Speech by Paul Harvey.
(You may listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3Az0okaHig If I were the Devil)
This section is different but similar:
I personally began reading a book called Doctrine of The Satan. By Dr. Harold L. Willmington.
The following is a small section from his book that I'd like to share.
Satan is even ignored or down-played among many Bible-believers. Many Bible-believing pastors and lay-people are, it would seem, extremely reluctant to "give the devil his due." Some time ago, this author wrote an article entitled, "If I Were The Devil." In this article the following points were stressed:
"The first thing I would do would be to deny my own existence. The Bible informs us that God desires, perhaps above all else, to be fully believed in." But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
"But this is not so with Satan! This disciple of doubt seems to thrive best when he is either underestimated, ignored or denied.
"Suppose there is a Bible-believing church which is going through a spiritual crisis. For some months no soul has walked its aisles. The attendance and offereings are down and the members are becoming restless. All the Bible pastors have had these experiences. Finally, despearation, a special committee is appointed by the congregation to discover the source of this coldness and lifelessness. After considerable prayer and porbing, the committee submits its report. What are the its findings? I believe it may be safely assumed that the average committee would lay the blame on one or more of the following 1) the pastor; 2) certain officals; 3) a cold congregation; or 4) a difficult neighborhood.
"But what fact-finding group would return the following indictment? 'We believe the main source of our heartaches for the past few monts is Satanic! We believe the reason no souls have been saved recently is due to an all-out attack on our church by the devil! We close this report with a strong recommendation that the congregation call a special meeting, rebuke Satan, plead the blood of Christ and claim the victory!'
"If I were the devil I would deny my existence in the world and down-play it in the local church, thus freeing me to go about my business undeeded, unhindered, and unchecked." (The Baptis Bulletine, December, 1971, p.13)
(You may listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3Az0okaHig If I were the Devil)
This section is different but similar:
I personally began reading a book called Doctrine of The Satan. By Dr. Harold L. Willmington.
The following is a small section from his book that I'd like to share.
Satan is even ignored or down-played among many Bible-believers. Many Bible-believing pastors and lay-people are, it would seem, extremely reluctant to "give the devil his due." Some time ago, this author wrote an article entitled, "If I Were The Devil." In this article the following points were stressed:
"The first thing I would do would be to deny my own existence. The Bible informs us that God desires, perhaps above all else, to be fully believed in." But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
"But this is not so with Satan! This disciple of doubt seems to thrive best when he is either underestimated, ignored or denied.
"Suppose there is a Bible-believing church which is going through a spiritual crisis. For some months no soul has walked its aisles. The attendance and offereings are down and the members are becoming restless. All the Bible pastors have had these experiences. Finally, despearation, a special committee is appointed by the congregation to discover the source of this coldness and lifelessness. After considerable prayer and porbing, the committee submits its report. What are the its findings? I believe it may be safely assumed that the average committee would lay the blame on one or more of the following 1) the pastor; 2) certain officals; 3) a cold congregation; or 4) a difficult neighborhood.
"But what fact-finding group would return the following indictment? 'We believe the main source of our heartaches for the past few monts is Satanic! We believe the reason no souls have been saved recently is due to an all-out attack on our church by the devil! We close this report with a strong recommendation that the congregation call a special meeting, rebuke Satan, plead the blood of Christ and claim the victory!'
"If I were the devil I would deny my existence in the world and down-play it in the local church, thus freeing me to go about my business undeeded, unhindered, and unchecked." (The Baptis Bulletine, December, 1971, p.13)