Source: unabridged KJV Bible. The definitions from the Strongs w dictionary are of the anglicized Hebrew or Greek words in italics.
Objective: (2Cor. 4:4 & 11:14 then Eph. 6:12) This article is not to curse the darkness but to light a candle by which to light our way to the Promised Land. We all know the person, team or group with the best offense (the action of attacking) and the best defense (the action of resisting attack) always wins! All of Satan’s weapons are for offense and his one defense is Christian ignorance about his identity, method, strategy and objective. This article will expose Satan’s identity, his method, his strategy and his objective.
Every Christian has been, is and will be defined by his enemy. #1) If Satan is not trying to destroy you, you must be worthless to God. #2) If you are unaware Satan is trying to destroy you, you must be scripturally ignorant and/or spiritually asleep. #3) If you don’t know about Satan you are headed for trouble you won’t be able to handle. #4) If you don’t care about Satan he is probably using you, at times, against lost people and against other Christians, just like he does the other 3 groups.
(2Cor. 10:10: keyword: war) As Satan is revealed it will be easy to feel overmatched and at a disadvantage in your war against Satan. This article in no way minimizes the power of God, our brotherhood relationship with Jesus our Saviour, nor the protection of the Holy Spirit. It is 3-29-16 and I have been a Christian 39 years and I’ve never heard a complete sermon or teaching about Satan.
In the passing generations of preachers and teachers has Satan been forgotten? (2Cor. 4:4 keyword: blinded & Eph. 6:12 keyword: darkness) Has Satan blinded the church into forgetting? After you read this 3 part article ask your preacher some questions and watch his shocked face turn red!
Is that forgetting part of the reason the church has been reduced to squabbling congregations that are divided into self-righteous denominations? Is that forgetting part of the reason the church in America is declining? Ask the internet; Is the Church in America in Decline and read the articles; it is shocking! Is this forgetting about Satan (2Thess. 2:3-9 esp. V.3 & 9 keyword: Satan) part of the reason for the great falling away of church membership just before the end of the “Church Age”?
This article is simply a Holy Spirit revealed, scripture based guide into the personality and work of Satan the Devil. You will be shown how to beat Satan by tapping into the power of God because you surely can’t beat him by yourself.
Among other things (John 8:44) the Devil seeks to murder you forever, (1Pet. 5:8) he seeks to devour you so you will become part of him and thus work for him, (John 8:44) he will lie to you so you will destroy yourself, (2Cor. 4:4) he will blind you so you will destroy other Christians and lost people (2Cor. 11:13-15) and Satan can make wrong look right. He is your greatest enemy.
A Brief Study of Lucifer, (Rev. 12:9) the Great Dragon (Job 41:1-34 esp. V.34 keywords: king over all the children of pride), that Old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan:
Old serpent identifies Lucifer from the Garden of Eden as Satan the Devil (Gen. 3:13-15) because he left there as the serpent. (Isa. 14:12-15) Here Lucifer is called son of the morning and his 5 “I wills” against God are given; #1) “I will ascend (to be high, to take away) into heaven, #2) I will exalt (proud, presumptuous, take away) my throne above the stars (princes) of God: #3) I will sit also upon the mount (mountain) of the congregation (place of meeting), in the sides of the north (gloomy and unknown): #4) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; #5) I will be like the most High (God).”
(Rev. 12:1-17 esp. V.11- remember this- keywords: they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.) #1) Satan planned to take over the angels in heaven. #2) One third of the angels did follow him. #3) Satan did defeat Israel as a nation by leading them into sin. Israel disappeared for almost 2,000 years. #4) He plans to take over the church, #5) defeat God and become God. Do not underestimate him!
(Ezek. 28:13-17) This scripture describes Lucifer and states he had been in Eden, the garden of God, that he had a heart (mind, emotions, soul), that he was lifted up (proud) because of his beauty and he is the anointed (expansion, outspread, to consecrate) cherub that covereth (to defend and protect).
Satan was an especially beautiful angel (Ezek. 28:14) with a special anointing to do the assigned job of defending Adam and Eve from disobeying God (Gen. 3:1-7) but he rebelled against God’s orders, sweetly tempted Eve (Gen.2:17) so they would disobey God (sin) and die. He has the same plan for you. Satan is proud, rebellious and willful!
(Ezek. 28:13-17) (V.15) The iniquity (wickedness, evil) in Lucifer had been revealed by his teaching and deception of Eve in Eden (V.17) and it had sprang from Lucifer’s pride (lifted up) in his beauty (harmony of form and color, excellence of craftsmanship), wisdom (to be wise, to teach) and his brightness (splendor). AND:
(Gen. 1:26 & 2:7) His pride caused his jealousy because God had given special attention to this man (Adam) He had formed (to mold as a potter) out of the dust of the earth in His own image, God had given Adam the breath of life (Gen. 2:8-25) and then God had started a companionship, friendship relationship with Adam whom He had formed. Satan is proud, jealous, wise and he teaches!
God changed Lucifer’s name to Satan (adversary) due to Lucifer’s rebellion in Eden (Isa. 14:12-15) because he had become God’s adversary through his 5 “I wills” (1Pet. 5:8 keywords: your adversary the devil) and he is also every Christian’s adversary. (John 8:44) The devil is a murderer, he is a liar and the father of lying and liars.
(Luke 4:2 keyword: devil) The Devil tempted Jesus. (Matt. 4:3) The Devil is called the tempter (tester). The word Devil defined is a slanderer, a false accuser, a traducer. A traducer speaks falsely, maliciously, to lead. Satan is our adversary, a tempter (tester), a false accuser, a slanderer, speaks maliciously and he leads!
(Rev. 12:9) Satan is identified as the great dragon (to fascinate, to capture, to grasp, to entrap, to take). Satan is also identified as that old serpent. Old serpent signifies he was in Eden. (Isa. 14:29 keyword: serpent’s) Serpent’s defined is to hiss like a snake, to whisper, #1) to prognosticate, #2) is an enchanter, #3) and uses incantation.
DEFINITIONS: #1) To prognosticate means to diligently observe and learn by experience and to predict by using present indications as a guide. #2) To enchant means to cast under a spell, bewitch, to attract and delight completely. #3) An incantation is verbal charms spoken, chanted or sung designed to produce a particular emotional effect. And incantation is the basis of sorcery, magic and witchcraft.
Satan fascinates, grasps, entraps, takes, whispers into man’s thoughts, diligently observes, learns by experience, predicts by using present indicators such as a person’s thoughts, actions, reactions and emotions as a guide, casts under a spell, bewitches, attracts and delights completely, inspires people by verbal charms spoken, chanted or sung which is designed to produce a particular effect, think: Rap, Jazz, Pop, Rock, C&W and etc. AND the music in other languages, which enhances the mood (emotions) for one to commit sin. He inspires sorcery, magic and witchcraft which is occultist idolatry.
Satan has had almost 6,000 Biblical years to observe mankind and learn about us and he can accurately predict what we think because basic man has not changed.
WITCH/WITCHCRAFT
P.1: These 7 names are in the OT– Hebrew: (Ex. 22:18 & Deut. 18:10) Witch defined is to whisper a spell, to enchant, practice magic, a sorcerer. (Ex. 7:11, Jer. 27:9, Dan. 2:2 & Mal. 3:5) Sorcerer is defined to whisper a spell, to enchant, practice magic. Deut. 18:10) Enchanter defined is to hiss like a snake, to whisper, to prognosticate, and uses incantation. No white witches are mentioned. As far as God is concerned a witch is a witch no matter what name they give themselves.
P.2: (Isa. 8:19) Wizard a knowing one, a conjurer. (Deut. 18:11) Necromancer to seek, to ask, to make inquisition. (Dan. 2:10) Astrologer practice enchantments. All three call on spirits and use ventriloquism to throw their voice to obtain answers. (Gen. 41:8) Magician a horoscopist, draw magic lines and circles. For effect all 7 of these are the same, they are all sorcery, they are all of the Devil (Rev. 21:8 keyword: sorcerers) and they will all go to hell. BUT: in NT- Greek: (Gal. 5:20) witchcraft has an entirely different definition and meaning.
Satan’s Counterfeit “Joy” Produced by WITCHCRAFT
It is obvious many of Satan’s weapons listed above deceive people into drug abuse. (Acts 5:1-10) Satan aids and enhances people to do what they already want to do AND to trick, delude or seduce people to do what they had not planned to do AND to take them further than they wanted to go because they cannot come back. SO: Some people have said taking drugs is not mentioned in the Bible so it must not be sin.
The scriptural word witchcraft is really, really important so please study it closely; (Gal. 5:19-21 esp. V.20) gives a list of the works of the flesh and witchcraft is one of those works of the flesh and (V.21) “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God”. That is God’s bottom line, witchcraft sends a person to hell just like the 7 Satanic disciplines of witchcraft listed in P.1 and P.2 above will send people to hell.
The Greek word from which witchcraft is translated is pharmakeia (phonetically written and pronounced) and is defined (medication) and also is the source of the English word pharmaceutical. Pharmakeia by extension is defined (magic)–> #1 below and figuratively it is defined (sorcery)–> #2 below .
The first person use of pharmakeia is pharmakon which is defined (druggist, POISONER). Poison is toxic. Intoxicate means (to poison). Intoxicated means (you are poisoned). Medications are Chemicals. Medication, commonly called drugs, is used to help cure people from disease but it always poisons or kills something.
The whole idea behind regulated proper drug treatment is prescribed dosage and method of delivery of the drug. Take enough poison to “kill” whatever one is after without killing the brain, or the human body, or both; kill germs, kill pain, kill thoughts, kill emotions, kill the immune system, kill a tumor in you and etc.
Alcohol is a chemical intoxicant so it is also a drug. Alcohol (ethyl alcohol-the drinking kind) is so commonly accepted by American society most people are surprised to find out it is really a chemical intoxicant with its chemistry commonly written as CH3CH20H. For a further breakdown of its chemistry please look up ethyl alcohol on Wikipedia. SO:
Alcohol is simply another drug! Alcohol enhances emotions which increases the propensity to sin. Satan disguises its effect by calling it a depressant BUT; “YIPEE! @#$&, Hold my drink and watch this!” sure doesn’t sound like depression (severe despondency and dejection) does it.
The abuse in drug abuse is when a person takes enough chemical intoxicant ON PURPOSE to poison their brain to the point the brain malfunctions and hallucinates.
This hallucination results in the much sought after “high” where as if by #1 magic (from above) everything becomes warm, cozy, good, alright and problems are gone right along with reality. The #2 sorcery (from above) hallucination part is unaided flight, the sounds of different colors, seeing and talking to beings not really there, the color of music and other hallucinations. Brain chemistry is such that physical addiction (outward man) to various chemicals is the result.
The soul (2Cor. 4:16 keywords: the inward man; which is the mind, me, person, self, heart) also becomes addicted to the magic and sorcery by the illusion of freedom and craves to depart from the reality, responsibility, drudgery, work, failure, pain and other problems of normal life that every person faces daily.
EXAMPLE OF PROPER MEDICATION USAGE AND ITS TWO I’s OF DELIVERY: INGESTED, INJECTED: The pain pill of a doctor prescribed dosage is swallowed into the digestive system to begin the method of delivery, the medication is slowly released into the system by digestive action, blood carries the drug to the pain receptors in the brain in a time-release sequence and pain is controlled over a pre-determined amount of time OR for quicker relief from severe pain usually in a hospital ER by injecting a predetermined amount by a Doctor.
EXAMPLE OF IMPROPER MEDICATION USAGE AND ITS THREE I’s OF DELIVERY: INGESTED, INHALED, INJECTED: The same doctor prescribed pain pill can be crushed, the powder is inhaled into the nostrils, the digestive tract is bypassed and the method of delivery is also bypassed, the crushed pain pill dust is absorbed rapidly into the blood vessels in the airway and lungs and the prescribed dosage is also bypassed, the whole dosage quickly goes to the brain, the pain receptors are overwhelmed and the brain begins to malfunction and hallucinate.
Two other ‘types’ of intoxicating chemicals commonly referred to as drugs use all three methods, ingested, inhaled or injected, to obtain the desired high. #1) Various plants such as marijuana, peyote, opium poppy, cocoa plant and etc. contain chemical intoxicants which can be extracted for use and also #2) various store purchased chemicals can be combined to illegally manufacture chemical intoxicants such as amphetamine commonly called “crystal meth, meth, crank, chalk, Mexican crack and etc.”; and both of these ‘types’ use the same blood to brain METHOD OF DELIVERY with the DOSAGE AMOUNT dependent upon what the user thinks he needs to achieve his “high”.
Long term habitual use of toxic substance or too much toxic substance (poison) at one time and the brain can become permanently damaged or even die. The addiction to toxic chemicals becomes so great the drug abuser will do anything to feed his habit which has become his god; throw their children away, steal, lie, beg, prostitute, murder; anything! An intoxicated brain loses the ability to feel compassion or sympathy for other people and moral inhibitions are lost. A drug addict becomes capable of any act, any degradation and any sin to feed his habit (Gen. 3:1-7 & Eph. 2:2-3 then 6:11-12) and Satan, the devil, is overjoyed at what he has helped cause in a beautiful, made in God’s image human being.
Usually the drug abusers family, especially children, is his most helpless, hopeless, and worst hurt victims. The intoxicated brain and soul are easy victims for Satan to deceive, suggest to and inhabit. Drug abuse is sin and it leads to more sin.
Drug abuse is selfishness in its most extreme because nothing else matters but pleasing self. (Gal. 5:20-21) They which do witchcraft (drug abuse) shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Rev. 21:8) Sorcerers shall have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone forever. THE MOST AMAZING THING ABOUT DRUG ABUSE IS THAT ANYONE WHO IS ABLE TO THINK WOULD EVEN START WITH THAT FIRST “HIT”! THAT FIRST HIT IS THE FIRST STEP IN “THE LONG GOODBYE” TO WHO YOU USED TO BE and the “slow, torturous hello” to hell!
All you have to do is look around and you will see the waste, the loss, the pain, the tragedy and the degradation. Drug abuse makes life hard, bitter and painful so why would anyone ever touch the stuff?? Just think how miserable it is to come down from a high all sick, miserable, cold, lost and dying for a hit of the stuff that got you in that shape in the first place. HOW STUPID!
SATAN’S OBJECTIVE IS TO DIVIDE
Satan’s main objective is to “Divide! Divide! Divide and Conquer!” (1Chron. 21:1<–example and 1Ki. 11:26 thru 12:20) Satan divided ancient Israel and Israel eventually disappeared for almost 2,000 years. Satan divided the early church and it became apostate with just a few dissenting believers hiding their worship. The dissenter faction finally broke away and became the Protestant Church but Satan fragmented that and now we are a church divided into denominations. <–(The complete story is in the 3 article Introduction to the commentary Sin in Church) Satan will divide the individual Christian from God and Satan will divide a preacher or pastor from God.
(Isa. 14:12-14, Ezek. 28:12-17 & Job. 41:34) “Satan is the king over all the children of pride.” Satan always encourages pride! Pride is a mother emotion which gives birth to anger, hatred, malice, jealousy, stubbornness, greed and etc. Satan encourages war and wars are fought for 4 basic reasons; political ideology, religious differences, racism and greed. Satan divides individuals from reality. Even within individual families and societies Satan divides people because of their ethnic origin (races), political ideology, their financial status, their “place” in society, their power, their team, their secret society, their club affiliation and etc.
Satan’s rebellious, self-appointed mission in Eden has not changed, his only satisfaction comes from the destruction of mankind’s Jesus provided way to worship God any way he can and to make mankind worship him (Isa. 14:12-14 esp. V.13 keyword: congregation: defined: Strong’s #4150: appointment, a fixed time, a festival, by implication as convened for a definite purpose, an assembly, the place of meeting) because he intends to (V.14) “be like the most High” (God)!
SATAN IS THE RULER OF A KINGDOM
(John 12:31 & 14:30) Jesus said Satan is the prince (first in power, chief, ruler) of this world (Eph. 6:12) which is his kingdom of darkness with an organized hierarchy of fallen, evil angels in which he has power and purpose. (2Cor. 4:3-6) Satan is the god of the people who have not been saved through the gospel of Jesus.
(Matt. 12:25-26 & Eph. 6:12) Satan’s kingdom is a united kingdom of all devils over which he is the ruler. (Mark 5:7-9) Satan and his devils know people, they know you! (Luke 8:27-31) They recognized Jesus, have a self-will, have self-awareness, have knowledge, have power over people, speak through men’s mouths, (Acts 19:15) recognized Paul (James 2:19 keyword: tremble) and have emotions.
(Eph. 6:12) “For we wrestle (a fight, a struggle) not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (first estate), against powers (force, capacity, competency, influence), against the rulers of the darkness (to obscure, to blind, obscurity, darkness of error) of this world, against spiritual wickedness (depravity, malice, degeneracy, derelict, vicious, malicious) in high (eminent in rank or status) places.”
(1Tim 4:1) Seducing (roving tramp, misleader- noun form of mislead- to cause someone to have a wrong idea or impression about someone or something) spirits (devils) and the doctrines (teaching) of devils, especially in these latter times, have, do and will cause Christians and pastors to depart from the faith to the point they speak lies with hypocrisy (acting in a pretended, insincere manner on a stage, a counterfeit, an assumed character) because their conscience (ability to distinguish wrong from right) is seared (numb). (2Cor. 11:13-15) That’s why you hear and read so much obviously false teaching and preaching. If your preacher does it, run from it like it’s a snake because it is from the serpent!
Satan’s Counterfeit “Worship” Through Idolatry and Philosophy
(Col. 1:16) Man was created by God for God. SO: Man has a need to worship within him. Satan preys on man’s need to worship AND he promotes any worship that takes people away from God and Jesus because then they belong to Satan, the Devil, the god of this world. Satan delights in placing the name “church” on any of his organizations. See the internet for information concerning the church of Satan, the church of pot, the PCMW church and the major denominations or parts of denominations that accept the homosexual lifestyle as a legitimate Biblical Christian lifestyle. Check the Christless religions.
(Acts 17:16-18 keywords: #1) idolatry, #2) philosophers, #3) Epicureans, #4) Stoicks): (2Ki. 23:4-15, Acts 7:43 & 2Cor. 11:14-15) Satan is the founder and propagator of idolatry (Rev. 13:1-18 esp. V.2 and the dragon gave him his power) and false religions.
#1) Idolatry (Matt. 22:37) is loving something or wanting something more than loving and wanting a relationship with God. Idolatry can be your team, club, sport, yard, vehicle, house, business, job, hobby, the list is endless of what people devote their money and time to rather than God.
Idolatry in its occult form always offers excitement, thrills, power and release. Classic ancient idolatry in the Bible was the worship of the occult mostly through graven images of the gods of the imagination, today is no different, the pattern of imagination has remained the same but the occult god’s names have changed.
The occult is one form of idolatry Satan uses to distract man’s attention from God. (Rom.1:30 inventors of evil things) Look in your TV guide at the occult programming available, the movie rentals and movie marquees; Harry Potter is a fine example because the witches, warlocks, superheroes with unnatural powers, and etc. are occultist.
At this time, 2016, there are the game stations: Atari, Coleco, Intellivision, XBox, Nintendo, Sega, Sony Play Station and etc. are a few of the names on an endless list of occultism beckoning. There are train loads of occult books available. They are all a diversion from reality and they open the door for Satan.
Think not? You can read on YouTube CNN Special Report of 3-24-15; “Atheists: Inside the World of Non-believers” and you will watch the interview with fallen Pentecostal Pastor, Jerry DeWitt, how his fascination with occult books led him into apostasy and how he became a very popular secular humanist teacher with his own congregation in an exact replica of a church. Secular humanism rejects the Bible and God and embraces human reason, ethics and philosophical naturalism. “We’ll reason our own way to perfection.”
#2) Philosophy: (Col. 2:8) “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy (love of wisdom, to know the meaning of life) and vain (empty) deceit (lies and deception), after the tradition (external ceremony without the commitment of soul) of men, and after the rudiments (the beginning: which is evolution verses creationism) of the world, and not after Christ.” Satan uses evolution to distract from creationism.
Philosophy searches for wisdom and knowledge and loves the pseudo-authority of its wise statements. Basically philosophy tells mankind we can think our way to perfection, we don’t need God to be good, we can heal our own faults and we can improve mankind by our own wisdom. Philosophy is filled with empty lies and deception concerning God’s plan. (2Tim. 3:13 keywords: wax worse and worse) Check your own society and you will see philosophy’s failure. Example: Psychological counseling therapy is based on philosophy.
Philosophy gave rise to the pseudo-religious secular humanistic movement. #3) Epicureans (basically taught God is self) and #4) Stoicks (check stoicism on the internet basically teaches that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge) are basically the 2 branches of philosophy. Philosophy teaches man to be his own god and through that concept man is blinded into worshiping Satan through the worship of the knowledge of self.
Satan founded Secular (denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis) Humanism (an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters) through deceiving the philosophers and it became a type of religion based on man’s search for self-perfection. THINK: The various self-awareness organizations and etc. exampled by Mindfulness, especially the books concerning that subject!
Think not? Check YouTube and read about The Clergy Project which is an organization of pastors and preachers who no longer believe in God. Check Greg Epstein, the secular humanist chaplain at Harvard University, he wrote a book; “Good Without God”. God said: (Prov. 12:15) “THE WAY OF A FOOL IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES:“! If pastors and preachers are vulnerable what about you? Think about the deceived people who follow them!
(John 10:8-16 esp. V.14 keywords: my sheep) Satan is a thief who comes to steal, to kill and to destroy which obviously means #1) Christians-the church, (1Chron. 21:1) #2) the Jews-Israel (2Cor. 4:4) #3) and all other people. (2Cor. 4:4 keywords: the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not & Rev. 20:1-9) Satan’s plan is to set himself up as the god of this world (Isa. 14:12-14) then he plans to take over heaven.
(Rom. 3:23) All (every human who will ever exist) have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Job 19:25-27, Titus 2:14 & Rev. 5:9) and we need a Redeemer. Satan is a murderer and philosophy is Satan’s false hope that we can be our own redeemer. Philosophy is Satan’s inspired blinding to the true purpose of man. (Phil. 4:1-7 esp. V.3, Rev. 3:1-6 esp. V.5 & Rev. 20:12 & 15) MY NAME IN JESUS’ BOOK OF LIFE IS ALL THAT WILL EVER COUNT FOR ME, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
METHOD OF BLINDING
(2Cor. 4:3-4) Satan blinds the minds of those who don’t believe in Jesus and the gospel (good news) of Jesus, (Eph. 2:2) Satan works in the children of disobedience who disobey God’s laws, will and ways; children of disobedience obviously includes Christian and sinner. (2Cor. 11:14) Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. An angel is a spirit personality. SO: SATAN WORKS IN EXACTLY THE SAME MANNER AS THE HOLY SPIRIT.
(Luke 22:3 key: Satan spiritually entered Judas & 2Cor. 11:14 keyword: angel) Satan is a spiritual being (angel) who can possess people (example: Judas and many others revealed in the gospels). (John 12:6) Judas was a thief.
(Mark 14:10-11) It is obvious Satan encouraged, embellished, deceived and aided Judas to do what he was already thinking about (intellect) which was to betray Jesus for money (greed, an emotion= soul). Can you imagine what Judas thought when the bulging bag of clinking silver coins was placed in his hand (physical achievement, body)! Satan can do that to any of us so be warned, your intellect, soul and body are vulnerable!
Intellect: (Luke 4:1-13 esp. V.10-11 key: compare what Satan said to what is written in Psa. 91:11- –more than likely you will have to write them down side by side to see how Satan twisted the scripture to make it an act of pride= commonly called showing off) Satan twists and perverts scripture, even when he was tempting (testing) Jesus! (John 6:63) Jesus’ words are life. If you don’t know (intellect) the Bible and God’s precepts Satan can kill you forever. Satan tested Jesus and Jesus quoted scripture to defeat him SO: (1Tim. 4:1-2, 2Tim. 4:3-4 & Tit. 1:14) Satan can test any of us through our intellect so be warned, you are vulnerable.
Soul: Satan can help us be afraid (an emotion) to witness to the lost. (Luke 22:31-62 esp. V.31 keyword: Satan & V.33 key: Simon Peter was an emotional person) Simon Peter was extremely emotional about serving Jesus. Satan spiritually entered into Simon Peter’s thoughts. (Luke 22:54-62 esp. V.56) Satan magnified the danger by working in Simon Peter’s emotions, (soul).
(Matt. 26:69-74) Simon Peter’s courage wilted before a girl, (V.70) he denied before them all that he knew Jesus, (V.72) he took an oath he did not know Jesus (V.74) and Simon grew angry and cursed and said he did not know Jesus. Satan was successful with Simon Peter so he can do that to any of us so be warned, you are vulnerable.
Body: (Gal. 5:19-21 & Col. 3:1-9) Physical (body) wants and cravings (hormones- testosterone, estrogen and etc.) are demonstrated by physical actions. (Luke 4:5-7) Satan will divert your attention from a relationship with God by offering you the things of the world and he can give them to you (2Cor. 4:4) because he is the god of this world.
Satan has had almost 6,000 years to study human nature which basically has not changed. He can embellish our tiredness (laziness) until we don’t study the Bible. Satan is a past master in helping you transform your wants (don’t need) into “must haves” (needs). (Luke 4:5-7) Satan was not afraid to try that method on Jesus so he sure isn’t afraid to try it on us so be warned, you are vulnerable.
Above you have seen how Satan attacks the complete person; intellect (thinking), emotions (soul) and body (the flesh). (Eph. 6:11-12) It aggravates me to no end when preachers, teachers and Christians bray and bellow; “Satan is a defeated foe.” and let it go at that. It is a satanic perversion of scripture that deceives people into thinking they are not in a spiritual war for their eternal life!
The Bible does not say Job knew he was under satanic attack nor that he knew he was being tested by God who was using Satan as the vehicle of the testing. All Job knew was that his whole world was exploding in his face. SO:
Tell Job “Satan is a defeated foe.” while the Satan inspired Sabeans and Chaldeans killed and took (robbed) all he had. Tell Job that while he smells the burned flesh of his servants and sheep. Tell Job that while he pulls the broken, twisted bodies of his children out of their Brother’s house the Satan controlled weather had destroyed. (Job. 1:1 thru 2:13 esp. V.13 keyword: grief) Please tell Job that while he sits weeping in his grief beside the graves of his 10 children.
Please tell Job Satan is a defeated foe while you sit in the ashes with him. Maybe you will be compassionate enough to grab a broken pottery shard and help Job scrape away his Satan cursed, rotting flesh. (Job 2:9) Tell Job that while his wife screams; “curse God and die!” Mrs. Job had suffered just like Job but she was helping Satan! (Job. 2:10) “Thou speaketh as one of the foolish women speaketh.” “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
As shown above Satan is a tester of our heaven worthiness. Think not? (Matt. 13:18-23 esp. V.23) Out of these four types of Christians (received the word or sown in his heart) (V.23) only one type served God and the other 3 failed. Satan works in exactly the same manner as the Holy Spirit.
Both the Holy Spirit (God) and the unholy spirit (Satan, the devil) work in our thoughts and emotions to help us do what we desire to do and Satan can and does deceive us into doing the wrong thing (sin) according to our Bible knowledge, our values and our will.
Just like Job’s wife how many Christians blame God over a dead child, a burned house, a lost business, a sickness, trouble in church, and on into the infinity of human suffering? “Satan is a defeated foe!” (Eph. 6:11-12) I’ve got a hot flash for you Pal; you are still alive so you haven’t defeated him yet. I have witnessed a Christian in my own family; “Why did you let my baby get killed? I hate you God!” and she died a few years later from a drug overdose. You are in a war for your eternal life!
WEAPONS OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL WAR WITH SATAN THE DEVIL
(2Cor. 10:3-5) “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (pertaining to the flesh, unregenerate- such as fists, guns, bombs, etc.), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;” Each Christian is in a spiritual war. Spiritual defined is (non-physical, supernatural->a force beyond scientific understanding and beyond the laws of nature).
(Eph. 6:10-18) God taught us how to fight the devil (Satan). The highlighted verses will be given where the discussion concerning them begins.
(V.10) “Finally, my brethren, be strong (to empower, to enable) in the Lord, and in the power (vigor, dominion) of his might (the strongest, the main element).” SO: The Lord empowers and enables us with His own vigor that we can dominate Satan because the Lord is the strongest and He is the main element in our efforts to be the kind of Christian we are supposed to be. Our Christian existence depends on God.
(Heb. 11:6) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Rom. 8:31) “If God be for us, who can be against us.” You had the faith God had the power to save you when you asked Him to, He did and you knew it. (Isa. 54:17 & Heb. 13:5-6) Do you have the faith God has the power to fulfill all his other promises to you and that He will take care of you?
(V.11) “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Wiles defined is (method of traveling over-> to overrun and destroy: to lie in wait->ambush: trickery, travesty->a false, absurd, perversion, corruption, mockery, farce or distorted representation of something).
The definition of wiles gives evidence to the fact #1) the devil (Satan) aids, abets and promotes idolatrous, false, Christ-less religions. #2) It also shows the Devil aids, abets and promotes individual Christians, groups of Christians or Christian organizations that pervert or leave out parts of the Bible. #3) It shows how the Devil can destroy individual Christians. All 3 of these events are accomplished by distorting, perverting or destroying God’s true word out of Christian’s thoughts and helping them sin (Gen. 3:1-19 esp. V.1-6) just like he did Eve in the Garden of Eden.
(V.12) “For we wrestle (a fight, a struggle) not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (first estate), against powers (force, capacity, competency, influence), against the rulers (world-ruler) of the darkness (to obscure, to blind, obscurity, darkness of error) of this world, against spiritual wickedness (depravity, malice, degeneracy, derelict, vicious, malicious) in high (eminent in rank or status) places (Strong’s #3837: universally–in all places, everywhere).”
*****The definition of darkness reveals the Devil’s method. The definition of wickedness reveals the Devil’s personality, his soul. The definition of places reveals the Devil’s location. He is an evil angel (Rev. 12:3-4) and he and his evil follower angels, the third part of the angels who made it their choice to follow Satan and rebel against God. (Isa. 14:12-14, Ezek. 28:13-17, 2Cor. 4:3-4, Eph. 6:11 & Rev. 12:7-9) The Devil is a chief angel equal to Michael (Jude 9) the archangel. (Psa. 8:4-5 & 2Pet. 2:10-11) All angels are stronger than men. “we” above paragraph: If you are a Christian you are in a fight against Satan. If you are not a Christian Satan, the devil, will do anything he can to prevent you from accepting Jesus as your Saviour!*****
(Rev. 12:7) Obviously angels have the freedom of choice just like people. Some chose to serve God (good) and some chose to serve Satan (evil). (Isa. 14:12-14) Satan chose to become God’s adversary and destroy the lives of mankind (Gen. 3:1-24 esp. V.19) starting with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Rev. 20:7-15) and continuing until the judgment. Each Christian (you & me) is a target.
(V.13) “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand (oppose, resist) in the evil (depravity, malice, degeneracy, derelict, vicious, malicious) day, and having done all, to stand (to remain stable, to hold on).” At the time the NT was written Rome ruled the “known world” and had the strongest army in the known world.
The pattern for using the words “armour of God” is the armor worn by Roman soldiers because everyone could recognize it. Ancient Rome was so famous people can still recognize a Roman soldier.
Obviously the scripture “armour of God” uses the physical Roman armor as a metaphor for the spiritual (non-physical, supernatural) armor a Christian needs to fight his war with the Devil. With this spiritual armor a Christian can be a member of the strongest army in the world. Think not?
(Luke 19:45-48 & John 19:12-16) The Jewish leadership and the Romans considered Jesus a renegade. SO: A renegade rabbi and His army of 12 apostles turned Israel upside-down and changed the world! (Gal. 1:1 Paul is the 12th). The Roman army was the strongest army in the world because they were in constant training, they were in a constant state of readiness to go to war, they had a brotherhood because they depended on each other and they stood together when they fought.
In a Roman battle formation the soldiers held their shields together to form a wall bristling with weapons. If a soldier fell wounded in battle they closed their shields (faith) together to protect him so he could be treated and cared for. The Christian army is the only army in the world that stabs its own wounded to death and their stabbing weapon is their tongues! Take that 2 paragraph message to your church!
(V.14) “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, (to be true in doctrine and profession, to speak the truth) and having on the breastplate of righteousness (justification, innocent, holy).”
(Rom. 3:9-26) (V.10) Separate from God mankind has no righteousness. (V.22) But through faith in Jesus Christ (V.24) God justifies us freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Jesus (V.25) who is our propitiation (atonement) because His blood provides the remission of sins that are past (V.26) and applies His righteousness to Christians and Jesus’ righteousness is what justifies us.
(V.15) “And your feet shod with the preparation (to prepare, provide, make ready) of the gospel (announce good news) of peace;” (Rom. 5:9-11 esp. V.10 keyword: enemies) After salvation (reconciled) through the (V.11) atonement (restoration to divine favor) of Jesus a person is no longer an enemy of God and that brings peace. One must be at peace with God in order to serve God. BUT: As will be shown; you will fight Satan to serve God!
(V.16) “Above all, taking the shield (a door, a portal, an entrance) of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” The Roman shield is in the shape of a door. (John 10:7-9) Jesus said; “I am the door (shield): by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
In ancient Israel the sheepfold was a stone circle and an opening in the wall was the door. The shepherd lay down across that door at night and no predator could get in with the sheep and no sheep could leave without going over the body of the shepherd. During the day the shepherd walked with the sheep wherever they went. (John 10:11) Jesus said; “I am the good shepherd.” Faith requires discussion.
ORIGIN OF FAITH
(Eph. 2:8-9) “For by GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
It is ridiculous to think any human could buy salvation from God or do enough work to make God owe him salvation or generate enough faith by his own will to leave God out of it and just take salvation. What could we possibly possess or do that God would want (Psa. 24:1) because God already owns it all?
But there is also a deeper meaning to “it is the gift of God”. The world society’s financial situation is based on beg, barter, buy or trade. Wealth runs the range from extremely poor to extremely rich. The strength and ability of each human body and brain is different. It ranges from weak to strong and from dumb to intelligent.
(Psa. 119:137-144) God is righteous (morally right and just, perfect, infinitely fair). If salvation depended on a buying price or works done there would be a set amount and there would be people who couldn’t afford the price of faith or were too weak to accomplish the work needed to earn faith. The buying and doing in an amount would be unfair. SO:
God offers the gift (no charge, price already paid) of faith during His drawing (Psa. 116:5) because God is gracious (having grace, merciful, have pity upon, to stoop or bend in kindness to an inferior). God’s giving of faith starts in your thoughts; “I need to go to church.” or “I wonder what church is like.” or “who and what is God and Jesus?
Faith comes by Christians witnessing to you, listening to preaching, going to church and reading the Bible. That is God talking to you. It is the beginning of God’s drawing. It is the beginning of His giving of faith. Go to church! It’s your decision to accept or refuse God’s offering of free faith.
Faith is given to us through Holy Spirit revelation of God’s truths (John 6:44 & 12:32 keyword: draw- defined is to pull or drag toward) as God reveals himself to us during the time he draws us toward him. (John 6:44) “No man can come unto me except the Father which sent me draw him:” The above described drawing is the key to the gift of faith. We cannot buy, deserve, or take faith. God, in His Holy Spirit form, must be there to give faith to us.
RESULT OF FAITH
God will start revealing your condition and revealing the reality of Himself to you. Keep going to church. That is your decision. It all ties together and is the process of God building your faith. It is God’s gift. A time will come when you must decide if you want God’s offered salvation. That is also your decision.
Faith and the salvation it brings are gifts (no charge, price already paid by Jesus on the cross) from God. SO: (Heb. 11:1) “Now faith is the substance (the underlying reality that comprises all things) of things hoped for, the evidence (something that proves a situation to a legal conclusion) of things not seen.” Faith is reality.
HOW IS FAITH YOUR SHIELD
The “Shield of Faith” is the reality of your relationship with God because when you were saved (Eph. 1:13-14) you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise when the Holy Spirit took up residence within you. You have an “I know so salvation”.
(John 3:3 keywords: born again then 14:17-21 & 23 keywords: make our abode with him) You wouldn’t know you were saved except God, in His Holy Spirit form, took up abode (residence) within your soul and removed the sin burden, removed the knowledge you were lost and affirmed to you that you were saved. You know when it happens. There is no other way!
(Eph. 6 continued: V.17) “And take (Strong’s Concordance W #1209: to take hold of, receive, to receive friendship, the thing offered in speaking, teaching, instructing, to receive favorably, make one’s own, approve) the helmet of salvation,” A helmet protects your brain. Your brain is the physical thinking organ you, the spiritual soul, uses to think with. Your brain stores what you know. (Acts 20:28 & Rom. 5:8-11) At salvation you were saved through the blood of Jesus (John 10:28 & Heb. 13:5) and no person can take that away from you. When Christians sin (Heb. 4:14-16) we can go to Jesus on His throne of grace (1John 1:3-10 esp. V.3-4 key: to the church) and get that sin cleansed away by Jesus’ blood through grace. The helmet of I know I’m saved (salvation) is a protection. There is no other way!
(V.17 continued) “and the sword (Heb. 4:12: “For the word of God is sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart“) of the Spirit, which is the word (the utterance- SEE: 2Tim. 3:16-17) of God:
(V.18) “Praying always (give self wholly to, thoroughly) with all prayer and supplication (seeking, entreating) in the Spirit, and watching (keep awake, aware) thereunto with all perseverance (persistancy) and supplication for all saints.” We Christians are all about the same and in the same situation with our struggle. Do you ever put yourself in our place and pray for all the rest of us? Do you ever pray for the underground church where Christians are persecuted and even killed in those countries where the government controls the religion or is the religion such as North Korea, Iran, China etc.? I know about them because I have had contact with them. What will you pray about when Political Correctness takes over in America and the church is muffled? Muffled? “You don’t have the right to tell me the lifestyle I’m living will send me to hell.”
These 5 things; truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are our defensive weapons in our war with the Devil. They are gifts given to you by God because of His grace and love. Satan is in a murderous rage, hatred and burning desire to take your 5 God given gifts away from you. Satan cannot take your gifts away but he can cause you to throw them away. SUCH AS: “I despise the results of always being on the defensive, flailing about and never getting in a telling blow against the devil!”
Do you want to always stay humped up on the defense while Satan batters at you until you might well give up, throw away your salvation and quit? The fighter, team and etc. with both the best defense (the action of resisting attack) and the best offense (the action of attacking) always wins! All of Satan’s weapons are for offense and his one defense is Christian ignorance.
READ THIS, ESPECIALLY ANYONE WHO IS NOT A CHRISTIAN->(Rev. 20:10-15 esp. V.10 keywords: and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. AND V.15 keywords: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.) (ROM. 10:8-13) Salvation through Jesus is the only way to escape Satan the devil. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GO TO A LAKE OF FIRE TO BE TORMENTED WITH THE DEVIL FOR EVER AND EVER?!?
In Part 2 you will be shown how to fight and keep your gifts.