GraceUncovered

Authors home articles Gracelife

GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION

Exposing the Enemy

by

Mystical Theories About the Devil

It’s amazing how much myth surrounds teaching about the devil, and how much has been accepted as truth without question.

Most of what people believe is based on other people’s experiences or the insights of those who profess to know more about the devil than the Bible reveals. This inevitably denies the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and causes the gospel to be powerless in our lives.

We must not believe things that are not clearly substantiated in Scripture. We should never base truth on assumption.

There are popular books about the devil. They make great novels but are not scripturally true.

Who and What the Devil Is Not

Most mythical beliefs about the devil are theories based on who people believe him to be in his original state and rob God of His glory and power, ultimately exalting Satan’s power.
One theory is that the devil was the worship leader in heaven with supreme authority as the covering cherub.

“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” —Ezekiel 28:14 (KJV)

This theory also suggests Satan was the one who covered the throne of God, making him the one closest to God. Let’s look at what is actually revealed in the scriptures.

“No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father….“ —John 1:18 (AMP)

This scripture is clear that Jesus is the One who has always been in the bosom and intimate presence of the Father— face to face with God—throughout eternity.

Another undermining theory is that Satan still has authority or power over people on earth. It includes that sinning gives the devil the legal right to attack believers. We call it “opening the door to the devil.”

This has undermined the faith of thousands and strengthened legalism, law and performance righteousness in people’s lives.

Generational Curses

Many believe in generational curses. This makes the power of God of no effect in our lives.
Jesus delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and translated us to the kingdom of his Son (Col. 1:13).

After His resurrections, Jesus said to his disciples, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Mat. 28:18). He didn’t say “some power” nor “EXCEPT for when you sin.”

Authority and power is not ours to relinquish. Satan has no degree of power on earth. Jesus is the only authority.

Paul’s Answer to Satan’s Authority

Paul countered all the error and said that God is the One who makes us able (qualifies us) to
be partakers of the inheritance, through Jesus.

“Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.” — Colossians 1:12 (AMPC)

Nothing we do can qualify or disqualify us. God alone qualifies us.

Delivered, Reconciled and Complete

Jesus delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His Son (Col. 1:13).

God has made peace with us, reconciled us (made friends with us), and we are presented Holy, unblameable and unreprovable in His sight (Col. 1:20-22).

In Jesus, God is the One who makes us complete, perfect and safe from the devil (Col. 2:8-10).

“Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!”—1 John 4:4

The cross has reconnected us to the power of God that has established us in God’s never-ending love. This is the power to resist the onslaught of the enemy. Learn the truth that exposes the devil for who he really is. Completely overpowered, captured and displayed as totally stripped of all authority and power on the earth.

Spoiled Principalities and Powers

“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” — Colossians 2:13-15

In ancient times, there were two kinds of victory — when the enemy flees from you, and when the enemy is captured.

The victor paraded the defeated king in the streets with their thumbs and big toes cut off, proving they would never be able to stand or hold a weapon against you again.

Satan has been totally overpowered, captured and displayed—stripped of all power on the earth—with no right to work in our lives, no matter what!

The post Exposing the Enemy appeared first on Arthur Meintjes.

Fear Factor

by

Today, fear seems to be a normal part of life. Every day, people face fears of every kind. It’s as if fear has become man’s ever-present companion.

Words that describe our society today are:

  • fearful
  • anxious
  • dreadful
  • fretful
  • apprehensive.

We are continually anxious about the soaring crime rate, the failing economy, wars and rumors of wars, and social, political and racial tensions.

These fears leave us feeling out of control, and our hearts fail us because of fear.

Fear—the First Fruits of Sin

The first recorded words of man in the Bible were by Adam to God, “I was afraid.”

…and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord …. And the Lord God… said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. —Gen 3:8-10

Sin brought fear into their lives that man was never supposed to feel. We weren’t created to live with fear and dread.

Fear Distorts Our Realities

When we believe the devil’s lies, we allow fear in.

Self-righteousness is a distorted reality. Fear keeps us in bondage to it, so we cannot see life the way it really is. For many, fear has been a constant companion and motivates their every action.

  1. Many are distrusting in their relationships, tormented by thoughts of betrayal and infidelity.
  2. Others worry about everything.

Worry means to choke, to strangle. It’s a feeling of suffocation or to be pressed tightly. We worry about money. We worry about our children.

3. Many are distressed—in fear of losing their jobs or of getting one.
4. Many are anxious and arm themselves and live only aware of violence and crime.
5. Many are angry with the world and themselves and take it out on the ones they love the most.

In most cases, we have lost the sense of normalcy—having our fulfillment in God alone.

The Fear of God

What about the fear of God? The Bible is filled with statements about fearing God.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…. — Proverbs 9:10

For many, fear has been a constant companion and motivates their every action.

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence…. —Proverbs 14:26

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. —Proverbs 14:27

The fear of the LORD tendeth to life…. —Proverbs 19:23

What does the Bible mean by the fear the Lord?

Worshiping God

It means to respond to God with reverence, honor, respect, and awe—to worship God in obedience.

Jesus understood this truth well:

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. — Luke 4:8

God intended for us to be constantly aware of His love and presence.

The Answer to Fear—the Gospel of Peace.

Isaiah said, “Who has believed our report?” The same can be said today.

Fear has been passed from generation to generation, even in the Church, because people find it difficult to believe the report of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Promise of Peace

Every religion in the world today has a promise of peace and the illusion of freedom from fear. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can deliver this reality.

Ending the Reign of Terror.

The first recorded words of the Gospel: “Do not be afraid.”

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. … Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. —Luke 2: 10-14

From the beginning it has been God’s intent to end the devil’s reign of terror and the fear of death.

Jesus has destroyed him who had the power to enslave you to fear and terror.

Christians Can!

by

Woman Admiring Sunset

What I heard as a church-going youth was what Christians can't do. If you were serious about being a Christ-follower, there were things you had to stop doing or never even try. For an example, at my church, we couldn't smoke, drink, dance, watch R-rated movies, do drugs, be sexually active, gamble or curse, for a start.

My focus was not on what Christians can do. But that is where the good news lies.

Sharing in Jesus’ Life

There are some things that those who share in Christ's life can do that others can't.

Personally encountering the Spirit who raised Jesus from the grave enables such believers to act in concert with God's order, displaying his unique grace. They can obey his commands out of a heart of love rather than fear. In fact, they can see that each of his commands is an invitation to express the life they now share with him. Commands become opportunities to experience the supernatural nature of eternal life in daily interactions.

Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>

Some would have us believe that Christians have no greater grace to deny sinful passions and unconditionally love their neighbor than unbelievers. Such a belief will inevitably lead to a disappointing effort to practice a holy life, and it offers an excuse for slip-shod ethics on the part of the believer. It places too much hope in human virtue apart from the special grace of regeneration.

Only those born of the Spirit can see the kingdom of heaven. (John 3:3) Only Jesus has lived the human life as it was designed. Only as we share his life now by the Spirit can we hope to imitate him.

We Needed a Champion

Human life was deeply flawed by the sin of Adam. Out of the disorder of that condition comes all sorts of chaos and destruction. We cannot rely on the virtues of a race of people characterized by enmity with God and ignorant of his ways.

Humans cannot win the battle against evil in their own strength. We are continually being confronted by an enemy who already has the scalps of innocent Adam and chosen Israel hanging from his belt. There had to be a champion who could represent Adam's race and Israel's nation.

He was tempted like Adam in the garden and Israel in the wilderness, but faced down the devil's whole arsenal of temptations. He then defeated the devil personally by fulfilling justice, erasing sin's penalty, killing sin's tyranny, mocking death's threat, and ascending to the place of original human stewardship.

We have died, been raised, and established as God's human agents of mercy. Our identity comes from his story, not ours.

The devil is not a rival to God's authority nor that of his agents. He is an imposter claiming power that he has lost and seeking to intimidate the children of God.

Let’s Do What We Can

Because we are his agents on earth, we shall be tempted by the cosmic enemy, but we do not identify ourselves by our temptations, not matter how insistent they are. We will be fed lies about our identity, our victimization and our value, but we have exchanged our personal story for his.

We have died, been raised, and established as God's human agents of mercy. Our identity comes from his story, not ours. We can admit our vulnerabilities, confess our sins, forsake our patterns of unbelief. We can forgive another from the heart. We can love as God loves. We can fulfill the law of Christ by bearing the burdens of others. We can rejoice at all times. We can give thanks in all things. We can prefer others above ourselves. We can please our Father as we humbly walk by faith.

Christians can. Let's do what we can do.

Where Sin Abounds, Grace Superabounds

by

All my life I had struggled with being late. Believe me, it was a chronic problem. I can even remember running down my subdivision street, chasing the school bus fairly often in elementary school as a result of standing in front of the bathroom mirror too long and not leaving my house in time. The […]

The post Where Sin Abounds, Grace Superabounds appeared first on Sandra McCollom.

Compulsive Introspection Is Neither Humble Nor Holy

by

Someone shared a sad story with me recently about a person we both know who is compulsively introspective. Another unfortunate part of the story is that this person has a large amount of influence over others and is teaching many others to live this same way. Since I value the power of prayer, myself and […]

The post Compulsive Introspection Is Neither Humble Nor Holy appeared first on Sandra McCollom.

Categories

Recent Posts