The Truth in Print Vol. 27 Issue 8, Sept. 2021

A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,

2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)

 

Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com

 

God, man and the world; Satan, man and “the course of this world”

(Part Two: Emphasis on Christ, the Church and the Devil)

 

   First here is a point from Part One, Vol. 27 Issue 7, Aug. 2021.

 

GET THE DEVIL IN YOUR REPLIES AND CONVERSATIONS!

 

•        The Devil is a murderer and the father of lies (Jo. 8:44)  

•        The Devil is the god of this world and has blinded the minds of those which believe not (2 Cor. 4:4).

•        The Devil is the power of darkness we’ve been delivered from in Christ (Col. 1:13).

•        The Devil is the wisdom that does not descend from above, but is EARTHLY, SENSUAL, DEMONIC (Ja. 3:15).

   The Devil’s walk is the course of this world that is the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience (Eph. 2:1-3). When his servants act what you see is a desire to fulfill the desires of the Devil!

 

STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL

THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS AGE:

 

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

“RULERS” (KJV) “WORLD FORCES” (NASB)

G2888 kosmokratōr, n.m.pl. Gk. Int. N.T. “a world ruler”

Strong’s: - a world ruler, an epithet of Satan: - ruler; Thayer Definition: 1) lord of the world, prince of this age 1a) the devil and his demons

 

RESISTING SATAN’S POWER AND SOUL-DESTROYING INFLUENCE

 

SATAN’S “SCHEMES [G3180 METHODEIA] THAYER DEFINITION: 1) CUNNING ARTS, DECEIT, CRAFT, TRICKERY.

 

 

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD (EPH. 6:11-20)

 

     Christians are told “you will be able to resist” (Eph. 6:13).

 

Definitions:

 

1) “Resist” [G436 anthistēmi vb.] Thayer Definition: 1) to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose.

 

   You resist whenever Satan attacks. If you can’t stop the Devil’s physical assault, then you will his spiritual assault.

 

2) “Stand” (Eph. 6:13-14) [G2476 histēmi] Thayer Definition: 2b1) continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared.

 

3) “Quench” (Eph. 6:16) [G4570 sbennumi] Thayer: 1) to extinguish, quench.

 

   It says you will be able to quench “all the darts of the evil one.”  There is nothing the Devil has that will harm or destroy your soul that cannot be “put out” so to speak when he uses it against you (Cf. Mat. 10:28).

 

4) Eph. 6:18-19. To the above we must add “prayer” and “petition” on behalf of others as mentioned.  

 

5) Also, we must consider God’s will and time: Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 

1) Compare 1Th 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

 

   Sometimes you hear well Satan has already got the world so he works on the church, pshaw! 2 Cor. 4:4 says Satan blinds the hearts of the unbelieving; you must be aware of the philosophies (see Part One for the wise of this age, the scribe, the debater – a sophist, a learned disputant and those with elaborate and devious argumentations) that are seducing adults and children with the wisdom of the devil -- “the god of this world” - that is seen in the course and wisdom of the “world” or age we live in - that is full of deceit and error and hostile to God and His word.

 

   The Devil is there in the evil working of Critical Race Theory which is hate and racism – it places the blame of racism and hate on color not character (Cf. Col. 3:25), in Gender Identification which is lewdness and effeminacy, and in parts of public education indoctrinating children (and stupid adults) with philosophies of “this age” we are in. It is easy to get caught up in their philosophies while overlooking and condoning the “works of the flesh” (I Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21). The Devil’s philosophies are running wild and those using them are calling them love and righteousness! You can count on some of this evil to be introduced into some schools if they let it by using health (mental) and bullying --- that’s what some are already doing!  

 

 

DEFINTION OF “SATAN” (Matt. 4:10)

G4567

Satanas, noun proper masculine

 

Thayer Definition:

1) adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act), the name given to

1a) the prince of evil spirits, the inveterate adversary of God and Christ

1a1) he incites apostasy from God and to sin

 

DEFINITION OF “DEVIL” (MATT. 4:11)

[G1228 diabolos, adj. dee-ab'-ol-os ]

Strong’s: From G1225; a traducer; specifically Satan (compare [H7854]): - false accuser, devil, slanderer.

•       From G1225 diaballō to traduce: - accuse.

•       Compare H7854 śâṭân [saw-tawn‘ ] From H7853; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch enemy of good: - adversary, Satan, …

 

YOU CAN SEE SATAN IN HIS FULL STRENGTH IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

 

•       THE DEVIL IS THE RULER OF THIS WORLD AND DECEIVES THE WORLD.

 

    Jesus said in Joh 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” The Book of Revelation proclaims Satan being defeated and cast out of heaven permanently. In Rev. 12:5 Christ has ascended and following in Revelation 12:7 there is war in heaven between Michael and his angels and Satan and his angels and no place is found for Satan in heaven --- Satan and his angels are thrown down to the earth. In Rev. 12:9 he deceives the whole world, and he goes to make war with church on earth (Rev. 12:17).  At his final defeat when Christ comes the Devil will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone that is Hell (Rev. 20:10).

 

Joh 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

Rev 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 

    In Revelation emperors worship the Devil the great red dragon (chapter 12) who gives them their power, throne and authority (chapter 13), the whole earth worships Satan who gave his authority to the emperor (the beast of the sea), and the false prophet called the beast of the earth (6:13,19:19-20) makes the earth worship the emperor by signs given him to perform – telling the earth to make an image to the first beast (the emperor) and worship the image. Unclean spirits are employed by them performing signs which go out to the kings of whole earth (16:13-14) to gather them to war -- Christ strikes back and Satan and his allies are defeated, and you have a picture of Rome and its allies destroyed in their efforts to destroy Christ’s church (19:19-21).

 

JESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL

 

1Jn 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

 

I’LL PUT MY TRUST IN JESUS

 

Heb 2:13 And again: "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again: "HERE AM I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."

Heb 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Heb 2:15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

 

BE STEDFAST, IMMOVABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD

1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY."

1Co 15:55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?"

1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord

 

 

WE MUST NOT DECEIVE OURSELVES

 

1Jo 3:7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;

 

1Jo 3:8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

THE DEVIL AND ANANIAS

 

•       Act 5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your

heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

 

   The Devil entered Ananias just like he did Judas (Jo. 13:27). He assisted that lust Ananias and Sapphira his wife had in being willing to lie for recognition while testing the Holy Spirit’s knowledge. They knew they were doing both! (Cf. Ja. 1:14-16).

 

 

THE DEVIL AT PAPHOS – ELYMAS IS UNDER SATAN’S CONTROL.

 

•       Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

•       Act 13:9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

•       Act 13:10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?  

 

Definition of “Devil”

G1228 diabolos

Thayer Definition:

•       1) prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely 1a) a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer

•       2) metaphorically applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him

 

   *What Paul was doing there: Act 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'

Consider Luk 8:12 “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” ί The Devil did not get the proconsul Serius Paulus.

 

 

SATAN’S FALSE TEACHERS DISGUISE THEMSELVES AS MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

2Co 11:3 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.

2Co 11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! 

2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

2Co 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ί Cf. Gal. 1:8

2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

 

Definitions:

 

Serpent [G3789 ophis] Strong’s: figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan: - serpent.

 

1) Craftiness [G3834 panourgia] –Thayer: (in a bad sense) trickery or sophistry: - (cunning) craftiness, subtilty.

 

2) Transform [G3345 etaschēmatizō] to transfigure or disguise; transfer, transform (self).

 

   When will brethren learn to avoid such? Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

 

FALSE TEACHERS DELIVERED TO SATAN TO LEARN NOT TO BLASPHEME

 

•       1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 

•       1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 

•       1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 

 

   Cast off a good conscience and you will make shipwreck of your faith, and here they overthrew the faith so some.

 

•       2Ti 2:17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,

•       2Ti 2:18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

 

 

AN UNGODLY MEMBER DELIVERED TO THE ONE HE SIDED WITH

 

•       1Co 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife!

•       1Co 5:2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

•       1Co 5:3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.

•       1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

•       1Co 5:5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

   He was delivered to Satan so he would put the works of the flesh to death. Satan seeks the destruction of the spirit, but the desired outcome of withdrawal is repentance, restoration and the salvation of the soul. We read of his repentance and restoration in 2 Corinthians chapter 2.    

 

 

FORGIVE AND COMFORT THE REPENTANT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF SATAN’S DEVICES

 

•       2Co 2:5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.

•       2Co 2:6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,

•       2Co 2:7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

•       2Co 2:8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

•       2Co 2:9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

•       2Co 2:10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

•       2Co 2:11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

Definitions:

 

*advantage: “over reach, defraud” – perhaps entailing that a brother will be lost.

 

“devices” [G3540 noēma] Thayer: 2) an evil purpose

 

 

TEMPTED BECAUSE OF LACK OF SELF-CONTROL

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MARRIAGE

 

•       1Co 7:3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

•       1Co 7:4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

•       1Co 7:5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

 

“Tempt” here means [G3985 peirazō] Thayer: 2c) to try or test one’s faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin.

 

   Don’t be foolish and think he can’t because he can and does! Many a marriage has been destroyed by the very thing warned about here.

 

 

DO NOT GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL

 

•       Eph 4:26 "BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

•       Eph 4:27 nor give place to the devil.

 

“Place” [G5117 topos] Thayer Definition: 2b) opportunity, power, occasion for acting

 

  Don’t get angry and give the Devil opportunity and power.

 

 

PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE CHURCH IN THESSALONICA

 

1Th 3:4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

1Th 3:5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

 

   Would brethren today think it strange if that was said of a church? Some probably would. Paul had endured his persecution he told them was coming, and now his fear for them was apostasy.

 

   Cf. Acts 17:4-9. A lot happened when Paul was in Thessalonica – the city was in an uproar because of the preaching of the gospel. Picture your own city in an uproar and filled with hatred over the truth being taught and some obeying it – you could get through one way or another without denying Christ. Brethren at Smyrna did when the Devil came to them (Rev. 2:10). The Devil can tempt a whole church through fear of persecution and the cost of endurance. Last year many rushed away from assembling because of the government and covid restrictions.

 

 

DOES YOUR PREACHER EVER GET KIND OF POLITICAL?

 

   You say with Satan running wild today he seems to at times. Really! You know the Devil is into political power in the book of Revelation in a big way – using emperors and kings and the state false prophet to promote emperor worship -- even employing evil spirits to assist in deceiving. The Devil is the great red dragon (Rev. 12:9). Then the beast of sea (Rev. 13) represents Rome with its emperor and the whole earth worshipped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast – it was given to him to make war with the saints and overcome them (Rev. 13:4-7). In the unholy alliance you have another beast --- the beast of the earth (Rev. 13:11) and he gets his authority from the beast of the sea -- he is identified as the false prophet (Rev. 16:13, 19:20) -- and he performs signs and wonders before mankind – he deceives those dwell on the earth because of the signs given to him and tells mankind to make an image of the first beast (emperor) and worship it and he even has the demonic power to make the image to speak – so the people worship the emperor (the first beast). Unclean spirits or demons – coming out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, the false prophet were spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole earth to influence them and to gather them to war (Rev. 16:13-14) --- the fact that the Devil (the dragon), the beast (Rome) and the false prophet (beast of the earth) will be defeated is illustrated in a battle -- Christ strikes back and Satan and his allies are defeated and you have a picture of Rome and allies destroyed in their efforts to destroy Christ’s church (19:19-21).

 

 

THE DEVIL IS WHERE “THE DEEP THINGS OF SATAN” ARE TAUGHT” IN THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA

 

•       Rev 2:20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. ί “you” i.e. the church in Thyatira.

•       Rev 2:21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

•       Rev 2:24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. ί There was an attraction to the works of Satan among some.

•       Rev 2:25 But hold fast what you have till I come.

 

 

BE ON THE ALERT

 

•       1Pe 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

 

 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE DEVIL WHEN CHRIST COMES?

 

•       Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE DEVIL?

 

•       They “... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8)

 

WHO IS IN THAT GROUP? (Rev. 21:8)

 

•       But the fearful, *Cowardly

•       and unbelieving, ί Makes one think of Mk. 16:16!

•       and the abominable,

•       and murderers,

•       and whoremongers,

•       and sorcerers, 

•       and idolaters,

•       and all liars, …

 

Rev 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. ί Why you need to be baptized!

 

WHERE IS THAT “LAKE OF FIRE”?

 

•       Mat 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

Consider the importance of you being baptized: Mar 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

 

 

Valley Church of Christ

2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364

(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com

Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.

Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm

 

To learn more call, visit or visit our website at:

http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com

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