“DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL!”

1 John 3:7-10                        (ESV)

“7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

8 WHOEVER MAKES A PRACTICE OF SINNING IS OF THE DEVIL, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the SON of GOD appeared was  to “DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL”.

9 NO ONE BORN OF GOD MAKES A PRACTICE OF SINNING, for GOD's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD.

10 By this it is evident who are the children of GOD, and who are the children of the devil: WHOEVER DOES NOT PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

Believe it or not, I was once a child!  That is correct, I’ve not always been a 6’6” man.  While growing up I was taught a song that said “Be Careful little eyes what you see”, “for the FATHER up above is looking down on us, so be careful little eyes what you see”!  That little song rings loudly in today’s world as many want us to only listen to their rhetoric (words), while ignoring their deeds and actions. 

It is the obligation of we whose EYES have been OPENED to alert those who are SINNING that JUDGEMENT for their actions IS COMING!   When Scripture states “The reason the SON of GOD appeared was to “DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL””, it isn’t open for debate!  We will most likely OFFEND by telling them of their choices, but a pastor friend of mine would say that he would rather offend someone out of hell than to pat them on the back all the way to hell!  You cannot serve GOD and Mammon (Earthly goods; property; riches) (Matthew 6:24)!  Money, power, prestige, nor political power will make any difference on JUDGEMENT DAY!  

The Scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees were also known as the “elite” of the time when JESUS walked among us.  Although THEY CLAIMED TO BE righteous, in John 8 JESUS told them “you are of your father, the devil”!  Likewise, just because people attend church every now and then these days doesn’t indicate a life changing relationship with JESUS.  NO ONE BORN OF GOD MAKES A PRACTICE OF SINNING, according to GOD’S WORD!  Our opinion of someone doesn’t save them, nor does the good deeds performed by them earn them mercy at the JUDGEMENT SEAT.  

WHOEVER DOES NOT PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, but the devil!  NO ONE BORN OF GOD MAKES A PRACTICE OF SINNING, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD.  JESUS came to “DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL”.  Those who are friends of “this world” will experience the same fate as the devil.  Of which team are you a member, and what are your actions saying regarding your allegiance?  The time for making that decision is nearing an end.  Will you suffer for JESUS, or will you stand with HIS enemy?   ETERNITY is LONG and SURE and JESUS will “DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL”!!!