The Great Imitator of God

To Be Like the Most High
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High.
Isaiah 14:13,14

Introduction Review:  And now that we know IT CAN happen to any of us, according to I Tim 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;...

Let's now see if we have any clues/signs that we ourselves may have some of that seducing spirit already in us trying to get us to depart from the faith.  Prepare yourself for MY own personal conclusion here that has now officially moved even deeper into my heart!

We should also know that when our shields are down, that the devil works on us slowly - little by little - bit by bit and at a level that is very unsuspecting.  We see how he countered every type of revelation that God made to man - and to this day, there are people who still have not had their eyes opened to the devil and his work of blindness that he does to unstable souls on a daily basis.

So we all have been there and are all still there today, amen? - and as we continue to listen to preaching and reading our Bibles, we will continue to uncover some more of the devils works in our own lives!  Are you willing?  Let's go!!!

The Devil proved all that right away in the garden.  Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), and that it was pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and a tree to be desired to make one wise (pride of life), she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

We should be able to deal with the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes - just say NO!  But Paul does remind us that it wasn't any easier for him as it is for us today.  (Romans 7:15-21)  We find that sin dwelleth in me (Romans 7:17) and evil is still present with me!  (Romans 7:21)  And we must thankfully add - Romans 7:24,25  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

5 times - Pride is a killer!  I Timothy 3:6 in reference to 'new' pastors, Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Pride is of the devil.

These four desires appeal to him, and these same desires are also used by the devil to stir us to desire to the same - in other words, he tries to get us to be like the most High.  However, a person would be imitating the Devil if these attractions strike a chord in their heart, not pleasing God at all, as you will soon see.

Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon...   The devil wants to get up - rise up, but instead will FALL!

1.  The devil, as he believes himself, wants us to think we should have more majesty than others!  "King" of the hill!  Sort of like us wanting to be the BOSS, the master - the older brother bossing the little brothers - ladies want the top positions now just because they are ladies - ladies are 'better' than men, in their eyes, today (used to be equal, now they are better & deserve more) - wife wanting to tell the husband if they 'can' or 'can't' do something - that is all of the devil!  People STRIVE for their own personal majesty today!

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

We have to have both husband and wife working today to cover the cost of our wants as our many 'wants' of yesterday have become the 'needs' today).  As a result, many two income families are miserable families, even if they won't admit it!  (the conscience is being seared in that department - it has become the norm) - the kids today are proof positive of the destroyed and out of order family - even Christian families.  Christian kids believe in evolution and enjoy Harry Potter.  They enjoy the new music and don't have a problem with new bible versions.  Kids today have developed a hatred toward their parents and towards their belief and way of life.  Isaiah 3:1-5 - it is happening folks, this very day!  All for a buck!

The LOVE of money is the evil part here.  The love of money is just the desire to have more money than God wants us to have.  It is GREED, that's all!

Of course we need to get money - money IS a necessity of life. But we are not suppose to labour to be rich, and we are not suppose to LOVE money - or hunger for money.  Proverbs 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.  Craving for money is of the devil!  A 'hunger' to have more money than your friends, than your parents, your neighbours - it is satanic.  To make a sacrifice of your children - your husband - yourself - for your own pleasures and toys is of the devil.

The desire to 'move up in the world' to 'make more money' is of the devil if it destroys or hinders what God has put together within your own family - or within the church family.

3.  The devil, as he believes himself, wants us to think we should strive for more power!  The devil wanted to exalt his THRONE, an emblem of power.  Some folks are not happy unless they have more power!  Climbing the ladder of success is of the devil!  God's success is in His hands, not ours. Joshua 1:8   This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  If you get the opportunity and you are fulfilling God's end of the deal, then amen for your success - but if you are 'after ' it all, then that is of the devil!  (the Book would get folks to see Godly success)

1.  The devil, as he believes himself, wants us to have an awareness of special knowledge!  Genesis 3:5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Education has taken a godly role in this country.  ...then your eyes shall be opened...  - Certification - Accreditation!  The desire to KNOW - to SEE.  Any concept of 'faith' is beyond people's comprehension! Evolution takes plenty of faith and they will never see.  At lease once our faith is put in Christ, we receive sight, amen!  They never do see!.  Blindness is permanent to the natural man!  II Cor 3:14 & II Cor 4:4.

Scholarship Onlyism has become the buzz word among Christians, today.  They can't stand King James Onlyism because that takes faith to believe it as it is written!

Ladies have an obsession for an education!  Christian women have no faith, today, in willing to be a woman of God just 'in case' the husband doesn't make it as a Godly man.  That shows the importance of finding the right man today - and if the man dies, then the church is suppose to be there for you - or God will show you another man.  Women today want reality - not faith - they want security with a career - no matter what God's Book says.

2.  The devil, as he believes himself, wants us to be aware of extraterrestrial things!  ...ye shall be as gods... - Spiritism, the spirit world, gods, space movies and space age age spiritualism on television, horoscopes, spiritual advisers working in big companies, mother nature, Gaia, man's own spirit rising to the top, believe in yourself -  be your own woman - be what you want to be!  You can win if you WANT to win!  That stuff is all of the devil!

The idolatrous reign of Manasseh - II Chron 33:6,7  And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God...

3.  The devil, as he believes of himself, wants us to have a desire for the expedient!  - something that is the 'best' thing, the most advantageous thing.  Having the best, the tallest, the shortest, the cheapest, the quickest.  Expedient - tending to promote the object proposed; fit or suitable for the purpose; proper under the circumstances.  In other words, NOTHING is quite suitable until you have checked ALL possibilities.  Good examples:  coupon shopping all over town; buying cheap more often than buying right the first time; driving shortcuts that save only a minute or two; a 'better parking space' that saves a few steps;

1.  The devil wants to be praised, like God - and he would have us desire to praise him. Matthew 4:8-9 ...all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
The devil would like to see us praise ourselves with self-esteem classes - great talented performers, great speakers, etc.  Praising ourselves would rob God of His praises, amen?  I Corinthians 1:29: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

When the 'tongue speaking ecumenically modern charismatic 'believer' sings their praises to God in their 'modern' CCM style along with the latest bluegrass and upbeat gospel arrangements, then the Devil receives the praises instead of God.  That can be proven in other messages - I just had to put that in.

2.  The devil wants to be prayed to, like God - and he would have us desire to pray to him.
I Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Praying to God without Jesus Christ is just praying to the devil!  John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

3.  The devil wants to be preached, even as God is preached - and he would have us hear about him more than God. The devil wants praise, he wants to be prayed to and he wants to be preached as God is preached!
Whenever some proclaims a false salvation, he is preaching Satan!
When a perversion is read from, the pastor is preaching the devils words.
When a false church is established, a house of the devil - a synagogue of Satan - has been built.
When evil is called good and good called evil, then the devil is preached.
When lies are preached and taught more than truth, than the devil is preached and studied.

1.  The devil wants to be considered beautiful. II Corinthians 11:13-15  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness...  And boy, the devils workers today are slick, well dressed, smooth Hollywood star personalities.  They are just "beautiful people!"
Paul - II Corinthians 11:6  But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

2.   The devil wants to be considered sounding like God.  Acts 12:21-23 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.  These folks have good words and fair speeches - they have vain words - they are sleight and cunning in their craftiness  they speak great swelling words of vanity - they speak enticing words of man's wisdom.

3.  The devil wants to be considered looking like God.
Thus all the verse corruptions involving imitator instead of following along with the modern popular concept that we are all created in the image of God still today! Genesis 3,5 show our fallen image.  When we are born again, we take on a spiritual image - I Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.  Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him...  Someday, we will be in Christ's glorified image - I John 2:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; II Corinthians 4:4 ... Christ, who is the image of God...

4.  The devil wants to be considered God - if not even higher!
The devil is the greatest counterfeiter of them all.  The Great Imitator.  Isaiah 14  A substitute for God is an antichrist.  A substitute for God is an idol.  Anything that comes between you and God is an idol.

Do you recognize him?  Do you see signs of him here at Touchet Baptist Church?  Do you see signs of him in your family?  Do you see signs of him in YOU?

Pray this:  Proverbs 30:8,9  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD?  or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.