Prepared for the Devil
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, give us the urgency and the realization of this fleeting life we live, and that eternity’s door is closer than we think. Lead us out into this world to reach the lost and share the Gospel message with everyone, as you said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field,” (Luke 10:2, NIV).
" But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Revelation 19:20
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10
REFLECT:
It is important to realize that hell was not prepared for people, God’s children. It was prepared for the devil and his angels, as we read about in our verses today. I John 3:8, NIV, says ” The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” The reason it is important to remember that hell was never intended to be for God’s children is so that we don’t forget his love for us all and his desire to see everyone saved – leaving no one behind! II Peter 3:9, NIV, says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
The only one God predestined to be in hell is the devil and his angels. All of us have the opportunity to give our lives to Christ and spend eternity with him…if we don’t make that decision, we “choose” to spend eternity in hell with the devil. Again, going to hell is not God’s desire for any of us. Time and again we need to be reminded, if we were the ‘only’ person on this earth, God would have still sent Jesus to the cross to die for us and redeem us to himself for all eternity! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16, NIV).
APPLY:
We recently listened to a great sermon series on the book of James at Pathway. I have also heard similar messages from my daughter’s church in Broken Arrow, talking of “keeping our focus on Jesus,” persevering in times of trials, understanding that we will have trials. All these are fantastic reminders to “stay the course” with Jesus! The devil would like nothing more than to tell people, being a Christian is hard. Living a life of good values and not repaying evil for evil is not all it’s cracked up to be. “You won’t have any fun living for God all the time.” The greatest life we can live is life in Christ! The devil seeks to destroy us by keeping us from thinking about eternity, in hopes that we will end up in hell with him. I Peter 5:8, NIV, says “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Be mindful of the many victories Christ has won in your life today
CLOSING PRAYER:
Heavenly father, remind us of your purposes for us and the ultimate mission you have given us: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” (Matthew 28:19,20).
WORSHIP: