“That Old Serpent”

Part 2

March 5, 2014

The old serpent called the devil and satan is the most subtle beast of the field created by God. In Truth and as we learned in the last study, the traducer and adversary has been created to deceive and be deceived without ever being discovered for who he is. That is, until the Lord brings forth Light form darkness and that is the purpose of this study today.

That old serpent is created to be perfect in his ability to achieve what the Lord causes him to do.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The deception that takes root in us all leads to death. Why? We are all shapen in iniquity and in sin our mother conceives us.

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Of course there is an outward application to our physical mothers conceiving us and also that in our flesh is no good thing. However, just under the surface lies the thing that causes the sin in our members to work its work and that thing is the carnal mind.

Rom 7:18  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.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Rom 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

In this study today we are going to examine what is working on and in our flesh and how the traducer and adversary uses our carnal mind to seduce and tempt us into disobeying the commandments of God.

“Love thy brethren”

On the surface, it seems so simple. We are to keep the commandments of God, yet in the practical use of living it out and being exercised by good and evil it is impossible for us to do.

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Pro 6:20  My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Pro 6:21  Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
Pro 6:22  When thou goest, it shall LEAD thee; when thou sleepest, it shall KEEP thee; and when thou awakest, it shall TALK with thee.
Pro 6:23  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the WAY OF LIFE:
Pro 6:24  To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Pro 6:25  Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

On the surface, this seems so straight forward. These appears to be things that we need to keep in mind in the physical lives we lead, and they are, but what we are studying today is how the adversary traduces us into doing the opposite in the spirit in order to bring it about in the flesh.

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

All that is in the world is lust and pride, but it has been overcome.

And a few verses later:

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and CONTINUETH therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of THE WORK, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

What then is being a doer of the Word and a doer of the Work?

Joh 4:31  In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
Joh 4:32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
Joh 4:33  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Contrast that with this:

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that WORK INIQUITY.
Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Loving the brethren is so paramount to fighting the good fight of Faith but “love” is not the fleshly emotional tug of the heart that we almost always associate the word “love” with. Many do things in the name of “love,” but can that be equated with working iniquity?

Loving the brethren is keeping the commandments and doing the will and work of God, so let us examine the scripture to see if this is so.

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; and their works do follow them.
Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and UPON THE CLOUD ONE SAT like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

This may come as a shock to “the world” in us all, but the old serpent and satan is the direct ENEMY of what I am about to say.

In fact, the Faith of Christ which withstood the traducer’s temptations was this. When Christ was in the wilderness forty days and nights He was ministered to by angels of God. Angels are messengers of God, among other things, and I want to send you a message now that will almost instantly be attacked in your heavens.

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, EVEN OUR FAITH.
1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Son of man said this:

Mat 8:19  And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Mat 8:20  And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Mat 8:21  And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Who is the Head of the Son of man? Jesus Christ has just been told that He would be FOLLOWED where ever He goes and His reply was that He has no where to LAY HIS HEAD.

How and why is it, that here in Matthew, Christ mentions His head with DEATH and in Revelation 14 12-15 He mentions the same thing?

Let us examine this closely.

The patience of the saints is to keep the commandments and Faith of Jesus among other things. Because of this, BLESSED are the DEAD who DIE HENCHFORTH, resting from THEIR LABORS so that THEIR WORKS can FOLLOW them.

Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and UPON THE CLOUD ONE SAT like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Christ is RESTED, seated, right on top of the “cloud of great witnesses,” so what then does any of this have to do with satan / the adversary and the devil / the traducer?

“Your father the devil”

Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44  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.

If the traducer is the deceiver of the WHOLE WORLD and a father, doesn’t that mean there must be a MOTHER? To show us the invisible things, we have been given examples in the visible, and for this point it is a physical father and mother. So, what is the invisible?

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Contrast this pair of father and mother with this Father and mother.

1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Who then is Christ’s mother?

Mat 12:47  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Mat 12:48  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mat 12:50  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Everything we have read and head up until this point has contrasting one will versus another, one mind versus another. Our fellowship is with our Father and His Son, so where is the Son SEATED?

Who is our rest?

The devil is the father of lies and we are said to be of our father who has no truth in him, but as Christ welcomes us into His flock we are given a new Father of Lights.

Our emphasis though is not ONLY on the fathers in this scenario but on the “mother” of the various roles.

Christ came to do the will and work of His Father and He called His disciples HIS MOTHER and brethren.

The traducers entire agenda is to produce DEATH, for he has the power of death. Christ’s ENTIRE “agenda” was to do the WILL of the Father, the work of the Father, which is to PRODUCE LIFE from or OUT OF DEATH, and that is why you see a HEAD and death mentioned in both scenarios of Matthew and Revelation 14.

Mat 18:13  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Mat 18:14  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

A head rest somewhere, yes? It rests on top of a body.

Is that all there is to the Will of God? I want you all to pay close attention to something you have probably heard 50 or 100 times by now, but let him that has ears hear what the spirit says to the CHURCH, the body of Christ.

Joh 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Joh 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Joh 6:36  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
Joh 6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Joh 6:38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Joh 6:39  And THIS IS THE Father’s WILL which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Joh 6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Who is the bread? Jesus the Christ. What is the bread?

Joh 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and THE BREAD THAT I WILL GIVE IS MY FLESH, which I will give for the life of the world.

Spiritually speaking, who and what is the FLESH of Christ that He gives for the LIFE OF THE WORLD?

Joh 6:48  I am that bread of life.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Col 1:23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

We are overcomers of the world if we continue in the FAITH grounded on the ROCK.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Eph 5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

The traducer is loving if you are confused by what is being said in this study because what is being said is that the BODY of Christ, where His head is seated, is what is given for the LIFE of the WORLD.

Does this sound blasphemous to you?

Jesus told us that when we pray we are to pray a certain way. Here it is:

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

So Jesus just set the stage of how it is we are to pray, and this is the manner of prayer we pray.

Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Then, Jesus goes right back into telling us how to FORGIVE and why to forgive.

Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mat 6:16  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:17  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

Why is there so much focus on MEN? The focus is whether we are trying to be PLEASING and SEEN of men or whether we are on the flip side of that coin PRAYING in a closest and FORGIVING the TRESPASSES of MEN?

Here is the focus of this study. Christ is the BREAD of Life. Where does the BREAD LIVE?

Gen 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

When we have RESTED, we partake of a different BREAD from heaven not of which MANKIND is sustained by physically.

Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Listen to me BROTHERS and SISTERS, my MOTHER and my BRETHREN.

1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is BROKEN FOR YOU: this do in REMEMBRANCE of me.
1Co 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s DEATH till he come.

Are you not broken? Have you need of a physician? Was Christ’s PHYSICAL flesh all He was referring to? Are we NOT His body? Where does the Word of God LIVE? Does He have a temple?

What has been so traduced in the heavens is the Truth that we ARE ONE with Christ. The simplicity that we talked about in the last study is that the FAITH of Christ is NOW our Faith. He lives it IN US. His Faith is now our faith, a head and body’s Faith together and that is why we have His name.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

The reason we start off “praying in this manner” and acknowledging that God in heaven is that this is where the WAR is taking place. The kingdom is what we are talking about and when we PRAY, we are praying for ONE ANOTHER. That is why we are told to pray in the manner of “us”.

“Give US today our DAILY fellowship with the Father and His Son, our daily BREAD and His BODY, our Word of God which is LIVING in the TEMPLE OF GOD.”

“Forgive US, lead US not into temptations, but deliver US form the evil,” for THINE is the Kingdom and POWER and GLORY.”

Does anyone hear Christ in me? Is this becoming clearer? “Us” is you and be and the rest of the body of Christ.

What has been traduced in our minds, what has been mixed with LIES for so long, is the Truth that Christ VERY MUCH identifies with HIS FLESH, His bone and His body. He DOES NOT separate the two. He does not separate Himself as a head ONLY without a body.

Why then do we think to try to separate ONE into two separate things? Think on this for a moment.

Yes, there are many layers to any word in scripture. There are outward and inward applications, physical and spiritual, positive and negative, but what we are grasping in this age now, Lord willing, is that we are ONE in Christ and His body is being BROKEN for the REST of the body.

This is our fellowship and His glory. If it was good enough for Jesus Christ to lead us in this example, let it be good enough for us and don’t be beguiled of the simplicity that is in Christ that we are One with Him and we absolutely need one another!

No man is an island.

With everything that has been said in this part of the study, listen to this and look at it in a “new Light.” This is Jesus Christ speaking.

Luk 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

The will of God, the works we do, are contrasted with the works of those that simply say Lord, Lord but don’t do what He says.

We cast out devils alright, but we cast out the traducer when we are able to answer as Christ did when He was tempted and remove the lie from the Truth we are being presented. Yes we prophesy, but we prophesy of the TESTIMONY of Jesus in US, and THESE are the Works that follow us because we have rested from our own labors.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We are all being exercised daily to live out this Word in our lives with one another. Let us continue in this work and be the Light to the world that we ARE.

Pro 6:20  My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

In the next study, we will continue to focus on the old serpent and detail the wiles of the devil and the devices he uses to wage war against the Truth that lives in us.

“That Old Serpent”

Part 1

February 26, 2014

There are many different trains of thought on the existence and power of the old serpent called the devil and satan.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Many believe he doesn’t exist at all, others think he was killed off by Christ by being destroyed by Jesus Christ, still others believe he is a literal man with a forked tail and pitchfork waiting around the next corner to use all his might to inflict the most spiritual damage in his power.

The truth of who that old serpent called the devil and satan is, is quite different when examined by what the scripture of Truth reveals about him.

Dan 10:21  But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

In this series, we are going to dig into various scriptures and ask and pray that the Lord anoints and blesses our eyes and ears to see and hear what we are told about the old serpent, how we can combat him, and what his purpose is in the life of the elect.

Unless we understand the war we are in, we cannot begin to fight the good fight until the end so that we are able to overcome, Lord willing.

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

“Satan”

The first mention of the term ‘Satan’ in scripture as the books are laid out is found in 1 Chronnicles 21:1 and illustrates what “Satan” is used for and means throughout scripture.

1Ch 21:1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
1Ch 21:2  And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
1Ch 21:3  And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

And a few verses later:

1Ch 21:7  And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

David was provoked by Satan to number Israel, and David did this thing which displeased the Lord so that the Lord smote Israel. So we can see that Satan is used to provoke, but that is not the only function of one who “Satan” is.

The oldest book in the bible, as noted by many scholars, is the book of Job. In this book, we can see the function which “Satan” lives out in the lives of the children of God.

Job 1:6  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7  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.
Job 1:8  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?

As we just read, whenever the sons of God come to present themselves before the Lord, Satan comes also among them “night and day,” that is to say, whenever they are presenting themselves. How can this be the case, and what does it mean that Satan comes among them? What, then, does Satan mean? For many of us, we will already be aware that Satan means adversary, but who can be an adversary?

H7854
שׂטן
śâṭân

From H7853; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch enemy of good: – adversary, Satan, withstand.

The King James concordance has Satan listed as such:

H7854
שׂטן
śâṭân
Total KJV Occurrences: 27
Satan, 19
1Ch_21:1, Job_1:6-9 (5), Job_1:12 (2), Job_2:1-4 (5), Job_2:6-7 (2), Psa_109:6, Zec_3:1-2 (3)
adversary, 6
Num_22:22, 1Ki_5:4 (2), 1Ki_11:14, 1Ki_11:23, 1Ki_11:25
adversaries,1
2Sa_19:22
withstand,1
Num_22:32

Here is an important example of what Satan can represent:

Num 22:21  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Num 22:22  And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an ADVERSARY against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:23  And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

The word used here in Numbers is the same word translated ‘Satan’ other places. A few verses later it is used this way:

Num 22:31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Num 22:32  And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to WITHSTAND thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

“Satan” is an adversary which is ADVERSE to the sons of God while he is AMONG them as they are presented to the Lord, and he is used to WITHSTAND them just as the angel of the Lord was used to WITHSTAND Balaam from cursing Israel.

What other functions does the adversary serve?

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:10  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.

So, the adversary is used to accuse and withstand those who are the sons of God. However, that is not the only thing under discussion in this first part of this series. 

“The Devil”

This series was in part brought about due to what the Lord had been working in “my heavens” regarding why it is we all do what we do, why we act or react the ways we do, and what can or cannot be done about it.

I have been doing the “Awesome Hands” series and will pick up with it after this mini-series is done, but this topic has increasingly been on my mind. Then, one day I received an email from a person whom I didn’t know, and his email talked about the topic of Satan.

While most of what he wrote to me was unscriptural and tainted with untruths, it was used to confirm to me that this topic was something the Lord wanted me to focus on soon. As I sat out to study this topic, some of the questions I had been pondering were graciously answered by the things which were inspired to be “re-discovered”.

I ended my last “Awesome Hands” study with the Israelites seeing the firstborn of the Egyptians being killed, thus setting them free.

However, as we read about what happens after this salvation from the Egyptians, the Israelites soon go on to doubt, back talk, accuse and generally disobey “keeping the faith” which had caused them to faithfully execute the preparation of the Passover and unleavened bread which they were commanded of the Lord to perform before the death angel arrived at midnight.

Why is it then, that just like the Israelites who were set free, we all “as a dog go back to our vomit and folly” so quickly after being given another nugget of scriptural truth, or being freed from the various sins that so easily beset us just to commit them again?

Pro 26:11  As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

This happens because we aren’t fully aware of our calling and the power which has been given to us, and that is due to the traducer who accuses us day and night and withstands the Truth being brought to Light in our hearts and minds.

Who then is the traducer? He is none other than the devil. What then are the devil’s functions, and why is it I call him the traducer? Let’s see if the Strong’s concordance can help us out.

G1228
διάβολος
diabolos
dee-ab’-ol-os

G1225 a traducer; specifically Satan (compare [H7854]): – false accuser, devil, slanderer.

“Diabolos” is a traducer, a false accuser, a slanderer. To “traduce” means to speak badly of or tell lies about someone as to damage their reputation. However, “diabolos” has a root of G1225.

G1225
διαβάλλω
diaballō
dee-ab-al’-lo
G1223 and (figuratively) to traduce: – accuse.
G1225 “diaballo” a.k.a “diablo” has dual roots and is taken from two words. The first word is “dia” meaning “through” and “ballo” meaning to “throw”.

What then does the compound word “diaballo” tell us about what “devil” means and what he does?

The old serpent was created to be a traducer and adversary. The old serpent was created to be a devil and Satan to and FOR God to use for His purposes.

How does God the Father use the old serpent called the devil? The devil is used as a channel, as a translator, and as a traducer to take the Word of God and mix it with lies so that the unabated and unadulterated Truth of the Word is twisted and distorted into the many “doctrines of devils” which plague the mind of man.

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

What we are starting this series off with is contrasting the “spirit of the mind” with the mind of Christ and how they can be ONE if there is ONLY TRUTH there. If lies are mixed with Truth, then the Truth is VEILED. If there is only Truth, the Truth is UNVEILED.

Mat 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

It just so happens that what the Lord has created to be in the spirit of the mind is the adversary “walking to and fro in the earth seeking whom he may devour.”

Eph 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Eph 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph 4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph 4:21  If so be that ye have HEARD HIM, and have been TAUGHT BY HIM, as the TRUTH is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the DECEITFUL lusts;
Eph 4:23  And be RENEWED in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

“Faith Renewed”

The combating of the old serpent called the devil and Satan is the FAITH that has been given to us. This same FAITH is what was used by Christ when He was taken into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. What Christ dealt with in the wilderness as He was tempted was that of Truth being mixed with lies, but Christ knows the Truth because He is it.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast IN THE FAITH, knowing that the SAME AFFLICTIONS are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

How is it then that you have HEARD Christ, been taught by Christ and seen and heard the Truth?

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the POWER OF GOD.

1Co 1:23  But we PREACH Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the SAME THING, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the SAME MIND and in the SAME JUDGMENT.

The Spirit of Truth comes in this way.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he SHALL HEAR, that shall he SPEAK: and he will shew you things to come.

Act 26:25  But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but SPEAK FORTH THE WORDS OF TRUTH and soberness.

1Ti 2:7  Where unto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

For almost all of mankind while now in this age and in their own generation, when the Truth is spoken it is THROWN THROUGH (diablo) the old serpent and adversary.

When the written word is read or heard, it is coming from the heavens of the mind, and it is filtered through the old dragon, the old serpent called the devil and Satan, and that is why the simplicity that is in Christ cannot take root unless a miracle from the Lord happens. This has always been the case.

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2Co 11:3  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.
2Co 11:4  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.

Truth is simple, and it is concrete. Truth is a Way to Life in Christ, who is that Life. So, what is the simplicity that is in Christ?

G572
ἁπλότης
haplotēs
hap-lot’-ace

From G573; singleness, that is, (subjectively) sincerity (without dissimulation or self seeking), or (objectively) generosity (copious bestowal): – bountifulness, liberal (-ity), simplicity, singleness.

G572 is rooted in G573.

G573
ἁπλοῦς
haplous
hap-looce’

Probably from G1 (as a particle of union) and the base of G4120; properly folded together, that is, single (figuratively clear): – single.

G573 is from G1 and the BASE of G4120.

G1
Α
A
al’-fah

Of Hebrew origin; the first letter of the alphabet: figuratively only (from its use as a numeral) the first. Often used (usually “an”, before a vowel) also in composition (as a contraction from G427) in the sense of privation; so in many words beginning with this letter; occasionally in the sense of union (as a contraction of G260): – Alpha.

And:

G4120
πλέκω
plekō
plek’-o

A primary word; to twine or braid: – plait.

The simplicity that is in Christ is that He is Alpha and Omega and He ALONE has made of twain, One.

Christ has put death to an open shame and the he that has the power of death.

Heb 2:13  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Heb 2:14  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;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Christ made in Himself of twain ONE NEW MAN and therefore made peace possible because He gave us access to the Holy of holies because “the traducer” and his power were abolished by His blood.

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17  And came and PREACHED PEACE to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

“Conclusion of the That Old Serpent – Part 1”

In Part 1 of this series, we have discovered who that old serpent called the devil and Satan really is.

The adversary accuses us day and night before God the Father in all things we do, think and feel. The traducer is the channel that Truth is thrown through before the old serpent is used to beguile us into believing a lie.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  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.
Eph 6:13  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.

In order to combat this and make war in heaven, God sent His only begotten Son so that He could take on the likeness of man and make of twain ONE NEW MAN.

We have a battle raging, and knowing who the enemy is and how we have BEEN SET FREE is the beginning of turning the tide in this battle that rages.

It is a process of “three days” that this temple is being built, and while it is being built we have been given directions on how to make war in the heavens.

Mar 14:58  We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and (dia)within three days I will build another made without hands.

It is THROUGH the process of three days the temple is built, so may we REST in Him knowing He will finish the work He has started in us. Nevertheless, the Lord has sent us helpers to walk this walk with us.

Isa 30:19  For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.
Isa 30:20  And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
Isa 30:21  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, THIS IS THE WAY, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

In the next part of this study, we will continue to evaluate the work of that old serpent in our lives and learn more and more how his devices work and how we are able to overcome him through Christ in us.