Preparing our Hearts to Worship
In an effort to help you prepare for the September 1, 2019, Sunday morning corporate worship gathering and to aid you in your own reflections on the Hidden Side of People. I wanted to pose a few questions and provide a few resources to prayerfully consider over the coming days. Our sermon is entitled, “Can Demons read my mind?” The main Scriptures for the day are the Genesis 3:1-7.
(Pick and choose from the many resources and options, which I have tried to make available for your devotional life.)
From the Scriptures
Please read and reflect upon Genesis 3:1-7, 2Corinthians 2:10-11, 4:4, 10:3-5, Acts 5:3, 1Corinthians 7:5.
From the Creeds and Confessions
Heidelberg Catechism Q32 But why are you called a Christian? Because I am a member of Christ by faith, and thus a partaker of his anointing, that I may confess his Name, present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to him, and with a free and good conscience fight against sin and the devil in this life, and hereafter reign with him eternally over all creatures.
Heidelberg Catechism Q112 What is required in the ninth commandment? That I bear false witness against no man; wrest no one’s words; be no backbiter or slanderer; do not judge, or join in condemning, any man rashly or unheard; but that I avoid all sorts of lies and deceit as the proper works of the devil, unless I would bring down upon myself the heavy wrath of God; likewise, that in judicial and all other dealings I love the truth, speak it up rightly, and confess it; and that, as much as I am able, I defend and promote the honor and reputation of my neighbor.
Belgic Confession Article 12 Article 12: Of the Creation. We believe that the Father, by the Word, that is, by his Son, hath created of nothing, the heaven, the earth, and all creatures, as it seemed good unto him, giving unto every creature its being, shape, form, and several offices to serve its Creator. That he does also still uphold and govern them by his eternal providence, and infinite power, for the service of mankind, to the end that man may serve his God. He also created the angels good, to be his messengers and to serve his elect; some of which are fallen from that excellency, in which God created them, into everlasting perdition; and the others have, by the grace of God, remained steadfast and continued in their primitive state. The devils and evil spirits are so depraved, that they are enemies of God and every good thing, to the utmost of their power, as murderers, watching to ruin the Church and every member thereof, and by their wicked stratagems to destroy all; and are, therefore, by their own wickedness, adjudged to eternal damnation, daily expecting their horrible torments. Therefore we reject and abhor the error of the Sadducees, who deny the existence of spirits and angels: and also that of the Manichees, who assert that the devils have their origin of themselves, and that they are wicked of their own nature, without having been corrupted.
From the songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church
A Mighty Fortress is our God (Luther): Lyrics, Video
For Thoughtful Reflection, Prayer, or further Study
Read and reflect upon Buys’ A Reformed Perspective on demonology.
Read and reflect upon Randy Alcorn’s Can Demons read our thoughts?
Read and reflect upon Wayne Grudem’s Biblical Facts about Angels.
The Sermon will be available online on September 1, 2019 at 12:30 pm.
Disclaimer: Reference to a particular article or website does not constitute endorsement or agreement with everything in that article or on that website.
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