Library -> Spiritual Warfare
Satan rules this world - with his web of lies
SATAN IS THE RULER OF THIS WORLD
The origin of dishonoring god
The Origin of Evil. Lucifer, meaning 'morning star,' was a created being, an angel, who was made perfect (Ezekiel 28:12, 15) until iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15). What was the iniquity found in him? The charge against him was, Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor (Ezekiel 28:17). Lucifer's iniquity was self-aggrandizement: he became so prideful of his beauty, wisdom, power and position that he said in his heart, that he would be like God: that he would ascend above the clouds, into the heavens, above the stars of God, in the northern mountains, he would establish his throne to seated upon (Isaiah 14:12-14). He wanted to lifted up with the glory and honor that belonged to God alone. If he could get mankind to listen to him and follow him, instead of God, they would be giving him the honor and glory instead of giving it to God. The stars of heaven are believed to the children of God, so he did not waste time to enacting his decisive plan.
The Deceiver of World Had Only Just Begun. Satan achieved what he wanted, for himself to be exulted instead of God, with the glory and honor of man listening and obeying him rather than God. How terrible, because he is a deceiver; his plan is not better for mankind. The devil only cares about himself being exulted upon his throne, not about man being lifted up, as Jesus desires (John 6:40). He knew the knowledge of good and evil, was something that God and the angels did possess, but he also knew that is was not granted to man, and would result in death, but he temped them irregardless. The deceiver of the world came forth on that day, as he would spend the rest of his days, deceiving the enter world, acting an angel of light to man, as if he is our greatest source of wisdom and enlightenment (2 Corinthians 11:14). God cursed them all in several ways, by specifically He put enmity between Satan and the woman and her offspring (Genesis 3:14-15). Satan's evil plan had only just begun. In the devil's craftiness, he would offer lies to people and get them to follow him, giving him the honor and glory; then he would run to God to accuse them of that very transgression against God (Revelation 12:9-10; Job 1:6; Zechariah 3:1).
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The Initial Deception. We know Adam and Eve were without shame, even though they were naked in the garden (Genesis 2:25), until that fateful day. The snake, Satan, was the wisest of all wild animals God made, and he offered the deceptive thought that they could become like God if they ate the forbidden fruit, without receiving the consequence of the transgression, death (Genesis 3:1-5). He was a murderer and a liar from the beginning (John 8:44). He spoke lies against God's holy words and made them question the truthfulness and loving-kindness of God, as if God had sinister
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motives and wanted to withhold blessings and goodness from them. Or to even dare to thing that he was suggesting that God was not infinitely rich in wisdom. He offered a false hope of a 'better plan' for them. They wanted to be wise like God, so they believed the lie and transgressed God (Genesis 3:6-7), their actions proved the intention of their hearts which was that God's words can fully be trusted. They heard God speak when He came back into the garden, and they hid from His face, because they knew they were naked. He called for Adam, asking where he was and Adam told him, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself (Genesis 3:8-10). God knew they disobeyed him.
Or to even dare to thing that he was suggesting that God was not infinitely rich in wisdom. He offered a false hope of a 'better plan' for them. They wanted to be wise like God, so they believed the lie and transgressed God (Genesis 3:6-7), their actions proved the intention of their hearts which was that God's words can fully be trusted. They heard God speak when He came back into the garden, and they hid from His face, because they knew they were naked. He called for Adam, asking where he was and Adam told him, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself (Genesis 3:8-10). God knew they disobeyed him.
The devil's ways are so deceptive, that we are to take every thought captive and to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and never cease to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and to pay the most careful attention, ... , to what you have heard, so that we do not drift away (Hebrews 2:1). Why such vigilance, if Jesus triumphed over Satan and all my sins have been forgiven anyways? Because the word of God, which was spoken to us through angels, is binding (Hebrews 2:2) and it was even confirmed by the prophets, and testified, given evidence, by signs and wonders and the gifts given by the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 2:3-4). Just as God's word was binding for Adam and Eve, that they would die if they ate of the forbidden tree; His word is still just as binding today. What did the angels say? That every violation and disobedience must be punished (Hebrews 2:2), and they ask, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3)? Didn't Jesus die for all my sins? And isn't my salvation secure since I have received the Holy Spirit as a seal? Yes, salvation is secure and Jesus removed all our sins, by nailing the legal requirements of the law to a cross, which cancelled the debt, thereby disarmed Satan of his power to accuse us; as Christ became the curse for us by hanging on the cursed tree (Galatians 3:3). For there is now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). In the same public display, as Satan pridefully accused people to God, Jesus humbly reconciled people to God. So now, our salvation seems absolutely secure, what could be the cause of such alarm?
We Wanted Self-Aggrandizement. Our flesh wants what the deceiver is offering. Oh, how tempting are his ways. So the mind must battle against it, for we have to hold the helmet of salvation upon our heads that if we stay true to God's holy word, then we shall be saved. We must remember that the devil has been a liar from the beginning and has deceived mankind (Revelation 12:9; Genesis 3:15). We must remember that he convinces the people that his ways are better for them (Isaiah 14:13-14), then God's ways, because they get to fulfill their desires, lusts and sensual pleasures, while not giving honor to God (Romans 1:18-26), which is exactly what we wanted for our ears were itching to hear what we want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3; Jeremiah 23:16). Following any lie of the enemy is no small matter, for we have to finish the race, enduring and obeying until the end - keeping our faith in God, not the lies of the devil (2 Timothy 4:7; (1 Corinthians 9:23-25); Acts 20:23-24). Make no mistake, anyone who follows Satan will be lead to the pit of hell (Luke 6:39; Matthew 15:14) to await their judgment, condemnation, and then, they all will be thrown in the lake of fire (Romans 3:19-20; 5:16, 18).
God's Words Are Binding. And the Lord spoke in the hearing of the people that the glory would be given to Jesus, for what He was about to do, so this was for our benefit to confirm the truth of God's words. And Jesus told them, Now is the time for judgment of this world, now the prince of the world will be driven out (John 12:31). For God did not spare even the angels for them not holding their positions, instead he prepared an eternal lake of fire for them (Matthew 25:41), even preparing the dark pit of hell to bind, in chains, the fallen angels until the day of their judgment on the Day of the Lord (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6). So we must hold to our position, for the entire testing and trial of life, humbly submitted in reverence before our Lord, our Father, our Protector, and our God. If we humbly submit ourselves before the Lord, in due time, He will lift us up (2 Chronicles 7:14). Paul and Peter both warn us to be careful and diligent in examining ourselves to ensure we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5; Acts 17:11; (2 Peter 1:10-11)). Jesus warns us, Take heed that no man deceives you (Matthew 24:4), for many will come saying, they are Christ and deceive many (Matthew 24:5, 11). So many will come saying, Lord, Lord to Jesus, and he respond, Depart from me, you workers of inequity, for I never knew you (Matthew 7:21-23), for they will think they knew the truth, the light and the life but they would have only believed a lie, a false light. Jesus is saying the love of many will wax cold, but the one who endures until the end will be saved (Matthew 24:12-13). It's one falsehood at a time, which leads to one step at a time, of our drifting away from the word of God, which is Jesus, which resulting in the hardening our hearts towards loving one another, as Christ commanded. For you will know those who belong to me, For I will abide in them, and they will abide in Me (John 15:4) for we can only bear good fruit if we stay connected to the vine, otherwise we die; and You will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35). Jesus says, Anyone how loves me will obey my teaching, and also, Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching (Matthew 14:23-24).
Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt (Genesis 45:8).
We Were Captive, Slaves to Our Own Sins. Formerly, in our captivity to sin, our heart was desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), and only did what was morally depraved, straying from God's ways (Romans 1:21-23, 25, 28-32), we were free from righteousness. This was all of mankind, myself included, for all had fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But now, the righteousness of God can be known, since Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12, 46) and the light of man (John 1:4) has come. Now man knows God, or is known by God, and can be freed from slavery and raised into the resurrection (2 Corinthians 4:14), into the newness of life, by following Jesus (1 Corinthians 8:3; (2 Timothy 2:19); Galatians 4:9; John 10:14; Romans 6:4). In Christ, we now have the freedom to chose to obey and follow God, living in the Spirit, or we can follow our old sin nature, the flesh, which is at war against the spirit (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 6:19; Galatians 5:17). This is the spiritual battle we fight. The enemy wants to drag us back into slavery by offering us deceptive empty promises.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13).
The devil's ways are so deceptive, that we are to take every thought captive and to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and never cease to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and to pay the most careful attention, ... , to what you have heard, so that we do not drift away (Hebrews 2:1). Why such vigilance, if Jesus triumphed over Satan and all my sins have been forgiven anyways? Because the word of God, which was spoken to us through angels, is binding (Hebrews 2:2) and it was even confirmed by the prophets, and testified, given evidence, by signs and wonders and the gifts given by the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 2:3-4). Just as God's word was binding for Adam and Eve, that they would die if they ate of the forbidden tree; His word is still just as binding today. What did the angels say? That every violation and disobedience must be punished (Hebrews 2:2), and they ask, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3)? Didn't Jesus die for all my sins? And isn't my salvation secure since I have received the Holy Spirit as a seal? Yes, salvation is secure and Jesus removed all our sins, by nailing the legal requirements of the law to a cross, which cancelled the debt, thereby disarmed Satan of his power to accuse us; as Christ became the curse for us by hanging on the cursed tree (Galatians 3:3). For there is now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). In the same public display, as Satan pridefully accused people to God, Jesus humbly reconciled people to God. So now, our salvation seems absolutely secure, what could be the cause of such alarm?
We Wanted Self-Aggrandizement. Our flesh wants what the deceiver is offering. Oh, how tempting are his ways. So the mind must battle against it, for we have to hold the helmet of salvation upon our heads that if we stay true to God's holy word, then we shall be saved. We must remember that the devil has been a liar from the beginning and has deceived mankind (Revelation 12:9; Genesis 3:15). We must remember that he convinces the people that his ways are better for them (Isaiah 14:13-14), then God's ways, because they get to fulfill their desires, lusts and sensual pleasures, while not giving honor to God (Romans 1:18-26), which is exactly what we wanted for our ears were itching to hear what we want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3; Jeremiah 23:16). Following any lie of the enemy is no small matter, for we have to finish the race, enduring and obeying until the end - keeping our faith in God, not the lies of the devil (2 Timothy 4:7; (1 Corinthians 9:23-25); Acts 20:23-24). Make no mistake, anyone who follows Satan will be lead to the pit of hell (Luke 6:39; Matthew 15:14) to await their judgment, condemnation, and then, they all will be thrown in the lake of fire (Romans 3:19-20; 5:16, 18).
God's Words Are Binding. And the Lord spoke in the hearing of the people that the glory would be given to Jesus, for what He was about to do, so this was for our benefit to confirm the truth of God's words. And Jesus told them, Now is the time for judgment of this world, now the prince of the world will be driven out (John 12:31). For God did not spare even the angels for them not holding their positions, instead he prepared an eternal lake of fire for them (Matthew 25:41), even preparing the dark pit of hell to bind, in chains, the fallen angels until the day of their judgment on the Day of the Lord (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6). So we must hold to our position, for the entire testing and trial of life, humbly submitted in reverence before our Lord, our Father, our Protector, and our God. If we humbly submit ourselves before the Lord, in due time, He will lift us up (2 Chronicles 7:14). Paul and Peter both warn us to be careful and diligent in examining ourselves to ensure we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5; Acts 17:11; (2 Peter 1:10-11)). Jesus warns us, Take heed that no man deceives you (Matthew 24:4), for many will come saying, they are Christ and deceive many (Matthew 24:5, 11). So many will come saying, Lord, Lord to Jesus, and he respond, Depart from me, you workers of inequity, for I never knew you (Matthew 7:21-23), for they will think they knew the truth, the light and the life but they would have only believed a lie, a false light. Jesus is saying the love of many will wax cold, but the one who endures until the end will be saved (Matthew 24:12-13). It's one falsehood at a time, which leads to one step at a time, of our drifting away from the word of God, which is Jesus, which resulting in the hardening our hearts towards loving one another, as Christ commanded. For you will know those who belong to me, For I will abide in them, and they will abide in Me (John 15:4) for we can only bear good fruit if we stay connected to the vine, otherwise we die; and You will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35). Jesus says, Anyone how loves me will obey my teaching, and also, Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching (Matthew 14:23-24).
Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt (Genesis 45:8).
We Were Captive, Slaves to Our Own Sins. Formerly, in our captivity to sin, our heart was desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), and only did what was morally depraved, straying from God's ways (Romans 1:21-23, 25, 28-32), we were free from righteousness. This was all of mankind, myself included, for all had fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But now, the righteousness of God can be known, since Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12, 46) and the light of man (John 1:4) has come. Now man knows God, or is known by God, and can be freed from slavery and raised into the resurrection (2 Corinthians 4:14), into the newness of life, by following Jesus (1 Corinthians 8:3; (2 Timothy 2:19); Galatians 4:9; John 10:14; Romans 6:4). In Christ, we now have the freedom to chose to obey and follow God, living in the Spirit, or we can follow our old sin nature, the flesh, which is at war against the spirit (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 6:19; Galatians 5:17). This is the spiritual battle we fight. The enemy wants to drag us back into slavery by offering us deceptive empty promises.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13).
listening and obeying god gives him the honor
Slaves to Righteousness. Having been established in Christ, being made alive with Him, by God's grace through faith (2 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:12); God's divine power has granted us life and goodness, through knowledge of Him (2 Corinthians 1:3). With this, we have been born again (John 3:3), given a new heart and new spirit (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26), regenerated by the washing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) with the presence of the Spirit inside our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:22). We have been set free from sin and death (Ephesians 1:7) by God cancelling the record, the legal demands of debt, by nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14), so we could be forgiven of our sins. In doing so, He put the rulers and authorities, Satan and his demons, to open shame, for He triumphed over them, by stripping them of their authority (Colossians 2:15)
* No Longer Slaves to Sin. You've been set free of the chains that bind you to the pit of hell (Psalm 2:3; Isaiah 58:6), as we read from Isaiah, For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them (Isaiah 9:4a). Jesus took that whip of scourging and by His wounds we are healed (1 Peter 2:21-25; Isaiah 53:5). We are not held down or injured by scathing accusations of our guilt against the holy law of God which were held against us; we have been set free from the oppression of the enemy. For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). You are free, do not go back to the chains of Satan's lies, for they are not kind or gentle to anyone. They are links to eternal damnation for God's word is true and binding (Hebrews 2:2). God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He does not change; there is no shadow. For just as Satan and the fallen angels will go to the pit to await the eternal lake of fire, so will all of his followers. Believers in Jesus must be maintain their faith throughout their entire lives, giving their whole mind, body and soul to the Lord. We are His possession. His holy temple for the Spirit lives within us.
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). Authority comes from the word, author, who is God for He is the author of creation. Jesus referred to him as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), and Paul calls him “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) and “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). whole world is in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Satan roams like a devouring lion to destroy faith (1 Peter 5:8); he makes people sick and diseased (Acts 10:38); he tempts to sin (Luke 22:3-4); he blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4); he takes people captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26); he kills (Revelation 2:10). He is ruler of the 'kingdom of this world' (Matthew 4:8), leading the rebellion of those who oppose God, these are the people he rules over. Satan asked Jesus to join the rebellion, but Jesus keeps His helmet of salvation secure and the belt of truth firmly fastened so He could stand against the wiles of the devil and yield His sword, which is the word of God. Satan is offer you to also join the rebellion, or come back to it, if you've escaped. He is enticing and tempting you with your fleshly desires. We have the choice to bow in obedience to Satan or bow in obedience to God, as no one can have two masters (Matthew 6:24). They have chosen the greater glory of Christ. God wants people to open their eyes, and turn from the power of darkness, to light (Acts 26:18). The light of the gospel, of Jesus, removes the blindness of Satan in our eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). This enables people to see the ugliness of Satan and the beauty of God. Jesus shines the brightest when God's people denounce Satan's lies, instead trusting in Christ's ressurection and the eternal hope to come and taking glory in the righteousness of Christ here on earth.
Being born again and set free, the believer, has been freed from the slavery of sin and the slavery of the fear of death (Romans 6;16, 18; Hebrews 2:15); but we are also free from slavery of the elemental forces of the world (Galatians 4:3). Paul teaches us, When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness (Romans 6:20 NIV). Praise God that Jesus paid the wage of sin, which was death; for we were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Galatians 3:14), by dying upon a cursed tree (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 1:13). The bible says, He committed no sin, there was no deceit in His mouth (1 Peter 2:22). There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). These lies were so completely captivating to mankind, binding us to our sins, that Jesus had to come and break the chains (Psalms 2:3; 107:10-16; Acts 16:26; Isaiah 58:6; Jeremiah 30:8; Romans 8:2).
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it (Hebrews 4:1).
* No Longer Slaves to Sin. You've been set free of the chains that bind you to the pit of hell (Psalm 2:3; Isaiah 58:6), as we read from Isaiah, For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them (Isaiah 9:4a). Jesus took that whip of scourging and by His wounds we are healed (1 Peter 2:21-25; Isaiah 53:5). We are not held down or injured by scathing accusations of our guilt against the holy law of God which were held against us; we have been set free from the oppression of the enemy. For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). You are free, do not go back to the chains of Satan's lies, for they are not kind or gentle to anyone. They are links to eternal damnation for God's word is true and binding (Hebrews 2:2). God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He does not change; there is no shadow. For just as Satan and the fallen angels will go to the pit to await the eternal lake of fire, so will all of his followers. Believers in Jesus must be maintain their faith throughout their entire lives, giving their whole mind, body and soul to the Lord. We are His possession. His holy temple for the Spirit lives within us.
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). Authority comes from the word, author, who is God for He is the author of creation. Jesus referred to him as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), and Paul calls him “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) and “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). whole world is in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Satan roams like a devouring lion to destroy faith (1 Peter 5:8); he makes people sick and diseased (Acts 10:38); he tempts to sin (Luke 22:3-4); he blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4); he takes people captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26); he kills (Revelation 2:10). He is ruler of the 'kingdom of this world' (Matthew 4:8), leading the rebellion of those who oppose God, these are the people he rules over. Satan asked Jesus to join the rebellion, but Jesus keeps His helmet of salvation secure and the belt of truth firmly fastened so He could stand against the wiles of the devil and yield His sword, which is the word of God. Satan is offer you to also join the rebellion, or come back to it, if you've escaped. He is enticing and tempting you with your fleshly desires. We have the choice to bow in obedience to Satan or bow in obedience to God, as no one can have two masters (Matthew 6:24). They have chosen the greater glory of Christ. God wants people to open their eyes, and turn from the power of darkness, to light (Acts 26:18). The light of the gospel, of Jesus, removes the blindness of Satan in our eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). This enables people to see the ugliness of Satan and the beauty of God. Jesus shines the brightest when God's people denounce Satan's lies, instead trusting in Christ's ressurection and the eternal hope to come and taking glory in the righteousness of Christ here on earth.
Being born again and set free, the believer, has been freed from the slavery of sin and the slavery of the fear of death (Romans 6;16, 18; Hebrews 2:15); but we are also free from slavery of the elemental forces of the world (Galatians 4:3). Paul teaches us, When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness (Romans 6:20 NIV). Praise God that Jesus paid the wage of sin, which was death; for we were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Galatians 3:14), by dying upon a cursed tree (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 1:13). The bible says, He committed no sin, there was no deceit in His mouth (1 Peter 2:22). There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). These lies were so completely captivating to mankind, binding us to our sins, that Jesus had to come and break the chains (Psalms 2:3; 107:10-16; Acts 16:26; Isaiah 58:6; Jeremiah 30:8; Romans 8:2).
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it (Hebrews 4:1).