DEALING WITH THE ADVERSARY

(Part One)

Most fundamental, Bible-believing Christians believe that once they are born again of God's spirit, the adversary (Satan, the Devil) cannot touch them. They believe that he has no influence over them, that he cannot do anything to them because they belong to Christ. In this Age of Grace, this is simply not true. That is just what the adversary wants us to believe, because if he can keep us blind to the truth, and he has done a good job at it, that there are hardly any Christians who know the basic principles that are the groundwork on which the adversary lives and operates in people's lives. This idea that simply because you are a Christian, nothing can touch you is a trick -- it's a trap.

I John 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.

Christians have gone around and said, "Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world," and think that this immunizes them against the adversary. That is exactly what has been taught -- that we as Christians have a spiritual immunization, that the adversary cannot get to a Christian. When you are out of fellowship, the enemy can steal, kill, and destroy your life.

If we are automatically protected simply because we are born again, then you have got to explain how the adversary gets such an advantage over Christians time and time again. It is simply a trick of the adversary to get Christians to believe that they cannot be affected by the enemy. That is when a Christian believer lets his or her guard down and then their personal adversary can just come and defeat them. The devil does not want you to know he exists. The secret to his success is the secrecy of his moves.

Ephesians 1: 3 -- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

He has blessed us IF WE WALK ON HIS WORD. Simply because you read it in a verse of Scripture doesn't mean you have APPLIED IT IN YOUR LIFE. Remember, we must be DOERS of the Word of God, and not just hearers only. TO SAY THAT WE BELIEVE, AND TO ACTUALLY BELIEVE IS SOMETIMES AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY.

James 1: 22 -- But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Ephesians 1: 4 -- According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

Again, the CONDITION is that we must be renewing our mind to the Word of God. You must remember that FELLOWSHIP IS THE SECRET. Then, the enemy cannot touch you.

Ephesians 1: 8, 9, 10 -- Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Some Christians who practice error are therefore influenced by the adversary into believing that we cannot be touched by him because we are God's workmanship. This is a lie from hell. Our abundant life is dependent on how much we renew our mind and APPLY what we have learned. A Christian can be born again, never study, and be under the influence of the god of this world 100% of the time. I refer to these people as being religious – practicing only tradition, while their Bible, if they own one, collects dust on a shelf.

Ephesians 2: 19 -- Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

If you are a member of the household of God, that does not mean that the adversary cannot influence you. If you continue to renew your mind and do your utmost for His Highest, then and only then, will the enemy FLEE from you. Got it?

James 4: 7 -- Submit [addict] yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 3: 20 -- Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

We put this power into operation with our actions. If you do not APPLY the Word of God that you study, you will have no power in your walk with God. The adversary will defeat you on every hand in your life. If you reject God's Word in your life and choose not to apply it, you will be defeated. You will never realize the dreams and aspirations of your life. But the enemy will make you believe that you are making progress. When the magnificent accuracy of God's Word is available to you, just accept it. Don't try to tell God how you should be living. Why would you make any other decision?

Colossians 2: 9, 10 -- For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him.

The literal translation of the last part of this verse from the critical Greek text reads:

.......... And ye are completely, completely, complete in him.

Let us delve further into God's Word and find out some of what it tells us about the adversary. You need to know your enemy well.

John 14: 30 -- Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Here he is called "the prince of this world".

II Corinthians 4: 4 -- In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

In John he is "the prince of this world", and here it says that, at the present time, he is "the god of this world".

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

The word 'wiles' means "cunning, crafty, sly".

II Corinthians 11: 3 -- I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The adversary is referred to as the serpent and as being subtle. He is "the prince of this world"; he is "the god of this world"; he is "the serpent" showing how subtle and sly he is.

II Corinthians 11: 14 -- And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

If the adversary ever came to the Christian and portrayed himself like he really is, the Christian would not have anything to do with him. He has to get to the Christian subtly and slyly. He has to get to the Christian to say, "Has God really said?...........", as he did to Eve in Genesis. Then he has to get the Christian to omit a word, add a word, or change a word from the Bible and when he finally has him hung out to dry, then he can say, "God is all wrong." But, the adversary never says this at the beginning. He would not dare to say it even half-way through, because if the adversary showed himself and declared his intentions to the Christian believer, the Christian would not have anything to do with him. He has got to work the Christian around to the place where he finally gets the Christian so engrossed that he is not even aware that the adversary is working to steal, kill, or destroy his or her life.

John 10: 10 -- The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I Thessalonians 2: 18 -- Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

In addition to those things that we have already read, the adversary hinders believers.

I Thessalonians 3: 5 -- For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

There he is called "the tempter".

Ephesians 2: 2 -- Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

In John 14: 30, he is called "prince of this world" and here he is called "prince of the power of the air", thus he is the prince of both at the present time.

I Peter 5: 8 -- Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

The adversary roars to freeze us in our tracks so that we do not do anything for God, like a lion does to freeze his prey in it’s tracks before he springs.

Revelation 19: 19 -- And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

There he is referred to as a "beast". He is not a very kind-hearted fellow; he is a beast.

I John 5: 18 -- We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

There he is called "the wicked one". There are many more names of the adversary mentioned in the Bible.

Luke 4: 12 -- And Jesus answering said unto him [the adversary], It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

If Jesus Christ was not immune to the adversary, do you think that we are because we are born again? We are not automatically protected against the devil and his host of devil spirits.

Do you think any Christian is going to be immune? Do you think there is automatic immunization against the adversary? Since he is the prince of the air and he is the god of this world, he arranges circumstances and situations so that when people come to them they are impressed by the situations and by the circumstances which he has altered to suit himself. He is after God's Word and wants to cut the Word to pieces, because the Word is the only thing that gives an accurate knowledge of the true God and of the desires that He has for His children. AND it is the ONLY power that will defeat the adversary every time. Darkness cannot stand light. LIGHT MAKES MANIFEST DARKNESS.

Ephesians 5: 13 -- But all things that are reproved [discovered] are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Most interesting is the meaning of the word 'reproved' as supplied by A Critical Lexicon and Concordance To The English And Greek New Testament:

REPROVE -- to shame, put to shame, to do so by proving one in the wrong.

This is what will take place in your life as you continue to keep God first and foremost in your life -- guaranteed. You will put the adversary to shame by exposing his influences in your life and proving them wrong. In turn, you will begin to manifest the more than abundant life and live life more than a conqueror like God’s Word says you should be doing.

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This concludes Part One of 'Dealing With The Adversary'.

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