Message: Collins/WH anno Domini 2011 October 30, 2011
2Cor.11:1-15 Masquerade A Year of Jubilee
For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2Cor.11:14
Intro: Since tonight is Trick-or –Treat & tomorrow is … … … Halloween, I thought I might preach about the only place … in Scripture where the word “masquerade” appears.
For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2Cor.11:14 Masquerade - the mask that hides the truth.
I
Did you know (?) that after Christmas, Halloween is the … … holiday that people spend the most money, … on … … … decorations?
- What you might not know is that pagans are as … … upset over the commercialization of their … … … holiday as Christians are over the … … … … … commercialization of Christmas.
- Although it’s not a picture, take a look at this … … … artists rendition of a downtown protest.
For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2Cor.11:14
- What would make the writer of this letter (Paul) say such a thing? What does … he mean?
- He doesn’t just say it out of the blue, but it appears in a larger context of some … things he’s been dealing with among the Christians at Corinth.
- Read – Text.
II
v.1-2 Some a little more familiar w/Scripture will already know that marriage is a … … fitting metaphor for the relationship that God seeks to establish with us thru faith in … Jesus as Savior,
- And marriage words like (1) blessing, joy & a Jesus Creed type love;
… (2) commitment, faithfulness, devotion, & sacrifice are the words of that … relationship asked of us as disciples of Jesus.
- Paul feels God’s jealousy because church at Corinth hasn’t been acting much … like a Bride; they’d been acting like they were having an spiritual affair & … cheating on God.
v.3-4 He references the Adam and Eve story as an eg. of “deception” & applies the … … word to the Corinthians & their experience of buying into a different “gospel” than … the gospel which he gospeled among them
v. 5-11 They’ve also been deceived in their evaluation of Paul, who IS an apostle of … Jesus – despite the put downs from others in the church who assert themselves a … … “super apostles”.
- They have made fun of (1) Paul’s public speaking ability (2) His shallow & … wrong (in their minds) insight into the message about Jesus (3) Even his … humility in not becoming a financial burden to the church. They take that … to mean that he’s a spiritual bumpkin & not worth an honorarium.
2CO 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. [14] And no
wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light
Woo! They’ve got him angry now! He calls THEM (1) false apostles (2) deceitful (3) masquerading as the real deal.
- And then delivers the real ZINGER. Don’t be surprised if they do this, … … because SATAN can masquerade as an Angel of Light.
III
Now! What do we need to understand from all of this for our lives? 3 Things:
… (1) The Demonic is Real (2) The Deception is real (3) The Deliverance is Real
1st Although I reference it throughout the year, at least once a year, I want to really … … remind you that there is a Demonic Reality always threatening to infiltrate, … … … inhabit, and inflict deep destruction into various pockets of YOUR life.
Illus. When more than 50 wild animals escaped … from Zanesville last week (among them lions, … & tigers & bears) … did you think of the … … … metaphor Scripture uses
1PE 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
The Demonic is Real! Not just theologically real, but personally real & … … threatening to infiltrate, inhabit, and inflict deep destruction into … … … various pockets of YOUR life.
2nd The Deception is Real! You don’t have to be a spiritual rocket scientists to see … the evil that is obvious, but you do need some discernment to see the deception.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
- The deception is a danger for us LIKE it was for the … … … Corinthians! Deceived by (1) Different Jesus; (2) … … … Different Gospel (3) Different Spirit
- Deceived into being (1) Critical (2) Contrary (3) Undercutting & … … … … … Undermining with comments & whisperings about each other.
Would you be offended if I said that in conversations I overhear you … … … having with others, or that I’ve heard you’ve had with others… I can … … see the Deception that you don’t see?
- The demonic enemy having infiltrated to inhabit & inflict deep damage in … the church.
- Would you be offended if I said that in pockets of your family life, … … social life, recreational life, business life & spiritual life… I see the … … enemy masquerading as an angel of light.
- And that imbedded in what you think is good … the enemy has … sown seeds of your own destruction. Why don’t YOU see it?
Illus. Did you hear about police responding to a home invasion in … Mansfield, OH discovering 2 alligators in the home instead.
- It was a practical joke by the man who called intending to … scare his girlfriend.
- Police found 2 alligators instead of a burglary, & the woman said she … … … … absolutely did want the alligators in the house.
Do you remember that Scripture references a beast called Leviathan (& it was … … … probably literally an alligator) ,… but uses it to represent demonic reality?
ISA 27:1 In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.
Why are some of you content to keep Leviathan in pockets of your life? Don’t you see … him there? Does he look like a pet to you (Turtle/gold fish)? Don’t you see what he … really is? And the danger to your soul?
3rd
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2Cor.11:14
The Deliverance is Real! The Christian gospel announces that Jesus the Son of … … God, has come to defeat and deliver us from the deception of the demonic!
- The Deceiver in the Garden of Eden story.
- The Tempter in Jesus’ own 40 days/wilderness story
- That Attacker of life & limb in the story of Job.
- The one who incited Judas to betray Jesus.
- The one likened to a roaring lion looking for prey to devour
- The one called Leviathan – the alligator hiding in the shadows/life.
- The one called the Accuser among the people of God.
- The one who masquerades as light when it really is darkness.
The Christian gospel announces that Jesus the Son of God has come to … … defeat and deliver us from the deception of the demonic! His life, death, … … Resurrection, & Coming again defeats the demonic!
Come & Repent of Sin… & Let him defeat demonic in you!
- Come & faith yourself to the power of His Cross for your salvation, so can … … defeat demonic in you.
- Come & faith yourself to receive the HS for personal power to overcome
- Come & walk in life following Jesus who won’t lead you into darkness.
- Come & immerse yourself in Scripture, lest you not recognize darkness when … you see it & be deceived all over again.
- Come & enter into the holy habits of fasting & prayer; Sabbath keeping & … … communion, worship & a celebration of God’s delivering power.
- Come & be a witness … of how you were once in darkness, but by the grace … of God you’ve been delivered form the power of that darkness.
The Christian gospel announces that Jesus the Son of God has come to … … defeat and deliver us from the deception of the demonic! & The … … … … Deliverance is real! Is it real in your experience?
Closing: (1) comic
(2) And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light 2Cor.11:14
Maybe this morning God has awakened your mind & spirit to see, & you … want to be delivered from your deception.
You will need to be a “Truth-Teller” before God of what … you now see behind the masquerade & believe that … … Jesus name is power & light & healing for your life.