Billy Graham vs. The Devil

How many times when you went to church for your Christmas service did you hear the devil mentioned...by name even? (as Billy Graham does in the video below)

I can't remember any...

That is one thing that certainly is missing from the pulpit - the devil. (sometimes he gets a passing mention)

Oh, I suppose it is a bit silly, right? The devil. Really? C'mon, no way. That's kids stuff.

Do you believe in Good and Evil? If so, where do you think evil comes from? Just us and our sinful nature?

(Sinful nature is a whole other topic that we'll come back to.)

Throughout his book Billy (can I call him Billy?) spoke about being attacked by the devil, being tripped up, or discovering obstacles in his way, put there by the devil. Oh, the devil didn't win against Billy...if it wasn't for Billy's faith and trust in God and (as he admits) the others in the ministry who picked him up when he was down, and helped him stand when he wanted to sit, the devil might have won.

Billy talked about the devil. Spoke about the devil. Brought the devil into the light!

NO WONDER he was attacked. (Billy never fully went into details how the devil attacked him, but personally, I have felt a few attacks and can only imagine what Mr. Graham had gone through)

Sure, even now, I "Feel" silly even writing out the name...why is that? If I believe in God, is it so hard to believe in Satan?

For one, because we hardly talk about him anymore. Which is the worst thing we could do. It easy to forget about him because, well, he hides in the shadows...out of sight, out of mind - which is just where he wants to be.

The devil doesn't shout, like God he whispers...of course he says VERY VERY different things. The devil's best trick, is to make you think YOU thought of it. "It" being whatever sin he wants you to do.

The devil's other good trick...the sin is usually something small. He won't throw you into the deep end until you learn how to at least doggy-paddle.

That's where Jesus comes in.

The devil might get you to sin, ever now and again - and he will, we don't need to be burdened by it. We don't need to be a slave to it. We have a way of "noticing" it and seeing it and knowing that it isn't US that is feeling and thinking that way, but the great deceiver.

We need more and more like Billy to bring the devil out into the light...to show him...to reveal him.

The devils more than just a boogeyman or a monster under your bed that you grow to forget about. The devil is real...but he'd rather you not think of him. And if you don't want to feel his attacks, do just that! Forget about him and you'll never notice him.

But you will notice something...something won't be right...but the devil will help you find a way to forget about it - tv, beer, food, clothing, new fancy gadgets...YAY! (no, in and of themselves each item is NOT bad, but they are if we over indulge in them)

Do you, even now, get the thought "geez, that is the dumbest thing I ever heard...the devil. Ha!"

Me too.

Wonder why?