will indeed hear and believe and escape the enemy. God himself will do it.

In the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, there’s a great scene where Aslan, the great Lion who died in order to save someone, has victoriously come back to life. And the first thing he does? He attacks and storms the enemy castle, where the evil queen has courtyards filled with people that she’s turned into stone, and he breathes on them, and they come back to life, and they’re freed.

That’s a picture of what God has done for a world ensnared by the devil. Colossians 1:12-14. 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In this great spiritual war, the devil has ensnared humanity… you and me. We were hopelessly lost causes, imprisoned deep in enemy territory. But God, by his great power, and in his great love for us, did not leave us. He left heaven, broke through the enemy defenses, stormed the fortress, bound our captor, and got us out. GOD has done this. A Christian is someone who has been rescued out from the devil’s grip and power… by God Himself.

How has God done this? Colossians 2:15. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. The coming of Jesus 2000 years ago, to die and rise again, was the point in the great war where the devil was stripped of his power. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was the great display of God’s triumph, over sin, and over the devil. It was the decisive blow to Satan. It was the knockout punch. Satan has been staggering, reeling, and bleeding out since the cross. Jesus has been freeing people from the devil’s grip ever since. The devil has been rendered powerless by Jesus.

4 things the devil CANNOT do to those who believe in Jesus: 1. The devil can’t condemn you. The devil is an accuser. His lies can stick and resonate. But not with God. Romans 8:33-34. “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” The devil cannot defeat Jesus’ defense of you. He will accuse you of many things. But Jesus’ death and resurrection and intercession is your invincible defense. You are beyond condemnation. Your attorney, Jesus, is stronger than your accuser, the devil. 2. The devil can’t destroy your faith. Luke 22:31-32. “Peter, Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” Jesus predicts that Peter is going to fail him. The devil sees this an opportunity to pounce on Peter. Satan needs permission to have Peter. Jesus doesn’t give it. Jesus says, you can’t have this one. And that’s that. No matter his failure. What is your failure? What are ways it feels like your faith is a sham? The devil wants to crumble your faith. Jesus doesn’t allow that. 3. The devil can’t take away God’s love from you. Romans 8:38-39. “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” There is this impenetrable seal between you and God’s love if you believe in Jesus. The devil would love to wedge in there and separate you. But the devil can’t. His tools aren’t sharp enough. The devil cannot get between you and God’s love. 4. The devil can’t oppress or oppose you forever. Revelation 20, we read about what happens at the end. We read about the ultimate fate of Satan – ultimate defeat, thrown into the lake of fire. Therefore, there is an expiration date to the devil’s activity. There is a day when he will end… but you will not. You will live forever, in the new heavens and new earth.

There are things the devil can’t do to you. He can’t touch you, because of Jesus. All this is yours… IN JESUS. As big and as overwhelming the idea is, of living in a world where Satan is active and against you… if you’re in Christ, you have no reason to fear. You are completely equipped for the devil. You have a sufficiency for life… by simply trusting and staying near to Jesus.

James 4:7-8. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. The devil is bully who is bigger and faster and stronger than you are. But Jesus is your Savior, who is bigger and stronger than the devil. How are you safe? By staying right next to Jesus. Devil will flee. This is spiritual warfare… turning to Christ and staying close to him.

As you hear this, are you fearful? About your life? About forces out there against you? Do not fear. 1 John 4. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

As you hear this, do you feel exposed? Vulnerable? Do you feel like you have no idea how to handle or deal with things? There is one thing you must do. Hear the voice of Jesus. Follow the voice of Jesus. It’s the way to escape sin, this broken world, and the clutches of the devil. Go to Christ.