DISTORTED, What We Can’t See Can Hurt Us
DISTORTED
What We Can’t See Can Hurt Us
October 15, 2023
Distorted
/di-ˈstôr-təd/
Adjective
• Pulled or twisted out of shape; contorted.
• Giving a misleading or false account or impression; misrepresented.
“his report gives a distorted view of the meeting”
Big Idea: The longer we look at distorted truth as truth, the more likely we will believe it as a truth.
1. There’s an invisible world that
• The Bible says there is a distorter of truth.
2. He distorts the truth just enough to get us in trouble, but not enough to
John 8:38-44 - I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.” 39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do the things Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the things your own father does.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.
• The Jewish leaders were unable to recognize who Jesus was because there is a deceiver.
3. He had distorted their
John 8:44 - You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
4. Jesus believed that the devil’s ultimate agenda was the destruction of human life, and that the means by which he destroyed human life was through
5. The devil’s plan is to confuse the human mind so that we think what is right is actually wrong and what is wrong is right.
John 14:30 - I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me,…
Luke 4:5-6 - The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
6. How
Genesis 3:1-6 - Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Ephesians 6:10-11 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Schemes: Carries the idea of craftiness, cunning, and deception. The term was often used of a wild animal that cunningly stalked and then unexpectedly pounced on its prey. Satan’s evil schemes are built around stealth and deception.
• Paul says that the devil’s scheme, plan, and strategy is a real simple one.
7. He takes what is true and
Ephesians 6:12-14 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,…
John 8:31-32 - To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”