The Life and Ministry of
Pastor Andrew Ray
The Father of Lies
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS
The Devil was created perfect in every aspect (Ezekiel 28:15) with complete capacity to do right. Yet, he was also created with a free will to choose whether to do right or to do wrong. Sometime in the distant past, he chose to abide “not in the truth.” This conscious decision to depart from the truth caused him to become the “father” of lies. In one form or another, every lie traces back to the work of the Devil. As the enemy of God, Satan wants to deceive God’s creation into believing a lie so that rejecting the truth and remaining condemned in darkness (2 Corinthians 4:4) seems like the natural thing to do. Satan incorporates every deceptive means at his disposal. One of his main tactics is to convince people that there are many ways to heaven (good works, baptism, church membership, etc.) and many ways to know the truth (feelings, science, circumstances, etc.). Yet, the Bible emphatically proves that God is truth and His word is truth and only through God and His word are we assured of learning and knowing truth.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
• (For children): The Devil is not our friend. He lied to Eve about God's word in Genesis 3:4. He wanted Eve to believe him and she believed his lie. Ask mom or dad how this affected Adam and Eve and how it also affects everyone born, including you.
• (For everyone): What are some lies you have been led to believe in your lifetime? Where did those lies originate? How can these lies be traced back to the Devil?
• Why does God speak the truth? Why does the Devil speak lies? What motives lie behind the telling of lies? What does this teach us about the difference between the Lord and the Devil?
PRAYER THOUGHTS
• Ask God to protect you from the lies of Satan.
• Ask God to give you a burden for those who have been blinded by the Devil’s lies.
SONG: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Pastor Andrew Ray
Devotions on Truthfulness