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Who Told You That?

Who Told You That? from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

Message Notes:

“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you - that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:8–11 NKJV)

Adam had a close relationship with God, but when he disobeyed, he became ashamed and hid himself from the Lord’s presence.

The Lord then asked Adam: Who told you that you were naked?

Who was it that told you that?

When sin crept into Adam’s life, the devil, satan, the accuser of the brethren, came and began to whisper shame into his ear. Look at what you have done! With the intent of driving Adam away from God, having him cower in fear and shame.

See guilt is feeling bad over something that you have done wrong, but shame says that you, are what is wrong. Run away and hide. You will never be good enough.

So who did tell Adam that? The devil - So what do we know actually know about him? Quite a lot actually.

Jesus told the religious people that rejected Him: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44 NKJV)

The devil is the “father of lies” and he still is today.

Job wrote: “And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (Job 1:7 NKJV)

So the devil roams the earth.

satan accused Job before God and said: “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 1:9–11 NKJV)

The devil attacked Job’s character and motives, trying to convince God that Job was just like him, looking out for number one. “Touch his belongings and he will curse You to Your face.”

Peter wrote: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV)

So satan walks about on the earth like a roaring lion, actively seeking someone to devour. That is his passion and what he considers the pursuit of happiness, driving you away from God. Anytime that you feel distant from God, this is who is behind it.

Jude wrote that satan disputed with the Archangel Michael over the body of Moses: “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9 NKJV)

When Moses died, satan wanted his body, probably to make it into a shrine for people to worship, in order to lead the people away from God. False religions have always been a part of his plan.

Paul wrote: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11 NKJV)

Wile means: “devious or cunning strategies employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants.” The devil is no means stupid, but a highly intelligent being and his plans and purpose are to distract you and lead you away from God. Paul said that we are to put on the whole armor of God.

Paul wrote: “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:14–15 NKJV)

So satan and his ministers can appear as ministers of righteousness. They can be wolves, who are dressed like sheep and attend your church.

John wrote: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” (Revelation 12:10 NKJV)

So satan accuses us before God day and night, just as he did Job thousands of years ago, but his day is coming and he will be cast into the lake of fire.

We are dealing with an intelligent being that roams the earth, like a roaring lion, seeking out the weak, spreading fear, whispering lies, and he is not alone but has a complete hierarchy of helpers. Enough for each of us to have our own, personal trainer to harass us each day.

His team whispers lies into your ear constantly and says:
- You can’t do this.
- They are going to laugh at you.
- Look at all that you have done.
- They hate you.
- God does not care.
- You are worthless.
- No one cares about you.

The Lord’s people are truly like sheep that have wandered around without a shepherd, that have been scattered on the hillside with no one that cares, and they are easy pickings for such a high level enemy.

Paul wrote: “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24–26 NKJV)

People are taken captive to do the enemies’ will. They are ridden like horses into battle, they provide a willing mount for the enemy. God works through people to bring hope, healing, and restoration. The devil works through people to spread hate, shame, and fear.

Take a moment and think of the most hurtful thing that anyone has ever spoken to you.

Paul wrote: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)

Now consider “Who told you that?” For the person was merely carrying out the will of the enemy to hurt you. They were nothing but a tool in the hands of the enemy. People can be a mouth piece for the devil just as sure as they can for God.

James wrote: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 NKJV)

If we submit ourselves to God’s will, resist the temptation that satan places in front of us, then he will flee just as he had to leave Jesus.

What does the voice of God sound like:

James wrote: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:16–17 NKJV).

Jesus told us: “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:35–36 NKJV).

So we have the Father of lights, who is merciful, kind, loving, forgiving, who gave His Son to redeem us, in whom there is no darkness. A Friend that is closer than a brother, whose mercy is renewed each morning. Then we have the father of lies in whom there is the pure embodiment of evil, whose most driving desire is to get even with God by turning as many of God’s children against Him as possible.

How successful is he? Well how many of God’s people are now walking broken, discouraged, and alone? Or even being to used to attack others, his plan is working.

How do you tell them apart? How does all of this relate to real life? One always builds you up, while the other will always bring you down. Here is an example from my own life when I was once put in a position in church, where I did not want to be.

For years, I played bass guitar in the praise and worship team in church. Let me tell you that there is no drama quite like praise team drama. I have seen a few “Take it out back and settle it” moments. Believe it or not, a worship team leader is one of the most stressful, thankless jobs on the earth.

When I was about fifteen, and attended my first band practice, there were 5 guitar players and a drummer, and they all sang. So I changed from guitar to bass guitar, let them sing, and never looked back. Through the years, there was always someone eager to fill the spotlight, while good bass players were hard to find. I often worked with three bands at a time due to the demand.

Because this particular praise team were all volunteers with no accountability, little by little people started coming in later and later, and then randomly not showing up at all. We never knew if we would have 10 people in the band, or 5, or maybe it would be a 3 piece. There might be a guitar, maybe a piano, maybe a drummer. Then we might have our normal 7 singers, or maybe 1.

Finally one Sunday night, I was standing there alone with my bass guitar in front of the congregation because no one else showed up, and I knew that something had to change.

After some prayer, at forty years old, I changed my instrument from bass guitar to keyboard. Where I had played bass for 25 years, now I had to learn to play an instrument that was completely foreign to me. On top of that, I had been happy to let others be in the spotlight, so I never practiced singing.

The enemy immediately began to attack my mind in full force. I constantly heard, and felt: “You can’t do this! They are going to laugh at you! You are making a fool of yourself! Don’t you dare step out on that stage!” It was a powerful downer and I would feel pure nauseous from the onslaught of fear.

Then during my prayer time before a service began one night, while I was complaining about my complete lack of ability to The Lord, He spoke back to me and said:

“If your own daughter came into your room dancing and singing about how much that she loved you, and with tears in her eyes, began to tell you about how great a dad that she thought you were, and how much that you meant to her. Would you care what her voice sounded like at that moment?

It put me in tears and I said “No.” Then He said “Neither do I care what Your voice sounds like. You have the voice that I gave you. It is why you sing to Me that matters.”

That ended that conversation, and I never looked back again. I walked out on that stage with my head up high and played and sang with my whole heart because I love my Father. I still sing to Him all during the week even now.

So there it is. One voice is completely bringing you down, discouraging you, instilling fear and anxiety. While the other voice is bringing encouragement, hope, love, and building you up.

So the real question is: Who’s voice have you been listening to? Who told you that?