Topic: The Eye Gate
Text: Joshua 7:7-26

Satan uses the eyes of many people to lure them into hell. Proverbs 1:17 says: “Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of the bird.” If you set trap in the presence of the intended victim is will not succeed in trapping him. The devil does not show his intended victims his snare when he wants to trap them, just as it makes no sense for someone to be killed to be told before hand. Baits are used with traps and Satan has his own baits with which he lures people into his traps. One of these is money. At the sight of money many do what they should not do. Many people commit sin because of the love of money.

We have many examples in the Bible of those who fell into the trap of Satan because of money. One example is that of Achan had been told that no spoil of war should be taken out of Jericho. However, when he saw money and garments he coveted them and stole them. He fell into the devil’s trap. He, together with members of his family, perished. Our second example is Gehazi. Satan knew that Elisha got the double portion of the anointing of Elijah. To stop Gehazi from getting the double portion of the anointing of Elisha, Satan had to do something about him. Satan already knew that Elisha would not take money from Naaman. Nonetheless, he made Naaman bring many goods.

This was just to ensnare Gehazi. Look at II Kings 5: “And the king of Syria said, go to, go and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.” Elisha refused to take any gratification. However, Gehazi was coveting these things. The Bible says, in II Kings 5:20, that, “But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.” When Gehazi got to Naaman, he lied that it was Elisha who asked him to come for the goods. Naaman gave him more than he asked for. Unknown to Gehazi, however, God had told Elisha all the transactions between Gehazi and Naaman. The Satan’s trap finally closed in on Gehazi when Elisha cursed him and he became a leper.

Covetousness and the love of money are silent killers.

Memory Verse: II Timothy 4:5 - “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”