Satan. Lucifer. The Devil. The Old Serpent. The Father of Lies. Our adversary is known by many names, and all of those names denote evil. Should we ignore him? Certainly it’s wrong to listen to his lies or give him any type of respect. On the other hand, if we pretend he isn’t there that gives him an advantage over us. God’s Word tells us about him so we can be wary and alert to avoid his traps.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:7-8)

We can’t resist Satan if we don’t know his tactics; we can’t draw closer to God if we’re keeping company with Satan. Satan’s downfall was his pride. He was a cherub created by God and according to Ezekiel he was a beautiful sight to behold.

“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and  the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy 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 the” (Ezekiel 28:13-15)

God does not create evil, but out of His love for His creation He gives freedom to choose to follow Him. Lucifer made the wrong choice; his pride caused him to want to be like God. That’s impossible. Lucifer’s own choice caused him to fail and his hate makes him want to influence people to follow him rather than submit to God. In the verses that precede this passage of Scripture, God had directed Ezekiel to address the wicked king of Tyrus.

He does but the message shifts to address the power behind that leader. Lucifer is named as the culprit. That fallen cherub was the evil influence behind the king of Tyrus, and in our world today there are many, many leaders of nations who are influenced by him. That includes the United States of America.

Americans will soon make a decision as to who will lead this nation, Christians need to be in prayer. Until Jesus establishes His reign on earth there is no perfect man to lead us. Our vote needs to be for one who is not a criminal and who doesn’t embrace any satanic inspired agenda… one who stands behind Israel.

Satan is full of pride and full of lies. Throughout history he has tried to make sin look beautiful and appealing, but sin is ugly. Things of God are beautiful and satisfying, but the things of Satan (works of the flesh) will always leave you unsatisfied.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

This is just one list of temptations that Satan uses to entice us to sin. I strongly suggest that you look up the biblical definition of each item listed. Then look up Romans 1:28-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and Colossians 3:5-6. Understand each item listed in these verses and know that it is Satan who wants you to participate in these activities. If you’re involved with any of these works of the flesh, ask God to forgive you and to help you to overcome them.

Satan has no grasp of reality because his pride has blinded him. He even thought he could tempt Jesus to fall for his lies. Just before Jesus began His ministry, He went into the wilderness.

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)

He spent 40 days and nights fasting, and that’s when Satan thought Jesus was weak enough to fall for his lies. Satan first challenged our Lord to prove He was the Son of God by turning stones into bread

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  (Matthew 4:4) Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3.

Then Satan took Jesus up to a high pinnacle of the temple and challenged Him to prove He was the Son of God by jumping off so the angels would save Him. This time Satan even used Scripture (Psalm 91:11-12) to tempt Him. Satan twisted God’s words in the Garden of Eden to convince Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and he was arrogant enough to think he could do it again with Jesus.

“Jesus said unto him, It is written again, ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’” (Matthew 4:7).  Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:16).

Finally Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He would worship him. Pride is ugly and Satan is filled with it.

“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.” (Matthew 4:10) (Deuteronomy 6:13 and Deuteronomy 10:20).

Satan will try to twist Scripture to trap you in sin, but using Jesus as our example it’s easy to see that if you know God’s Word you will not be duped into believing Satan’s lies. Study Scripture in order to stay on the path that is close to God. Just as Jesus used Scripture to confound Satan, so can we.

Cartoons try to show us a humorous picture of Satan. A little red being with horns and a pitchfork isn’t very scary, but the reality is that Satan is a supernatural being who is pure evil. He can’t be everywhere and has help in doing his evil works. Demon possession is real and is becoming more prevalent. Witchcraft is coming out into the open and Satan worship is invading our schools.

Even mainstream news carries reports of demons, aliens, ghosts, and other paranormal activity. Laws are in place that legalize child sacrifice and God’s laws are being mocked by secular laws that condone immoral acts of homosexuality and transgender lifestyles (go back and re-read the lists of works of the flesh to understand that these things are sin). These sins are all inspired and encouraged by Satan and his minions.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Many Christians believe that the supernatural power of God working in us stopped in the first century. Many are also blind to Satan’s wiles. If you get into a deep study of God’s Word you will understand that the supernatural power of our Almighty God has never stopped, and evil supernatural power of Satan is no match for our Lord.

When you accept Christ for salvation your life probably won’t get easier as far as satanic attacks. Temptations will always be a problem, but the closer you walk with Jesus the easier it is to resist the temptation to fall back into sin.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Galatians 5:16-17)

Satan didn’t respect Jesus and tried to cause Him to stumble, so why wouldn’t he try to stumble humans? You need to choose to follow Christ, but without direction you might take a wrong path. Scripture is the guiding light to keep you from falling into the temptation of sin, and prayer will help you to understand and apply Scripture to your life.

Sin brings death and Satan wants everyone to die in sin rather than having faith in the saving grace of the blood sacrifice of  Jesus at the cross.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

The spiritual battle is real, but  Jesus Christ defeated Satan at the cross.

“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 of ordinances 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 shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:13-15)

Sin makes us worthy of death… eternal death and separation from God. Jesus purchased our salvation, but He won’t force you to accept His gift. Satan accuses us and harasses us, but if you have heard the Good News that Christ defeated Satan at the cross, then you need to take the next step and accept His sacrifice as atonement for your sin.

The gift of salvation is free, but if you don’t accept that gift you reject eternal life. The satanic principalities and powers still fight a very real unseen battle around you, but Satan and his minions are defeated.

Satan is real, and so is hell…and so is the lake of fire. When a Christian dies they go directly to be with God because of the righteousness imparted by faith in Jesus Christ. Anyone who has chosen to reject the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for salvation will not “go to a better place” but will go to await judgment in hell. When that judgment comes they will be judged by their own works and fall short of eternal life with Christ.

“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 the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man 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.” (Revelation 20:12-15)

You need to make your decision today. Admit that you are a sinner and need Jesus Christ for salvation. Your next heartbeat may be too late. Through faith in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit you are armed for battle.

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

Study Scripture and use it to strengthen you to fight temptation. Pray for guidance and obey the Lord. The battle was decided at the cross. God won, Satan lost. Choose to live on the winning side. Place your faith in Jesus Christ.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

We are living in the time that Paul was talking about: New Age, Yoga, Meditation, Contemplative Prayer, Political Correctness, Prosperity Gospel, and many more heresies are creeping into Christian congregations and none of these are sound doctrine. Even the outright rejection of Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation is being preached from some pulpits.

How did we get to the place where sound biblical doctrine is rejected, but satanic lies are embraced? It’s sad to think of how many people refuse to accept Christ because biblical truth doesn’t fit their lifestyles. Sound doctrine is not endured by many people today.

If you aren’t interested in biblical truth, it’s easy to find someone who teaches a “warm and fuzzy” lie. Itching ears can always find someone to scratch them. If you’re looking to condone a particular sin, you can find a book to support your error or a group that makes you feel good about unsound doctrine. Are you old enough to remember Flip Wilson and his comedy routine about the “Church of ‘Happening Now”?

It was funny then, but today it isn’t so much a joke as a reality. Instead of preachers speaking sound biblical doctrine their sermons are silenced by laws that require them to sidestep God’s truth, and we seem to think that’s acceptable. In order to remain tax free they become politically correct instead of biblically correct. The same sin that gripped Sodom and Gomorrah is gripping people today, but sound doctrine is not endured… it’s not politically correct. Is it wrong for the man in the pulpit to speak against adultery?

What if he offends Mr. Smith and Mrs. Jones, or even Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones? Will they keep giving money if their sin is preached against? After all, this is 21st century and we’ve become more tolerant, right? Wrong. God hasn’t changed and Christians need to hold fast to Scripture and live to please Him rather than expect Him to change to accommodate us. God wrote this on the stone:

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14).

And Jesus said “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)

That’s sound doctrine. God wrote it on stone tablets, Jesus confirmed it, and this truth hasn’t changed. Always look to God’s Word for doctrine instead of to a denomination or the government. Then live by what God says.

It’s time for men of integrity who are not afraid to stand on the sound doctrine as found in  God’s Word to speak out. Women, too, need to hold fast to God’s truth and stop compromising.

The first Christians faced many troubles and persecution. People from both Greek and Hebrew backgrounds joined together to serve Christ and care for each other. Disputes arose and the need for overseers was evident. To be sure everyone’s needs were met, men were appointed who could be trusted to serve honestly and without showing favors to one group or the other.

“And the saying please the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas  a proselyte of Antioch whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” (Acts 6:5-6)

Stephen is described as “… full of faith and of the Holy Ghost” and that quality should be evident in every Christian. He was a man who didn’t follow false doctrine or scratch itchy ears to appease others. He served God and studied Scripture.

“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8)

Could he have done those wonders and miracles if he had compromised his faith? God can use us in spite of failures, but standing firm on God’s Word will allow us to be used by Him in powerful ways. When we take time to study God’s Word it becomes easier to see the sin in own lives and ask for God’s forgiveness. It also helps us to take a stand against false teaching. Stephen’s miraculous activity was noticed by Jewish leaders who were trying to stop Christianity from spreading, and so Stephen was arrested.

False witnesses were brought in with false accusations. Stephen could have compromised his faith by tickling ears in order go along with political correctness, but he chose to stand on God’s Word. He had studied Scripture and wasn’t afraid to speak the truth, even in the face of death. Stephen gave a Jewish history lesson to the high priest and all who were within earshot and didn’t back down from the truth. From Abraham to Solomon and the building of the Temple, Stephen told of how they had always resisted God.

“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murders: who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.” (Acts 7:51-53)

Stephen showed how they had rejected God in the past and how they had rejected their Messiah, the Just One. His words brought anger to those who accused him of blasphemy, but as Stephen didn’t back down. People who will not endure sound doctrine will always refuse to listen.

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.” (Acts 7:57-58)

How ironic. The very man who held the cloaks of those who stoned Stephen for preaching sound doctrine would years later write the letter to Timothy warning that sound doctrine would not be endured and people would have itchy ears. Because Stephen was not afraid to speak truth he  bore a strong witness for our Lord, Jesus Christ. Saul later would be known as Paul. After his conversion he fearlessly spoke God’s truth and wrote many letters encouraging us in sound doctrine.

Stephen began his speech with God’s call to Abraham and the establishment of the line that would bring the Messiah to the world. The foundation of Christian faith is rooted in Jewish history, but Christianity has not replaced Israel in God’s plan. Many Christian denominations teach the heretical doctrine that the ekklēsia (the called out Body of Christ) has replaced Israel in God’s eyes.

This is absolutely not true. Our faith is in the Jewish Messiah who entered His creation just as the Jewish prophets foretold. He fulfilled the Law but did not abolish it. The Law gives us a good idea of what God expects from us; the Ten Commandments are still valid and are to be obeyed. Jesus’ blood sacrifice took away our sin instead of just covering it.

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4)

Sound doctrine begins in the Old Testament and is fulfilled in the New Testament. Sin is defined in the Law, but forgiveness of that sin is found only through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The only way to discern sound doctrine is to study God’s Word. God’s truth runs from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21. God has not changed and neither have humans. We still try to twist Scripture to make it say what we want so we can pretty much keep on sinning and figure it’s okay with God. We don’t want to endure sound doctrine because that might require us to change our mind about sin in our life and view it as God does. It might cause us to repent and live our life so as to please God.

Paul is a good example of how our life should change to please God. Once Paul met Jesus his  life was changed forever. He never again held cloaks as stones were thrown at someone for preaching the truth of Jesus Christ. In fact, he was stoned, beaten, imprisoned, and beheaded for speaking God’ truth. Paul never spoke false doctrine, but through his knowledge of Old Testament Scripture and the truth of the gospel taught others sound doctrine.

As he traveled he would often begin teaching in a synagogue in spite of the fact that his message of the Good News of Jesus Christ was usually rejected. One such place he taught was in Berea where they were astute enough to check Scripture to see if what he preached was true.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

Do you search the Scriptures to see if what you are being taught is true? If you’re willing to have your itchy ears tickled, then you won’t care one way or the other about God’s truth. That’s a pity.

Stephen was martyred because he spoke the truth, but his reward was great. He used Old Testament Scripture to show that Jesus was the Messiah. The Bereans also used Old Testament Scripture to test Paul’s teaching and found it to be the truth. Today we still need to study all of Scripture to be sure that we understand God’s word and have been taught sound doctrine; we need to rebuke false teachers.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

It takes time and effort to study Scripture. Get busy.

We live in the time that sound doctrine isn’t politically correct, but there’s no excuse for accepting what is unacceptable to God.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com