First, I must use his name. Some will roll their eyes at his name. . . . Satan . . . His name is Satan, and he truly does exist. Sometimes I wonder if some of our churches have failed people. I don't think I have ever sat in a service where the true unfiltered nature of Satan has been addressed. I wonder how many sitting in those church pews have ever really encountered the true nature of him. Not this G rated version of him who puts lustful ideas in the minds of people. Not the pitchfork-bearing red man with horns and a tail. Not the "trickster" character who plays jokes on people and laughs when they stumble. Oh, how he has deceived the masses. Does he tempt? Certainly, but temptation is only the mask he wears to conceal his utter wickedness. Let us never forget that Jesus describes him as "a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44).
Right before this statement, Jesus says, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father, ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44).
Many times, the media is so quick to report shortly after a heinous crime has been committed or when one has been prevented before being carried out that "mental illness" was the culprit. I think about those children and adults who were killed a few months ago at Sandy Hook. How quickly the media outlets attempted to diagnose the murderer with various mental illnesses. He MURDERED people, and Jesus said that those who do such things are of the devil - their father.
"Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).
I agree with a friend who said that it is easier for some people to justify or at least reach a point of peace IF they can find a 'not so evil' reason for a crime. Many find more peace in believing that sometimes man commits terrible acts because he does not control his mind or actions. The lucrative business of psychology and psychiatry makes millions of dollars yearly (perhaps billions) on this very notion.
What was one of the temptations Satan presented to Jesus when he was in the wilderness with Him ... the wealth, prestige, and accolades of this world:
"Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, 'All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me' " (Matthew 4: 8-9).
We see these "expert" and highly revered psychologists on television after mass killings and hear them pontificate why and how someone could do such evil - most are careful not to use the word evil, but instead, use their man-made sophisticated jargon to explain why such events happen. Jesus said repeatedly, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
That is my prayer. The deception of this world is quite desirable, but my prayer to Him has been, "Lord, give me ears to hear your truth and eyes to see You above and beyond this world system."
Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they FOLLOW me" (John 10:27). Before this, Jesus says, "And when he [Jesus] putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep FOLLOW him; for they KNOW his voice. And a STRANGER will they NOT follow, but will FLEE from him" (John 10:4-5).
After those verses 4-5, Jesus elaborates regarding the stranger and refers to him as a "thief," "robber," and "wolf" (verses 8 & 12). He also says in verse 10 that the thief seeks to "steal, and to kill, and to destroy." I quoted John 8:44 earlier where Jesus describes Satan as being a murderer from the beginning. This is the very same murderous devil that is described here in verse 10.
When one chooses to murder, one has heard the voice of the stranger (as Jesus calls him). And when one chooses to follow the evil the stranger has whispered in the individual's ear - be it murder or any other sin outlined in the Bible, then that person has chosen to accept the "stranger's" suggestions. The stranger's suggestions are not limited to killing, for they also include fornication, lying, adultery, worry, idolatry, stealing, coveting, abusing themselves with mankind, being effeminate, being drunkards, being extortioners, causing children to sin, etc. When one acts on these suggestions, one has truly ACCEPTED the stranger's way and has chosen not to follow the true Shepherd. The list of sin above was created from 1 Corinthians 6, Revelation 21, Galatians 5, & Matthew 18. If we read from that list and argue that it is not accurate, then we are in disagreement with God.
Sometimes, we convince ourselves that if we simply skim our toes across the cool waters of sin, we are committing a harmless gesture. We haven't jumped into the deep waters of sin, so "I'm okay with God, and God is okay with me." However, when the "stranger" makes his suggestion (because he definitely will), and we agree to his suggestion, we have committed sin. And without repentance AFTER the sin has been committed, there cannot be forgiveness.
If one were to ask me about Satan years ago, I would have provided the most common definitions of him. However, not until four years ago did I know the capacity of Satan's evil. Not until then did I truly see him for who he is. When Satan, himself, stared me in the face - unflinching and full of wrath, I dangled from a fine thread over a consuming fire. The stranger had spoken, and this sheep was very afraid. Up until that point in my life, I had experienced the G rated version of Satan. The Satan who wore a mask - veiling his true evil self.
What I learned from that experience did not come from man or church tradition, but straight from the mouth of God.
- I learned that no matter how Satan attacks a person - the Lord will ALWAYS provide a way of escape to the person who seeks Him - that escape will always keep one from committing whatever sin Satan has whispered in an individual's ear. No matter what type of pressure or burden is placed on a person, RELIANCE on Christ Jesus will result in victory over sin. One is not in bondage to commit sin when one is IN CHRIST.
- I learned that those in the flesh could only offer me suggestions that were worldly. I learned that those IN the Spirit had solutions that led to liberty and not more bondage to the world.
- I learned that even when Satan sought to silence me forever, Jesus never allowed him to destroy me - Why ... because my heart longed to hear the Shepherd's voice.
- I learned that God will use anything He can - for He made it all - to speak to His children - be it His Word, an animal, a child, a complete stranger - anything to feed a child of His who is being oppressed by Satan.
- I learned that God will allow the hedge to be lifted (as He did with Job) for a precise length of time in order to bring about purification.
- I learned that although many do not like the use of the word - God spoke to me in my darkest hours that I was to "ENDURE" that devastating time in my life. That period lasted for at least a year - if not longer. I will never forget sitting outside years ago in the middle of such mental anguish and hearing that word from Him - a word that simply wasn't apart of my mindset at all. In fact, when He spoke it, I thought it just wasn't possible to endure.
He taught me that there is a formula for true endurance:
1. Intense consumption of the Bible - hours of reading it daily. The truth in it had to be my every thought to combat the enemy.
2. Prayer - Every waking moment involved talking to God. Even in my sleep, I can still remember praying and waking up with an inner dialogue speaking to God. I had to completely surrender everything that I thought I knew about praying, and I simply had to be honest in His presence - childlike in His presence. The Bible speaks of tears being caught in a bottle - oh, how many bottles must have been filled from just that year alone. I rest assure in knowing that He caught each falling tear.
3. Fasting - With humility of spirit, I fasted whatever I felt He led me to give up. I believe fasting is a sacred act that shouldn't be broadcasted to the world only for the world to deem us special. So, I will only say - that true fasting in the presence of God (without others knowing) will reveal the heart of God in such a way that this world would be astonished - and forever changed, for I know that revelations during and after fasting have changed my life and set me free from the bondage of this world.
Now, years later - I can say that because the true, unmasked nature of Satan was revealed to me, I now can see him coming from a distance. Praise God, He taught me discernment. As difficult as it was to learn, I would change nothing about the experience.
Satan's subtle game of deceit and "harmless" sin is being played with many around me and many in society for that matter. Make no mistake, Satan has a plan. He hates Jesus. He longs to destroy man, and he is raging in hopes of bringing many to the lake of fire with him.
Again, many roll their eyes at the mention of his name - and frankly, he has those people fooled, and they are serving him. But perhaps even more tragic than these fooled people are those who say they are "in Christ," yet at the same time they are serving the flesh and Satan.
As Jesus tells us, we can't serve two masters, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34).
Paul tells us in Galatians, "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life EVERLASTING" (6:6).
Notice there is a choice to be made - one cannot sow to both the flesh and the Spirit. According to this verse, only one type of sowing will result in life everlasting - sowing to the Spirit.
I feel led to say that those who are willfully sinning can only be forgiven when they, with an honest and broken heart, admit their wrong acts and request to be cleansed by Jesus. It is a humble prayer - understanding that only He can cleanse any of us from sin.
I honestly stopped typing this so many times and thought about deleting it several as well. It will be open to public scrutiny and doctrinal this vs doctrinal that, but right on time, God by way of an unknown vessel - who knew nothing of the situation began teaching from 2 Timothy 10-12:
"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us,"
and from Matthew 10: 33: "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."Then, within an hour, yet another individual had used this very same concept - unbeknownst to them.
There are a multitude of ways that we can "deny" Jesus - in word, in act, in failing to carry forth what He has told us to do - the list could go on.
I praise God for His encouragement as I step out to speak truth for Him.
