The Demon DEAL

[Audio] Imagine being absolutely sure that you are: 100% forgiven 100% accepted 100% secure And passionately loved by a God you can be sure of There is a truth will completely transform your Christian life – but evil wants to keep you away from the blessing with an ancient trap: It is called the Demon Deal "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE" 1Peter 5:5, James 4:6 Not HELPS the humble – gives GRACE to the humble WHY not "HELPS"? Because GRACE is the ultimate help – but PRIDE will prevent it THIS IS HOW PRIDE DOES IT ANTIGRACE.

[Audio] EVIL LOVES THE DEMON DEAL It is a deal or agreement a person makes with a false god.

[Audio] Pagans have always been making The Demon Deal This is the death mask of Agamemnon He was a Greek general who slaughtered and offered his daughter to demons in view of his entire army before sailing off to conquer Troy..

[Audio] HOW IT WORKS The human sacrifices something valuable: Food or Gold The more valuable the sacrifice (life or blood) the greater the blessing/assistance Their false god gives: Fertility (cattle, harvest, children) Victory in battle Prosperity (they think) THIS THINKING HAS BEEN DEEPLY INGRAINED IN EVERY CULTURE SINCE THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

[Audio] SOME CHRISTIANS THINK THEY CAN MAKE THE DEMON DEAL WITH GOD The Deal is done by: Christians who are Proud/self-centered: They are convinced of their own spiritual strength They are convinced of their own spiritual goodness They are self-righteous (the clever are proud of their humility about their intelligence) Christians who are sin-centered: They see only their own failure They are convinced that they are unacceptable and unloved They believe God only tolerates them as sinners The assumption is always acceptance based on works.

[Audio] HOW THEY LIVE --------------------------------------- The proud/self-centered Christian: Believes that he/she was saved by grace- but they think they are strong and now want to live the Christian life in their own strength (they do not trust the work of the cross, so they work to make sure they get what they deserve) They desperately need the affirmation of other Christians (the encouragement of others helps them believe that they are doing ok – and it feels great) They believe their own thoughts are always God speaking (they cannot distinguish between their own fleshly thoughts, God's voice and Satan's voice) The sin-centered Christian: Also believes that he/she was saved by grace – (but they know they are weak but God now demands that they live the Christian life in their own strength) They cannot believe that God's grace is as great as it is (they think they will always remain unacceptable because their sins and failings are too great for God to forgive) They believe God never talks to them (why would He even look at a sinner like me?).

[Audio] HOW THEY THINK THE DEAL IS STRUCTURED God saves them from hell He protects and blesses them … but only while they are "good" it all stops when they don't keep their side of the deal IN RETURN They give him things They do what he wants They act like Christian should … when they fail they try very hard to do better.

[Audio] THE THINGS (I THINK) I CAN USE TO BARGAIN WITH: The things I can give I give my life I give my time I give my tithe (and sometimes I give much more) … but everything you can give has been given to you by God.

[Audio] WHO AND WHAT I AM I am a doctor / engineer / entrepreneur /pastor /elder /deacon /prophet /teacher I am deeply spiritual I am intelligent I am musical I am faithful I am a leader I am a Jew /American /white /black etc. I am a scholar/academic … but everything good you are is only because God made it so.

[Audio] THE THINGS I DO I pray 2 hours a day I evangelise I give to the poor I have an advanced and deep theology I am obedient I come to Church every Sunday I prophecy a lot I hear God's voice I am humble … but every good thing you do is only because of grace.

[Audio] THE THINGS I DO NOT DO I do not eat pork or prawns (as the Law demands) I do not smoke or drink I do not sleep around I do not gossip but everything you do not do is also only by grace.

[Audio] MY INSURANCE AND JOY: THE RESPECT OF OTHERS The Pharisees were experts at this If I can make other Christians respect me, surely it means that God is happy with me (I hope) It also makes me feel & look spiritually superior … a win-win (in my self-centered mind).

[Audio] SO YOU ARE TRYING TO PAY GOD WITH WHAT HE ORIGINALLY GAVE YOU … … and you want Him to be impressed? SERIOUSLY?.

[Audio] I AM PROUD/SELF-CENTERED I give 10% of my salary - God must now guarantee blessing for me I served as a missionary for 30 years - Now I deserve a beach house I serve as a deacon - Now God owes me I gave a lot of money - Now God has to guarantee my position I gave my life to Jesus - Now He owes me I am a pastor/leader/teacher - Other people respect me – I must be ok I speak in tongues and prophesy - I am a superior Christian I AM SIN-CENTERED I do not always give 10% - God will punish me I never served as a missionary - God will not listen to me when I pray I never served as a deacon - Now God will ignore me I do not give a lot of money - Now God will resist me I gave my life to Jesus - But I live without faith and joy I do not lead - I am an inferior Christian I do not speak in tongues or prophesy – I am not very spiritual.

[Audio] A CLARIFICATION : All Christian works are good …… but they become evil when you try to use them to do The Demon Deal.

[Audio] THE DEAL MAKES US: SELF-SUFFICIENT CHRISTIANS (We begin to imagine we do not need any help from God. You know you are doing this if you are convinced you have no weaknesses) PROUD CHRISTIANS (We have convinced ourselves that we are keeping our part of the deal) POWERLESS CHRISTIANS (We minister from personality and talent – BUT WE HAVE NO REAL ANOINTING) ENTITLED CHRISTIANS (We believe we have earned something) FEARFUL CHRISTIANS (we constantly worry that may fail in our part of the deal) PEOPLE-PLEASING CHRISTIANS (we ignore the fact that we can't please God with The Deal – so we please people. They are easy and it feeds our egos) JOYLESS CHRISTIANS (we know we are failing to keep The Deal) ANGRY CHRISTIANS (because God does not stick to The Deal. We experience sickness, sorrow, suffering and old age – and that was not the deal) FRUSTRATED CHRISTIANS (because no matter how hard we try, we cannot change ourselves) JUDGEMENTAL CHRISTIANS (because I work hard to keep the deal, those who don't are weak, evil sinners) BLACKMAILED CHRISTIANS (we cower and remember the times we made mistakes : That Abortion , AFFAIR, BETRAYAL, NEGLECT, THEFT, SLANDER OR MURDER - And that sin you are thinking about right now).

[Audio] WE SAY WE LIVE BY GRACE - WE SUBCONSCIOUSLY WE BELIEVE IT WORKS LIKE THIS: I GIVE: What/who I am My money/time What I do/do not do GOD GIVES: Salvation Protection Blessing.

[Audio] WE DO NOT EARN OUR BLESSINGS – THEY COME FROM GOD THROUGH COVENANTS A COVENANT IS AN AGREEMENT WITH GOD.

[Audio] THERE ARE 2 TYPES OF COVENANTS IN THE BIBLE: Bilateral (two-sided): God does and man has to do UniLateral (one-sided): God does it all.

[Audio] BILATERAL COVENANTS: GOD DOES AND MAN MUST DO In Eden: I will let you rule but do not eat of the tree With Israel: You will be my people if you keep the Law ALL BUSINESS CONTRACTS ARE BILATERAL.

[Audio] 2) UNILATERAL COVENANTS: GOD DOES IT ALL Adam: Your seed will crush Satan's head Noah: The earth will not be destroyed with a flood again Abraham: I will give you land, descendants and blessing.

[Audio] THE NEW TESTAMENT IS A UNILATERAL COVENANT: GOD DOES IT ALL This means God does everything There is no promise you can make and keep to earn Grace For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD Ephesians 2:8 We do good works not to GET Grace But because we HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED Grace.

[Audio] HOW A BUSINESS AGREEMENT WORKS John wants boerewors from P&P The agreement is that John will pay for the boerewors and P&P will give it to John after he paid for it John gets the boerewors from the shelf and pays at the till The boerewors now belongs to John and the money to P&P You don't get John's boerewors– because the agreement was between John and P&P A COVENANT IS A DIVINE AGREEMENT In the same way, The Old Testament is a Divine agreement between God and Israel – nobody else (unless you are Jew) Not with the gentiles (that means not with you) That is why you cannot keep the Jewish Law and get the Jewish blessings (again: because you are not a Jew and the Covenant is not with you).

[Audio] Are you trying to live under a Covenant that was made with someone else? The word "Testament" means "Covenant" The Old Covenant is a divine agreement between God and Israel Do you want to be part of the Old Covenant? Die Be born as a Jew Trust in God Perfectly keep the Sabbath, the feasts and the 613 laws Want to be part of the New Covenant? Die to yourself Be born of the Spirit Trust in the grace of God and accept Jesus has already perfectly kept the 613 laws on your behalf Love God with all you heart and love your neighbour as yourself.

[Audio] AGAIN: THE NEW COVENANT IS A UNILATERAL COVENANT- GOD DOES IT ALL We gentiles are under a much better New Covenant Jesus is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Hebrews 8:6 It is not about you and what you can do - it is about who Jesus is and what He has done This completely destroys the foolish "Christian Superstar" idea None of us has anything to boast about or to hero-worship any another Christian for - no matter how famous they are. ALL IS GRACE..

[Audio] THERE IS NO DEAL YOU CAN MAKE TO EARN GRACE You can get no points for Christian conduct to earn grace You cannot give to get - it is all grace For by grace you have been saved … it is the gift of God not of works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 True Christian works are done BECAUSE we live in grace – not to GET grace.

[Audio] THE STORY OF MEPHIBOSETH There is nothing you can do to pay for His amazing grace Trying to pay for grace is like tipping the God who bled and died to save you with R5.

[Audio] THE CHRISTIAN WHO LIVES BY GRACE Example: A CEO sends his employee to the USA His instructions: Go to the USA Complete this project I will give you what you need to do it The employee: Gets in the airplane Travels to the USA Completes the project.

[Audio] THE CHRISTIAN WHO LIVES IN HIS OWN STRENGTH Again, an Example: A CEO sends another employee to the USA His instructions: Go to the USA Complete this project I will give you what you need to do it The employee: Says no thanks, I can do this I can get there myself Empties his savings account for the hotel, buys a canoe and starts to paddle.

[Audio] Are you trying to paddle to the USA? No wonder you are tired and frustrated We all need the power of grace to live the Christian life. You can never do it with The Demon Deal.

[Audio] This is you in your own strength. 4x4 Round Nose Spade - GC Caravans.

[Audio] GRACE BECOMES POWER IN OUR WEAKNESS Jesus said to Paul, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness (my inability) So, now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me (so no weakness, now power of God) That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, for when I am weak (in my inability), then I am strong (in Christ's ability and strength)." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

[Audio] WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8.

[Audio] … BUT WE ALSO LIVE AND GROW BY GRACE -------------------------------- Through Jesus we obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand Romans 5:1-2 -------------------------------- Grace changes us … by the grace of God I am what I am 1 Corinthians 15:10 -------------------------------- Grace frees us … you are not under LAW but under GRACE Rom 6:14 -------------------------------- Grace strengthens us … be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2Timothy 2:1 "Be strong" is literally "to be empowered." It does not mean to "dig deep" to find strength somewhere in ourselves. -------------------------------- Our hearts need to know that there is a strong God who saves and empowers (and wants to).

[Audio] Grace is available to all who are in Christ … but how do we get "IN CHRIST?" THE MOMENT WE BELIEVED, THE FATHER PUT US IN JESUS BY HIS OWN WILL AND POWER It is because of the Father you are in Christ Jesus 1Corinthians 1:30 Your life is now hidden in Christ Colossians 3:3 This means that when the Father looks at you He sees Jesus.

[Audio] WILL YOU DARE TO BELIEVE THAT GOD'S GRACE IS TRULY THAT GREAT … or is God only as generous and forgiving as you are?.

[Audio] The Father chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6) ------------------------------- What God the Father did: The Father chose you in Jesus long ago (that you should be holy and without blame before Him in love) He predestined you to adoption (to make you His child) How? by Jesus Christ (through Jesus: the sacrifice, the mediator and the way into God's family) to Himself (the Father) Why? according to the good pleasure of His will (because He wanted to) To the praise of the glory of His grace (so that we might praise Him for His amazing grace).

[Audio] GOD'S GLORY IS HIS GRACE The Large Magellanic Cloud is It is 63,000 light years away and 14,000 light years across. It contains 30 billion stars Photo Captured by the Hubble telescope … so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace Ephesians 1:7 … He would rather showcase His exceeding riches of His grace throughout eternity than showcase the Large Magellanic Cloud.

[Audio] ONE REASON GOD HATES PRIDE SO MUCH: It opposes His plan of grace "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE" 1Peter 5:5, James 4:6.

[Audio] WE ARE SAVED AND LIVE AND GROW BY GRACE – AND WE RECEIVE GRACE AS A GIFT That is the scandal of the gospel. All other religions demand religious works to earn favour Only our God takes the initiative and reaches out to love and forgive – and He paid the highest price with His own blood and life..

[Audio] But you think: you are a "good" person (all proud people do) you think God did not have to forgive so much in your case (because you are so "good") and now you do not love God so much … whoever has been forgiven little loves little Luke 7:47 The truth is: The heart is deceitful above all things (yours too) and desperately wicked Jeremiah 17:9.

[Audio] YOU WERE LIED TO about the extent of the radical forgiveness you were given THE TRUTH IS THAT YOU WERE LITERALLY SNATCHED OUT OF THE JAWS OF HELL – but you think it was a small thing.

[Audio] THE DEMON DEAL TRAP This works very well in the church - especially in the lives of Christian men You see others have a deep relationship with God through Jesus - but you don't So you act like a happy Christian … but in your secret heart you feel alone and unloved It is because you are making The Demon Deal and you feel condemned The Deal tells you: You are not doing enough (you know that is true) You are not forgiven (you think that is true) You are not accepted (you believe that is true) It is because you trust in what you can do - and you know that it is not enough. So you live a sad life because you believe God must now reject and punish you … BUT YOUR SPIRIT WILL NEVER REST UNTIL IT FINDS REST IN GOD.

[Audio] YOUR HEART SECRETLY AND DESPERATELY LONGS FOR GOD - AND YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY UNTIL YOU FIND PEACE IN HIM -------------------------------------------- "Thou hast formed us for Thyself and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee." Augustine ------------------------------------------- "I have immortal longings in me" Shakespeare ------------------------------------------------- "God has put eternity in their hearts" Ecclesiastes 3:11 --------------------------------------- All the love/affirmation/acceptance you ever longed for (from father, girl/boyfriend, wife, husband or child) Every comfort you ever wanted (money, success, security, drugs, honour, sex or power) … ARE SYMPTOMS OF YOUR HEART'S DEEP LONGING FOR GOD.

[Audio] THE BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGH YOU CAN HAVE IN YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK IS TO ACCEPT THE GIFT OF GRACE No matter how good, generous, disciplined and faithful you are – you can never live the Christian life without the power of Grace CAN YOU DO ANY OF THESE: … love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind with all your strength … and love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:30-31 … forgive .. not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22 … to him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. and from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Luke 6:29 … be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect Matthew 5:48 … the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do John 14:12.

[Audio] LIVING BADLY Does it matter if I live like an unsaved person?.

[Audio] YES, IT MATTERS Because: You are His child and His ambassador People look at you and think you are like your God God wants you to live according to His life in you For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14.

[Audio] … AND THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES TO EVERYTHING YOU DO YOU WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH WHAT YOU DO EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE SAVED - BOTH THE GOOD AND THE BAD .. but when you and I fail and fall grace catches us and assures us that our fall is not fatal because we stand by grace alone not by our own goodness, success or failure Grace protects us from a lifetime of remorse and regret.

[Audio] SO STOP: 1) TRYING TO PAY FOR GRACE WITH YOUR CHRISTIAN WORKS Abandon the ideas that you elevate above God's word Accept what He says about you and His salvation for you.

[Audio] 2) STOP TRYING TO IMPRESS EVERYONE Stop worrying so much about being respected/admired by people THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THE CHURCH If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10.