Satan's Ten Most Believable Lies XI

#11—The Solution!

Fred R. Coulter

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Today we're going finish this series from the book Satan's Ten Most Believable Lies by Dave Breese. Let me just read the back of the cover, because this is very important for today. In the end-time we know that Satan is seeking to destroy all knowledge of Christ; all knowledge of any Christianity; he's seeking to destroy every Christian and to literally wipe us from the face of the earth.

Here is a summary of the book, which is fitting for this final sermon:

Satanic activity on earth takes many forms.

Always keep that in mind: many, many, many forms!

His overt activities—witchcraft, sorcery, and related occult practices—are well-known in many circles. But more devastating may be his covert attacks on unsuspecting victims.

That's what we have to protect ourselves from, the covert attack. When I finish this series, I'm going to go through—because of necessity—there are so many people coming out with many different prophecies and strange interpretations of the Bible that I'm going to have to do a series on Polemics for God! A polemic is a defense for the Truth of God, so you can understand some of these covert activities that are coming along and to reach in and deceive people.

Just to show you how this can happen, we know some brethren who used to believe in the Bible exactly the same as we do, and now they have suddenly come to 'new truth.' That 'new truth' is that they

• changed the day of the Passover
• on the Day of Atonement they no longer have to fast

After their church services on the Day of Atonement—which God commands us to afflict our souls—they had coffee and cake and enjoyed it. They had a wonderful time and went out and had dinner afterward.

So, you see the covert attacks, the things that reach in to change doctrine, to change Truth, are the things that we have to be absolutely most concerned with.

While Satan's public activity has deceived millions, he has led astray other millions with false doctrine.

Satan's Ten Most Believable Lies describes ten of the enemy's false doctrines. Each chapter defines a satanic lie and compares it to the Truth found in Scripture.

Here are the ten satanic lies in review:

• God is a Cosmic Sadist
• God is a Liar
• Man is God's Slave
• Man Serves God Only for Human Rewards
• Adversity Results in Turning from God
• This Life is Everything
• God is a Magician Working Miracles on Demand
• God's Promises Are for Our Worldly Profit
• Satan's Way is the Best Way
• God Has No Purpose for Your Life

In this final one, we're going to ask the question: What is the solution for these satanic believable lies.

Let's first of all begin in 1-John 4, and this is in the way of a slight review. But this is something that is so very important to understand and realize when we're dealing with the Truth of God, when we're living in a world where satanic activity has been increased and multiplied so many times over because of the things of media and modern communication, television and radio, music, politics, and the printed word are just flooding and gushing everything that there is.

Here is the comforting thing as we found out that God is for you! 1-John 4:4: "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them…"—referring to the false prophets and false spirits in vs 1-3. We can overcome! We don't have succumb to the attacks and the lies of Satan the devil. We don't have to slide back into oblivion because you may feel alone and struggling in this world to just try and get by and survive. No, you have over come them:

"…because greater is He Who is in you than the one who is in the world." Let's see what "…greater is He Who is in you…"—that is Jesus Christ.

• Did Jesus Christ overcome Satan the devil? Yes!
• Did He win that battle? Yes!
• Can you win that battle? Yes!

We're going to see how!
Colossians 1:26: "Even the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been revealed to His saints." How can it be that God can work within our lies, our hearts and our minds, and that we can totally overcome Satan the devil, totally overcome the world and attain to the resurrection of the dead when Christ returns.

• that is the tremendous mystery
• that is the tremendous plan of God
• that is the tremendous purpose that God has for us

Verse 27: "To whom God did will to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

If the One Who is in you is Christ, He is greater than the one in the world, and that is Satan the devil.

• Christ is greater!
• Christ can help you overcome!
• Christ can change all of these things for you!
• Christ can work in your life!

He has defeated Satan; he no longer rules in your life. He wants to come back and try and get you. He wants to come back and try and subvert you. He wants to cause a lot of difficulties and problems for you. However, let's see what it is that we are going to do to overcome this world. We have to overcome the world. I'll tell you one thing, if you want to know if you're overcoming the world, just try this on for size:

Do you feel estranged from the world? If your answer is yes, then you're making progress! If you feel that this world is kind of just crushing in on you from every side, then what God's Spirit in you is telling you is that you are fighting the world; you are fighting Satan the devil; and you are winning. So, don't worry about it. God is there and will protect you, because "…greater is He that is in you, than he who is in the world." That's very profound and very important, and what we have to remember and just burn right in the frontlets of our mind.

1-John 5:4: "Now then, everyone who is begotten by God overcomes the world…" It is something you are doing; it's not a fait accompli; it is not final right now.

• We still have to finish the race.
• We still have to finish the fight.
• We still have to come to the end.

But you are overcoming the world! As you feel more estranged from the world, and as you feel how wrong and awful the world is, that means you're overcoming it. The Spirit of God in you is convicting you and giving you that strength.

Perhaps 20 years ago it would been thought of as very strange. If someone would have said for a Christian he's going to have to really limit his or her viewing of television, but I tell you today, that is exactly what we're going to have to do. The bombardment of Satan is so absolutely attacking all of the values, all of the standards, all of the morality of God and Christ and the commandments of God, that it's almost an impossibility to view a commercial without having your mind exposed to some sort of satanic falderal designed to get some sort of sex across in your mind; or some sort of blaspheme or stupidity across so that he can have an entrance into your mind.

Verse 4: "Now then, everyone who is begotten by God overcomes the world; and this is the victory… [God guarantees us a victory!] …that overcomes the world—our faith." That's why our faith has to be that we are seeking God, because God is God. Not because God is going to necessarily going to give us something—which He will; not because God is going to give us blessings—which He will; not that God is God is going to do all of these things in a physical world for us—He may or may not do that. However, you must have the faith to be seeking God because He is God, and that is how you're overcoming this world. That brings you the victory.

Verse 5: "Who is the one who overcomes the world? Even the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." There have been many, many attacks on the Son of God. There have been many, many attacks as to whether God sent Jesus Christ and whether Jesus Christ was in fact God before He became human.

That's one of the first things that we're going to address. That's one of the things that is always under attack. If you want to know how to identify satanic doctrine, it is whenever the person and Divinity of Jesus Christ is under attack. That's why this believing, faith and overcoming is so very important.

Verse 19: "We know that we are of God…" Let's think on that for a minute. That's something you have to know positively. What is something you have to have as knowledge and conviction of the Holy Spirit in your mind, heart and being, that you are of God:

• Do you know that?
• Do you believe that?
• Do you act upon that?
• Is that part of the way that you think?
• Is that part of the way you feel?
• Is that part of the way that you live your life?

That you are of God!

Notice what this is going to produce, "…and that the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one." That's what it's going to produce in your life. Not that you now, because of this, become judge, jury and convictor.

• God is going to judge this world.
• God is going to convict this world.
• God is going to bring what He's going bring upon this world, the way that He's going to do it!

But that your life and my life is:

• hid in Christ
• buried in Christ
• walking in Christ
• living in Christ

Therefore, we understand that the whole world is walking in wickedness.

Verse 20: "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding…" God is the only One that can give you understanding. God is the only One Who can make this possible.

Example: The other day I had to take a friend of mine to the hospital because he had to have some things done. He needed a ride and his wife was mad at him—they had a big argument—so I took him to the hospital. While I was waiting for him, I sat down at the coffee counter and there was a waitress that was nice, clean-cut, no makeup and she looked like she was a really an upright and stalwart type of person.

Behind her was the one making sandwiches and she had her back to me. Around the corner was the bus-girl. Everywhere I had been going there was Halloween stuff everywhere, more than ever before, and they had it in the hospital.

So, I thought, let me just try something on for size; let me just see their response. I started talking to the waitress and I said, 'Do you believe that we should always tell our children the truth?' That kind of took her aback. The cook turned around, looked at me and said, 'Yes, we should always tell our children the truth.' I said, 'Should we always tell our the children the truth concerning they most important things in life?' Oh, yes! I said, 'Then how come is it that we lie to our children about Halloween and Christmas. For example, take Christmas, Santa Claus doesn't exist. He doesn't live at the North Pole. It isn't the birthday of Jesus Christ. If you do tell these things to your children, you're lying.'

The sandwich maker got this stark look on her face, she didn't know what to say. The waitress had kind of a puzzled look on her face. The bus-girl came around and said, 'Yes, I agree with you 100%.' Just as I was ready to leave in came some kids in Halloween costumes and a man with them, and guess who it was? It was the two children of the waitress with her husband!

So, God has to give the understanding! That's the whole point of it, because many are the doctrines and deceptions that come along that Satan gives us. If you tell them the truth, it is strange, because the carnal mind loves to be lied to. The carnal mind loves to be told how good everything is. So, God has to give us that understanding.

"…so that we may know Him Who is true [Christ]…" (v 20). The Truth of God stands in spite of all that is going on in the world around; the Truth of God stands, in spite of what people may think. And the grace of God that is with us, that gives us the power and ability through God's Holy Spirit to overcome, is a tremendous and fantastic thing that God has given to us.

"…and we are in Him Who is true, and in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." (vs 20-21). This is important for us to realize and understand.

Here's why we need to be careful and on guard, 2-John 7: "Because many deceivers have entered into the world—those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is the spirit of the deceiver and the antichrist."

John said in another place, 'there are many antichrists that have gone into the world.' Here is the distinguishing thing: They do not believe that Jesus Christ—Who was God before He became human—came in the flesh. You're going to be absolutely amazed at the number of people who have been in the Church of God who now believe that Jesus was not God before He became human. There are some evangelists who were in the Church of God, as we knew it years ago, who also now believe that.

There's no need in saying that Jesus came in the flesh unless He was God before He came in the flesh. They don't even understand now what human nature is, and they don't understand what kind of nature that Jesus had. They don't understand what great and fantastic and marvelous thing that God has done so that we can be able to understand His Word and have Christ in us. It is absolutely beyond belief. You're going to be astounded!

Let's see another thing that we need in overcoming Satan the devil. Here is a completed, past tense saying of Christians, Revelation 12:11: "But they overcame him…" Satan the devil, that great dragon that deceives the whole world. They overcame! That is in the past tense! That is done! It is finished! It is completed! You can look to the end and see the victory, see the hope and see that your overcoming is going to be completed.

"…through the blood of the Lamb…" (v 11). Through the very atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is constantly, daily applied to your life.

Let me just mention here, when there was the temple of the Old Testament, and when they had the sacrifice of the lamb every morning and every night, it was symbolic of Jesus' continuous sacrifice as the Lamb of God and His blood being applied to our lives on a daily basis.

You need to go to God and have that blood of Jesus Christ cleanse you from all sin everyday. And especially since we are just bombarded on every side with all of this satanic activity that we need that everyday.

"…and through the word of their testimony…" (v 11). There will be a time when we're telling people who we are and what we are and that we stand for the Truth! The Word of Truth and the very conviction of your being and your thought process, your speech and the way that you live is all part of "…the word of their testimony…"

"…and they loved not their lives unto death" (v 11)—that you account attaining to the resurrection of the dead as the paramount, most important thing in this entire universe for you.

Let's understand something concerning our attitude toward God, and our attitude toward the things that we need to have in this life.

Romans 14[corrected]:7 is the very model of what we need to do, to live by: "For no one among us lives to himself…"

• God has called you
• God has a plan and purpose for you
• God wants you in His kingdom

You don't live to yourself, either to God alone, but brethren are involved. You don't live to yourself just in the world, otherwise you would have to be in capsule and vacuum to get away from the world, and you can't do that.

"…and no one dies to himself" (v 7). Here is the conviction of mind that we need to have to fulfill what it says that 'we love not our lives unto death' In reality, before God, when you are baptized into Christ, you are baptized into His death, so you, as a person, are already dead. And the life that you live is now motivated by Christ in you, which is the hope of glory.

Verse 8: "For if we live, we should live unto the Lord… [not as the world that says, 'eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die'] …and if we die, we should die unto the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's." That's how we need to characterize our lives. That becomes the greatest conviction of mind and belief that we need to fight against all of the satanic activity that we see going on in the world around us.

If you don't have this book—Satan's Ten Most Believable Lies—I think it's imperative that you buy it and study it, go back over it, that you understand exactly what he is saying here, because this is one of the most profound books that I have read in recent years.

p 124—The results in the life of a person who believe in Jesus Christ will be correspondingly great.

That is as compared to what Jesus did when viewed toward the resurrection.

However, we may be sure that Satan will come to every one of us and preach the same destructive doctrine of self-preservation.

That means that you save your life today. But remember what Jesus said, 'He who saves his life shall lose it, and he who loses life for My sake shall save it.' That's what he's talking about here.

In many way, he will say, "Don't be a fool. Don't give yourself to so ridiculous a course as the denial of yourself in order to accomplish some abstract spiritual purpose. Accomplishment is here and now….

That's what we have with the 'now generation.' Do it now; accomplish it now, make it now. People, because they are not willing to work, not willing to apply themselves have gangs out there shooting and killing because they want it now and they're going to take it. You see what that attitude degenerates into.

Then with all the fantasy and stupidity of all of the media, movies, etc., which portray the same thing. It is here! It is now! But if you really want to know what is really now, and if you think that this life is grand and glorious, go down to your local morgue and say, 'I'd like to see the bodies of those who have had it now.' You will see that it's not grand and glorious at all.

"It… [this life of accomplishments now] …is made out of money, material cars, homes, and human applause. This is the only world we know anything about, and any man is a fool to live for the world to come.

That's Satan's way of saying, and it's going to become even more so in the future, because Satan is trying to hold out the prospect of eternal life in the flesh—with all the miraculous accomplishments of science and technology.

I remember years ago the serial adventure that came out—The Six-Million Dollar Man—the bionic man. He had a bionic leg, arm, mind and eye. We're almost to the point that they can do that now. They can put in new joints, new bones, transplant livers and hearts and lungs, and now what they're trying to do is take all of the smart and elite in the world and say if you cut off the head and freeze it, somewhere down the line you can put it on a new body.

But nothing is ever said as to what happens to the head of that 'new' body so that we can preserve this 'grand and glorious' human mind. People believe that! People pay $125,000 to have either their head or their whole body frozen in what is called cryonics. It is so incredible that if it weren't true, sadly, it would be laughable. God is, in fact, laughing at it. God says that He is 'in derision' against sinners like that.

"Enjoy yourself. Live it up" With these and many other propositions, Satan continues to play the hackneyed record that one is a fool to live for any moment beyond the existential now. He has not been without real help in promoting that theme. From the old atheistic philosophers to the modern television writers, Satan's media representatives in almost every field have denied the existence of spiritual value or eternal purpose in life and avidly promoted that soul-destroying message. As a result, the theme of our generation is, "live now, it's later than you think."

p 126—"So likewise, whosever he be of you that forsakes not all that he has, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26-27).

We can see in all this a most important and difficult choice! The call of God upon a life forces one to choose between the immediate rewards of this life and the approval of God in eternity. It is self-delusion for any Christian to imagine that the things of this world can bring satisfaction either permanently or temporarily. Peter was beginning to give himself to this dread, spiritual obscuration, for, as Christ said, "You are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's" (Matt. 16:23, NASB).

p 127—Having failed to prevent Christ from going to the cross, the remaining activity of Satan is to prevent Christians from fulfilling God's intention to make of us significant witnesses to what that cross means…..

…God has a wonderful plan for each Christian's life, and that plan can be beautifully fulfilled with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Christian who will take up his cross and follow Christ, the Christ who will walk in the Spirit, can see the fulfilling of that bright purpose that the Lord Jesus died to make possible.

Now, very important; I want you to listen very intently to this:

The Christian who is living up to the purpose of God to push back the powers of darkness. Satan, knowing this, constantly works to get the Christian to believe the pernicious doctrine that salvation may be worth accepting, but Christ is not worth following, and obeying… [and loving] …with the total of one's capability.

That's what Satan would love everyone to do, to say, 'Oh I want salvation, but, Lord, it's too hard. Why did I have to be born now?' I've heard people say that! I've heard people actually tell me, 'Why did God have to call me now? Why couldn't God call me in the second resurrection when it would be easy?' My answer is, 'How do you know, if you were in the second resurrection, that you would even repent; because if you have that kind of attitude now, what guarantee do you have that you won't have that attitude if you were called in the second resurrection.'

We can't change the age in which we live. We can't change the timetable of God's plan. We can't change the world. We can't, even by thought, add cubits to our stature or change one hair—black or white—or whatever it may be. But here's what we need to do; here's how we need to be making our lives on a daily basis:

Romans 12:1: "I exhort you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, Holy and well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service." That means you're intelligent. That means your ongoing service to God. How do we accomplish this?

Verse 2: "Do not conform yourselves to this world…"

The other day I was in a store and I couldn't believe it; they are bringing back mini-skirts. Only these things are mini-mini-skirts. It's almost like foolish women walking around with huge postage stamps on. It's incredible! Then I sat down in a restaurant and this person sat down next to me and they had one of the ginky hairstyles that is so bad, it's incredible! It was almost like this is so bad you need to stare at it to see if it's real.

I'm talking about obtuse things, that you would say, 'Oh how terrible; that's awful; I agree with you; that's bad.' But how else do people get conformed to this world? By anything that helps perpetuate the values of this world! You need to be careful, because in the world is the knowledge of good and evil. Not everything totally in the world is evil, but you have to be careful that even the 'good' that is in the world is not a satanic deceptive good to draw you into the world again.

Just to give you an idea of how these things work. I wrote this down on a card. This is the motto of Rotary International. When I saw the motto, I thought what a deceptive thing this is. Here are four tenets of Rotary International:

• Is it the truth?

That's good to have—isn't it?

• Is it fair to all concerned?

That's good, because we need to have equity around—don't we?

• Will it bring good will and better friendship?

That sounds wonderful—doesn't it?

• Will it be beneficial to all?

(go to the next track)

Those four tenets, I guarantee you, will help bring on the satanic deception of the one-world order, which is now well down the road to being accomplished. Even though you may see something that is good, you can't go out and be conformed to this world.

Here is what God wants with us, Romans 12:2: "…but be transformed… [changed] …by the renewing of your mind… [How? Through the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit putting into your mind the very Word of God.] …in order that you may prove… [not only to yourself; not only to the world; but also to God] …what is well pleasing and good, and the perfect will of God." That's what God wants us to do. That's how He wants us to live.

Then the other side of that coin we find in 1-John 2 and this becomes very, very important for us to realize and understand. Here's what we are told to do. If we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, being and strength—which we are to do, and that is the first commandment—then the reciprocal or the opposite of that is:

1-John 2:15: "Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Because you're spending so much time loving the physical things, you have your idols out there. You have the things that you are creating in your mind, which are loving the world and the things in the world, and everything to do with the world—it is impossible to have the love of God in you.

Verse 16: "Because everything that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pretentious pride of physical life—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world and its lust is passing away… [it's all coming to nothing] …but the one who does the will of God abides forever" (vs 16-17).

That is the solution to all of these things that Satan is trying to use and perpetrate against us!

How are you going to keep from being conformed to the world? There are two suggestions: We want to protect ourselves—don't we? We want to get away from all the evil. The first course of action is to flee Satan in the hope of escaping him. Do you think that's possible?

pp 131-132—The Question That Remains—Christian history indicates that the route of escaping from satanic activity has been attempted by many. Unfortunately, their attempt to escape has been without success. Monks and nuns have retreated behind the walls of monasteries and convents. Others have become hermits in their own retreats in deserts or mountains. In this way, they hoped to escape the moral infections of a corrupt civilization. In their own published confessions, they have admitted that they were still pursued by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. They carried sinful hearts to their hermitage, and they were unable, by mere isolation from the world, to insure themselves against defeat by the attacks of the evil one.

So, these monasteries and convents have in themselves become total dens of iniquity. And total foolishness in what they have tried to do. There is a monastery in Greece that's on a mountain that rises almost straight up all the way around. Right on top is this monastery. The only way you can get there is arduously climbing these stairs, and when you get to a certain point they had to let down a rope so you could hold onto and a little thing to stand in, and they would crank you up to the top. In this monastery they allowed no women, nothing female. They didn't even allow chickens—hens—because it was a female.

In all the foolish attempts to get away from male lust toward women, that didn't help a thing. They all ended up being perverted and wretched in their own sins—men with men—'that which is working unseemly, as the Bible says.

You can't get away from Satan there. Because in all the quietness that is there, Satan is going to come in and have a bright idea. Since you can't see Satan—he can put thoughts into the mind—that if you were in that kind of situation you wouldn't know that it was from Satan the devil—would you? So, you can't do that. There's no way that you can solve the problem that way. We have to take care of our salvation in another way. We have to do what the Bible tells us.

Let's see the Bible way on how to handle this problem. There are times when things are so bad, I've kidded about let's all go find a cave in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. But you know what would happen? We'd get up there and there would be an earthquake and the caves would be gone! And we would be dead! Or some raving manic who lived out there as a hermit and would go out and 'get these stupid people; look at these idiots trying to get away from the world.' There are certain things that we have to get away from. But those things that we have to get away from are those things we might get involved in.

1-Timothy 6:11: "But you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, endurance and meekness." Mentally fleeing these things, because we go back to the verses before and it says concerning the activities that were there.

Verse 9: "For those who desire to become rich fall into temptation and a snare… [We have to beware of the snare of the devil, which he sets out] …and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which cause men to sink into destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all evils; by which some, while striving after riches, were seduced from the faith, and have impaled themselves with many sorrows" (vs 9-10).

Haven't we seen that? That in a church that would be finally be blessed of God and go beyond that and start hoarding and taking in money and buying property and wanting more and more, of whom the prime example is Jim Baker—who is now serving 40 years in prison. "…many foolish and hurtful lusts…and have impaled themselves with many sorrows." Then we are to flee these things! That's what he's saying.

Verse 12: "Fight the good fight of the faith! Take hold of eternal life to which you were also called, and did profess a good profession in the presence of many witnesses." We're to fight that fight of faith! We are to take those things that we need to do and work, change, overcome, grow and let the Word of God work in us.

pp 134-135—And what a warfare it is! Each day that we live, without exception, we will operate in a no-man's land of angry guns and exploding rockets…. [spiritually] …Our courage will be ever tested and our strength taxed to the nth degree. Our loves, loyalties, hopes, and fears are all components in the great battle of life. We must steel ourselves for the supreme test, allowing no shocking sight or sound to deter us from the only goal: victory. The enemy must be defeated. Christ must prevail. We must equip ourselves adequately for the struggle. Our equipment has been provided.

As we will see, by God! Let's see how this fight must be. We must equip ourselves with this. The Apostle Paul told Timothy: 'Be a good soldier in Christ.' We have to! We have a race to be running. We have a fight that we have to fight.

1-Corinthians 9:24, Paul says: "Don't you know that those whorun a race all run, but only one receives the prize? That is the way you are to run in order that you may obtain the prize." There are many analogies that you can draw. Even the world has the story of the tortoise and the hare and the race and who won and who lost.

Verse 25: "For everyone who is striving for mastery controls himself in all things…." In sports I want to tell you, every 'superstar' gets old, loses his capacity and has to quit. In that sense the analogy begins to break down, but as Christians are we going to be as those in a race? or as the sports figure? When we get old and broken down and worn out and just give up on Christ? No, of course not!

"…Of course, they do this so that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we are striving for an incorruptible crown." We have eternal life that we are striving for. We have the blessing to look forward to of living forever in the Kingdom of God. He's saying here that that's worth running for; that's worth fighting for; that's worth putting your whole effort and whole being into doing it.

Verse 26: "I therefore, so run… [in that same way and attitude] …not as one who is uncertain… [he knows what he's doing, because he's living by the Spirit of God and the Word of God] …so also I fight… [we also must fight and have the victory] …not as beating the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection… [Not letting the lust carry you away; don't let the lust of the world, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life get carried away in your life.] …lest, after preaching to others, I myself might be rejected" (vs 26-27). Instead of overcoming Satan, Satan would have overcome him.

Ephesians 6 gives us the tools, the equipment, for the race and the fight. This become of paramount importance for us

• to understand
• to live by
• to use
• to think on
• to pray on
• to grow into
• to overcome

And as we're finishing up this series of Satan's Ten Most Believable Lies:

Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord…" The One Who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. So, if we're strong in the Lord:

"…and in the might of His strength…. [we rely on the power of God in us] …Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (vs 10-11).

• the subtlies
• the cleverness
• the arguments
• the false doctrines
• the entrance into our lives by our own weaknesses

That's why we overcome with the blood of the Lamb. And it's in the morning and the evening that the sacrifice is applied to us on a daily basis.

Verse 12: "Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities and against powers, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age… [and much more so than ever before] …against the spiritual power of wickednessin high places."

Because of all of this, and because of what we know, understood, read and learned of God's Word, v 13: "Therefore, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day…" And you never know which day is going to be the evil day—today, tomorrow, ten days from now, two weeks from now, one year from now, two years from now. What we have to do is consider that every day could be that evil day, which it very well could be.

"…and having worked out all things… [not just part; not just some; not just almost] …to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with Truth…" (vs 13-14). It's very interesting in warfare, and you can kill someone very quickly. It's called the knife under the fifth rib. Goes right up and pierces the heart and you're dead. God says to gird yourself with the Truth; protect your very innermost part of your body and being. The Truth is:

• the Word of God
• Christ in us
• the Gospel of God
• that we are fighting against Satan and this world

So, have yourself gird about with the Truth "…and wearing the breastplate of righteousness" (v 14). To protect you!

• To protect your heart!
• To protect your lungs!

because our breath is akin to the Spirit of God. It's something you can't see; something you can't hold onto, but it's something that keeps you alive. Likewise with God's Spirit. You can't see it; you can't hear it; you can't feel it; but it keeps you alive. You have your breastplate of righteousness, which then is keeping the commandments of God—having the righteousness of Christ in you through grace.

Verse 15: "And having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace…. [Always ready to do what God wants you to do. Always be prepared.] …Besides all these, take up the shield of the faith… [Why do you have to have a shield? You have to be mobile with a shield!] …with which you will have the power to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." (vs 15-16).

It's very interesting in the Greek. This means the fiery missiles of passion! Those things that come on you suddenly. You've got to be able to put that shield up and protect yourself. That is the shield of faith; the very power of God, that you know that you know, and believe that you believe, and that you are Christ's whether you live or die. You have that shield right there to stop all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Verse 17: "And put on the helmet of salvation… [to protect your mind, to protect your inward parts, to protect the Holy Spirit that brings you salvation. That helmet covers and protects you.] …and the sword of the Spirit… [now you've got something you need to use; something that you need to do in that active fight] …which is the Word of God."

God's Spirit cannot be active, cannot work through you, unless it's through your mind with the Word of God. That's why we are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Let that Truth be in us!

Finally, the thing to put all this together, v 18: "Praying at all times … [not just part of the time; not just when you're in trouble; not when you feel like it; but be praying always] …with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and in this very thing being watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

You can tie that in with Matt. 24 where it says, 'If the good master would have known when the thief would break in, then he would have watched. But since you don't know when it's going to happen—whether it's at the 1st watch, 2nd watch, the 3rd watch or the 4th watch, you are watching always, with perseverance!

• You never give up!
• You never let down!
• You never throw in the towel!
• You always go on!

• What happens if you become wounded?
• What happens if you have something in your life that sets you back?
  • You let God heal you!
  • You let God intervene and pick you up!
  • You come back to God and reinforce yourself with all the things that you need!

Ephesians 3 becomes the most important thing we need to realize in the love of God, the plan of God, and overcoming Satan the devil. If there's any one chapter in the Bible that I personally feel is the most helpful, inspiring and invigorating part of the Bible, it is Eph. 3, especially the last part of it.

Ephesians 3:4: "So that when you read this, you will be able to comprehend my understanding in the mystery of Christ), which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men…" (vs 4-5). God didn't make this known to all men in general; He just called a few—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Noah and the patriarchs on the other side of the Flood.

"…as it has now been revealed to His Holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (v 5). Here we are 1900 years from then, from when Paul wrote this, and now these things are really coming to the fore. But God's Spirit is still able to inspire us and bring us the meaning and understanding of God's Word, to lift us up toward God, to provide us with the ammunition and ability to overcome.

Verse 6: "That the Gentiles might be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel, of which I became a servant according to the gift of the grace of God, which was given to me through the inner working of His power. To me… [notice how this humbled Paul] …who am less than the least of all the saints…" (vs 6-8).

Brethren, this ought to humble us! Draw us closer to God to realize the great magnificence that God has for us, and the great calling that God has for us! So that we can be inspired to fight that fight and be inspired to overcome.

"…was this grace given, that I might preach the Gospel among the Gentiles—even the unsearchable riches of Christ; and that I might enlighten all as to what is the fellowship of the mystery that has been hidden from the ages in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, according to His eternal purpose… [God's plan; God's purpose] …which He has wrought in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and direct access with confidence through His very own faith" (vs 8-12).

We can have that courage and confidence and boldness, by faith, that we have access to God. Never forget that! Never let that leave the frontals of your mind!

Verse 13: "So then, I beseech you not to faint at my tribulations for you… [the suffering that Paul had to go through was really terrible] …which are working for your glory. For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He may grant you… [this is Paul's prayer; this is Paul's plea; this is God's Word inspired by Jesus Christ to us today] …according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; and that being rooted and grounded in love…" (vs 13-18). That foundation; that stability; that love of God continuously, always—in spite of all circumstances—know that God loves you.

"…you may be fully able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height… [of the whole magnificent plan of God] …and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses human knowledge… [there's no knowledge in the world that can ever substitute for the love of Christ, and that Christ is there every day for you. Christ is there every day to help you. Jesus love you! And for you to know that love] …so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (vs 18-19).

Obviously, that is at the resurrection. That is Paul's prayer to you; that is God's promise to you. Absolutely marvelous beyond belief, and we 'see through a glass darkly' that we might "…filled with all the fullness of God." The full meaning of that is just really beyond our comprehension to fully grasp.

Verse 20: "Now to Him Who is able to do… [God is able to do it! You can have the victory over Satan the devil through Jesus Christ and God the Father!] …exceeding abundantly… [there can't be any greater superlative than this] …above all that we ask or think… [that is marvelous, brethren; hold on to those promises of God] …according to the power that is working in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, even into the ages of eternity. Amen." (vs 20-21).

All Scriptures from The Holy Bible in its Original Order, a Faithful Version by Fred R. Coulter

Scriptural References:

• 1 John 4:4
• Colossians 1:26-27
• 1 John 5:4-5, 19-21
• 2 John 7
• Revelation 12:11
• Romans 14:7-8
• Romans 12:1-2
• 1 John 2:15-17
• 1 Timothy 6:11, 9-10, 12
• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
• Ephesians 6:10-18
• Ephesians 3:4-21

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• 1-John 4:1-3
• Matthew 24

Also referenced:

• Book: Satan's Ten Most Believable Lies by Dave Breese
• Sermon Series: Polemics for God

FRC: bo
Transcribed: 2-2-13