NOT JUST A LIAR…THE FATHER OF LIES
PUBLIC ENEMY No 1 Series (P5) – LIAR
To learn about the origin of evil, satan, and demons, here is the link to a five-part series of messages I did last year: Deliver Us From the Evil One
Tempter. Deceiver. Accuser. Murderer. Those were the first four parts of this series to help Christians wake up to “what the hell is going on?” and who is at the root cause. This week we study perhaps the most damaging characteristic of satan: LIAR
TEMPTER I began with this descriptor because the Bible does in both Testaments.
satan tempted Eve and she succumbed (Genesis 3:1-6) bringing sin into the world. he tempted Jesus three times but failed. (Matthew 4:1) Jesus remained sinless.
DECEIVER
Trickery. Partial truths. Using something that sounds or looks better.
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:13
ACCUSER
“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world…for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12: 9-10
Good news for born-again Christians! satan can no longer accuse us before God because of the salvific work of Christ on the cross and His glorious resurrection.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1-2
MURDERER
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning,” John 8:44a
satan murdered all of us because after the fall of Adam/Eve sin came into the world and brought death. Two deaths: physical and spiritual
LIAR (Father of Lies).
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44
The First Lie(s)
The Lie of Lucifer before God.
“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God…I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:12-14
The first lie meant to destroy mankind
The Setup. “Now the serpent was more crafty…And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’ The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.”
The First Lie. The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
The First sin– the father of lies.
“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened…” Genesis 3:1-7
Eve believed the Liar; Adam did as well. We studied last week the consequences of believing the First Liar also made satan the First Murderer. Sin entered the world and brought physical and spiritual death. (See last week’s message.)
How is “the father of lies” impacting your life today?
Are you listening to the lies? He not only speaks directly or through other demons, but also people in our lives who, like the Pharisees, are under his control or influence.
How we answer as Christians. We speak truth when he speaks lies. Remember Jesus quoted Scripture back to satan after each temptation. Can you do that? This is the second greatest reason to memorize Scripture. (The first is to know those verses that told us why and how to be saved, so that we can share the Gospel with others.)
“I have treasured Your word in my heart, So that I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
“Then there arose some…disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” Acts 6:9-10
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:7
Invitation
STOP LISTENING TO THE LIES! This “father of lies”, as Jesus called him, has you believing that you are no good and unworthy of the love of God. OR you are self-sufficient and do not need God. You believe him and are your own god whether you admit it or not. The good news is Jesus went to the cross and suffered the most heinous death by crucifixion of Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins. We all need Jesus. He said we are all sinners in need of repentance. (Matthew 4:17; 9:13)
That means confess your sins and change your mind (repent) about Who Jesus is and who you are apart from His saving grace. He taught us that this decision is a matter of eternal life and death. Those who believe/receive Him gain eternal life. Those who reject Him will spend eternity suffering in Hell, wishing they had not refused His love, mercy and grace.
I plead with you not to close this message without confronting yourself in light of the truths I presented. I may be the last evangelist or Bible teacher the Lord puts before you to beg you to respond to Jesus, the only One Who can secure your salvation.
Will you humble yourself and receive Him today? I am praying you do!
For Christ’s sake,
