ONE FAMILY PLAN
We are the Devil...
"Ravana, that cruel and insufferable monster, the terror of the gods and rishis, with his sons and grandsons, his ministers, relations, and allies, for the good of all, will be slain..." (Hinduism, Ramayana, Bala Kanda 15)
"The serpent Kaliya, who was full of pride because of the virulence of his poison... entered a pool in the river Kalindi... When Krishna, who had become incarnate to restrain the wicked, perceived that the river had been polluted by that serpent... plunged into the poisoned water... The Ancient Man danced on the serpent, who still spewed poison from his eyes and hissed loudly in his anger, and he trampled down with his feet whatever head the serpent raised, subduing him calmly..."
(Hinduism,Srimad
Bhagavatam 10.16)
"...from the regions of hell, forth rushed Angra Mainyu, the deadly, the arch-devil..."
(Zoroastrianism,
Videvdad 19.1)
"...Mara, the enemy of good law... He whom they call the God of Pleasure... the lord of the course of desire... Mara, the enemy of liberation. His three sons, Confusion, Gaiety, and Pride, and his three daughters, Lust, Delight, and Craving..."
(Buddhism, Ashvaghosha, Buddhacarita 13)
διάβολος (G1225 [1228] – Devil) - prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely
a) a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer… and much more…
We ALL go through [spiritual] death to destroy the works of our devil [sin/flesh]…
Christ comes to destroy the DEVIL, HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH - THE DEVIL’S WORK:
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS, THE DEVIL…” (Hbr 2:14) “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. THE REASON THE SON OF GOD APPEARED WAS TO DESTROY THE DEVIL’S WORK.” (1 John 3:8)
We all [Adam/Body of Christ] go through ‘death’ – spiritual death – we live and breathe in the realm of the dead- the lake of fire – furnace of affliction- We are ALL connected – we die with Him- ONE BODY…
Christ comes to destroy SIN:
“…he appeared to put away SIN by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:26)
“…Christ died for our SINS…” (1 Cor 15:3)
“…his own self bare our SINS in his own body on the tree...” (1 Peter 2:24)
“…he was manifested to take away our SINS…” (1 John 3:5)
SIN is the cause of DEATH…
“…the wages of SIN is DEATH…” (Romans 6:23)
“…by one man SIN entered into the world and DEATH by SIN…” (Romans 5:12)
“The sting of DEATH is SIN...” (1 Cor 15:56)
The ‘power of death’ IS ‘SIN’ IS the ‘DEVIL’ thus SIN=DEVIL. He is our ‘old man’ – the ‘body of sin’
“Knowing this, that OUR OLD MAN is crucified with him , that THE BODY OF SIN might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Rom 6:6, KJV) “That ye put off concerning the former conversation THE OLD MAN, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts…” (Eph 4:22) “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off THE OLD MAN with his deeds; And have PUT ON THE NEW MAN…” (Col 3:9-10)
He is (we are) the accuser of the brethren…
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN IS CAST DOWN, WHICH ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT.” (Rev 12:10)
From Job’s accusers to Stephen’s accusers… it is all the same. Gossip/Slander is no different today…
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” (Prov 16:28) “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” (Prov 20:19) “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.” (Prov 26:20)
“They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. THEY ARE FULL OF ENVY, MURDER, STRIFE, DECEIT AND MALICE. THEY ARE GOSSIPS, SLANDERERS, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.” (Rom 1:29-31)
“Even so [must their] wives [be] grave, not SLANDERERS (διάβολος), sober, faithful in all things.” (1 Ti 3:11) “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, FALSE ACCUSERS (διάβολος), incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good…” (2 Ti 3:3) “The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not FALSE ACCUSERS (διάβολος), not given to much wine, teachers of good things…” (Tts 2:3)
We point fingers everyday. We talk about others/meddle… to our shame. Drawn away by our own lust, our body of sin, the devil is the great accuser. Until he is/WE ARE cast down from the Throne on which we have exalted ourselves we condemn ourselves with every pit we dig… “WHOSO DIGGETH A PIT SHALL FALL THEREIN…” (Prov 26:27)
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15)
WHEN we (as Christ) finally ‘resist’ he will flee…
“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL.” (Mat 4:1) “SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.” (Jam 4:7)
How was Christ tempted? How are we tempted? He was tempted in all things as we are tempted - “…but was IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15)
Recall our sitting in the Temple and declaring ourselves God, the ultimate temptation/deception – the High Mountain, Pinnacle of the Temple…
“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and SETTETH HIM ON A PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE…” (Mat 4:5) “Again, THE DEVIL TAKETH HIM UP INTO AN EXCEEDING HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHEWETH HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD, AND THE GLORY OF THEM…” (Mat 4:8) “And THE DEVIL, TAKING HIM UP INTO AN HIGH MOUNTAIN, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.” (Luk 4:5)
Recall also he is/we are the ‘father of lies’ – “…THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM…” (John 8:44)
We tell ourselves...
“And the devil said unto him, ALL THIS POWER WILL I GIVE THEE, AND THE GLORY OF THEM: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” (Luk 4:6)
When we are drawn away by our lust, enticed, and filled with pride – we are condemned to the ‘Lake of Fire’
“Not a novice, LEST BEING LIFTED UP WITH PRIDE HE FALL INTO THE CONDEMNATION OF THE DEVIL. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” (1 Ti 3:6-7) “Then shall He be declaring to those also at His left, ‘Go from Me, you cursed, INTO THE FIRE eonian, MADE READY FOR THE ADVERSARY AND HIS MESSENGERS.’” (Mat 25:41, CLT) “And the Adversary who is deceiving them was cast into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the wild beast and where the false prophet are also. And they shall be tormented day and night for the eons of the eons.” (Rev 20:10, CLT)
One of you is a ‘body of sin’ – an ‘adversary’ – a ‘devil’
“Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and ONE OF YOU IS A DEVIL?” (Jhn 6:70) “And supper being ended, THE DEVIL HAVING NOW PUT INTO THE HEART OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, SIMON'S [SON], TO BETRAY HIM…” (Jhn 13:2)
“And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, [THOU] CHILD OF THE DEVIL, [THOU] ENEMY OF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10)
“Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. HE WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, and abode not in the truth, because THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. When he speaketh a lie, HE SPEAKETH OF HIS OWN: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (Jhn 8:44)
In Christ, there is no condemnation…
“THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHICH ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom 8:1)
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good , and HEALING ALL THAT WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38)
The Trickery of the devil…
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against THE WILES OF THE DEVIL.” (Eph 6:11) “And [that] they may recover themselves out of THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2 Ti 2:26)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR…” (1 Pe 5:8)
Children of the Devil defined:
“In this the children of God are manifest, and THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: WHOSOEVER DOETH NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1Jo 3:10)
DECEIVED BY THE SERPENT – DECEIVED BY SIN
“Now THE SERPENT WAS MORE SUBTIL THAN ANY BEAST OF THE FIELD WHICH THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen 3:1)
“But I fear, 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.” (2 Cor 11:3)
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die…” (Gen 3:4)
Deceived by the serpent...
"...And the woman said, THE SERPENT BEGUILED ME, and I did eat." (Gen 3:13)
Deceived by sin…
“For SIN, taking occasion by the commandment, DECEIVED ME, and by it slew me.” (Rom 7:11)
The serpent, the sinner, one and the SAME!
The wicked, the sinner, the serpent…
"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..."(Psalms 58:3-4)
The wicked man, body of sin, old man, serpent...
The wicked man is the serpent… the evil man, the violent man!!
“Deliver me, O Lord, from THE EVIL MAN: preserve me from THE VIOLENT MAN; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. THEY HAVE SHARPENED THEIR TONGUES LIKE A SERPENT; ADDERS’ POISON IS UNDER THEIR LIPS…” (Psalms 140:1-3)
“And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.” (Rev 9:10)
Death is the serpent... Tails like scorpions, like serpents...
What is in their tails? In their bite? Poison! Sin! Head of the tail…
“For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.” (Rev 9:19, KJV) “The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.” (Revelation 9:19 NIV)
“AND I STOOD UPON THE SAND OF THE SEA, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” (Rev 13:1, KJV) “THE DRAGON STOOD ON THE SHORE OF THE SEA. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.” (Rev 13:1, NIV)
These heads will be broken!
“Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: THOU BRAKEST THE HEADS OF THE DRAGONS in the waters. THOU BRAKEST THE HEADS OF LEVIATHAN in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.” (Psalms 74:13-14)
Death (wicked man-dead man, scorpion, serpent)'s sting/bite is sin...
In their tails (sin)
Sting of death is sin...
Death is the scorpion...
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor 15:55)
Sting of the scorpion, bite of the serpent...
“The sting of DEATH is SIN...” (1 Cor 15:56)
“At the last IT BITETH LIKE A SERPENT, AND STINGETH LIKE AN ADDER.” (Proverbs 23:32)
Furnace of affliction...
“And he opened THE BOTTOMLESS PIT; AND THERE AROSE A SMOKE OUT OF THE PIT, AS THE SMOKE OF A GREAT FURNACE; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.” (Rev 9:2)
“See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION.” (Isaiah 48:10 NIV)
The refining of gold, the refining of silver – the furnace of affliction… these are all references to the refining of the heart…
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but THE LORD TESTS THE HEART.” (Proverbs 17:3 NIV)
The dragon shall be overcome…
Dragon, serpent, devil, Satan, body of sin, wicked man...
ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN (back-biters, gossips – ALL of us!)
“…THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN IS CAST DOWN, WHICH ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev 12:9-11)
Adversary
Body of sin – Satan – adversary – sinful nature – devil – Old Man
“Knowing this, that OUR OLD MAN is crucified with him , that THE BODY OF SIN might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Rom 6:6, KJV)
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation THE OLD MAN, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts…” (Eph 4:22)
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off THE OLD MAN with his deeds; And have PUT ON THE NEW MAN…” (Col 3:9-10)
The demons (unclean spirits) are IDOLS of the HEART. Ultimately, we are the IDOL. WE set ourselves as God in the Temple… “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, WHO OPPOSES AND EXALTS HIMSELF ABOVE ALL that is called God or that is worshiped, so that HE SITS AS GOD IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD, SHOWING HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
“And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and IN THE TOMBS, CRYING, AND CUTTING HIMSELF WITH STONES.” (Mark 5:5) and the prophets of baal on Mt Carmel: “And THEY CRIED ALOUD, AND CUT THEMSELVES after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.” (1 Kings 18:28)
“And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.” (Mark 5:7-8)
Of course the IDOLS do NOT want to be cast out! They are treasured!
“And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And HE BESOUGHT HIM MUCH THAT HE WOULD NOT SEND THEM AWAY OUT OF THE COUNTRY.” (Mark 5:9-10)
Eating swine’s ‘flesh’ – eating ‘flesh’ – eating ‘dust’ – seeking whom he may devour…
The ‘holier than thou’ – those that eat ‘swine’s flesh’ and ‘remain among the graves’
A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face…” (Isaiah 65:3) “WHICH REMAIN AMONG THE GRAVES, and lodge in the monuments, WHICH EAT SWINE'S FLESH, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.” (Isaiah 65:4-5)
Both the ‘demons’ [idols] and we the ‘swine’ are significant…
“Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. AND THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS WENT OUT, AND ENTERED INTO THE SWINE: AND THE HERD RAN VIOLENTLY DOWN A STEEP PLACE INTO THE SEA, (THEY WERE ABOUT TWO THOUSAND;) AND WERE CHOKED IN THE SEA.” (Mark 5:11-13)
“When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND BORE OUR SICKNESSES.’” (Matthew 8:16-17)
“FOR HE SHALL GROW UP BEFORE HIM AS A TENDER PLANT, AND AS A ROOT OUT OF DRY GROUND. HE HAS NO FORM OR COMELINESS; AND WHEN WE SEE HIM, THERE IS NO BEAUTY THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM. HE IS DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN, A MAN OF SORROWS AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF. AND WE HID, AS IT WERE, OUR FACES FROM HIM; HE WAS DESPISED, AND WE DID NOT ESTEEM HIM. SURELY HE HAS BORNE OUR GRIEFS AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS; YET WE ESTEEMED HIM STRICKEN, SMITTEN BY GOD, AND AFFLICTED. BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES; THE CHASTISEMENT FOR OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM, AND BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.” (Isaiah 53:2-5)
He has lived through it all. This is why…
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an HUNGRED, and fed thee? or THIRSTY, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a STRANGER, and took thee in? or NAKED, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee SICK, or in PRISON, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, INASMUCH AS YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ME.” (Matthew 25:37-40)
He has overcome this world. No longer do the unclean spirits (IDOLS) of the heart have a hold on Him…
“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” (Matthew 10:1) “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out…” (Mark 1:23) “And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.” (Mark 1:26-27)
“And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.” (Mark 3:11) “And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits…” (Mark 6:7) “For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet…” (Mark 7:25) “And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice…” (Luke 4:33) “And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.” (Luke 4:36)
“And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.” (Luke 9:42) “There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” (Acts 5:16)
“For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.” (Acts 8:7) “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” (Rev 16:13)
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:24-26)
Our ‘last state’ is worse – the ‘heart of man’ – the ‘heart of Babylon’ –
“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” (Rev 18:2)
Dragon, Serpent, Leviathan, Devil…
“So the great DRAGON was cast out, that SERPENT of old, called the DEVIL and SATAN…” (Rev 12:9)
“In that day the LORD will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, With His fierce and great and mighty sword, Even LEVIATHAN THE TWISTED SERPENT; And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.” (Isaiah 27:1, NASB)
‘Evil’ from God, according to…
God
“I form the light, and create darkness: I MAKE PEACE, AND CREATE EVIL: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7, KJV)
“…HIS HAND HATH FORMED THE CROOKED SERPENT” (Job 26:13, KJV)
“Now THE SERPENT was more cunning than any beast of the field WHICH THE LORD GOD HAD MADE…” (Genesis 3:1)
THE SOURCE OF TEMPTATION IS THE LUSTS OF MAN
“But EVERY MAN IS TEMPTED, WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY OF HIS OWN LUST, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15, KJV)
‘Satan’ filled – ‘You’ conceived…
“But Peter said, ‘Ananias, WHY HAS SATAN FILLED YOUR HEART to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? WHY HAVE YOU CONCEIVED THIS THING IN YOUR HEART? You have not lied to men but to God.’” (Acts 5:3-4, NKJV)
Eating [destruction of] the flesh of swine...
“hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” (1 Cor 5:5) “Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.” (1 Tim 1:20)
The Devil... A Roaring Lion...
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)
A Roaring Lion... A Wicked Ruler...
“Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.” (Proverbs 28:15)
The Red Dragon… The Pharoah
“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; AND BEHOLD A GREAT RED DRAGON, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” (Rev 12:3)
“Speak, and say, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST THEE, PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT, THE GREAT DRAGON that lieth in the midst of his rivers, WHICH HATH SAID, MY RIVER IS MINE OWN, AND I HAVE MADE IT FOR MYSELF.” (Ezekiel 29:3)
Peter… Satan?
“…and said TO Peter…”
“…and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’ Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘GET BEHIND ME, SATAN! YOU ARE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO ME; YOU DO NOT HAVE IN MIND THE CONCERNS OF GOD, BUT MERELY HUMAN CONCERNS.’” (Matthew 16:21-23)
Judas… a Devil (transgressor)
“Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.’” (John 6:70, ESV)
The ‘dreamers’ ARE the ‘devil’ -
“Likewise also THESE DREAMERS defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, IN CONTENDING WITH THE DEVIL, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” (Jude 8-9)
ALL LUSTS ARE ORIGINATED BY THE WORLD
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE—COMES NOT FROM THE FATHER BUT FROM THE WORLD. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)
THE SOURCE OF SIN... The FLESH – The Realm of the Dead/Flesh
“For when we were IN THE REALM OF THE FLESH, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.” (Romans 7:5)
“THE REALM OF THE DEAD IS NAKED BEFORE GOD; Destruction lies uncovered.” (Job 26:6)
“Jesus said unto him, LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:60)
“THE WICKED GO DOWN TO THE REALM OF THE DEAD, all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17) “But little do they know that THE DEAD ARE THERE, THAT HER GUESTS ARE DEEP IN THE REALM OF THE DEAD.” (Prov 9:18) “YOU SAID IN YOUR HEART, ‘I WILL ASCEND TO THE HEAVENS; I WILL RAISE MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ BUT YOU ARE BROUGHT DOWN TO THE REALM OF THE DEAD, TO THE DEPTHS OF THE PIT.” (Isaiah 14:13-15)
The Transgressor
The Devil means: “The Transgressor” and describes the source of all transgression against God, the innate propensities of mankind to sin…
Christ came to DESTROY SIN (the devil). The power of DEATH is in SIN. The Devil is synonymous with SIN. Romans 7…
v17 “…SIN that dwelleth in me.”
v23 “…the law of SIN which is in my members.”
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:18)
“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Gal 5:17-18)
The Acts of the Flesh are the Acts of the Devil are the Acts of Sin
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21)
What is sinful is ‘of the devil’
“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8)
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.” (1 John 3:9-10)
Drawn away by HIS OWN LUSTS… The Devil
“Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of HIS OWN lusts…” (James 1:14)
‘Devil’ in the Greek is ‘Diabolos’ – as false accuser/slanderer.
“Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers (διάβολος), sober, faithful in all things.” (1 Tim 3:11) “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers (διάβολος), incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good…” (2 Tim 3:3) “The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers (διάβολος)…” (Titus 2:3)
The ‘devil’ as civil authorities…
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Rev 2:10)
The Satan
“The Satan” and “The Devil” are not identical. New Testament use of the word “Satan” is grounded historically in Old Testament precedent.
“The Satan” - “The Opponent”- “The Adversary” - posing as worshippers of God, have abandoned His truth and now oppose it and those who espouse it…
“And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:26)
“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN.” (Rev 2:9)
Satan is a Hebrew word, meaning an adversary, or opponent.
Transferred into Greek letters, but untranslated, the Hebrew OLD TESTAMENT noun “Satan”- to apply its OLD TESTAMENT
Zechariah chapter 3 (with its background of Ezra chapters 4 to 6) the definite form THE SATAN... those in opposition…
“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.” (Zech 3:1)
“And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” (Zech 3:2)
“The SATAN” signifies apostate religionists who oppose the Truth.
“Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:18)
Evil Spirits, Unclean Spirits and the Spirits of Demons…
“And GOD SENT AN EVIL SPIRIT between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech…” (Judges 9:23) “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and AN EVIL SPIRIT FROM THE LORD TROUBLED HIM. And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, AN EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD TROUBLETH THEE.” (1 Sam 16:14-15)
“Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when THE EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD IS UPON THEE, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.” (1 Sam 16:16)
“And it came to pass, when THE EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD was UPON SAUL, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.” (1 Sam 16:23) “And it came to pass on the morrow, that THE EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD CAME UPON SAUL, AND HE PROPHESIED IN THE MIDST OF THE HOUSE: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.” (1 Sam 18:10-11)
Lying Spirits
“Now therefore, behold, THE LORD HATH PUT A LYING SPIRIT IN THE MOUTH OF ALL THESE THY PROPHETS…” (1 Kings 22:23) “Now therefore, behold, THE LORD HATH PUT A LYING SPIRIT IN THE MOUTH OF THESE THY PROPHETS, AND THE LORD HATH SPOKEN EVIL AGAINST THEE.” (1 Chron 18:22)
“And I saw THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS like frogs coming OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE DRAGON, out of the mouth OF THE BEAST, and out of the mouth OF THE FALSE PROPHET. For THEY ARE SPIRITS OF DEMONS, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Rev 16:13-14)
Evil Spirits, Demons, IDOLS – of the Devil…
“and also some women who had been HEALED OF EVIL SPIRITS and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, FROM WHOM SEVEN DEMONS HAD GONE OUT…” (Luke 8:2) “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, OUT OF WHOM HE HAD CAST SEVEN DEMONS.” (Mark 16:9)
“In that hour he healed many people of DISEASES and PLAGUES AND EVIL SPIRITS, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.” (Luke 7:21) “so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and THEIR DISEASES LEFT THEM AND THE EVIL SPIRITS CAME OUT OF THEM.” (Acts 19:12)
Jesus AND Paul, both FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT are recognized…
“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But THE EVIL SPIRIT ANSWERED THEM, ‘JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I RECOGNIZE, BUT WHO ARE YOU?’ AND THE MAN IN WHOM WAS THE EVIL SPIRIT LEAPED ON THEM, MASTERED ALL OF THEM AND OVERPOWERED THEM, SO THAT THEY FLED OUT OF THAT HOUSE NAKED AND WOUNDED. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all…” (Acts 19:13-19, ESV)
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.” (Eph 6:12, ESV)
“Put on the whole armor of God, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. For we do NOT wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph 6:11-13)
“HIS HEART IS AS FIRM AS A STONE; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.” (Job 41:24)
“NOTHING ON EARTH IS ITS EQUAL—A CREATURE WITHOUT FEAR.” (Job 41:33)
“He beholdeth all high things: HE IS A KING OVER ALL THE CHILDREN OF PRIDE.” (Job 41:34)
“None is so fierce that dare stir him up: WHO THEN IS ABLE TO STAND BEFORE ME? Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? WHATSOEVER IS UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN IS MINE.” (Job 41:10-11)
