EXPOSING SATAN'S LIES

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

    Satan is a Liar! Jesus said so and I believe it! There is no greater Witness in this universe than our Lord Jesus Christ. Our precious Saviour stated: “The thief cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”(John 10: 10)

    The Holy Bible gives us the remedy in dealing with the Evil One: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will Flee (in terror) from you.  Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh unto you...” (James 4: 7,8)

    God's Word declares: “Be sobre, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are on the world.” (1Peter 5: 7,8)

    Jesus said: “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.” (John 8: 44)

   St. Peter declared: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil for God was with Him.

   “And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God RAISED UP on the third day, and showed Him openly.” (Acts 10: 38-40)

                       THEY SHALL CAST OUT DEVILS!

    Jesus chose twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to heal the sick and cast out devils: “And as ye go preach, saying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick. Cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matt. 10: 7,8)

    There was such  a need for the true Gospel to be preached that Jesus appointed another seventy disciples. He sent them forth to preach the Word of God and to heal the sick.

      “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy Name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan  as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the Power of the Enemy: and Nothing shall any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:17-19)

     The Great Commission states: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these Signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out Devils....They shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15:18)

    Jesus Christ, True God from Eternity, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit is Omnipotent because He is all powerful.  He is Omniscient, meaning all wise and all knowing, and Omnipresent because He is everywhere at once!

     Ask yourself: “Why did Jesus come to this earth?”  In Hebrew, His name is called Yeshua, meaning, “the Salvation of God.” Jesus, therefore, is the God who saves, heals and delivers! It was the LOVE of God that sent Jesus Christ to the CROSS to atone for our sins and save us from the power of Satan and his evil kingdom!

     St. Paul wrote: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath Delivered us from the power of Darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have Redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:12-14)

                   JESUS SPOILED PRINCIPALITIES & POWERS!

     “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His CROSS, and having SPOILED principalities and powers, He made a show of them OPENLY, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2: 13- 15).

     “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 even the Devil; and Deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2: 14,15)

     The Bible states, “...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3: 18,19)

     He sees ALL, hears ALL and knows ALL. And He feels ALL, as well. He knows all about us and still loves us in spite of our rebellious attitudes, pride, fear, self sufficiency and unbelief.

       The Holy Bible says: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4: 14,15)

      St. Peter stated: “Casting all your cares upon Him for He careth for you.” (1 Peter 4:7). Jesus Christ is still the compassionate, caring and giving Saviour as He always has been. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb.13: 8). 

     “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that through His poverty might be rich.” (2 Cor. 8: 9)

    St. Paul writes: “Grace be to you and Peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, Who GAVE Himself for our sins, that He might Deliver us from this present Evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” (Gal. 2:3,4)

                                    HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US!

    He said: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age).” (Matt. 28: 20): “For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13: 5). In the original, Jesus used  a double imperative. He actually said: “I will never, no never leave thee. I will never, no never forsake thee!”

    Always is a measure of time, while alway is a measure of distance. He will be with us to the end of life, even until we see Him face to face: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3: 2)

     Our Saviour wept over Jerusalem. He wept at the grave of Lazarus, when He witnessed the sorrow of Mary and Martha. The Holy Scripture declares:

     “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus saith unto her, I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Son of God, which should come into this world.” (John 11: 23-27)

      “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me. And I knew that Thou hearest Me always: but because of the people that stand by, I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

     “And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and His face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, loose him, and let him go.” (John 11: 41-44)

                               CHRIST IS LORD OVER ALL!

  Jesus Christ has all power in Heaven, in earth and the regions below! Demons obey Him and angels worship Him, for He is worthy to be praised. It is not within our grasp as mere mortals, however, to understand the unsearchable greatness of His Person and awesomeness of His love, mercy, grace and power!

    The Bible says: “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory and blessing.

     “And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing and honour, and glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” (Rev.11-13)

    Jesus rejoiced in Spirit and danced for joy, after praying to His Father. (Luke 10:21). He would not tolerate the merchandising of His Father's House and drove  them out of the temple. ( Matt.21:12); He looked about in anger at the hard-heart hypocrites. (Mark 3:5). He knew their thoughts.(Matt.12: 25).

     By a miracle, He multiplied the loaves and the fishes on two occasions. (Matt.14: 15-21; 15: 32-38). He saw the multitudes in their tremendous need and healed them:

                         JESUS SAID:  'GET OUT SATAN'!

 “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt. 9: 35-36)

     “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil...Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him ONLY shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth Him, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him.” (Matt. 4: 1-11)

     Jesus commanded the host of demons to leave the insane man of Gadera. When the demons begged Jesus to allow them to enter a herd of swine which were nearby, He simply said: “Go!” (Mark 5: 1-15)

    MARTIN LUTHER said: “By God's grace, I know Satan very well. If Satan can turn God's Word upside down and pervert the Scriptures, what will he do with my words or the words of others?”  

   BILLY GRAHAM stated: “All of us engaged in Christian work are constantly aware of the fact that we have to do battle against the supernatural  forces and powers. The devil follows me every day. He tempts me. He is a very real presence to me.

     “There is a connection between the devil and the increase in drugs, pornography, sexual licence, and occult in the U.S. We see people who are committing  all kinds of violence, mass murders, and we have learned that they have been involved with the occult. The very word 'witchcraft' stems from the same Greek word as the word 'drugs'.”

      POPE PAUL V1 stated: “The smoke of Satan has entered the temple of God through a fissure in the church. Evil is not merely a lack of something, but an effective agent – a living, spiritual being – a terrible reality, mysterious and frightening.” 

    If anyone should KNOW Satan's lying tactics it was our Lord, Who had created him as a pure, righteous archangel and saw his treasonous actions and disastrous fall. Pride, arrogance and pure Evil had overtaken him, causing the greatest Rebellion in historical record!  

                       CHRIST'S BLOOD CONQUORS SATAN!

   The archangel Michael ejected Lucifer the offending, rebellious archangel, from Heaven, together with one third of the angelic host, who had followed the Rebel! (Isaiah 14: 12-17; Ezek. 28: 12-17; Rev. 12: 7-11).

   Jesus Christ cast out thousands of demons from sick, suffering and demon possessed people during His earthly Ministry. On the 'Cross of Shame', however Jesus delivered the final death blow to Satan and his Evil kingdom.

   The Bible records: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30). Jesus spoke in Greek and the word He uttered was tetelestai. That word is taken from the Greek verb teleo which has three essential meaning: to finish something and bring something to an end; to fulfill something; to pay that which is owed.

   Jesus had finished His work of Redemption. He had brought to an end Satan's domination over the human race. He had fulfilled all the Scriptures about the Jewish Messiah. He had paid for all our sins, past, present and future, as well as all our sicknesses and pains!

                        JESUS WAS AGAINST SIN & SICKNESS!

     Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, Isaiah foretold His Mission:  “Surely He hath borne our sicknesses (heb. makob), and carried our pains (heb. nasa): yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53: 4,5)

    Everywhere He went, Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons, liberating lost, sick and suffering souls: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

   “And His fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy, and He healed them.” (Matt.4: 23-24)

  “But Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt. 9: 35, 36)

 

                          GOD'S PLAN TO BLESS HUMANITY!

    Jesus laid out His plan for world evangelism when He ordained TWELVE disciples to help lift the burden of bringing deliverance and healing to the

 masses of sick and suffering people: 

    “And when He had called His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal  all manner of sickness and all manner of disease... These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying...

    “And as you go, preach saying the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matt.10: 1, 7,8)

     Later, He added another SEVENTY disciples to His team of evangelists and sent them out with the same directions as the twelve: “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” (Luke 10:1, 8,9)

    The Bible says: And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightening fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 17).

                               WHY DID JESUS HEAL THE SICK?

    Everywhere our Saviour went, He preached the Kingdom of God and HEALED the sick and cast out EVIL SPIRITS from those who were bound. He commissioned His apostles and disciples to do the same. Why did Jesus of Nazareth have such a vengeance against sickness and disease? For the same reason He cast out devils wherever they manifested!

    Look at this Scripture: “And He said unto them, let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.” (Mark 1: 3, 29).

  Any thinking person reading the New Testament would very quickly understand that Jesus was greatly involved in driving out unclean spirits from those who were bound. In nearly every Scripture text where He healed the sick and diseased, He also cast out devils.

    I have come to the conclusion that JESUS loved the sufferers and was very much against the diseases and  sicknesses and evil spirits that had afflicted them! The Bible states: “...For this PURPOSE the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3: 8)

                     MAN CREATED WITH A SOUND BODY!

     As God the Son, He was involved in the creation of man and knew why sickness had come upon the human race. There was no sickness or disease in the Garden of Eden. There was no pain, fear, or death! And God would walk and talk with our First Parents!

    Adam and Eve lived in a Paradise, without sin, sickness, disease or death. After their disobedience and tragic fall, everything changed. God drove them out of the Garden and sin, sickness and death have reigned ever since!

    There will be no sickness or disease on earth during the Millennial Reign of Christ or in Heaven. Jesus saw sin, sickness and disease as enemies of the human race, which were caused by the fall. These things were abhorrent to Him, so He attacked them by bringing HEALING to the sick and suffering, and by casting out the evil spirits who had invaded the human race.

  JESUS was showing us what life will be like in His Kingdom. By commissioning His apostles, disciples and followers to carry on His work, He was laying out specific guidelines for His Ministers to continue in His absence. Later, He sent the Holy Spirit to lead His Church. He hated sin and sickness because they are the work and result of Satan's treacherous lies and the fall of man.

     The Bible says: “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and healed all that were sick. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Easias the prophet, saying, Himself took our sicknesses and bare our sicknesses.” (Matt.8: 16,17)

                             SICKNESS: PART OF THE CURSE!

    Oral Roberts wrote: “Healing is a part of the Christian's inheritance. This is a precious truth. If Jesus took our sicknesses, then we need not bear them any longer. Sickness is a part of the curse. (Gal.3: 13).

   “He suffered in your stead so that you would not have to carry your sicknesses. Every conceivable form of sickness was borne by Jesus in order that all may be healed. It was His joy to heal the sick and afflicted. It is still His joy to do so.” (Matt. 8: 16, 17)

    “Healing is a presentation of the Kingdom of Heaven. When the healing of  a person starts, the Kingdom of Heaven is nigh. God has come on the scene. He is present. Sickness is torment: It is the devil's oppression. It is a frontal attack of Satan against the Kingdom of Heaven. Really, Satan isn't striking against you or me. He is striking against God. But Christ, in His power, comes to deliver us. Healing is God's counter attack against Satan.”

    My Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, You healed all who came to You when you walked among men, hear my humble cry for Your mercy and grace in healing all today, because You are the same now as then! Time has not diminished Your ability to work miracles, for your Word states that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb.13: 8).

     Since You are Eternal and not limited by Time or Space, You are able to do Your miracles at a moment's notice anywhere across the world, dear Saviour and Lord.  Please hear my heart's cry regarding the Divine miracles that are needed for all who suffer terribly from the onslaughts of Satan, that wicked enemy of men and God!

      Have mercy upon me dear Lord and make your presence known and felt in the lives of all who are sinful, defeated, discouraged and earful. Breathe upon them, O' God and HEAL all sickness, disease and infirmity among Your people, O' Lord. Remember every family member who suffer. Grant a miracle to each of them, I pray in Your name! Amen.

                            SATAN'S SIN OF HIGH TREASON!

    What was the motivation of Lucifer's great sin of High Treason against Almighty God? Why was he not satisfied in being the Covering Cherub, leading the praise and worship to the Lord God in the Highest?

  Without doubt, it was the sin of PRIDE! It was greed, selfishness and downright stupidity! It was self-glory, thinking of himself to be greater than he was. The original Hebrew gives the implication that he not only wanted “to be like God”, but to dethrone God and be God.

     God never created  a stupid angel, so where did this stupidity come from? How could a created being think that he could unseat God Most High, Creator, Sustainer and Giver of Life? His unthinkable folly teaches us what sin can do an otherwise intelligent personality.

     What did Lucifer's arrogant, haughty action accomplish? What was the outcome of his folly? He was cast out of Heaven, stripped of his position and consigned to an eternal censure as a renegade angel and a despised, hated, evil, perverted enemy of God and man! He will always be known as a tyrant, murderer, liar,  and filthy monster who will eventually be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity!

   Jesus called Lucifer, the fallen archangel by three names: Satan, the Opposer, Adversary, Enemy; The Devil, liar, false accuser, traducer; Beelzebub, god of flies, filth, corruption!

     St. Paul warns: Be not deceived. God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” (Gal.6: 7). May no-one reading these lines follow in his treacherous foot steps which lead only to heartbreak, sorrow and death. A present day example, is the murderous and devilish life-styles of Islamic Terrorists who answer Satan's call to follow him in raping, pillaging, beheading Christians and Jews and dying as suicide bombers!

                           SATAN'S DEMISE:TOTAL DEFEAT!

   “Thus saith the Lord God: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the Garden of God: every precious stone was thy covering...the workmanship of the tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

   “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. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee...

   “Thou hast SINNED: therefore will I cast thee as profane  out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O Covering Cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy Beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom because of thy Wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground...” (Ezek.28: 12-17)

    The prophet Ezekiel laid out the case against Lucifer. He had been the Covering Cherub, the guardian of God's throne and full of wisdom and beauty, until the day that he sinned. He led a revolt against the Almighty and was judged and cast out of Heaven.

     Some believe that in the distant past, Lucifer had been given charge  of   planet earth and planned his assault on God's throne from there. And when he was cast out of Heaven to the earth, God made the earth a wilderness. Others believe that Lucifer's wrath was so great that  he destroyed everything.

      The Genesis record states: “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth.” God created the heaven and earth perfect, but something happened to make the earth a wilderness. “And the earth was without form an void.”  Then, God recreated the earth.

                           HOW ART THOU FALLEN?

    God said to Adam and Eve: “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” (Gen.1:28). That speaks of the earth being inhabited at an earlier time. Only God knows, however, the Gap Theory makes sense.

   Here is what Isaiah recorded: “How art thou Fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

    “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the North: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

   “They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, and did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a Wilderness and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his Prisoners? (Is.14: 12-17)

    On the Isle of Patmos, St. John was given this amazing revelation: “And there was WAR in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought against his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found again in Heaven.

     “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.

   “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 the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

      And they overcame him (Satan) by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye Heavens and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitors of the earth and of the sea!

   “For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Rev. 12: 7-12)

                                     THE BEST NEWS OF ALL!

    “And the seventy returned again with joy saying, Lord, even the devils are

subject unto us through Thy Name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning Fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you Power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the Enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 17-20)

    Jesus promised: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast our devils...they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-20)

    “...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3: 8): “For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He (Jesus) 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: 14)

      St. John saw it all in a vision given to him by Jesus Christ: “I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the Key of the Bottomless Pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old Serpent which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.

    “And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and put a seal on him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Rev.20: 1-3)

     “And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the Beast (Antichrist) and the False Prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

     “And I saw a great White Throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the BOOK of LIFE: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

     “And death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second

death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.” Amen.

                            EXPOSING SATAN & HIS LIES!    

      Jesus called the Devil by three names: Satan which means the adversary, enemy, opposer; the Devil meaning liar, slanderer, deceiver and false accuser; Beelzebub which means the god of flies!

     The Bible says: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11: 3, 14)

 HE IS THE TEMPTER:

     St. Paul wrote: “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.” (1 Th.3: 5)

     Immediately after Jesus of Nazareth was baptized in the River Jordan and the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove fell upon Him, He was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Here is the Holy Record of that temptation and Christ's total victory over the Tempter:

    “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

     “But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word the cometh out of the mouth of God.

    “Then the devil taketh Him up into the Holy City, and setteth Him on the pinnicle of temple, and saith unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.

   “Jesus saith unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

      “Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceedingly high mountain, and showeth 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.

                                 SATAN'S THREE TEMPTATIONS!

    These are the three temptations that the devil uses: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life! Satan tempted Jesus with the lust of the flesh, the pride of life and the lust of the eyes!

    “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt Worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou Serve. Then, the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him.” (Matt.4: 1-11)

     The Bible warns: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

   After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry.  Immediately, the Tempter approached Him with his first temptation. Jesus did not give in to the temptation, but rather counter-attacked by using the Holy Scriptures!

     Look at the sly, devious approach the Tempter used, “If Thou be the Son of God...”  What an insidious, evil, proud and preposterous Liar!

     Jesus stopped him on each occasion with the Word of God,  saying: “It is written...” By using the Word of God to stop Satan, our Lord gave us a powerful weapon to use against the Tempter when he seeks to destroy us or distort our testimony.

HE IS THE SERPENT:

    “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: 9)  

   The conflict between good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness and between God and the Devil began when the proud, lying and disobedient archangel Lucifer SINNED against his Creator, Lord and God.

   Leading  a revolt against the Almighty, he and his co-conspirators were cast out of Heaven and became the enemies of God and mankind!

    The Bible gives us the charge levelled against him and God's judgment against him and his Sin: “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

   “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise (crush) thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Rev.3: 14, 15)

      Satan had entered the serpent and he used the SNAKE through which he spoke to Eve. God brought judgment upon the serpent, saying that it would crawl on its belly. Scientists confirm that at one time serpents  walked;  God's curse upon the serpent brought it to pass.

                        SATAN'S HEAD WOULD BE CRUSHED!

    God also spoke to Satan and brought an eternal curse upon him. He declared the coming of the DELIVERER who would CRUSH Satan's head. He also declared the Virgin birth of His only begotten Son, His  paschal Lamb, Who would die upon the cross of shame and rise again in power on the third day!

     St. Paul  stated: “For as much 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. And Deliver them that were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2: 14, 15)

   And St. John  declared: “He that commiteth Sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this Purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might Destroy the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3: 8, 9).

   JESUS said: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of  man be lifted up. That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have Eternal Life.

   “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life.” (John 3:14-16)

     The Good News is that the  the Serpent's Head is crushed, the Snake is dead and has no power over believers in Christ. God's Word has been fulfilled and we are Free! (John 10: 10)

HE IS THE ENEMY:  

    “Be sober, be vigilant: because your Adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom RESIST in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (2 Peter 5; 8,9)

    “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.

   “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.

    “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Rev.12: 7-12)                       

      The word Satan means, 'the enemy, the opposer, accuser, adversary!               In His parable of the tares in the field, Jesus said: “...He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world. The good seed are the children of the Kingdom; but tares are the children of the Wicked One. The enemy that sowed then is the Devil; the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels.” (Matt. 13: 37-40)

HE IS BELIAL:

   “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

   “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the Living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

    “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean  thing and I will receive you. And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor.6: 15)

      St. Paul used  the Hebrew word, Beliel, meaning worthless or wicked. Satan, therefore and his kingdom is both worthless and wicked. Why would anyone desire to be apart of a kingdom that is both wicked, evil, devilish and worthless? No-one in their right mind want to follow Satan lying, evil loser!

HE IS THE ACCUSER:

    “And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in Heaven.

     “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.

     “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.” (Rev. 12: 7-10)

LIE NO. 1: GOD DOESN'T REALLY CARE

     If God didn't care about the human race He would not have created Adam and Eve, with the ability  to recreate. He would not have a created the Garden of Eden  as their home. He would not have killed a lamb (a picture of Jesus the Lamb of God), the blood to cover their sin and the skin to cover their nakedness.

     If our Heavenly Father doesn't care, why would He sacrifice His only begotten Son to redeem us and reclaim us for Himself? And why would He send the Blessed Holy Spirit upon His church to fill us, protect us and lead us into all truth? And why would He give us His power to cast out devils, heal the sick and bring His great love to the whole world?

     The Bible says: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6,7)

LIE NO. 2: GOD ISN'T RELEVANT

     That is a ridiculous claim, without merit! God, who made the  worlds, the earth, heavenly bodies and outer space, doesn't know how to relate to the creature called man? The One who made our puny minds can't relate to us? Satan has made  a play for the minds of  men and clouded out the realities of life, death and eternity so that men's minds are poisoned to think like the devil's own perverted thinking!

    The Bible says: “Jesus Christ is the same, Yesterday, Today and Forever.” (Heb. 13: 8). He is total knowledge, wisdom, love, purity and power!  He is our freedom, peace and life! He is our everything and He is our ALL.

LIE NO. 3: GOD IS TOO HARSH

    God is full of compassion, love and goodness toward us! Although He is a  God of Order and Righteousness, He is also filled with Mercy, Love and Compassion!

   “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.

    “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executeth  righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

    “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to  our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.

  “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust.” (Ps. 103: 1-14)

LIE NO. 4: THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES

    Jesus stated: “He that is not with Me are against Me; and he that gathereth scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven Him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

    “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment.”  (Matt.12: 30-32, 35, 36)

      “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7)

LIE NO. 5: THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GOD

     Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6); “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

    “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that beliveth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” (John 3:16, 17, 36)

      “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and Preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned..”(Mark 16:15,16);

   “And ... because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”(2 Th.2: 10-12)

LIE NO. 6: THERE IS PLENTY TIME

    “For he saith, I have heard Thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured Thee: behold NOW is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2)

      “Come Now, and let us reason together, saith the: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow Lord; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Is.1:18)  

     “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand toward Heaven and sware by Him that liveth forever and ever... that there should be Time NO LONGER...” (Rev. 10: 5,6)

     “And the Spirit and the bride say Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17) 

LIE NO. 7: THERE IS NO GOD

     “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have don abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Ps. 14:1). This Scripture does not speak of an imbecile, but of someone who is far from God, believes he is his own God and has a darkened soul filled with perversity, pride and stupidity!

     The Psalmist cries out: “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained; What is man that Thou art mindful of him?...” (Ps. 8:1, 3, 4)

LIE NO. 8: THERE IS NO HELL

    “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham' bosom: the rich man also died and was buried; and in Hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

     “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me. And send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is omforted, and thou art tormented.

     “And beside all this, betwen us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they that would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to myfather's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they come into this place of torment.

    “Abraham saith unto him. They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rod=s bfrom the dead.” (Luke 16: 22-31)

LIE NO. 9: WHEN YOU DIE THAT IS THE END

 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Rev.20: 12)            

LIE NO. 10: I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAND

    “Now unto Him that is able to KEEP  you from falling, and to present you  faultless  before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.  (Jude 24, 25)

    Satan is a persistent, untiring, tenacious, incessant and putrid  liar, deceiver, oppressor and precocious pursuer of mankind. Pursuer as one who stalks and follows to catch, harm, kill. Predacious as in living by prey, a predator. Putrid as in rotten, foul, thoroughly corrupt, disgustingly filthy and depraved. Tenacious as in stubborn, obstinate and sticky and persistent, Incessant as in ceaseless, continual and never stopping his unrelenting, impossible quest for power, glory and worship. Satan is the eternally Doomed Despot.

                                  SHRINKING THE DEVIL!

    “And the scribes which can done from Jerusalem said, “He hath Beelzeub, and by the prince of the devils casteth He out devils. And He called them unto Him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

    “And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand but has an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man, and the he will spoil his house.”  (Mark 3: 22-27)

    The strong man that Jesus referred to is Satan who holds captive those he has enslaved. Only someone who is stronger would have the ability to bind Satan and free the captives. Jesus is that One who is stronger and by the Holy Spirit cast out multitudes of evil spirits during his earthly ministry.

  And when Jesus paid the supreme price for our eternal salvation through His vicarious death on the cross, Satan was DEFEATED and stripped of his power over the Human race.

   Since that glorious day, every individual who calls upon the name of the Lord for mercy in the name of Jesus Christ is forgiven and brought into the Kingdom of God!

     The Bible says: “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the BLOOD of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we confess our sins (to God), He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1: 7, 9).

      He has also made provision for any who have fallen back into sin: “And if any man sin, we have an advocate within the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2: 1,2)

                    HOW TO BE FREE FROM SATAN!

     Jesus said: “And ye shall know the truth , and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 32, 36):

     “I am the DOOR: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly. 

      “I am the GOOD SHEPHERD, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth  Me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.

     “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish, Neither shall any man PLUCK them out of My Father's hand.” (John 10:9-15, 27-27)

     Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalites, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

     “Wherefore take unto your the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. STAND therefore, having your loins girt about with TRUTH, and having on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS;

     “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of PEACE; Above all take the shield of FAITH, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Praying always with all prayer in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Eph. 6: 10-18). Amen.