Uncovering the Devil's Strategy

[Episkopos]

In this episode we seek to uncover what has been covered up; to dig up what has been buried; to expose the devil's strategy - that of taking what is of God for himself. Are we truly standing naked before God? Is the Lord truly our covering, or have we sought refuge in an ideology that we seek to justify ourselves with in our natural and unbroken condition?

 

[Lizbeth]

In this episode we seek to uncover what has been covered up; to dig up what has been buried; to expose the devil's strategy - that of taking what is of God for himself. Are we truly standing naked before God? Is the Lord truly our covering, or have we sought refuge in an ideology that we seek to justify ourselves with in our natural and unbroken condition?

Rom 3:19-28

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no FLESH be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.



The apostle here is telling us how it is the FLESH of man, the fallen flesh nature, that is not justified before God……ie, it is the old man living which is not justified. However those in Christ are justified because through faith in Christ, the old man is put to death, and through receiving Christ, His Spirit, we have become new creatures….our new man is created perfect, ie, after the image of Christ….it is spiritual. And now it is BECAUSE we have been justified and received Christ, the new man, we are admonished to learn to walk in it/him…to walk worthy of what has been done within us…..that is how the scriptures talk and teach. He, the new man, is in us like a seed in a manner of speaking, that needs to grow and mature until it becomes a fruit-bearing tree……like Jesus Himself was born of God as a babe and grew and learned obedience through the things He suffered….being the example and forerunner for us. Corn of wheat (seed) hidden in the ground of our earthen vessel must “die” in order to produce a crop.

The flesh and fallen nature (self) is the problem we all have (through inheriting it from Adam)……..because the devil allures through the flesh, and that is the thing we are called to overcome by the new spiritual man within. We are on a journey of learning to overcome the flesh/self…..a journey of apprehending that for which Christ apprehended us. Paul was ahead of most of us because of the measure of grace he received, as an apostle in the newly born church and “great grace was upon them all” in the beginning (and because of the truth that who is forgiven much loves much…Paul had been forgiven of much, having cruelly persecuted the church). And yet even he said that he didn’t consider he had yet apprehended. It seems as though whatever level of growth and grace one attains, there is still more that can be attained. I suspect that even those who have apprehended the “second blessing” and are walking in it still continue to keep growing both in understanding and spiritual maturity. (Of the increase of His government there is no end, perhaps because the Lord Himself is eternal and infinite. Even the angels are depicted as still learning in heaven, wondering and marvelling at things that were being revealed that they hitherto had not known.)


You touch on quite a few things that I can agree with, things the Lord has shown me too……..eg, false covering that we all took refuge in, and the need to be naked before the Lord as it were….His strength is only made perfect in our utter weakness, not when we are relying on self and its false coverings. But I just beg of you to reconsider and not take away the foundation without which it would be impossible for the rest of the building to be built to completion. Perfection without has to come from the perfection within….it is even like a revealing of it as the veil of self/flesh nature is torn/broken.

 

[Episkopos]

You touch on quite a few things that I can agree with, things the Lord has shown me too……..eg, false covering that we all took refuge in, and the need to be naked before the Lord as it were….His strength is only made perfect in our utter weakness, not when we are relying on self and its false coverings. But I just beg of you to reconsider and not take away the foundation without which it would be impossible for the rest of the building to be built to completion. Perfection without has to come from the perfection within….it is even like a revealing of it as the veil of self/flesh nature is torn/broken.

My contention is that most are building on the foundation of Christ with wood, hay, and stubble...based on a very human understanding of AVOIDING going back to Jesus for the finishing of their faith...and that due to crazy doctrines that appeal to the flesh that seeks salvation for itself.

 

[Lizbeth]

My contention is that most are building on the foundation of Christ with wood, hay, and stubble...based on a very human understanding of AVOIDING going back to Jesus for the finishing of their faith...and that due to crazy doctrines that appeal to the flesh that seeks salvation for itself.

Yes, Christ in us is the foundation........just think, His perfection, righteousness, holiness and life are in IN us and belong to our new man. Building with wood, hay and stubble is about building with things that are not of Him, not of His Spirit and not of faith. But if a believer is truly following the Lord in sincerity and seeking Him and His kingdom, and growing in Him, they are being built up in and by the Lord, and He will finish the good work He began in us. If by crazy doctrine you mean the doctrine of imputed righteousness and being justified by faith in Christ, that is not crazy, that is the essence of the gospel and being saved by grace apart from works. Justified means exonerated....a judge has the power to exonerate someone even if they are guilty. In our case exoneration is just and justified because Jesus has paid the penalty for us, and we have agreed to the transaction.

 

[Episkopos]

Yes, Christ in us is the foundation........just think, His perfection, righteousness, holiness and life are in IN us and belong to our new man. Building with wood, hay and stubble is about building with things that are not of Him, not of His Spirit and not of faith. But if a believer is truly following the Lord in sincerity and seeking Him and His kingdom, and growing in Him, they are being built up in and by the Lord, and He will finish the good work He began in us. If by crazy doctrine you mean the doctrine of imputed righteousness and being justified by faith in Christ, that is not crazy, that is the essence of the gospel and being saved by grace apart from works. Justified means exonerated....a judge has the power to exonerate someone even if they are guilty. In our case exoneration is just and justified because Jesus has paid the penalty for us, and we have agreed to the transaction.

You are avoiding the difficulty of entering into the Beloved. Many will seek to enter in but be unable. This generation doesn't even try to enter in....because of automatic "exoneration". A race is not about exoneration...it is an ordeal meant to train and pressure us to high effort...in this case a test of faith. Those who do run in a race run all, but only one wins the prize. Because of strange doctrines no one seeks to win Christ.

What I see you doing is confusing standards...whether it is being a guest at the wedding feast of the Lamb, or else being the Bride. Sitting in the wrong spot gets you ejected into outer darkness, potentially. Claiming to be something one is not is iniquity. We are told to depart from iniquity. Blessed is the person to whom God does not impute iniquity. Blessed are the humble who don't claim anything for themselves.

 

[MatthewG]

I personally believe that the Devil has been done away with.

Many people say Satan/Devil is still running around, I don't believe that to be true anymore, considering Jesus put the Devil in his place, and destroyed him.

As a Song says "I am my own worst enemy!" And nothing far more is said, that could make that any more truer than it stands independently on its own, but they also say "Those who are doing something on an independent move" are deceived.

Just as much as a person who states "Sorry hunny, you didn't have faith enough. Therefore, God never healed you."


There is a lot of sick dark things, that go on behind the door of religion, all caused by the same person. The person who wants it.

 

[Lizbeth]

You are avoiding the difficulty of entering into the Beloved. Many will seek to enter in but be unable. This generation doesn't even try to enter in....because of automatic "exoneration". A race is not about exoneration...it is an ordeal meant to train and pressure us to high effort...in this case a test of faith. Those who do run in a race run all, but only one wins the prize. Because of strange doctrines no one seeks to win Christ.

What I see you doing is confusing standards...whether it is being a guest at the wedding feast of the Lamb, or else being the Bride. Sitting in the wrong spot gets you ejected into outer darkness, potentially. Claiming to be something one is not is iniquity. We are told to depart from iniquity. Blessed is the person to whom God does not impute iniquity. Blessed are the humble who don't claim anything for themselves.

Yes, blessed are the humble who don't claim anything for themselves....but give all the glory and thanks and praise to the One to whom it belongs because He is the One who is worthy. The more we go along the more we realize the truth of both our own unworthiness and His worthiness. It is for good reason we will lay our crowns at HIS feet. And we must run the race lawfully to receive the crown.

We see the unwise virgins in the parable seeking to enter in, but are unable to.......for the simple reason that they had left it too late to obtain the oil needed for their lamps to light the way, and the door had been shut. The parable agrees with this:

Luk 13:23-25

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are


And this also agrees with where it says elsewhere to seek the Lord while He may be found.....and while it is still called "Today".

 

[ShineTheLight]

I personally believe that the Devil has been done away with.

Many people say Satan/Devil is still running around, I don't believe that to be true anymore, considering Jesus put the Devil in his place, and destroyed him.

Which hasn't happened yet, and still has a long ways to go. Considering many things that still have to be fulfilled. I believe the devil, Satan, is around, not that I want to worship him, but because what the bible of God's words say. You're one of those Christians who don't think there is a devil/Satan, and a preterist. You have a form of godliness but deny the power.

Peter says how the devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. Paul says to not give place to the devil. Both Peter and Paul who God used to preach things to the people. Jesus said the devil is a thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and he wants to swift you as wheat. The bible talks about God being the creator of everything. Everything that is his power. God created good and evil on the earth and other places in the universe. Ephesians chapter 6 talks about the war that the body of Christ is up against; principalities and powers, spiritual wickedness in high places, the rulers of this world. Those things which are under God, as God is the creator of all things, and everything is made for him. This is explained in Colossians chapter 1. God created good and evil, and gives people a choice what they will do. This is explained in Chapter 45 of Isaiah. God would prefer people to do good, but it can't be done without Christ in a person's life.

Satan does things in peoples lives. The book of Job demonstrates this. The devil exists to tempt people and try to lead people to do evil things. Both those who are lost in the world and those who are in the faith. When you're not following the ways of God or doing things contrary to God, then God may send evil on a person or reward someone for their doings. The devil also goes to God to tell God that he wants to do stuff to people. God can decide to let/allow Satan to do things or not.

There are demonic powers that are behind the evils and the darkness in the world. The scriptures point out to this. To deny this is to deny God's power and an element of truth to God's words.

There are many false or bad doctrines. Teaching that there is no devil or aid an enemy who comes against the partakers in the faith is the worst of them all.

 

[Behold]

My contention is that most are building on the foundation of Christ with wood, hay, and stubble...based on a very human understanding of AVOIDING going back to Jesus for the finishing of their faith...and that due to crazy doctrines that appeal to the flesh that seeks salvation for itself.

Salvation is Christ on The Cross, so, we can't DO That.
We can only receive it from God, as : "The Gift of Salvation"........and now being born again, we are become a Disciple.

Discipleship, is not Salvation.........Discipleship is what we do, for God, because we have received "THe GIFT of Salvation" and are become a Christian.

Its also a fact that a person can be a Diciple of Christ, and not be a Christian....Yet they make videos, teach scriptures, are a calvinist, and are water baptized and love Mary.

See, becoming a Christitan, is to have our sins forgiven, as its our sins that keep us separated from God.
So, Jesus on the Cross is this...for us..
""“God made Jesus who knew no sin,........>= . to be sin for us,=<.....that we might become = the righteousness of God in Him.”"""

This is to become born again......."IN Christ"., as that is how you become "The Righteousness of God, IN Christ"..

Being born again Spiritually, proves that its happened.

 

[MatthewG]

Which hasn't happened yet, and still has a long ways to go. Considering many things that still have to be fulfilled. I believe the devil, Satan, is around, not that I want to worship him, but because what the bible of God's words say. You're one of those Christians who don't think there is a devil/Satan, and a preterist. You have a form of godliness but deny the power.

Peter says how the devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. Paul says to not give place to the devil. Both Peter and Paul who God used to preach things to the people. Jesus said the devil is a thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and he wants to swift you as wheat. The bible talks about God being the creator of everything. Everything that is his power. God created good and evil on the earth and other places in the universe. Ephesians chapter 6 talks about the war that the body of Christ is up against; principalities and powers, spiritual wickedness in high places, the rulers of this world. Those things which are under God, as God is the creator of all things, and everything is made for him. This is explained in Colossians chapter 1. God created good and evil, and gives people a choice what they will do. This is explained in Chapter 45 of Isaiah. God would prefer people to do good, but it can't be done without Christ in a person's life.

Satan does things in peoples lives. The book of Job demonstrates this. The devil exists to tempt people and try to lead people to do evil things. Both those who are lost in the world and those who are in the faith. When you're not following the ways of God or doing things contrary to God, then God may send evil on a person or reward someone for their doings. The devil also goes to God to tell God that he wants to do stuff to people. God can decide to let/allow Satan to do things or not.

There are demonic powers that are behind the evils and the darkness in the world. The scriptures point out to this. To deny this is to deny God's power and an element of truth to God's words.

There are many false or bad doctrines. Teaching that there is no devil or aid an enemy who comes against the partakers in the faith is the worst of them all.

The sad thing that comes to my mind personally, it has to deal with the ability to accept that Satan has been done away with as the Scriptures proclaim. That was exactly what Jesus had came to do was to destroy the works of the Devil. While the Devil is the opposite of God, us has human beings are naturally intuned with doing anything and everything without God, if it is possible. As human beings, we are our own worst enemy. Just as Peter, had his mind set on the things concerning earthly ways, and not heavenly.

From my perspective, which again is up for acceptance or rejection is that Yeshua/Jesus, the Messiah had come and completed his mission in full, without the need of a supposed second coming in Modern Society. While there are many views that hold that the devil has yet to be defeated and so on and so for, what does that Bible state concerning those things?

From looking at what the Bible proclaims and makes clear, is that even in the Revelation which the 7 Churches in that day in age had circulated amongst each other, and had strict and direct warnings concerning the coming of the Lord, and when the instrument of destruction I believe was Roman, came in and destroyed Jerusalem utterly, and that in my opinion and perspective, is enough to co-relate the Roman and Jewish Wars, which are documented under the documented historian Jospehus.


To me, the Devil all along was incomposed by how evil, and how out of the way the people of Jerusalem had went, tagging up with Rome, and of course, Killing the Lord Jesus Christ of course. Though, when it comes to these notions, they are so typically overlooked, such as when Yeshua, stated "Who else could come in to bound the strongman, but the one whom comes in after?"

Founded in Matthew 12:29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

To me this is signifying, the power of Jerusalem, with all of there High Priest, Elders, And those whom Jesus was going to be handed over to, in order to "destroy" the works of the devil. Was in store...

This is why I believe like I do, I have taken time to really consider what has been foretold to the people of the time in the day... The Devil, over all in all, was and could be consider HEAVENLY ISRAEL - Oh Gods Chosen people! Founded on Earth, in that day, when going to the temple, and "Yahavah, himself by and through smoke, would show himself, especially when the sins of the people had been forgiven." The inner people, and the most inner and the outer all celebrated.

But those sacrifices there were all done not always correctly. Earthly Israel, which came from Abraham, whom came from Adam, to who was it that ruled over Egypt with Pharoah and getting great treatment, until he was forgotten? Abrhama, Isacc, Jacob (Israel), Israel did become great, then Jesus came, and destroyed the Devil,

and it's works which was all done based on the influence of the Self, and not anything of God, and Yahavah, showed the one to truly have been the Son of God, though there had been many people of faith whom were of faith sons of God, or daughters, even today and then,


but now we all go through Yeshua, whom allows us to be adopted by the Father, if we so seek in faith and trust in him and look towards him, and seek him to help us in this life as we go by the holy spirit, cause without the Lord Yeshuas, none of us can do anything of our ownself as far as good. It's only by Yeshua, whom helps us, overcome

... the devil? Not exactly, but ourselves, our doubts, trials, mistakes, choices, all of it that comes and involves doing things on our own accord or actually relying on Yahavah, in faith, and trusting him as our Father taking care of us, and helping us daily to get through the issues we all have and he and his Son knows, cause we do not have a High Priest (A priest who is not corrupt), but whole, and holy and is the one who grants us access to the Throne of Heaven, where Yahavah, sits upon the throne, also with his Son whom had overcame all things, and sits with him.

To much? If it is, that is totally understandable. If you believe that the Devil is still around, cool. I don't think people are wild to continue to believe it, but I do find it wild not to believe what the Bible had forecast for us now in this time to live by the heavenly means, entering life in a newness of life through Christ, now living on earth, by the heavenly gifts bestowed and helped in us being faithful, kind, patience, at peace, to stick and pick truth over distruth, etc...



Just because a person may not have the same perspective as many other people, it doesn't mean any of this shared information is invalid, or of the devil, or whatever a person may concur with. Just Matthew, writing out the way he sees things, and that doesn't mean people have to believe me, cause they never should. They should be encouraged to seek and search and look for truth, even things which perhaps are uncommon to people whom are more common to the more louder views, than the other relatively scantly views such as this one.


By all means, I believe that darkness exist, and that everyone is capable of evil, if they so let their hearts desire and confound in the choice, no matter the state of mind, etc... but God is merciful to those who even do the most evil of evil as some people categorize such things.


All the best to you.

 

[Lizbeth]

The sad thing that comes to my mind personally, it has to deal with the ability to accept that Satan has been done away with as the Scriptures proclaim. That was exactly what Jesus had came to do was to destroy the works of the Devil. While the Devil is the opposite of God, us has human beings are naturally intuned with doing anything and everything without God, if it is possible. As human beings, we are our own worst enemy. Just as Peter, had his mind set on the things concerning earthly ways, and not heavenly.

From my perspective, which again is up for acceptance or rejection is that Yeshua/Jesus, the Messiah had come and completed his mission in full, without the need of a supposed second coming in Modern Society. While there are many views that hold that the devil has yet to be defeated and so on and so for, what does that Bible state concerning those things?

From looking at what the Bible proclaims and makes clear, is that even in the Revelation which the 7 Churches in that day in age had circulated amongst each other, and had strict and direct warnings concerning the coming of the Lord, and when the instrument of destruction I believe was Roman, came in and destroyed Jerusalem utterly, and that in my opinion and perspective, is enough to co-relate the Roman and Jewish Wars, which are documented under the documented historian Jospehus.


To me, the Devil all along was incomposed by how evil, and how out of the way the people of Jerusalem had went, tagging up with Rome, and of course, Killing the Lord Jesus Christ of course. Though, when it comes to these notions, they are so typically overlooked, such as when Yeshua, stated "Who else could come in to bound the strongman, but the one whom comes in after?"



To me this is signifying, the power of Jerusalem, with all of there High Priest, Elders, And those whom Jesus was going to be handed over to, in order to "destroy" the works of the devil. Was in store...

This is why I believe like I do, I have taken time to really consider what has been foretold to the people of the time in the day... The Devil, over all in all, was and could be consider HEAVENLY ISRAEL - Oh Gods Chosen people! Founded on Earth, in that day, when going to the temple, and "Yahavah, himself by and through smoke, would show himself, especially when the sins of the people had been forgiven." The inner people, and the most inner and the outer all celebrated.

But those sacrifices there were all done not always correctly. Earthly Israel, which came from Abraham, whom came from Adam, to who was it that ruled over Egypt with Pharoah and getting great treatment, until he was forgotten? Abrhama, Isacc, Jacob (Israel), Israel did become great, then Jesus came, and destroyed the Devil,

and it's works which was all done based on the influence of the Self, and not anything of God, and Yahavah, showed the one to truly have been the Son of God, though there had been many people of faith whom were of faith sons of God, or daughters, even today and then,


but now we all go through Yeshua, whom allows us to be adopted by the Father, if we so seek in faith and trust in him and look towards him, and seek him to help us in this life as we go by the holy spirit, cause without the Lord Yeshuas, none of us can do anything of our ownself as far as good. It's only by Yeshua, whom helps us, overcome

... the devil? Not exactly, but ourselves, our doubts, trials, mistakes, choices, all of it that comes and involves doing things on our own accord or actually relying on Yahavah, in faith, and trusting him as our Father taking care of us, and helping us daily to get through the issues we all have and he and his Son knows, cause we do not have a High Priest (A priest who is not corrupt), but whole, and holy and is the one who grants us access to the Throne of Heaven, where Yahavah, sits upon the throne, also with his Son whom had overcame all things, and sits with him.

To much? If it is, that is totally understandable. If you believe that the Devil is still around, cool. I don't think people are wild to continue to believe it, but I do find it wild not to believe what the Bible had forecast for us now in this time to live by the heavenly means, entering life in a newness of life through Christ, now living on earth, by the heavenly gifts bestowed and helped in us being faithful, kind, patience, at peace, to stick and pick truth over distruth, etc...



Just because a person may not have the same perspective as many other people, it doesn't mean any of this shared information is invalid, or of the devil, or whatever a person may concur with. Just Matthew, writing out the way he sees things, and that doesn't mean people have to believe me, cause they never should. They should be encouraged to seek and search and look for truth, even things which perhaps are uncommon to people whom are more common to the more louder views, than the other relatively scantly views such as this one.


By all means, I believe that darkness exist, and that everyone is capable of evil, if they so let their hearts desire and confound in the choice, no matter the state of mind, etc... but God is merciful to those who even do the most evil of evil as some people categorize such things.


All the best to you.

Spiritual reality isn't always manifested on earth....that is why we must pray and battle that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The devil has been defeated as far as heaven is concerned.....in the hearts of those who have received Christ.....in our new man. But our old man and flesh nature is the problem that we have and must battle to enforce on earth what has been done in heaven. Believers can still be deceived or tempted, and the devil allures through the flesh. That is why we need to endeavour to walk in the spirit, not in the flesh...and sow to the spirit, not to the flesh. It's a battle.

 

[MatthewG]

Hello @Lizbeth,

Thank you for your sentiments. As I stated there is no reason to blame the devil. People make choices. It was not the devils influence, that caused them to murder their family. It was the hatred, and whatever truama, issues. People, all have to make choices, just like Israel did when they decided to kill the Son of God. Predators who actively seek out Children to harm, is a choice... So there is none of this "The devil made me do it." At least to me, that is just Ludacris.

The devil has been defeated, yet still roams around like a lion. That is some confusion if you ask me personally... and conflicts with some of the nature exposed within the Bible itself... Amazing, how in Revelation that Devil is done away with, yet people want to point back to Job, as though Jesus didn't do anything, and he is still losing to the devil.

People lose themselves within their own self, truly, and our self is naturally OPPOSED to the things of Yahavah, of Spiritual nourishment, and in seeking the Father in faith, and also indwelling to reach and get to know him better. To become closer to God, and become humble in Christ as God works in and through our lives.

When it comes to the Devil, he (the enmity against Christ in that day was defeated), taken out of this existence and replaced, with new spiritual life now in this life through the resurrection of the Messiah.


Do people still hate Jesus, hate God, yes of course there are some out there. There is the tree of the "Knowledge of Good and Evil" that we all know, and there is also the "Tree of Life" the life which comes from Christ whom hung on a tree, now brings forth life through resurrection.

So which one are we looking into here at all... exactly. The Devil? The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? The Tree of Life?



How do we recognize - people saying "the devil made me do it, when it was their actual evil intention and sought after action to partake in?"

 

[Lizbeth]

Hello @Lizbeth,

Thank you for your sentiments. As I stated there is no reason to blame the devil. People make choices. It was not the devils influence, that caused them to murder their family. It was the hatred, and whatever truama, issues. People, all have to make choices, just like Israel did when they decided to kill the Son of God. Predators who actively seek out Children to harm, is a choice... So there is none of this "The devil made me do it." At least to me, that is just Ludacris.

The devil has been defeated, yet still roams around like a lion. That is some confusion if you ask me personally... and conflicts with some of the nature exposed within the Bible itself... Amazing, how in Revelation that Devil is done away with, yet people want to point back to Job, as though Jesus didn't do anything, and he is still losing to the devil.

People lose themselves within their own self, truly, and our self is naturally OPPOSED to the things of Yahavah, of Spiritual nourishment, and in seeking the Father in faith, and also indwelling to reach and get to know him better. To become closer to God, and become humble in Christ as God works in and through our lives.

When it comes to the Devil, he (the enmity against Christ in that day was defeated), taken out of this existence and replaced, with new spiritual life now in this life through the resurrection of the Messiah.


Do people still hate Jesus, hate God, yes of course there are some out there. There is the tree of the "Knowledge of Good and Evil" that we all know, and there is also the "Tree of Life" the life which comes from Christ whom hung on a tree, now brings forth life through resurrection.

So which one are we looking into here at all... exactly. The Devil? The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? The Tree of Life?



How do we recognize - people saying "the devil made me do it, when it was their actual evil intention and sought after action to partake in?"

The devil tempts, deceives and lies. But man is certainly held responsible and accountable if we heed the devil and allow him access to our lives. I agree we can't "blame" the devil for our choice to heed and follow him.

It is new testament scripture written after the death and resurrection of Jesus, as a warning to believers, which says the devil prowls around seeking who he may devour, so it must be true brother.

What you are seeing as confusion to the logical mind is really the "yes but not yet", so to speak, of what Christ has accomplished. The bible (new testament) says all things HAVE been put under the feet of Christ, but we do not yet (necessarily) SEE all things put under Him. But He must reign UNTIL all enemies are put under Him, and the last enemy to be defeated is death. Here are the scriptures that speak of these things:

Heb 2:8

You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.


1Co 15:24-28

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

 

[Behold]

The sad thing that comes to my mind personally, it has to deal with the ability to accept that Satan has been done away with as the Scriptures proclaim. T

One of the ways we know that Satan is alive an well, is that He is always trying to use people to prove that Hell does not exist and that He is not active.

So, in this, we see that Satan is alive and well, and Hell is waiting for His deceived.

 

[Lizbeth]

You are avoiding the difficulty of entering into the Beloved. Many will seek to enter in but be unable. This generation doesn't even try to enter in....because of automatic "exoneration".

Well as we've talked about before, I believe the problem is that many remain sitting on their laurels at the starting line instead of being in the race with their whole heart so as to win it, to the finish. They aren't following Christ and growing in Him. So I partly agree with you. Churches seem to just help new believers get established in the basic foundational things but for whatever reasons aren't helping them to grow/mature. It seems that there comes a point where we must be taught by the Lord in order to grow.

Have you looked into what others have said/written about the second blessing or higher walk? What do you think of Andrew Murray? I'm trying to get hold of one of his books....called The Two Covenants and the Second Blessing.

 

[MatthewG]

@Lizbeth, the Devil is also defeated (according to the bible).

I'm not gonna harp on it any longer though. For me in my perspective of believing that Jesus has overcame all things, and accomplished what he has done, that the devil is no need to be worried of.

Temptations come from what we lust after...

James 1:14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

Doesn't say anything about the "Devil" tempting here by James, he makes it clear its our "own" "desires."

(Im glad people wanna keep going on about the devil though, I guess I can be someone who can give others a different persepctive, than people who continue to believe that Satan is around and that perhaps ghouls and goblins are gonna get them. Though Evil people exist and they do get people, and it is sad.)

 

[Behold]

You are avoiding the difficulty of entering into the Beloved.

The "body of Christ" is the "Beloved".. the "Brethren", who is all the Born again.

How do you enter into the "beloved">?

Jesus answers..

"You must be born again"...... so that you become "a new creation... ,In Christ".......as "one with God"......and this is to become "in the beloved".

 

[Behold]

Doesn't say anything about the "Devil" tempting here

Its true that not all temptation come from dark forces.

 

[Hepzibah]

Well as we've talked about before, I believe the problem is that many remain sitting on their laurels at the starting line instead of being in the race with their whole heart so as to win it, to the finish. They aren't following Christ and growing in Him. So I partly agree with you. Churches seem to just help new believers get established in the basic foundational things but for whatever reasons aren't helping them to grow/mature. It seems that there comes a point where we must be taught by the Lord in order to grow.

Have you looked into what others have said/written about the second blessing or higher walk? What do you think of Andrew Murray? I'm trying to get hold of one of his books....called The Two Covenants and the Second Blessing.

@Lizbeth

I am pleased to hear that you want to read the holiness teacher A. Murray but I must caution you about him and the version of holiness teaching he brought which is known as Keswick teaching after the town in England where it was popular after the revivals in Wales.

There is much to learn from that teaching and such as Murray which I have read widely on myself and in fact have just pulled a book by Murray from my shelves called The Spirit of Christ, the last one of his as the rest were given away, which I will haver a look at today.

When we consider that the ones that the devil goes for is not the unbelievers, as their own passions keep them bound, but the ones who have had an encounter with Christ as they are the ones that are deceived by him.

Christ came to destroy this work of his so that the believer can be free indeed, and that means free from sin because it is when a man is still sinning that the devil has grounds to deceive.

When a man is indeed in Christ, the devil cannot deceive him. He has been given the gift of discernment to know exactly what is of God and what the will of God is, moment by moment with the power to obey.

But getting back to Keswick, the problem is that there is some twisting from the early teaching and of course scripture and finding this out, after having followed such as Murray for years was ground breaking for me.

The early teaching was that after coming to Christ for forgiveness, there is a journey, often lengthy where man is tested and tried until he sees that within him is no good and it is not about moral improvement, but to be led entirely by the Holy Spirit and there is an entry point for that, so there is a process and a crisis which is what you refer to as the second blessing.

I will get back on this when I have reminded myself about Murray's teachings.

 

[Behold]

When a man is indeed in Christ, the devil cannot deceive him.

Nonsense......total nonsense.

The Fact is......Satan's cults have many Christians in them.

For example.......CALVINISM.........has deceived billions of Christians........so, we see that being a Christian does not protect you from the DEVIL's LIES.

Another example is the The MaryCult, which has millions of Christians in it.......

So, What protects you from being mind owned by the Devil, which is to become a cult member?

A complete understanding of Salvation.....that is proven to be understood when a person believes that "Jesus who saved me, keeps me saved".

This is Hebrews 13:9.....This is the person who has "established their HEART with Grace".

Paul explains this as "Putting on the Helmet of Salvation".