Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/bbcsylmar/sermons/39752/our-adversary-the-devil-his-ministers-cont/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] All right, let's get two places here in the scriptures to begin. [0:12] We're going to be in 2 Peter chapter 2. We're going to be coming back and forth, perhaps, to that chapter. At least that's the intention. [0:22] And then also get 1 Peter chapter 4. That is the passage we left off last Sunday school. 1 Peter 4, 2 Peter, whoa, 1 Timothy 4, 2 Peter 2. [0:40] This is tough. 2 Peter 2, I know I'm right on that one. And then 1 Timothy 4. [0:50] All right, get a drink. Get reset. Let me reset here. Anybody know that last song we just sang? [1:07] Who the character, the scriptural character, that that song was conceived from their story, an incident in their life? [1:17] It's a little far removed from singing it like a minute ago. But it's real obvious if you read the words. It's about Jacob. Jacob and his night and his dream, his vision and the ladder ascending to heaven, the angels of God. [1:35] The stony, the pillar of stone, it says by stony griefs. And it references Bethel I'll raise. The whole song is like pulled out of that chapter. I want to say it's Genesis 28, I think. [1:48] I'm not sure about that. So next time we sing it, you can reference that. You'll see it's coming straight out of that text. Okay, so we're going to review just briefly here and catch you up to speed. [2:03] We began this sixth and final, I believe, category of the study of our adversary, the devil. It's his ministers. And we went to a passage where Paul used that very term, his ministers, referring to Satan. [2:19] Satan can transform himself into an angel of light. And it's no marvel that he can do that. Or it's no marvel of his ministers. Rather, it kind of got it backwards. But they transform themselves into ministers of righteousness. [2:31] His ministers, Paul calls them. So he has ministers. And as part of the study of showing how he's an imitator, and one of his methods for opposing God is the use of imitation, imitating and kind of counterfeiting so many different particulars of who God is in his person as well as in his working and dealing and in his plan for ministry, for mankind. [2:57] You'll see the devil just taking that. I'll take that. I'll imitate that. I'll do something similar to that. And this is a case just very much the same. [3:07] He has ministers. Now, we saw that he calls them, Paul says, they're false apostles, deceitful workers. And we looked in Revelation 2 and saw that the church at Ephesus was commended for recognizing false apostles, for trying them and finding out that these are liars. [3:26] They're not apostles of Jesus Christ at all. They're rather false apostles. And so the first thing we learned last week was that they were pretenders or that they were fakers. [3:36] They are appearing to be something that they are, in fact, not. They're appearing to be ministers of righteousness. So if you want to identify his ministers, then you want to look for somebody who appears to be a minister of righteousness, who looks like they're on God's side, who looks like they have a Bible or some form of religion, or that they're talking of heavenly things or peaceful things or godly things. [4:06] They're going to name the name of Jesus Christ. Don't be surprised by that. Remember Matthew chapter 7, that Christ said this. He said, many shall come to me and say, Lord, Lord, in thy name, the name of Jesus, have we done many wonderful works. [4:24] And he says, depart from me. So it's no surprise that Christ warned of false prophets that would show up in sheep's clothing, but they're inwardly wolves. [4:35] And so they look like something they're not. They appear to be ministers of righteousness. Okay, we're studying Satan's ministers. The second thing we notice is that they are deceived. From 2 Peter chapter 3, it says that they are deceiving and being deceived. [4:52] And you might, I would maybe just say it like this. They are deceiving others all the while being deceived by their father, the devil. Or maybe they're, well, I'll get into this. [5:05] They can be born again, saved, washed in the blood, and be deceived. And I'll show you some of that here in a little bit. Now, to my point last week with some of this was don't be fooled. [5:17] They're deceived, but you have a Bible, and you are called to prove and to weigh and to judge everything and everyone from the Holy Scriptures. And so it is of the highest importance that you know your Bible and that you know the words of this Bible. [5:32] So that was our start last week. Well, take a peek at 2 Peter now, chapter 2. And we began working our way through this passage. [5:43] In verse 1, But there were false prophets also among the people. That's Old Testament times. Even as there shall be false teachers among you who shall privily bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [5:59] So they're first identified by Peter here as teachers. False teachers, of course, but they're teachers is what they're designated as. I pointed out in verse 22 that they're men and women. [6:11] And you could argue that, and I won't argue with you at all. I'll just say that's what it appears to me to be, because he brings in that proverb of male and female in verse 22. [6:23] And I think some of the material we talk about today will back that thought up of men and women being teachers. And so the whole chapter in 2 Peter, in the next couple times as we get pieces of this, you'll see that the whole chapter is designated as exposing and declaring and detailing these false teachers and what their trademarks are. [6:48] Let's see, let me skip through that. We already covered that. We covered that they are teachers. We covered that they will be privily, that they'll bring in damnable heresies. [7:02] And Jude said, certain men crept in unawares. So he says something very similar. Paul in Galatians 2 says this, That is, false brethren coming in, trying to bring them back under the law of Moses. [7:23] Now we're in 1 Timothy chapter 4. Let's take a look here. And I want to make the point very clear here and stronger that these are men that we're dealing with. [7:33] We're not talking, remember I asked you last week was, He has ministers. What are they going to look like? Would you be able to spot them? Would you identify them if there was a minister of Satan around today? [7:45] If they were working today and doing his bidding and opposing the work of God? How would you recognize them? I said they're not false, I'm sorry, fallen angels. They're not like these, what you might say, these devils or Satan worshipers, that kind of thing. [8:03] Like he has his own little church in some canyon somewhere out here. That's not what Paul's warning the church about. He's warning them about men and women that'll come in teaching some things and look like they're of the Lord and maybe even themselves think that what they're teaching is truth. [8:21] And they think they're ministering for Christ. Now in Jesus Christ's day, he called out apostles and he empowered those apostles. [8:32] They were able to cast out devils and heal the sick and raise the dead in that day, in that kingdom preparation age. No marvel that Satan would use the same. And there'll be signs, Paul warns about that. [8:45] As a matter of fact, in Revelation it describes it as well. And there's a warning about men coming on the scene with signs and powers. They're just, it's an imitation. They're false apostles. [8:55] An imitation of the ministry of Jesus Christ to deceive the world. And they're misled by a spirit. And I'll show you that later on. But they may have good intentions, but understand that they are being deceived. [9:09] So 1 Timothy chapter 4, look at verse number 1. The Bible says, 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. [9:26] Now we'll look briefly at these, but notice from the verse itself, they're men. These aren't devils come down to earth, ruling in the kingdoms of men. [9:39] These are men that are in the faith. And if we would put any better words to that, they're saved, born again men, led to Christ, serving God. [9:50] They're in the faith. And yet they depart from it. Why? Because a spirit seduced them. And a new doctrine, a satanic or a devilish doctrine, came into their ears, a false doctrine, that drew them away. [10:09] All right. Is that what it says? That's what it says. Look at chapter 1. 1 Timothy chapter 1. These are good men at one time that have fallen into apostasy. [10:22] 1 Timothy chapter 1. I'm just going to pop a few verses off here in this context and in this book. Verse 6. Well, verse 5 ends with the last two words. [10:33] Faith unfeigned. It's not fake. It's authentic. Real. The faith. The real stuff. From which, some having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm. [10:55] So they don't even know what they're talking about is what he's saying. But they were in the faith, the real thing. And then they swerved from it. I didn't say they lost their salvation and neither did Paul. [11:08] But they got deceived and they got seduced, according to chapter 4. Seduced away from the truth to believe a lie. There's a spirit there that's doing this. Look at chapter 5. [11:19] 1 Timothy chapter 5. And this is a reference to some women, some widows here, some younger ones. It says, verse 15, for some are already turned aside after Satan. [11:35] They were in the right way and now they've turned aside and look who they're going after. And I'm sure they don't know it at all. They're deceived. It's satanic. [11:47] Alright, look at chapter 6. And verse number 2, just the very end of the verse, he says, these things teach and exhort. So he's giving them some good stuff and some good doctrine. [11:59] And he says, these things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing. [12:12] Sounds like chapter 1. But doting about questions and strives of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness. [12:30] From such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment's great gain. He continues down this thought of those that want to be rich. And notice in verse 10, the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith. [12:47] There they are again, walking away from the faith, from the truth. And these are men that teach other things than what Paul is setting forth as the doctrine according to godliness. [13:02] And there's a snare there for them. As a matter of fact, in verse number 9, it describes they'll fall into temptation and a snare. In chapter, in the next book, in 2 Timothy 2, verse 26, that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. [13:22] So my point is here that men, even good men, in some cases, not just, see, he's maybe deceived, false apostles, thinking blah, blah, blah, but even some good men are deceived, they're seduced by a spirit and drawn away, probably intellectually, into some doctrine that's not according to godliness, but there it is, and they were taught, and there it is in the Bible, supposedly, and they're going to start teaching it. [13:48] And over time, these things have crept in unawares, and false doctrine abounds. Now, some of these teachings, come back to 1 Timothy 4, where we started here, 1 Timothy 4, he references, seducing spirits, that are causing men to depart from the faith, because they're giving heed, they're giving heed to these seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, and then it gives a little description of this, verse 2, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God the created be received, with thanksgiving, of them which believe, and know the truth, and on and on. [14:36] But for now, we've got just a few little things, we could pull out here, and extract. They sound like, some major denominations, that we could, kind of, pin these on, some of these doctrines, some of these doctrines of devils, there's a multitude of false doctrines, out there today, and what this sounds to me like, is some, well, just cults, they sound like some trademark, or some doctrines of cults today, and before we go through any further, I want to just throw up on the screen, turn this on, a, a real quick flash, of, something about cults, I'm not going to dig into individual cults, but just as a broad overview, I want to make some points, and then come back to our text, and study a little bit about his ministers, so, the first thing is, I can't really read it from this angle, but, this is a Wikipedia definition, for what it's worth, this is not Bible, but, their statement here is, a cult, a social group, that's defined by its, unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or by its common interest, in a particular personality, object, or God, so, blanket definition for a cult, here's some characteristics, number one, is, they get revelation, that doesn't come from that book, extra biblical, they, they all have, some other source, it could be the book of Mormon, it could be their watchtower publications, it could be the supposed visions, that their prophet, or prophetess got, and then wrote down, and they follow that, as if it's from God, but it's not in that book, it could be the popes, standing up and speaking, what they call ex cathedra, and whatever he says, is from the mouth of God, for the people on earth, as he stands, in the place of, as the vicar of, [16:28] Christ, and go study through their history, they have, for instance, the Catholics have their traditions, which they hold, equal to the scripture, and it's not scripture, as well as the sayings of the popes, over the years, and all of their writings, as if that's equal to the scripture, and as a matter of fact, they think it's above the scripture, because where the scripture, contradicts the popes, guess who they follow, they follow the popes, the men, so extra biblical revelation, all of them have some, source of authority, outside of the bible, all of them do, it's a mark of a cult, is they don't stick, with the scripture alone, and notice this last, I don't know if this thing, works on here, doesn't work on the screen, the last portion of there, says they believe, that their distinctive, religious writings, hold the only key, to the truth, to unlocking, the bible, it's the vision, that their woman saw, that tells us, how to interpret it, so, that's one thing, oh there's a couple there, [17:34] Seventh Day Adventist, follow Ellen White, she's got a bunch of writings, there's just four to name, four popular cults, second one is elitism, meaning that, they're the real deal, each one thinks, they have got it, and all of you other ones, are just wrong in some way, and you might think, well don't we think, we got it, well yeah, but we have the book, that's what we have, the word of God, we don't have this other stuff, and we're not adding, to the scriptures, we'll stick with, the holy scriptures alone, if you can't show it to me, out of the bible, I don't believe it, maybe that's because, I'm ignorant, but prove it to me, from the scriptures, and then I'll take it, as the word of God, as if it's truth, so all these guys believe, they're the ones, and that's called elitism, just by keeping the ease, so everybody else is wrong, basically, it's pretty easy, the third thing, is enslavement, meaning, you've got to obey it, you have to stick with it, or, you're out, that's not biblical, [18:38] Christianity, by the way, you can trust Jesus Christ, and never grow, an inch spiritually, in your life, and end up, just beside me, in heaven for eternity, you don't have to, stay in this church, you can go become a Mormon, if you want to, some have, and they're still going to heaven, so these cults though, you better stick with it, and there's the, the bottom phrase there, is if you don't remain with it, you forfeit your salvation, so enslavement, is another characteristic, and an error, that is their, teaching, is not the gospel, of Jesus Christ, it's what Paul warns about, being another gospel, and I taught you already, when we were in Matthew, how the Jehovah's Witnesses, take the gospel, of the kingdom, and merge it, with the gospel, of the grace of God, into one gospel, of spreading the kingdom, of Jesus death, that's nuts, they don't divide, their Bibles at all, and then they, mingle their own, or, their own, what do you want to call it, just, misrepresentations, of the scriptures, or, so, some want to take, portions of the Old Testament, some want to take, portions, that are for, the tribulation, or, pretend that we're in the kingdom, or, they all have errors, so, enough of that, what we're reading here, in 1 Timothy 4, it starts to throw out, a few of these doctrines, that, if you've been alive, in this world, or been approached, by certain people, maybe many of you have, over the years, they're cults, they have false doctrines, some of them are good people, that were led astray, they departed, from the faith, and they teach, what we'll see here, damnable heresies, now some of this stuff, some of even, cults, other denominations, were founded by women, like, [20:35] Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the, Christian science movement, in some of her books, she thinks that, she pulls out from scripture, and from whatever else, she has that, the body heals itself, that God, like, people dying, left and right, because they're believing, what she's taught, is really just some, new age practices, this Christian science garbage, and it started by the woman, Mary Baker Eddy, when Paul says, I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority, over a man, well certain ladies, have just ignored, the biblical commands, and decided, well God showed me something, and therefore, I need to preach it, to the world, and write it, and get following, and suckers follow, and there you go, a call is birthed, Ellen White, was on the board, a little bit ago, for Seventh Day Adventist, she's the, the founder, and her writings, and her supposed revelation, of the mark of the beast, attending church on Sunday, as a Roman Catholic tradition, that was replaced, [21:35] God's Sabbath day, his holy Sabbath day, that was never supposed, to be taken away, and therefore, all those true followers, of God, and Christ, go to church, on Saturday, on the holy Sabbath, and those who have, been deceived, into following, the Roman Catholic church, and the beast, and the mark, they have taken his mark, by worshiping, him, him, on Sunday, it's, it's a twist, it's quite a stretch, but that's something, that's believed, there's other popular, speakers today, like Joyce Meyer, and Victoria Osteen, and Paula White, appointed by, the past, President Trump, to be his, spiritual advisor, it shows the discernment, that that man has, when it comes to, spiritual things, this much, zero, appointing some woman, some speaking in tongues, Pentecostal, dance around in high heels, and talk about, whatever she talks about, baloney, that's just a few, but these reject, the truth of the word of God, and then, don't have any trouble, using that book, to make millions, and millions of dollars, off of people, filthy rich, there's heresies, we read in 2nd Timothy, these, they're doctrines of devils, in 1st Timothy, in 2nd Peter, we read, that they'll bring, in damnable heresies, some of them, claim to be apostles, we've already noticed that, and they're wrong, they're liars, some of them claim, that the Holy Ghost, is leading them, to speak with tongues, or they have powers, to heal the sick, or they claim, all the signs, of the Holy Ghost, that's read in the book of Acts, they claim to have it themselves, and they can administer it, and yet they never go, to the hospitals, and heal the kids, and never go, to the cancer wards, and heal those patients, that are dying, where their families, are watching them, slip away, through their fingers, losing them, one by one, they instead, rent out, major coliseums, and sell tickets, and bring them all in, and set up a show, and claim to have, the power of God, they claim, that baptism, is necessary, for salvation, and I even saw this, just this week, [23:50] I was reading, some publication, some guy, and he said something, about the holy waters, of baptism, as he was slipping it in, with all of his, false doctrines, some of them claim, that an angel, spoke to them, and they had revelation, they've seen visions, and God had a word, for his people today, of course, they're the ones, that have to give it to us, some claim a prophecy, and then they write it, in a book, and sell it, some claim, God determined, who would be saved, and who would be lost, and this is a doing of God, and you're powerless, against it, you better just hope, that you're one of the good ones, because if not, God determined, that he would damn your soul, for eternity, as if he'll take pleasure, in that, when he says in his word, that he'll take no pleasure, in the death of the wicked, yet, certain believe, that teachers, believe, that he has decided, who's going to be saved, and lost, some make claims, some profess faith, some name Christ, come to 2nd Timothy again, chapter number 3, 2nd Timothy 3, we're talking about his ministers, and they're, they're deceived themselves, and they're giving heed, to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, and these doctrines, are all over our world today, and if somebody's teaching them, and espousing them, then they themselves, are deceived, or have given heed, to a seducing spirit, and we don't know, what that looks like, we're afraid to pin that, on a man, we're afraid to pin that, and say, oh he's a minister, of the devil, because that sounds, so harsh, well we can at least, just say, he's absolutely deceived, to the truth, of the gospel, or the truth, of the word of God, and he's being used, of the devil, so, if Christ is going to use somebody, to minister for him, then I don't have any trouble, using that phrase, maybe not all of them, have these signs, and powers, that are coming in the future, but if Satan's using a man, there's his ministers, 2nd Timothy chapter 3, verse number 7, describes somebody here, they're ever learning, and never able to come, to the knowledge of the truth, the truth, the truth, the truth, how important that is, as we'll see in a minute, he mentions two guys, back in the Old Testament, that withstood Moses, and he likens men, of this age, to them, it says, now as Janice and Jambres, withstood Moses, so do these also, resist the truth, men of corrupt minds, reprobate, concerning the faith, but they shall proceed, no further, for their folly, shall be manifest, unto all men, as theirs also was, but thou hast fully, known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charity, patience, and he goes on, for a minute, what I want to point out there, is verse 13, evil men, and seducers, shall wax worse, and worse, deceiving, and being deceived, and what's the, solution, it's the scriptures, in verses 14, 15, 16, and 17, the scriptures, you need, you need the scriptures, to discern, and to perfect, the man of God, that's going to be preaching, and teaching the scriptures, and leading the body of Christ, now, let's come back, to 2nd Peter 2, [27:24] I want to point out, another phrase here, that we can, kind of jump, right off of, in 2nd Peter 2, verse 1, there are false teachers, who privily, shall bring, indemnable heresies, even denying, the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves, swift destruction, that's future, and it's coming, verse 2 says, and many shall follow, their pernicious ways, by reason of whom, the way of truth, shall be evil spoken of, that's an interesting thought, by reason of whom, the way of truth, shall be evil spoken of, they'll be calling, sound doctrine, false doctrine, and typically, they'll just take, the truth of the gospel, and then they'll, merge something with it, or add something to it, and so, they're not just, declaring the simple, unadulterated gospel, and truth of the gospel, but they're adding something, it's a, [28:27] I can't name them all, but they're putting, a twist on it, or speaking evil, of the simplicity of it, I don't know, you probably know, the guy John Hagee, in Texas, you've probably heard of him, he's, passed his ministry, over to his son, I can't think of his name, but it's Hagee Ministries, it's big money, big business, and that guy's, been preaching, for a long, long time, and people love him, especially older crowd, they love that guy, because he's dynamic, he's forceful, he's big, he'll stand on the word of God, and preach the word of God, he doesn't have the word of God, the words of God, but he stands and preaches, and one of the things, I watched him on TV, because there was a guy that, in my church back east, that, he was an older guy, but he just loved John Hagee, watched him every night, when he was on TV, that kind of thing, and he's like, I know some things, he's a little bit off on, but I sure do like, when he, oh he gets back, and he really preaches, and I thought, wow, so you enjoy the preaching, I get that, I totally get that, but you're just willing, to just ignore, the false doctrine, for instance, [29:28] I turned him on, and he said, his words, his quotes was, he goes about this, once saved, always saved heresy, that was his statement, that, the eternal security, of the believer, is a heresy, and he showed, from the scriptures, why it's wrong, no, he didn't, he just stood up, to his congregation, in Texas, and on the broadcast, to the world, and said, that being saved, for eternity, without anything, to do with it, of yourself, or being in Christ, is a heresy, now, there's a lot of people, that are just dumb enough, to believe that, so he believes, that he can, trust Jesus Christ, for salvation, and he'll preach, the gospel, but then he believes, he has to do something, to keep himself saved, for eternity, or until he dies, because once you're saved, you're not always saved, that's a heresy, according to John Hagee, what's that, that's a doctrine, of devils, in my opinion, that's wickedness, that's teaching works, that's teaching, you can trust, how is anybody, ever going to have security, how is anybody, ever going to know, for sure, how is anybody, going to ever rest, in Jesus Christ, as he tells them to, come unto me, all you that labor, and are heavy laden, and I'll give you rest, but then after that, you're going to have to work, an awful lot, to keep it, so this guy, is just one of many, and I'm not just here, to pick on him, we could park on a bunch of them, with their heresies, and their claims, and their lies, and what they're doing, though, is they're speaking, evil, of the truth, the truth, in this age, is that once you're saved, that when you believe, on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are saved, and you are sealed, by the Holy Spirit of promise, until the day of redemption, until your body's redeemed, until you come up, out of that dirt, or until God shows up, and changes us, and calls us up, to meet Jesus Christ, in the air, that's Bible, so, [31:35] John Hagee, and the Apostle Paul, will differ on that one, look at Ephesians chapter 4, Ephesians chapter 4, we are going to run out of time, to get into, what I really wanted, to get into here, but we'll try, chapter 4, verse 14, says, that we henceforth, be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about, with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait, to deceive, God, the Lord gave some, some, some offices, to the body of Christ, to perfect, and to mature, and to grow the saints, and to do the work, of the ministry, and he did this, so that we could all grow, and come to the unity, of the faith, and it's about, gaining knowledge, and wisdom of truth, and not being deceived, yet there's plenty of them, out there, is the point here, that are, that are being, tossed to and fro, and what is that, out there, that's the ministers, of Satan, in this age, with false doctrines, deceiving others, themselves being deceived, and Paul's saying, that God gave, the real offices, to the body of Christ, to combat that, and to grow individuals, and most importantly, he gave us his words, now it's hard to believe, when you look at ministries, of men, that are popular, and that, that have built, large works, and I don't just mean, mega churches, with rock bands, and light shows, but I mean, they've built, stable ministries, over years of time, that have just grown, and become, they're just gifted, and they're talented, and they have a, an incredible following, and it's hard to believe, that some of these men, that give glory to God, that, that love Jesus Christ, are champions, of Christianity, it's hard to believe, that they then, rub shoulders, with compromisers, or with political figures, that are just, ungodly, and that they even, will speak boldly, of Christ, in their pulpit, and then, at the same time, teach false doctrine, either in their pulpit, or in the classrooms, it's hard to, it's hard to gather this, and put this together, what do you make, of these men, who are they, how do you categorize, somebody, who's a champion, of Christianity, but yet, teaching false doctrine, what do you do, with that, well I want you, to consider something here, look at, [34:18] I'm going to take you, to two places, Matthew 16, and Luke 22, and this is, where we're going, to run out of time, to get to the meat of it, Matthew 16, quickly, and Luke 22, and in Matthew 16, I trust you're, pretty familiar with this, so we're going, to run through it, after Peter, acknowledges, that Jesus, is the Christ, in verse 16, thou art the Christ, the son of God, and Christ says, he's blessed, because the father, revealed that to him, that's revelation, from God the father, that is, what we categorize, as not general, but specific revelation, God revealed, some truth to Peter, about his son, Jesus Christ, and then just a handful, of verses later, in verse 22, after Christ talks, about his death, burial, and resurrection, [35:21] Peter took him, and began, to rebuke him, saying, be it far, from thee Lord, this shall not, be unto thee, so on one hand, he has revelation, from God the father, on the other hand, he rebukes, Jesus Christ, to his face, what are we going, to do with that guy, is he a devil, is he saved, is he of God, or of the devil, which, and Christ turns to him, and says, get thee behind me, Satan, thou savest not, the things that be of God, all right, now turn to Luke 22, what are you going, to do with Peter, good guy, bad guy, which one is he, well he's both, actually, just like you and me, Luke 22, and here again, Christ is talking, to Simon, Peter, Peter, and he tells him, that Satan's after him, but not just after him, after all of them, and you only learn this, from your King James Bible, by the way, in verse 31, the Lord said, [36:24] Simon, Simon, behold Satan, hath desired to have you, that he may sift you, as wheat, now you'll notice, the word you, two times, in that verse, and every time, I taught you this, on Wednesday nights, every time you see, the word you, or ye, or your, it's plural, every time, the King James Bible, has inserted, singular pronouns, and it's inserted, it has a use, of a plural pronoun system, how do I know that, look at the next verse, but I have prayed for, not you, but thee, and he's still talking, to Simon, so in the same sentence, when he says, you, to Simon, he's not talking, about him as a man, he's talking about, you apostles, the group, Satan has desired, to have you, all of you, that he may sift, all of you, as wheat, but I have prayed, for thee, singular, Simon, that thy, singular, faith fail not, and when thou, singular, are converted, strengthen thy, brethren, the rest of them, so what is, what's, well the point here, is that Satan, is after all of them, after all the apostles, he wants to turn, all of them, he, you saw, just a little glimpse there, of Satan being in, [37:45] Simon Peter, and rebuking the Lord, and the Lord turns to him, and says, look he's after all of you, and I'm praying for you Peter, because you're going to be the one, that emerges, as the leader, you're going to be the one, that's evident, in the book of Acts, the first several chapters, he is the man, and I say that, in the right context, but, note that the plural, ought to be enlightening to you, to let you know, that Satan's after all these guys, because they're ministers of Christ, and he wants to turn them, he wants to get his doctrine, into them, he wants to flip them, after Christ is gone, now turn to Galatians, and we'll close with this, but, I don't know if we'll get through it all, speaking of Peter again, okay, we're sticking on Peter, good guy, or bad guy, he's used of the Lord, mightily used of the Lord, to preach, and see thousands, converted, but, speaking of Peter, and a special interest, that Satan might have with him, here we are in Galatians, and Paul leads off, dealing with some issues, let's go to chapter one, some issues, where some are perverting, the gospel, that's a problem, remember we're talking, from Peter's passage, about the way of truth, shall be evil spoken of, and Paul's concerned here, about some, that are perverting, the gospel of Christ, look at chapter one, verse six, [39:20] I marvel, he's writing to these believers, that he had gone through this area, and led them to Christ, there's been an awakening, in a sense, and there's churches, verse two, in this region of Galatia, and he said, I marvel, that you are so soon, removed from him, that called you, into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel, which is not another, but there be some, that trouble you, and would pervert, the gospel of Christ, those are people, some, that trouble you, but though we, or an angel, from heaven, preach any other gospel, unto you, than that which, we have preached unto you, let him be accursed, as we said before, so I say now again, if any man, preach any other gospel, unto you, than ye have received, let him, be accursed, so he's worried about men, they're men and women, that are coming in, he says, even if it's an angel, but if any man, shows up preaching, let him be accursed, and he talks later, about that he got his gospel, from Jesus Christ, in verses 11 and 12, now look at chapter 3, verse 1, so somebody's perverting, the gospel, of the grace of God, and, [40:35] Paul, needs to reteach them, through this epistle, and enlighten them, about this as a heresy, of adding works, or going to the law, adding that, to having simple faith, look at chapter 3, verse 1, oh foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey, notice the truth, who hath bewitched you, there's a person, doing this, look at chapter 5, and verse 1, stand fast therefore, in the liberty, wherewith Christ hath made us, free, and be not entangled again, with the yoke of bondage, referring specifically, to the law, and that's what, the false doctrine, of that age was, now verse 7, ye did run well, who, a person, who did hinder you, that ye should not, obey the truth, who did that to you, there's people, there's people, that are ministers, of Satan, doing this, verse 10 says, [41:36] I have confidence, in you through the Lord, that ye will, be none otherwise minded, but he that troubleth you, shall bear his judgment, whoever he be, and it goes on from there, and I'll stop with that, but come back to chapter 2, and this is where, I want to finish up, with a thought about Peter, so Paul, you get the context, briefly here, this epistle, is trying to clean up, some false doctrine, slipping in unawares, into these churches, and there's people, that are bewitching, and they're confusing, and they're calling them, back under works, and away from grace, and into the law, and Paul's, pretty upset about it, and he calls them fools, and he's surprised, I marvel, that you're so soon, called away just like that, you're called away, from the grace of God, now back to Peter, in chapter 2, he cites a confrontation, that he has, with the apostle Peter, as an example, of how to deal, with these heresies, and notice in verse 2, verse 11, but when Peter, was come to Antioch, [42:41] I withstood him, to the face, because he was, to be blamed, well what's the big deal, Paul, why are you fussing, over the apostle Peter, he has been, mightily used of God, in the last several years, he is a pillar, in the church, at Jerusalem, I mean he's the, the biggest name, that there is, in early Christianity, is Peter, now Paul's on the scene, but this is pretty early, Peter's the man still, but when Peter shows up, Paul, in Antioch, Paul, withstands him, he confronts him, to his face, because he was, to be blamed, why such the fuss, over such a respected, man of God, the fuss, is over the integrity, the purity, the truth, of the gospel, and Peter, was to be blamed, about something here, the gospel, is not to be corrupted, and it's not to be abused, and it's not a supplement, to some other religion, it's the power, of God, unto salvation, salvation, so look at chapter 2, and verse 5, a couple of these phrases, that I want to point out, to you, when Paul showed up, he met with some of these Jews, the apostles of Christ, he met with them privately, and he said in verse 5, to whom, or there was other, false brethren, that came in unawares, in verse 4, to whom we gave place, by subjection, no not for an hour, why, that the truth, of the gospel, might continue with you, that's important to Paul, the truth of the gospel, verse 14, this is the, the problem he had, with Peter, he said, but when I saw, that they walked, not uprightly, according to the truth, of the gospel, [44:23] I said unto Peter, before them all, and I confronted him, about it, look at chapter 5, just to show you, that phrase again, 5, 5, 7, we read it earlier, who did hinder you, that you should not, obey the truth, the truth, now, putting this together, even Peter, the biggest name, in that age, the minister of Christ, the apostle of Christ, yes he denied him, but he got that right, and the, God's evident hand, was upon him, you read that, through Acts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, all of that going on, even Peter, was deceived, about something, he was guilty, about something, and he was, to be blamed, and in the chapter, he's, people are being, carried away, with their dissimulation, in verse 13, and there's confusion, and there's something, going on, that Paul's like, this should not, be going on, this is not according, to the truth, of the gospel, and Peter, you're the one, that's to be blamed, for it, so, who's, is this of God, is my point, this dissimulation, this confusion, in this, early, unstable, church period, no, but even, even the greatest, of men, even the holiest, you know, whatever you want to call them, men of God, can be, seduced, or deceived, or, can be to blame, with how they're, carrying themselves, with what they're teaching, with their, what they're espousing, as truth, and it took, the apostle Paul, a man that God, had raised up, and given revelation, and truth, and some guts, to stand up, and call them out, for it, now that's not a bad thing, to call somebody out, when they're not walking, according to the truth, now getting back, to Satan's ministers, and the reason, we're studying this, [46:12] I'm trying to show you that, give you some scriptural evidence, to show you that, even the closest, even the best, can be the worst, or can have, false teachings, and false things, it's hard to really, pinpoint, well how can that guy, I've got to stop here, but I can't help it, when I was, one thing I graduated, Bible school, and I'm not, trying to, call anybody out, specifically, but just going to, give it to you, when I got back, to the church, I was at, we were meeting, on a Thursday night, and we had, the men met together, to go out on visitation, and so we would go out, and either just knock doors, or we'd follow up, with different things, or go to the hospital, things like that, and so we're meeting, in the office, with the pastor, the senior pastor, he was pretty old, at the time, and he started, this conversation, and he's like, talking about some guy, he was watching on TV, a big shot, you don't know his name, and he said, I just can't, get it figured out, he's like, he's wrong, on this issue, he's wrong, but he's preaching, about the blood, and it was just, he was wrestling, with the thought, how can this man, be preaching, the gospel, of Jesus Christ, and yet be so, dead wrong, on another issue, over here, that was, a damnable heresy, as far as Peter calls it, and it was just, he was struggling with it, and I'm trying, to show you evidence, so Peter did too, just because you're, a good guy, and you have some light, and some truth, and even stand, and preach some truth, doesn't mean, you can't be deceived, about something else, and be used of the devil, in that deceit, he's pretty slick, and he's pretty subtle, and I'd like to continue, a little bit more on this, but we have got to stop, so let's take, a quick break there, we'll meet back, in just five minutes, and get that next service started. [47:57] Alright.