One of the most important aspects of playing football, is an intense study of the opposing team. To win is to know the details of game techniques of the adversary. Seems to me there should be much more emphasis on understanding our adversary, since God describes the devil in Scripture "as a roaring lion, [who] walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8).
Lucifer is another name for Satan. He was only called Lucifer once in the Bible and the Bible re-interpreters of the New International Version, have left Lucifer out altogether, making the verse vague to new Bible readers: "How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!" (Isaiah 14:12 NIV) when it should read: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" (Isaiah 14:12 KJV)
After this article was written, I accidentally came on the following verse in Revelation 22:16 and found vagueness was not the case after all. "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
Back to Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12 notice the NIV used "morming star" to describe Lucifer when the KJV in Revelation 22:16 has Jesus describing Himself to be the morning star, which points to major problems in the Christian publishing field.
Knowledge is critical according to the Apostle Peter. "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge." (2 Peter 1:5) Many teachers of the Bible on radio and television discuss the concept of: `once saved always saved' and callers have a problem with that statement. They don't feel saved when they are
back in sin and no change takes place. They have come forward in church and have accepted the offer of salvation made by teachers, repented and after a short period of bliss fall back into the old rut soon discouraged admitting something is wrong. This cannot be it, God is not working. Teachers still insist on: once saved always saved but maybe the candidate for salvation was not born again when he thought he was.
"For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore
have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. [He is] near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who [is] mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who [is] he [that] shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. Who [is] among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh [in] darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. (Isaiah 50:7-10)
Jesus was already referred to in Exodus, the second book in the Old Testament. Still a tradition among Aaronic priesthood practicing Jews is the blood on the door frames, three big spots representing the trinity. They kiss one side as they enter in through the door in gratitude of the protection. "For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel [upper part of the frame], and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite [you]. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever." (Exodus 12:23,24) That there is action involved in our part to protect ourselves from the destroyer, is obvious.
How just a bite of an apple could have had such devastating effect on all of humanity is not easily understood. The deception confronts us on all fronts: food {mental and physical }, housing, workplace and social activities. For a Christian his and her church activities, are social activities. We are approached with satanic deception in the most natural areas of our lives, especially where we have expectations to be satisfied. In seemingly innocent activities sits Satan in his craftiness and tries to destroy our faith.
The word `beguiled' is Nasha in Hebrew; mentally led astray, seduced was Eve when the serpent said, she would become wise and become a god. Eve believed the serpent, reasoning that God was her father. Why shouldn't she have an opportunity to become like him. Satan implied that God had lied to her, because the tree was
part of their landscape and not a threat in any way, she probably questioned how could eating an apple cause death?"Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not [for] my transgression,
nor [for] my sin, O LORD. They run and prepare themselves without [my] fault: awake to help me, and behold. Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.""[For] the sin of their mouth [and] the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying [which] they speak." "But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God [is] my defense, [and] the God of my mercy." (Psalms 59:2-6,12,16,17)
David here reveals another side of the devil. He attacks the innocent who are trying to walk in obedience to God and David's only defense was not in taking the offensive. He
reveals in the Old Testament what Jesus taught: "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.(Galatians 5:5) "And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it]." (Romans 8:23-25)Hope that is seen in a physical manifestation, ceases to be hope. King David refers to people who try to divert our attention to this spiritual, physical, electrical wonder as: "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder [that] stoppeth her ear; Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely." (Psalms 58:3-5)
God teaches in Isaiah, that man can create his own fire parallel to the Holy Spirit. In the second chapter of Acts, the Holy Spirit is described: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." (Acts 2:1-3)
In the book of Isaiah a warning of a counterfeit is described: "Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass [yourselves] about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks [that] ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." (Isaiah 50:11) "And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course
of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." (James 3:6)Although King David was one of God's seed, Satan worked hard to break that relationship. Like Eve, Satan persuaded David to disobey God. In 1 Chronicles 21:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." "And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel." (1 Chronicles 21:7) In the Old Testament the whole nation suffered for their leader's decision. David brought a lot of harm to his nation.
The word Satan in Hebrew is the same and comes from the verb: to attack; to accuse; to be an adversary; to resist, a lier in wait (like a serpent).The noun Satan `the arch-enemy of all good', an opponent or adversary. The devil is a seducer of men and then accuses them in court like a prosecuting attorney in the courtroom of God (Job 1:7; 2:2ff.; Zech. 3:1,2) Satan's sin was pride. He is not allpowerful and could be defeated. God could be glorified in every circumstance.
Other words for Satan are Greek words diabolos and Satanas. One of the most painful and evil concepts taught in New Age philosophy is oneness with the universe and good is returned with good. The concept of love is used to open all doors. The Bible teaches the opposite. Christ's followers are to separate from the world and stick to fellow Christians because of this truth: "They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] good [is]." (Psalms 38:20) Practicing Christians find themselves wounded here more often than anywhere else.
Job is another excellent example which applies to us. Job was walking in abundance of God's blessings. God considered him to be perfect and upright and rewarded him for it. Satan wanted to show God that Job was obedient only because he was blessed by God, which should teach us that we can loose it if we worship God for increase of
our substance or rewards, which is the basis of seed faith and word faith.
"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them {Sons of God is referring to Angels. The noun Angels is interchangable with spirits). And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the
LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand
now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD." (Job 1:6-12)
A note in the Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible pp. 670 adds the following comment: "There is a controversy over this passage as to whether or not Satan was allowed to come before God's throne in heaven. It is clear in these verses Satan came along with the "sons of God" to present himself before God. If these "sons of God" are in fact angelic beings, it is plausible to state that Satan appeared in heaven. The fact that Satan is not omnipresent is proven by the fact that he was said to have been "going to and
fro in the earth." Another interesting truth that may be gleaned from this passage is that Satan is not free to act in the affairs of mankind. In verses ten through twelve Satan had to ask God to remove the protective "hedge" from around Job.If God does not remove His protection from His people, Satan can have no influence on them or their lives. Consequently, Satan cannot cause affliction nor can he cause a person to commit sin. Satan must submit himself to whatever God chooses to do." On pp. 671 "... There are times, however, that God sees fit to test the believer as in the case of Job for the purpose of strengthening and purifying his faith."
After loosing everything he owned, including his children, " .. Job arose, and rent his mantle and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped, and said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord
gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." (Job 2:20-22)God again challenged Satan to try Job and go a step further causing boils over Job's body and put evil thoughts into his wife's heart: "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." (Job 2:9,10)
Job did begin to wonder what God's motive was and told God that he longed to die."For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came." (Job 3:25,26) Although Job felt victimized because he was innocent, his faith in God never wavered. He knew and respected God's rights to do whatever, because He is the creator, the potter of his vessels.
This example teaches us that instead of competing, we need to submit to Jesus Christ. Christians often attempt to attach their problems to some great sin in their lives. They
often misapply scriptural principles, because they do not fully understand the situation. Job's friends were convinced that he was guilty of sins and made God looked like He seemed to be pitiless. Another aspect of this example is the fact that God gives us the grace to stand firm under any circumstances, we can depend on God's power holding us up in the fire. God also had an opportunity to show us what Satan does with us if he had total dominion over our lives. It proves God's protection is on our lives or we would be in the same situation Job was in.
God's rules are not the same as ours, that is why Jesus was in constant trouble with the pharisees and sadducees. Jesus was not under their law and because of that they were on His case until they had Him on the cross. God's law is the very reason God
does not accuse us, but Satan does. The law that we live under on earth is to protect us from Satan. It incapacitates the devil to some extent. Originally man was born to be free. Disobedience brought the law just as new laws are placed almost daily today.
The thousands of rules we live under are to keep society controlled.Job had little time to prepare or protect himself, it all happened so fast. He did not expect the attacks because Job was under the impression that he had God's favor. We are warned in the New Testament, a new dispensation: "Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) When accept theSon of God as our Savior, God tells us that suffering is to be expected. We will feel the lashes Christ Jesus suffered at times because we are His body and He was not wanted on this planet.
A physical effect of a spirit passing by is described in Job 4:15: "Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up."
To counteract this lecture a bit, the Scripture reassures us that we have God's promise in 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5, in the rapture: "But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep [you] from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."
Satan has another name: "the destroyer" that comes up in Job 15:20,21, 31-35. They are verses that show attributes of the devil. "The wicked man travaileth with pain all [his] days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor. A dreadful sound [is] in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him."
"Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence. It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green. He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive. For the congregation of hypocrites [shall be] desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit." (Job 15:31-35)
In Hebrew the `destroyer' is called: shadad (7703) meaning: to be powerful, to ravage, to use violence or oppression, to rob. Babylon was the destroyer of Jerusalem chosen by God to fulfill His purpose. The Hebrew word for `vanity' is: shaw (7723) that means nothingness, emptiness, anything which disappoints the hope which rests upon it, or is insubstantial. The destroyer is also mentioned in Psalms 17:1-15: An innocent man's prayer. He is in this case is Peris in Hebrew that means violent, wild, ravenous. As a noun: a tyrant, a robber.
King David gives a clue how we can protect ourselves from the destroyer and proves it is a combined effort. God needs our help: "Thou hast proved mine heart (3820 inner immaterial nature); thou hast visited (6485 reviewed me, chastised me) [me] in the night;
thou hast tried me, [and] shalt find nothing; I am purposed (2161 God carrying out His purpose) [that] my mouth (6310 external manifestation of character) shall not transgress (5674 cross over, commit sin). Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy (God's) lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not." (Psalms 17:3-5) David is sharing even after he is just about perfect he needed God to keep him from slipping.
One of the themes Satan has is `knowledge is power' and it is. There are many `how to' books that teach manipulation of others that get advantages. These books are tests of our integrity and expose whom we serve. If we use knowledge to gain the world, we have submitted to Satan. What is great about God is that He is God and not man and allows us to make mistakes, if we repent and turn from Satan's ways.
Satan in Greek language is called Satanas: an adversary. The devil casts himself or something between two (in example when Jesus was tempted by him and when he tempts us, Satan casts himself between the body of Christ Jesus and God, in order to separate us from God). The word Satanas signifies the prince of fallen angels and the word is also used for people who oppose the divine plan of man's redemption by Christ's suffering and death.
Another characteristic of the devil and his cohorts is in Mathew 9:32,33 portraying that these spirits want to get into people and cause most severe problems. "As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when
the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel." (Matthew 9:32,33) Jesus had total control.Because evolution has replaced Christianity, these devils have an open door through practice of seances, astrology, tarot cards, transcendental meditation, hypnotism, alcoholism, drugs, pornography, yoga, out of body experiences, necromancy and many other practices.
Demon is a word used for evil spirits. In some parts of the New Testament daimonia, are viewed in their morally destructive influence. They appear in the Gospel as special powers of evil, as spirits in the service of Satan, influencing the life of persons, both spiritually and physically, so that the person involved is no longer master of him or herself. Demoniacal possession never seems to occur without some outward signs of derangement. The spiritual effect, people become instruments of Satan.
"Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and He {Jesus} healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw." (Matthew 12:22) Blind and dumb is our spiritual condition without the Holy Spirit.
In the following verses Jesus is talking about teachings by word of mouth which are the seed: Jesus is considered to be the Word that is planted and produces children of the kingdom. "He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one]; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
"As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
"Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." (Matthew 13:37-44) The word `buys' (59) in Greek is Agorazo from Agora is a marketplace, only it is an acquisition free of charge because Jesus has already purchased it for us and given us full right of possession. He removed our responsibility to pay for it. We can't buy the field if Jesus owns it, all we can do is possess it by becoming part of Him. We can move into His house free of charge.
The door (the Holy Scriptures) is open to all. "And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith (faith is belief in God, access without measurement) as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:18-21)
In Mark, "when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had [his] dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him,no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with
fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any [man] tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when
he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped him." (Mark 5:2-6)
Jesus said come out of the man thou unclean spirit named Legion (many) and moved them into swine. They subsequently ran into the water and the swine drowned. Jesus exercised power and authority with His word in Luke 4:36:
A person had a spirit of an unclean devil in Luke 4:33, who knew Jesus and told Jesus that it was not time yet. Jesus said for him to hold his peace and come out of the man. The devil threw the man down and came out. In Luke 8:11-15 in a parable about the seed {God's Word} sown by the wayside, the devil takes the word of their hearts {minds, understanding} lest they should believe. Devil in this case (1228) diabolos, he falsely accuses and divides people against increase in knowledge.
Mark 9:18-20 teaches about evil spirits who taketh and tearest (4486) rhegnumi in Greek derived from (2608) agnumi; to break or crack apart, being intense and (2352) shattering to minute fragments, lacerate, convulse with spasms) a young man: "and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He {Jesus} answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he {the man} fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming."
In Mark 1:26 the expression `torn him' (4682) sparasso from spairo in Greek from
(4685) to draw out through the idea of spasmodic contraction, to mangle, i.e. convulse with epilepsy:- tear) In Luke 9:42 the devil threw the man down and tore him. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the child.More attributes we need to be aware that give Satan access. "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:9-12) The word `fall' (4098) in Greek: pipto
means ruined by the destroyer, derived from (3645) olothreno slain, derived from (3639) olethros ruin, i.e. death by injurious force.Satan aims at our faith in God. He brings experiences that make God look like He is failing us and if we don't know the Word, we believe it. The enemy works hardest in churches because heathens are no issue. Our guard needs to be up wherever we are
to keep Satan from destroying our belief in God, which is not belief in certain men and women, but belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.Jesus said: "Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) He is our only hope through the present storm. In some cases the body has to be destroyed to save the spirit. "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1 Corinthians 5:4,5)
There are conversions to Christ Jesus when people contract the HIV virus. They wonder why they are not cured and usually end up with aids after all. God knows
in homosexual cases that they are in a powerful grip would most likely go back to the old lifestyle. The Holy Spirit cannot live in such an environment.To believers God said to put on faith, love and hope of salvation in 1 Thessalonians 5:3-9. In 2 Thessalonians 1, he said to stand fast and hold traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or epistle (Gospel). Timothy under the ministry of Paul warns about foolish, hurtful lusts and temptations that develop in people who have large incomes.
The Lord Jesus called his own disciple Peter: Satanas, because he was considered to be opposing God's plan by applying his own reasoning to the situation Jesus found Himself in when the politicians wanted to remove Him from the public eye. He
seemed too competitive for the leaders because people called Him `King of the Jews.' Then later at the last supper spoken of in John 6:70 "Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" Jesus spoke of Judas Iscariot. In this
case devil (1228) diabolos in Greek was used indicating that Judas was under the influence of an evil spirit and would be the accuser and betrayer that identified Jesus. His closest friend was not beyond betrayal. Jesus knew the truth ahead of time and did not try to protect himself or get out of what was coming.
Another facet in devilish behavior is found in John 7:18: "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh His glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him." Jesus was accused of having a devil in John 7:20 and told people not to judge by appearance and speaks on the accusations in John 8:44, 45, 51, 52. The main theme was that the devil would not be casting himself out. It would cause a divided house.
Many people are affected by oppression (2616) an effective devilish tool. The Greek word Kata Dunasteno: derived from (2596) and (1413) to exercise dominion against in a downward motion. Acts 13:10 teaches that the devil is full of mischief (1388) in Greek: dolos: decoy, trickery (bait), craft and deceit derived: (1185) deleazo: to entrap, delude: allure and beguile. As potentially God's sons and daughters, the old man is corrupt with deceitful lusts and God wants us to put on the new man.
The devilish nature is inherent in all human creatures and eventually becomes the beast (nations) that promotes the rise of the global Anti Christ. To protect Christians against this movement God warns us in Ephesians 6:11-19 to put on the whole armour of God to withstand evil (4190) poneros: derived from (4192) ponos: pain and (3992) penes: toil of daily sustenance or poverty. "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness {Jesus of Nazareth}; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel." (Ephesians 6:11-19)
Continually exercising moving forward in the Word and resisting the devil, practicing strong, steadfast enduring to the end. People in ministry are particularly vulnerable because they get puffed up and easily fall into condemnation. Fear of death causes bondage that only a belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ can remove, see Hebrew 2:14,15. Submit to God, place in orderly fashion, under voluntary subordination, Christ having supreme rule, being in a dependent position, should be the mode of a Christian. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you is written in James 4:6-10.
2 Corinthians 11:3 is a most important Scripture: "But I fear {Paul speaking}, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." The next verse speaks of another Jesus whom Paul has not preached, that is now a sign of the end times. "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not
accepted, ye might well bear with [him]." (2 Corinthians 11:4)
"For such [are] false apostles (5570 pseudapostolos derived from 5571 pseudes: liar, pretended preachers), deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:13) "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."(2 Peter 2:19-21)
"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21) God is talking about an inward change which is beyond Satan's power. It takes the Holy Spirit to transform the heart into a new heart. "... written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2:14) And now I pray Father that the Holy Spirit will "... open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." (Acts 26:18)
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]." (Revelation 2:17)
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name." (Revelation 3:10-12)
But why is it such a challenge to be and remain a Christian is on everyone's mind. 1 Peter 5:8-11 has the answer: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast
in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]. To him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."