TO KNOW SATAN’S PERSONALITY
Personal experience: Far into the night a few weeks before God burdened and later inspired me to start writing the commentary God, Satan and Man: The Relationship, my wife was asleep in our bedroom, I was studying in the living room, nature called, I went down the hall to the guest bedroom and used the bathroom there. I came out of the bathroom, crossed the bedroom and was ready to step into the hall that leads back to the living room and I was suddenly assailed by a most horrible sense of pure, dark, oily, powerful, malignant, unadulterated evil right there beside me. I was instantly terrified and I was nearly overcome with a strange weakness, helplessness and fear.
I have never felt such dark, powerful, vitriolic, straining, eager, evil hatred directed toward me and I knew it was Satan as he truly is. Humanity with all its evil, lust, murder, torture, butchery and hatred does not know the meaning of the endlessness of eternal, pure, unbelievably cruel, evil hatred unless they have individually felt what I felt come at me that night.
The mixture of Satan’s dark, unbelievable evil and his eager hatred of me was straining to unleash itself upon me and destroy me in some more than awful fashion; not to just kill me and leave me a corpse in my own house but to torture, mangle, strangle and tear at my body and my soul, ME, to tortured shreds with an awful ferocity that would last forever.
He didn’t want to just kill me and be done with it. He wanted to, and was determined to, make me suffer endlessly. In combat I have endured the awful fear of incoming projectiles that would tear bloody holes through me or blow me apart but this terror went infinitely further than that. I was so scared I was frozen motionless in the timelessness of the absolute horror of total terror.
I am so sorry I have not the words to cause you to feel the threat, horror and terror I experienced that night. My skin crawled and my hair stood on end because I was so close to Satan and he terrified me beyond measure. I, a man grown, was helpless as a tiny bird, a sparrow, serpent charmed! The unimaginable reality of the engulfing essence of Satan’s living, darkening, overwhelming magnitude of total malice, total hatred and total evil almost engulfed me in the horrifying quicksand of his dreadful personality. Satan is the Devil.
It was instant, I was there, I was trapped, there was no way out and I instinctively started screaming over and over; “Jesus, Jesus, oh God help me!” It was endless as I stiffly, cringing, clumsily, so painfully slowly tried to get away from that awful darkness by struggling to escape up the hall toward the living room. If I could have run I would have but I was so afraid my body felt almost paralyzed and I could only drag myself along; “Jesus, Jesus, oh God help me!” I finally made it to the couch and huddled there like a wounded animal shivering in horror and begging for help.
At first I thought God had told Satan he could have me because of some fabricated sin (Heb. 6:4-6) I had committed that had caused me to lose my salvation so I would be introduced to the subject whom I would be writing about. BUT that would have been a lie and God does not lie. I came to realize that maybe God had given Satan an opportunity to frighten me so badly I would be afraid to write about him. If that was the reason it sure backfired on Satan because it had driven me closer to God than I had ever been.
The presence of pure evil abated as Jesus drove Satan away but it was weeks before I felt comfortable going back down that hall in the night because I dreaded the possibility the experience would repeat itself. Since then I’ve never gone down that hall day or night, not even once, without thinking about what happened and reassuring myself that (Heb. 13:5) Jesus had said He would never leave me nor forsake me.
With my whole heart I wish all the lukewarm Christians, backslid Christians, idolaters, atheists, devil worshippers and sinners in the whole world would be exposed to the reality of Satan, the Devil, I felt that night. When they realized who is truly waiting for them, I know there would be a worldwide boom of church construction and they would flee in droves to Jesus and the salvation He offers.
One other thing I realized later, my wife was asleep in our main bedroom with its open door just a few feet away. We have 2 dogs in the house and they too were just around the corner in a room with its door open. I did not rouse any of them during this episode so I have concluded when I was screaming; “Jesus, Jesus, oh God help me!” they were soundless screams due to my absolute terror because none of them were awakened!
This article and two others will bring a terrible and a beautiful reality to the way all of us, saved (saint) and lost (sinner), will die. The other two are #1) THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TRUTH and #2) I HAVE EXPERIENCED CHRISTIAN PHYSICAL DEATH. Both are located on this commentary, please see the menu.
HOW TO DEFEAT YOUR GREATEST ENEMY
Jesus: (Matt. 4:3-5 keyword: tempter- to test, to entice, to discipline & Luke 4:2-3 keyword: tempted- to test, to entice, to discipline) The tempter, the devil (Satan), enticed and tested Jesus. WHY? WHY TEST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD?
#1) At a male Jewish child’s twelfth birthday he is entering his thirteenth year. A celebration called his Bar Mitzvah is held and that signifies he is ready to start learning to be a man. He is ready to observe religious precepts and is eligible to take part in public worship. (Luke 2:42-52 esp. V.49) Jesus had an assignment from God, He had to know God’s word and He went right to work learning that word. AND: (V.47) “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” It was Jewish custom that a father teach his son the Torah, at home as soon as he could understand usually starting at 4-6 years old. The ritual of prayer, eating and etc. according to the Torah were part of Jewish daily life.
Jesus was human just like us. (Luke 3:21-23) When Jesus was about 30 years old He would receive full Holy Spirit power but that power would be useless unless Jesus intimately knew God’s word (the sword of the Spirit). (Luke 4:1-13) Jesus defeated Satan’s tempting by using God’s word. (2Tim. 2:15) “Study to show thyself approved.” Jesus had to do it and we do too! That is a lesson for today’s Christians.
#2) (Heb. 4:14-16) Jesus lived in a human body and He knows exactly how hard it is to resist temptation. When Jesus went to heaven He became our great high priest. (Matt. 26:41) “the spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak.”
(Heb. 4:14-16) Jesus understands and that’s why He extends mercy and grace to help in time of need when we come before His throne of grace. (Eph. 4:32) “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” That also is Jesus’ lesson for today’s Christians.
Simon Peter: (Matt. 10:5-16 esp. V.16) Jesus commanded the twelve; “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise (intelligent, cautious, practical, thoughtful) as serpents (sly, cunning, malicious, especially Satan), and harmless (innocent) as doves.” They had been warned!
(John 13:5-9) Simon Peter was impulsive. (Matt. 14:22-32) Simon Peter was bold. (John 13:37) Simon Peter was proud. (John 18:10) Simon Peter didn’t obey Jesus’ command to be harmless, he was headstrong and courageous. He wasn’t a deep thinker thus he made rash decisions. (John 21:7) Simon Peter was impatient.
Satan had observed all of Simon Peter’s weaknesses. (Luke 22:31) Satan desired to sift (defined: riddle- which is a question hard to answer; AND slang- to poke full of holes) Peter just like he had Job. (Matt. 26:69-70) Peter denied knowing Jesus as he wilted before a damsel! (Matt. 26:71-72) Another maid said to those around her that Peter was one of those with Jesus and Peter took an oath before them; “I’ll swear I don’t know the man (Jesus)!” (Matt. 73-74) After a while they that stood by again accused Peter of being one of Jesus’ disciples because of the way he talked (Galilean accent). Peter went all the way this time and started cursing and swearing he did not know Jesus!
(Matt. 26:75) Satan riddled Simon Peter with questions hard to answer and had poked his character full of holes and seeing himself as he was broke his heart and he went out and wept bitterly. (John 21:13-19) Jesus drove the lesson home; “Lovest thou me” 3 times and (V.17) it grieved Simon Peter, then (V.15-17) Jesus gave him his assignment “Feed my lambs and sheep” 3 times. (V.18-19) Then Jesus prophesied the death Simon Peter would face.
Simon Peter had learned a tough lesson concerning self-discipline. Lesson to today’s Christians: (Luke 9:23-24) (V.23) “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Lesson continued: (V.23) Daily: Pray first thing and dedicate your day to God’s service. Whatever you do in your day serve God while doing it. (John 8:12) Jesus is the light of the world (Matt. 5:14) and He said “Ye are the light of the world”.
After Jesus ascended into heaven Christians became the light of the world. Jesus’ light shining through Christian’s lives lived is what (2Cor. 4:3-4) brings light into the darkness of Satan’s blinding in the minds of men. In other words; (Matt. 13:18-23) be the best Christian you can be all the time and keep growing in God’s word and Jesus’ actions.
Lesson continued: (V.24) “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall save it.” EXAMPLE: “whosoever will save his life shall lose it:” (Matt. 13:18-22) After salvation these types of Christians reverted back (did not eradicate their carnal tendencies) to their old pre-salvation life (they saved their old life) and did not obtain eternal life with Jesus.
(V.24) “whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Matt. 13:23) This type of Christian got busy eradicating their carnal tendencies and lost their old life. They patterned themselves after Jesus, lived an obedient life (saved their life) and did obtain their eternal life with Jesus. Paul is our example that becoming a better Christian is a “dying out to self” (1Cor. 15:31) because Paul wrote; “I die daily.”
(1Cor. 9:27 keyword: castaway- defined: rejected reprobate) Paul knew he could fail so he kept busy becoming the best Christian he could be. Lesson learned: Continued Christian growth and ever greater productivity is every Christian’s responsibility.
Judas: (Acts 1:17) Judas was numbered with the twelve and had obtained his part of their ministry. (John 12:3-6 esp. V.6 keywords: cared not for the poor & thief) Judas did not have compassion and he was a thief which revealed that he was proud (felt he deserved more than the other eleven) and greedy (intense, selfish desire for something which is to covet). (Col. 3:5) Covetousness is idolatry. Judas’ greed was his god and Judas served himself instead of Jesus.
(John 13:2) Satan, the devil, focused on Judas’ greed (covetousness) and enticed Judas to betray Jesus. (Matt. 26:15) Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (Acts 1:16-20 esp. V.20) Judas lost his eternal life with Jesus and went to hell.
Judas had let covetousness rule him, it became the king of his life, and that which he coveted was more important to him than Jesus. Lesson for today’s Christians: (Rom. 6:11-16 esp. V.12 & 16) (V.12) “Let not sin therefore reign (to be the king of) in your mortal body. (V.16) “to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. Who is your king; Self, Satan or Jesus?
Ananias and Sapphira: (Acts 5:1-10) This is a perfect example of how Satan helps people do what they already want to do. (Acts 4:12-37 esp. V.32-37) At the beginning the church was completely united and the new converts sold all they had and brought the money to the apostles so they could share with their brethren who had nothing because (V.32) they “were of one heart and one soul” and they “had all things in common” without being told to do so.
BUT:
(Acts 5:1-10 esp. V.1 keyword: But & V.2 keyword: privy) Ananias and his wife Sapphira conspired (agreed, see V.9) together to sell a possession and keep back part of the price they obtained for the (V:3 keywords: Satan and land) land (V.2) and they took the reduced amount and laid it at the apostles’ feet and pretended it was the full price of the land. #1) They were proud because they wanted to look as righteous as the other Christians. #2) They coveted part of the money. (Col. 3:5 keywords: covetousness which is idolatry) They were idolaters. #3) They were liars concerning the price of the land (Acts 4:23-37) AND they were Christians.
(Prov. 6:16-19) (V.16) “These six things doth the Lord hate (to hate personally, enemy, utterly): yea, seven are abomination (disgusting, abhorrence) unto him:” (V.17) a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent (blameless, clean, exempted, free, guiltless) blood (causes death), (V.18) An heart that deviseth (fabricate) wicked imagination (internal consideration, thought, reasoning), feet that be swift in running to mischief (bad, evil, harm, hurt, sorrow, misery, wicked, wrong), (V.19) a false (deceitful, vain, a sham) witness that speaketh lies (deceive), and he that soweth discord (strife, contention) among brethren.”
(Acts 5:9 keyword: tempt) They had tempted (tested) the Holy Spirit. (Psa. 94:11 & Heb. 4:12-13) Ananias and Sapphira actually thought they could lie to God who knows all things (Acts 5:5 & 10) and God killed them because they had God’s word (Book of Proverbs) to guide them and they refused to listen to God’s word.
Lesson for today’s Christians: (1Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, Col. 3:5-6 & Rev. 20:8) If you do not listen to God’s word, do not repent of your sins and die in your sins you will go to hell (Rev. 3:5 & 15-16) and then you will go on to the lake of fire to die forever.
Paul: (2Cor. 12:7-10) Paul was given a thorn (a bodily annoyance, a disability) in the flesh (the body as opposed to the soul and spirit), a messenger (to bring tidings) from Satan to buffet (to rap with a fist, chastise) him lest he should be exalted (to raise oneself over, to become haughty) above measure (excessively, beyond measure).
Paul prayed 3 times for deliverance from his physical malady and God refused to heal him! Lesson for today’s Christians: God will give Satan limited power over us and He will refuse to heal us to keep us humble! Being sick or disabled in this life seems endless but it’s better than going to hell forever!
(2Cor. 2:11 keywords: ignorant & devices) Paul was not ignorant of *****Satan’s devices (purpose, intellect, disposition, mind, thought). (2Tim. 4:13) Paul told Timothy to bring him the books (scroll, writing) and especially the parchments (a written sheepskin or membrane). Paul obviously learned about Satan from the same source we have, God’s word and after Paul learned about Satan Paul’s own personal experience was also a teaching guide.
(2Cor. 2:11 again) Paul said; “Lest Satan should get an advantage (defraud, make a gain) of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices *****(purpose, intellect, disposition, mind, thought). Lesson for today’s Christians: We had better know Satan or he will defraud us and make a gain of us for himself! (1Cor. 9:27) Paul was very aware even he could be a castaway (unapproved, worthless, rejected, reprobate). Lesson for today’s Christians: (1Cor. 9:27) Paul knew he could fail as a Christian and go to hell and we are in the same situation!
(Rom. 7:21) Paul said; “when I would do good, evil is present with me.” Two lessons for today’s Christians: #1) Satan and/or his influence (society, individuals, government) is always against you so learn to fight him! #2) 2Cor. 2:11 one more time) *****If you are ignorant of Satan’s purpose (goal), intellect (ability to think) disposition (nature and character), mind (soul), and thought (constant ideas and opinion) he will have the advantage over you.
Every part of Satan is evil and his full concentration is focused on his goal of destroying you, me and all of us as Christians! (2Cor. 4:3-6 esp. V.3-4) HE ALREADY HAS THE OTHER PEOPLE BLINDED UNLESS THEY CHANGE. *****If you wish to believe, see the one article commentary BREATH OF LIFE on this website and it will tell you all you need to know for you to accept the reality of salvation.*****
The Nation of Israel: (1Cor. 10:1-14) The Israelites sin and (V.10) destruction by the destroyer (a venomous serpent, a ruiner) is an “ensample” (example) to Christians for our “admonition” (calling attention to, mild rebuke, a warning) that Satan can and will destroy us. (V.12) “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (V.14) “flee from idolatry.” Lesson for today’s Christians: (Heb. 6:4-6) Christians can fall from grace and go to hell!
US, YOU, ME, TODAY’S CHURCH
In every one of the examples given above Satan used or tried to use man’s emotions against him when Satan was providing physical and/or emotional enticements, deception, persecution and tribulation. (2Cor. 11:13-15 keywords: an angel of light & ministers of righteousness) Satan’s greatest asset in his war against Christians, you, is SATAN’S ABILITY TO MAKE WRONG APPEAR RIGHT!
When Satan is gloating (accuser of the brethren) that you have horribly and miserably sinned God still loves us (you) so much He provided a final way of escape for us.
(Heb. 4:14-16) (V.15) Jesus lived in a body just like us, same ability to imagine, same glands and hormones, all of it yet Jesus did not sin. Sin and death were tied together from Eden but Satan did not have the right to kill Jesus because Jesus did not sin. That is how Jesus took the keys to hell and death. Jesus is holy, sanctified and pure which gives Him the right to cleanse Christian’s sins away with His blood and that is why and how He is our great, high priest!
Jesus understands the feeling of our infirmities (feebleness of body or mind, frailty, weakness of morality) because (V.15) He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. That is why we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Lesson for today’s Christians: When Christians come to Jesus’ throne of grace to ask for mercy (1John 1:7-10) Jesus will cleanse us from our sin with His blood. (Heb. 13:5) Jesus promised He would never leave us nor forsake us.
#1) YES! (2Cor. 5:21, Heb. 4:15 & 1Pet. 2:21-22) Jesus defeated sin by the sinless life He lived.
#2) YES! (Heb. 2:14-15 & Rev. 1:18) On the cross Jesus defeated Satan, the devil, the dark god of death, and took the keys of hell and death away from him.
#3) YES! (Rom. 3:25, Col. 1:14 & 1John 1:7 keyword in all: Jesus’ blood) Jesus’ blood cleanseth us from all sin (Luke 19:10 keyword: lost) so we can be saved from being lost.
#4) YES! (Rom. 8:15-17 keywords underlined) When we were saved we were no longer in bondage and we were adopted as children of God when we received the Holy Spirit and we became heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ to the glorious, future, heavenly kingdom of God.
#5) YES! (1John 1:7-10) When we Christians confess our sins we commit as Christians the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from our unrighteousness. Five, the Biblical number of grace.
NO! You haven’t defeated the devil yet. It isn’t over because you are still alive (Matt. 24:13 and Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21 & 21:7 keywords: endureth and overcometh) and you still have some enduring and overcoming to do. Remember? (Luke 4:13 keyword: departed from him for a season) The devil keeps coming back to try again. BUT! (Matt. 24:9-13 esp. V.9 keywords: for my name’s sake. defined: Christians) (V.13) “But he that shall endure (bear trials, have fortitude, to undergo, take patiently, suffer) unto the end (the point aimed at as a limit: to get to heaven!), the same shall be saved (safe).
(Eph. 6:10-18 esp. V.17 keyword: word) God gave us the weapons to defeat Satan. That’s why God said (2Tim. 2:15) “study to show thyself approved.” Let’s be very frank. What one thing did Jesus use to overcome Satan besides His own values and will through the Holy Spirit? (Luke 4:1-12) God’s Word. That’s all Jesus used. That is backed up by (Eph. 6:17) because the only offensive weapon you have is “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.”
BUT:
(2Tim. 3:16) Through the inspiration of God James wrote; (James 4:7) “Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist (oppose) the devil, and he will flee from you.”
HOW?
Use the five YES sentences above. “Satan, I have been cleansed from my sins by the blood of Jesus. I am a child of God by my adoption into God’s family through the Holy Spirit because Jesus defeated sin and death when He shed His blood on the cross. Jesus has the keys to Sin and Death and I’m not in bondage. You get out of my mind and get out of my house in the name of Jesus and by the authority of Jesus’ blood.”
OR:
Just take the short route when you spiritually sense Satan’s presence causing your life to be all torn up. “SATAN, YOU GET AWAY FROM ME IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND BY THE POWER OF HIS BLOOD.” And no Amen either. (James 4:7) You are not praying, you are giving an order by the authority given to you by Jesus. That’s the method I use and it works every time! And be ready to do it to him again, any place, any time.
In the true story at the beginning of this article: in my terror and panic to escape Satan I even forgot the short route (James 4:7) to make the devil flee from me but I, at least, had the basic good sense to call upon the only Source that could deliver me; “Jesus, Jesus, oh God help me!”
(Luke 16:19-31) THINK ABOUT THIS: Both these men were Jews- God’s chosen people. Both men’s bodies including their brains were rotting in their graves (buried). They were a reflection of each other in attributes but they were in directly opposite permanent circumstances (comforted and tormented).
(Luke 16:19-31) (V.22 & 25) The beggar was comforted. The only way the beggar could be comforted was if he had all the same physical, emotional and intellectual attributes as the rich man. The rich man could (V.23) see, (V.24) taste, touch, smell, (V.25) hear- all 5 physical senses, (V.27) pray- talk, (V.27-28 he loved his brothers and did not want them to come where he was) love- emotion, (V.27-30) made an argument based on reason- intellect, (V.19-31) the rich man did not ask the impossible; that he be removed from hell (resignation to his forever fate).
Were they both the same but opposite in their escort? (V.22) Angels took Lazarus to the Abraham’s bosom, the good place, so they must have been the good angels. Do you think evil angels (demons, devils or Satan) took the rich man to hell, the bad place? After what and who I met in the true story above; that must have been a horror that cannot be imagined. FOREVER!
(Jude 9) “The Lord rebuke (censure, admonish) thee.” DO NOT TELL SATAN, THE DEVIL, WHAT YOU THINK OF HIM EITHER. The Lord will take care of that!
(Heb. 13:5 key: Jesus said; I will never leave thee nor forsake thee) DON’T FORSAKE JESUS. DON’T GIVE UP! DON’T QUIT! (Rev. 20:10-15) WE WIN THROUGH JESUS!