My thought today is, ‘The Ten Most Wanted Men’.
The words of this title are frequently seen in post office buildings and in law enforcement offices throughout the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is the author of the sign, “The Ten Most Wanted Men”. It is true that the FBI wants every man who has broken a federal law to be caught, but of all such lawbreakers, they list the ten whom they want the most. Keep in mind they will use traps and numerous devices to apprehend any one of these ten most wanted men. Often there are rewards offered associated with these ‘wanted’ posters. These posters have been used since before the advent of television, automobiles, or internet. They were used in local towns and counties mostly, because the criminals could not get as far, as fast, in those days. Almost all of the top ten on the FBI list have been caught since the inception of the posters. Newspapers came along which played a huge role in catching these men, ‘dead or alive’ in some cases, as well as television with shows like ‘America’s most wanted’, and advertising in general. Not only Billy the Kid, and John Dillinger were proud owners of a ‘most wanted’ poster of themselves offering a mammoth reward of thousands of dollars, but the rewards can now be seen in the millions. Adolf Hitler’s face was one that was plastered everywhere stating how evil he was, seeking help in capturing him, ‘dead or alive’ as well as serial killers like Ted Bundy.
Turn with me to Luke 22:31-32. it states, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” To go along with this, Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:9-11, “For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Satan desires to have every child of God, but there seems to be at least ten whom he wants the most, so let us talk about ‘Satan’s Ten Most Wanted Men.’
Number one on his list is God’s man of finance. It has been said that Jesus mentioned money as much as he did any other subject in his ministry and teaching. Certainly, any church that lacks finances is handicapped, therefore, it is Satan’s good pleasure to reach his sneaky hand into God’s church and capture God’s man of Finance. He is undoubtedly on Satan’s list of the ten most wanted. In the fifth chapter of Acts we read of Ananias, a man who was willing to sell what he possessed so that he could help God’s church along with his wife Sapphira. It seems that at first, he intended to give the entire amount of the sale to the church. But the devil would not rest until he had filled this man’s heart to lie to the Holy Ghost. This moved God to slay Ananias as he stood before Peter. Not because he did not give all, but because of his lie to the Holy Ghost. If you are a faithful tither, and a cheerful giver to God’s cause, remember that Satan is breathing down your collar. You are on his hit list as one of the ten most wanted men. Acts 5:1-11 gives this account, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”
The second one on his list is God’s man of wisdom. The individual in God’s church who possesses wisdom is a valuable asset to all. When disagreements, or problems arise, it is very needful to have someone with wisdom to restore peace and harmony and help bring about a solution to the problems. Solomon was such a man. He was known as a man of wisdom. His wisdom was greater than any other man. But this wise man had an enemy. Satan longed for and saw the day when he turned Solomon’s heart away from the true and living God. According to the Bible, it was his weakness where women were concerned, that led this man of wisdom to lose out with God. Wisdom is useless without obedience. 2 Kings 11:5-11 tells us, “For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise, did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. And the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.”
The third one on Satan’s list is God’s man in office. When one begins to serve God in an official capacity, immediately he is placed by Satan upon his list of the ten most wanted men. Judas Iscariot walks side by side with Jesus and carried the money bag. He held the office of Treasurer. But we read in, in Luke 22:3 says,“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. “We do not know how long Satan tempted Judas to do evil, before he entered into him completely, took control, and led him to betray the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. In the end of his story, we find Judas committing suicide. Once again Satan had captured one of the ten most wanted men. Beware, ministers and others in official capacities. Money can become an eternal death trap for, 1 Timothy 6:10 states, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”What a thrill it is for Satan when he can lay hold upon one of God’s office holders.
Fourthly, the man after God’s own heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 tells us of such a man, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” What joy must a man of this caliber bring to the presence of God and his angels. In Acts 13:16-23 Paul began to preach, “Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus.” David was chosen and anointed and pursued after God, however, the day arrived when God watched as Satan walked in the picture, through the spirit of lust, and captured David by using the beautiful Bathsheba. David had been strong enough to kill a lion and a bear in the wilderness. God had trusted him and put him out on the front lines in the midst of the greatest battle against their enemies the Philistines, and had allowed him to slay Goliath the giant. He became known as one who had killed his tens of thousands. What strength he had, but Satan found his weakness, and caused him to fall into the sin of adultery. We must be on guard, because Satan’s only weapon against us is finding our own weaknesses and using them against us. We must stay on our knees in pursuit of God continuously.
Number five, the one who has power with God. Samson was noted for his strength with God. One example is Judges 15:14, “And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.” Time and time again the power of God is seen in Samson’s life. However, then we read this heart sickening statement in Judges 16:20, “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he knew not that the Lord was departed from him.” Thedisobedience of Samson caused God to withdraw from him and leave him powerless. And it was a cunning woman named Delilah used by Satan to trap one of the ten most wanted men. Samson could still wake up and shake himself vigorously ready to fight, but the power of God was gone. What good is the trembling, kicking up the dust, stomping and shaking yourself, unless you have the power of God to back you up. Without God, he was powerless. Considering this, do not forget that if you have power with God, you will be on Satan’s list of the ten most wanted men.
Sixthly, the man who has faith and walks uprightly. A combination of these things in one’s life will bring him favor with God. But faith without uprightness is of no value. Let us look at Job’s life. After all his afflictions, persecutions, trials, and physical sufferings, he still cried out in Job 19:25, “For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” That is faith. Job 1:22 tells us, “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” This is a prime example of walking uprightly. Job did his best and passed the test. Consider Job as being one of Satan’s ten most wanted men. Satan did his utmost to destroy his faith in God, and cause him to sin, but he failed. Look at the closing chapter of Job’s life, and you will find God blessed him double fold. The reason for this was that Job refused to give an inch. Satan is still out to capture anyone who has faith and is walking uprightly. If this describes you, then you are on his list.
Number seven is the full gospel man. The evil forces of hell are not too concerned about the person who merely has religion, or who believes only certain portions of the Bible. But let one believe and obey the full gospel message, and that one becomes Satan’s enemy as of right then. Satan did not fight Saul of Tarsus so long as he was a Pharisee. But once he received the Holy Ghost, spoke with other tongues, and was baptized in Jesus’ name, the battle was on. Nowhere have I read about Paul being beaten or put into prison until he became a part of the Oneness, Jesus’ name group. Then his enemy said in Acts 22:22, “And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.”Another bunch also said in Acts 23:14, “And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, we have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.”Why, the great change in their attitude toward Paul? He had simply received an experience and a revelation that placed him on Satan’s list of the ten most wanted men.
Number eight is the man of prayer. Prayer has been proven to be one of the greatest weapons against Satan. Naturally, Satan wants to knock out this strong offensive weapon. Prayer has snatched many out of the clutches of Satan. The Devil knows this, and therefore opposes prayer with all the means at his disposal. Notice Daniel who was a praying man. Daniel 6:10 says, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” This made Daniel one of Satan’s ten most wanted men. He maneuvered Daniel into the den of Lions to stop his praying. But he failed miserably. Daniel testified, in Daniel 6:22,“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” Thank God for the prey man. But do not forget that Satan fears such and is out to get him if possible.
Number nine is the Pentecostal preacher. What more glory could Satan get than by causing a God called creature, to lose out with God? The Jesus name, Holy Ghost, anointed preacher is surely on the ten most wanted men list of Satan and the demons of Hell. Jesus said to Peter in Luke 22:31-32, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” May every preacher let these words be imprinted deeply upon his heart. If Satan can capture the messenger, then who will carry the message? It has been said of every preacher: ‘In your preaching you are writing a gospel. A chapter each day, by the life that you live and the words that you say.’
And lastly, number ten is the man of truth. Satan is a liar, and the father of lies. Through the Serpent, he told the first lie among men in the Garden of Eden, when he said in Genesis 3:4, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.” Therefore, anyone who tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, will find himself on Satan’s list of the ten most wanted men. As Satan desired Peter, so that he could make him fall, and thereby do great harm to God’s cause, so he desires those who we have discussed in this message as the ten most wanted men. But as God prayed for Peter that his faith failed not, so he has surely prayed for all of us also.
This prayer will surely be answered in our lives if we are determined to stay out of the clutches of Satan and remain faithful, upright, keep praying, preaching, relying upon His Spirit for our strength, seeking wisdom, and continue our laboring in His kingdom. Remember we have read the back of the book, and Satan’s gig is just about up. So, continue pursuing after God. Walking hand in hand with Jesus is the safest place you can be.