Topic:Friendship Traps
Text: Matthew 16:15-23

Satan uses lots of methods to distract the children of God. He is very wise. He knows that he cannot use your enemy because you are not likely to listen to the enemy. He prefers to use your closest friend. We have an example in Matthew 16:15-17: “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said; Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven.” Satan here sensed that he had found someone close to Jesus Christ; someone He could rely on. In Matthew 16:21-23, something then happened: “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him saying, Be it far from thee, Lord this shall not be unto thee - But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God but those be of men.” Satan, knowing that Peter was close to Jesus Christ, entered him and used him. Satan though Jesus Christ would agree to what Peter had to say. He had already seen what Jesus Christ would go through at Gethsemane. He thought that it would be easy to get Jesus Christ through Peter. Thank God, the devil failed. Jesus overcame the devil because He was very watchful. The devil is still using the same methods today. He has continued to lay booby traps for the ignorant by using those who appear friendly. Watch it, your closest friend may turn round to draw you into the by-ways of sin. He that has ears let him hear.

Memory Verse: Matthew 12:35 - “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things”.