1. Fireside Chats Conversations With The Devil

2. Fireside Chats… • A conversation with Adam and Eve: • God’s first words were “Let there be light” and the devil’s first words were a challenge & confrontation to that light (Gen 3:1-6) • A very simple command – Eat of any tree except one, the day you eat of that one tree you will surely die (Gen. 2:16) • For some time they walked in fellowship with God & obedience to that law. They didn’t question God’s law or reason it away. • One conversation caused Eve to lose her convictions & confidence in God • Satan sought to undermine the authority of God and her trust: • First, he gets Eve to question what God has said  “Has God said…?” • Next he gets Eve to question the consequences  “It wont really happen” • Finally he gets Even to question God’s motives  “God is holding you back from enjoying something really good…” • He chose a serpent for a reason – He was being crafty in his assaults!

3. Fireside Chats… • A conversation with Adam and Eve: • Now that Eve is questioning and doubting, Satan uses her thoughts and desires to tempt her into sinning: • He appealed to her lust of the flesh – She craved the flavor, to enjoy it • He appealed to lust of her eyes – She loved its appearance, looked good • He appealed to pride of her life – She desired what it’d do, personal gain • A case study into his assault on us… destroying our faith and chipping away at our confidence (1 John 2:15-17; James 1:12-17) • The devil will use our lusts and desires against us. When we desire worldliness & worldly things more, he will use that against us. • We must remember what God’s word really says. Usually its not a lack of knowledge! Don’t put a question mark where God put a period! • Satan wants us to question God and lose confidence in Him… to doubt God is right, that God rewards, and that God will punish. Wants us to think God is keeping us from something good & pleasurable • Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding!

4. Fireside Chats… • A conversation with the Lord: • A very different conversation… the devil is before God’s throne talking with God about Job, one of God’s servants (Job 1:6-12) • Theological questions abound, but one thing is certain… In this instance Satan is able to go before God to bring a charge against God & Job • Satan acts as Job’s accuser – He is saying that Job’s faith is incredibly shallow… that Job only serves God for what Job can get out of it. He doesn’t consider that Job serves God because it is what’s right! • It’s an accusation against God as well… that God isn’t able to get real followers, only those who God blesses with physical things. • The devil chose to use trials to shipwreck the faith, hope, and love of Job… He attacks the things he feels are the closest to Job’s heart.

5. Fireside Chats… • A conversation with the Lord: • Job won’t give up on God, so the devil has another conversation with the Lord (Job 2:1-7) • The devil is relentless in his arrogance and rebellion – Does he really think he is right? This is likely pure rebellion against God & God’s people • The devil in relentless in his pursuit of Job – He has already hit Job hard and he is back for more. Now Job’s health is being taken away. • The devil is relentless in his search for susceptible faith – Has been wandering to & fro, up & down… Won’t give up until he wins one! • Note the devils connection between the physical and the spiritual… He really thinks men only serve God for physical blessings. That’s why he’s going after physical stuff. Not trying to make Job an atheist!

6. Fireside Chats… • A conversation with the Lord: • A unique window into the devil and our spiritual struggles against him (Rev. 12:10-12; Romans 8:1) • The devil is our accuser – He brings charges against God’s people. He is relentless in his personal pursuit of us. Can he make a charge? • Peter describes the devil as a roaring lion who walks about seeking people he can devour… prowling, tenacious, and sly (I Pet. 5:8) • Make sure we are serving God for the right reason – Is our faithfulness tied to how well things are going physically? What if our American dream crashes? What if Satan attacked our treasures? • If we grow too close to this world he will use that weakness against us. If our treasure is on earth, he will rip our foundation from under us. Such misplaced focus results in a dangerously weak faith!

7. Fireside Chats… • A conversation with Jesus Christ: • One day the devil had a conversation meant to attack the Jesus’ righteousness and faithfulness (Matthew 4:1-11) • This conversation is eerily similar in methodology to his conversation with Eve: • He appealed to Jesus through fleshly desire, through personal gain, and through power and glory. As a temptation it had to appeal! • It’s about the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life. • He is trying to get Jesus to use the power His Father gave him for his own profit… for Jesus to work His own will ahead of the Father’s. • Satan doesn’t use questions this time, but he twists the scriptures to try to get Jesus to set aside what He knows is right for what is easy.

8. Fireside Chats… • A conversation with Jesus Christ: • The devil identified what he thought was weakness in the life and thinking of Jesus: • Jesus knew what was wrong and Satan knew that… not about tempting Jesus in what he doesn’t know but ignoring what He does know • He went after Jesus during a time of physical weakness – Fasting • He went after Jesus during a time of personal weakness – Alone • He went after Jesus during a time of potential weakness – Escape • Some unique lessons gleaned (Psalm 119:9-16; I Cor. 10:12-13) • Satan is bold! At least he’s desperate. If he will go after the Son of God, he will surely go after us. No one is safe or immune! • He is strategic and methodical – He knows our weaknesses & times of weakness. Weary? Discouraged? Alone? Frustrated? GUARD! • Knowledge is VITAL! Know God’s will, reinforce it, and set it at our core • The devil is predictable… We know how he works. Nothing is new!