"SATAN'S GREATEST LIE!"  PHILIPPIANS 3:18-19

INTRO:  The SCRIPTURE tells us in 1 Peter 5:8—“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 

Revelation 12:9 tells us that "Satan…which deceiveth the whole world." 

And John 8:44 says, "…He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is  liar, and the father of it."

The enemies of the Cross have bought into "Satan's Greatest Lie"—YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST WHILE YOU CAN—which is four-fold:

I. PLEASURE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PREPARATION FOR ETERNITY

PHILIPPIANS 3:19a—"Whose end is destruction…"

A.  THE DESIRE FOR PLEASURE.  Pleasure has become king in our world to day

·         2 Timothy 3:4b—“lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God"

·         This is Satan's great deception: If  he can get mankind so caught up in his pleasure he will have little time to prepare or even think about meeting God someday!

B.  THE DECEIT OF PLEASURE.  Life is uncertain it could be required of us

at any time!  James 4:14 tells us—“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a  little time, and then vanisheth away.” 

·         Satan will tell you many things to try to get you from getting right with God, but don't buy into his lies!

II.   THE PASSIONS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN A MAN'S POTENTIAL IN CHRIST

PHILIPPIANS 3:19b—"...Whose God is their belly...".

A.     THE PRINCIPLE AIM.  These are those “Who worship their own appetites; or who live not to adore and honor God, but for self-indulgence and sensual gratifications.  Satan's attack here is, "If it feels good do it!"  "There are no absolutes!  Just do what you want!"  That was Satan's lie to Eve in the Garden, "Ye shall not surely die:  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." (Genesis 3:5-6). That was Satan's first lie and he has been propagating it ever since!

B.     THE PREPARATION FOR ATTACK.  Friends, We all know the attack is coming!  That is why we must have on the whole armor of God! (Ephesians 6:10-11).  The lost man is at the mercy of the devil. Powerless to save himself from Satan's bonds! "The lust of his father" he will do!

III.  PRIDE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PLEASING GOD--PHILIPPIANS 3:19c—"...whose glory is in their shame. . ."   

A.  THE DECEITFULNESS OF PRIDE.  The heart of man must have something    

            in which to glory, and if a man does not know Jesus Christ so as to glory in

            Christ Cross, as did the apostle Paul, he will glory in the very things of

            which he should be ashamed!  These are those "who knowing the Judgment of God, that

            they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same,

            but have pleasure in them that do them!" (Romans 1:32).

ILLUS:  General Pace has been called on the carpet for coming out and saying homosexuality is immoral.  The homosexual crowd is all up in arms and demanding an apology.  But I applaud the General for  having the guts to speak the truth!  When God says in His Word,  ”Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is  abomination.”(Leviticus 18:22), that is what He means and God  HAS NOT changed His mind!    

B.  THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF PRIDE.  Pride always leads to defeat and destruction (Proverbs 16:18).  Pride was the cause of Satan's fall and pride keeps man from coming to God for salvation.  We read in Psalm 10:4--”The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts!

IV. THE PRESENT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FUTURE---PHILIPPIANS 3:19d—"...Who mind earthly things"

A.  THE FOCUS IS WRONG.  Satan's attack here is "you only live once, live for now!"  But God says, "...Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting!"(Gal. 6:7-8). 

B.  THE FUTURE IS WAITING.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14--”Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is  the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there

be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Jesus said, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh!"  (Matthew 24:44).  Jesus is coming soon!  Only those ready can go with Him when he comes!  Are you ready?  Or have you bought into Satan's lies?

CLOSING:  SATAN'S GREATEST LIE--YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST WHILE YOU CAN.

 But God says, "The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17), "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast in the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15), and  "Behold now is the accepted time, Behold, now is the day of Salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Friend, are you following Satan's greatest lie?  If so, Come to the truth today!  Jesus Christ is the Truth!  Satan is a Lie!  Don't die by Satan's lie! Christian, we must never give place to the devil!  If we do then He can wreak havoc in our lives!