The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewisrivermont Presbyterian Church

The Screwtape Letters, CS LewisRivermont Presbyterian Church

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. I Peter 5:8-9

Letter # _XIX – Summary Title: The Essence of God: Love

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will. Ephesians 1:4-5
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 1John. 3:11
And all these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Co. 13:13

Though our feeling come and go, His love for us does not. It is not wearied by our sins, or our indifference; and, therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins, at whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him.
Love, in the Christian sense, does not mean an emotion. It is a state not of the feeling but of the will.
Love begins to be a demon the moment it begins to be a god.CSL

Strategy Matrix

Area of Life

/ Devil’s Advice / God’s Way / Questions, Observations and Strategies
Love / “All selves are by their very nature in competition”
Love is our utter failure.
Nobody can love
Utter disrespect and disregard for authority, be secretive.
Love must be a disguise for something else…
The Devil’s Failure / God really loves us, gives freedom, and continued existence.
Every time we do not love God or our neighbor we are losing the battle against the devil
Our secret sins: Out in the open
God is Love (I Jo. 4:7)
God’s grace / John 3:16
I Corinthians 13!
Mathew 19:19 (love your neighbor as yourself)
II Peter 2:1 (They will secretly ..)
II Corinthians 4:2 (We have renounced secret and shameful ways)
Psalm 90:8 (our secret sins in the light of your presence)
John. 3:16
The Existence of the Devil / The devil does not understand God’s love. Love does not make sense to Satan.
Removed himself an infinite distance from the Presence / Love is the essence of God
The devil was cast out of heaven / And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angles fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angles fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. Rev. 12:7-9
Marriage and Being in Love / Feed on his ideas so he will become a radical - Persuade him to put love first, God second (so he can marry somebody which will make being a Christian nearly impossible). Or can commit adultery, and maybe murder or suicide / Everything is permissible but not all is up-building, all should be done in love
Only marry a Christian
Keep marriage bed pure / I Corinthians 10:23 (everything is permissible but not everything constructive
John13:34 (as I have loved, you so you must love one another)
II Corinthians 6:14 (do not be yoked together with unbelievers)
Hebrews 13:4 (marriage should be honored by all)

John 4: 15 If you Love me, you will obey what I command

John 2:9-10 If anyone claims tot be in the light but hates his brother he is still in darkness.

John 12:26 My father will honor the one who serves me.

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Assignment for the Groups (20 minutes)

A - Discuss the following points:

The origin, nature and reality of the devil.

The importance of proper and precise language (as opposed to deceitful, and malicious)

(Hell is inaccurate, said Charles Williams)

Love: the Essence of God

Marriage: Heaven or Hell on earth!

B – Propose at least three recommendations on how we should work to resist the devil.