Is it ever appropriate to attach the name of the arch enemy of mankind to someone? Jesus did. Are you following Him?
“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:23
When Peter allowed Satan to in control of him, Jesus turned to Peter and said “Get thee behind me, Satan.”
It’s not that a deceiver can’t be called an accurate, derogatory, Bible-based name – one that fits him – yet, we must never lash out with personal malice (James 1:20). Yet, “the tongue of the learned” is led by the Holy Spirit and Word to utter timely, fitting words 
(Isaiah 50:4; Proverbs 25:11).
As we can observe from Scripture, at times, the fitting word from Heaven is a rebuke, a correction, and admonition. Speaking things consistent with God’s Word, led by His Spirit as we are one with Christ and the Father, is God’s will. Your mouth is really HIS, not yours because “your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
The crucified life will bring divine wisdom, temperament, and timing. Being full of God’s Word and led of the Holy Spirit means we speak the Word He gives us – with no fear of mere men.
“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21
“a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.” Ecclesiastes 8:5
Paul Called One Deceiver a “Child of the Devil”
While we shouldn’t curse sinners or heretics …. At times, calling out, naming, marking wolves operating in sheep’s clothing is God’s will. Calling them what the BIBLE calls them is appropriate. Keep in mind the words of Paul to an evil doer – “And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou CHILD OF THE DEVIL, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10) …. To call someone a luciferian, or a “child of the devil” are within the framework of Scripture. Hate in the heart is not in God’s will and yet attaching appropriate nomenclature on someone is not a sin. Didn’t Jesus call the civil ruler of His day what he was – a “fox”? (Luke 13:32) Did you know that this word “fox” was a very derogatory term? It means cunning or deceptive. So Jesus was calling Herod a deceiver.
Remember, this is not about YOU. The kingdom of Christ is about HIM, not you. You must be crucified with Christ so Christ reigns in your life (Colossians 3:3; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; etc.). When the LORD issues a rebuke to someone, it out of His love and mercy. Those who do not warn are not walking in God’s love at all. Warning | What Does Warning and Rebuke Prove?
“Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:5-6
“That Fox”
Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem
Jesus referred to and called out Herod. “tell that fox.” Let us peer into what that meant.
Remember that Jesus is the LAMB of God in the midst of wolves – namely religious leaders and secular rule wolves. Herod wanted Jesus gone which reveals his antichrist (against Christ) nature.
“The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
Luk 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
LUKE 23:6-12. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
Herod was Cunning and Cruel
Below, the text itself gives us the background of what was transpiring when Jesus called the highest civil ruler of His day a “fox.” Adam Clarke’s commentary on this passage unveils the inner workings of evil men, granting us insight and discernment. We see the same thing is unregenerate human leaders today. The human race is fallen and has been since the beginning when Adam sinned. Never forget that “There is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
“‘Tell that fox’ – Herod was a very vicious prince, and lived in public incest with his sister-in-law, Mark 6:17; … the character of fox, which implies cunning, design, and artifice, to hide evil intentions, should be attributed to him, who never seemed studious to conceal his vices. But we may suppose that Christ, who knew his heart, saw that he covered his desire for the destruction of our Lord, under the pretense of zeal for the law and welfare of the Jewish people. A fox among the Jews appears to have been the emblem of a wicked ruler, who united cunning with cruelty, and was always plotting how he might aggrandize himself by spoiling the people.”
Jesus “knew all men.” (John 2:24) He knew the hearts, the intents, the motives of men’s heart. He knew the evil of Herod’s heart and how he had an evil agenda, was politicking or maneuvering for his own self-serving, sinful benefit. Jesus knew the evil of Herod’s heart as He sees openly and knows the hearts of all men today and for all times (Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 23:24; Hebrews 4:13).
Jesus Knows What Is in Man
Joh 2:23 “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
Of this rebuke by the Son of God to Herod, John Wesley notes:
“And he said, Go and tell that fox – With great propriety so called, for his subtilty and cowardice. The meaning of our Lord’s answer is, Notwithstanding all that he can do, I shall for the short time I have left, do the works of him that sent me. When that time is fulfilled, I shall be offered up. Yet not here, but in the bloody city. Behold, I cast out devils – With what majesty does he speak to his enemies! With what tenderness to his friends! The third day I am perfected – On the third day he left Galilee, and set out for Jerusalem, to die there. But let us carefully distinguish between those things wherein Christ is our pattern, and those which were peculiar to his office. His extraordinary office justified him in using that severity of language, when speaking of wicked princes, and corrupt teachers, to which we have no call; and by which we should only bring scandal on religion, and ruin on ourselves, while we irritated rather than convinced or reformed those whom we so indecently rebuked.”
It is this disciple’s opinion that while conformed to Christ’s image, Jesus can speak through His people and He will and does today (Hebrews 13:8). If we are in the cross – crucified with Christ, conformed to His holy image – we are raised up and led of the Spirit, and at times, calling people what they have chosen to be will issue forth from out mouths (Romans 8:11, 14). Is Christ not in us? (Colossians 1:27) If Christ is in us, can He not speak in and therefore through us? Yes.
“Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:21-24
Persecution Will Come
When He identified Himself for who He was, Jesus was attacked, persecuted, and hated by those who chose to be His enemies. This was due to the things He SAID. In John we see many instances of this. Here’s a sampling:
“Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? … 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” John 10:48-53, 58-59
“Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” John 10:36
Have you noticed in Scripture and in real life experience, that most persecution comes from profession Christians? Was it not the religious leaders, the Jewish leaders, who were persecuting our LORD in the passages above?
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” Matthew 10:15-20
The LORD, the Holy Ghost, speaks in and through His people.
Speaking of being brought before secular, civil magistrates…. For a few years, I stood before a certain woman, a judge who while claiming to be a Christian, manifested deep injustice (Isaiah 10:1-3). The LORD had me speak – or should I say – spoke in me to her that she would be standing before Him to be judged. He was mercifully warning her. It was tenderly spoken in such a soft tone that she had to ask me to speak up because she couldn’t hear. One of the verses the LORD quickened was:
“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?” Isaiah 10:1-3
Not only are these words in the court documents, they, like all words, are recorded in Heaven (Matthew 12:33-37). The backlash for daring to speak God in that courtroom was horrific in human terms and yet “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:28-29)
A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit
“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37
Regrettably, this woman/judge refused to hearken. It seemed apparent that she’d never been spoke to like that. The LORD was trying to get her to repent before it was too late. Yet, the light of truth only angered her further as she was turned against Christ and therefore me. Sadly, soon after, in 2016, this lady passed away having apparently never repented.
The weak, moral coward, counterfeit says “How dare you speak to someone like that! You are not the judge!”
The righteous view this through kingdom eyes – that God was seeking to show His mercy due to not being willing that ANY should perish. So, He was using one of His servants to send a lifeline!
“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? 17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.” Psalms 94:16-17
In the above passage, please note that it’s interesting to see how the psalmist here speaks of the LORD being His strength and if He weren’t, the psalmist would have kept silent when it was time to speak. He makes it clear that it was the LORD who prevented him from sitting in silence when words needed to be spoken.
There are at least two benefits to God’s glory for this:
- To warn others about such a person, to protect them (Colossians 2:4, 8; 2 Peter 3:17; Revelation 3:11, etc.).
- To bring conviction to the person cited for who they are, in this case, sinful.
Summation
Certainly there is liberty for individual believers to exercise in this matter.
To appropriately affix a term or wording identifying the evil of men’s hearts, is not a sin in an of itself, although such should only be done under the influence and leadership of the Holy Spirit – which will not prevail in our lives outside of a crucified existence (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:13-14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.).
“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29
If we are not truly crucified with Christ, we should not rebuke another. If we do such in the flesh, it is coming from our own malice and strife ……
Prayer: Holy Father, in the name of my LORD, Savior, and Master Jesus, please circumcise my heart. Purge and purify to the innermost core of my being as only You can do. I here and now cry with Thy servant David for You to search, know, try, and purge me. Then, out of this mouth shall flow only Your words and with Your emotion, in any given instance. I love You Jesus. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Abiding
Walking in Godly Integrity Means Paying Restitution Where Needed [podcast]
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” Acts 24:16
Truth: The LORD is watching everything you think and do and will bring you into judgment for it all – all (Proverbs 15:3; 20:11; 23:7; Mark 12:41-44; Romans 14:10, etc.). What’s your judgment going to look like?
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
Jesus taught that only the “honest” will be with Him (Luke 8:15). The dishonest, “ALL … liars” will perish irrevocably in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Those who’ve brought harm to others and have the opportunity to restore what they took (financially, emotionally, etc.) prove who they are by what they do or do not do. Those who take personal responsibility for the harm they brought on another, will be blessed. Those who don’t will be shut out, “cut off” from God (Romans 11:20-22).
“Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,” 2 Corinthians 6:3-4
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Godly Integrity owns up to its personal responsibility to make amends where we have caused hurt. Restitution. A man of godly integrity never runs from his personal responsibility to repair and restore where he has brought harm – with his words, attitudes, or actions. This is exactly what happens when a man truly repents and gives his life to Christ. Zacchaeus is a great example to us of this. Like Zacchaeus, when we truly repent, there will always be good fruit, amends for our wrongdoing. Watch this closely. Watch what this man does after getting right with God:
Luke 19
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 (the call and command) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 (obedience) And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. (that’s exactly why Jesus came!)
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (true repentance always brings for the fruit of restitution Matthew 3:7-10)
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
As we see in this case with Zacchaeus when he repented, turning to Jesus the Savior, true repentance always brings for the fruit of restitution. See Matthew 3:7-10.
Zacchaeus is a great example. When, if that true repentance happens in his heart, if the sinner, the transgressor allows it, there will be a practical restitution to those he’s harmed by his sin. Soon as he repented he wanted to pay restitution to those he’d harmed.
“Verse 8 is one of the strongest in the Bible on restitution. Salvation does not relieve a person from righting the wrongs of the past. Debts contracted during one’s unconverted days are not canceled by the new birth. And if money was stolen before salvation, then a true sense of the grace of God requires that this money be repaid after a person has become a child of God.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
There’s no such thing as a person who is right with God and not making restitution for those he’s hurt.
INTEGRITY: If you owe someone $1,000 and can’t pay it all at once, show integrity and send them $ every month or week till you’ve paid them off. If you don’t, you show yourself to be a man who is without integrity (Proverbs 20:7). Soon as you begin paying back, you demonstrate the earnest of your integrity.
Jesus teaches us that we are wasting our time attempting to relate to or pray to the Father in His name if we have issues that need to be clear up with another.
God will not answer the prayer of any person who does not honor and obey His Word and if a person has an outstanding offense He wants them to clear up these matters (Proverbs 28:9, 13).
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
God is not going to bless our lives unless we are willing to sincerely admit our sins, repent and confess them, and make amends (restitution) with anyone we’ve harmed. In the divine economy, there’s no such thing as being right with God when you’ve done another person wrong, haven’t repented, and haven’t made amends for what you’ve done. Such a person will be outside of the will and blessings of God until he makes things right with God and man.
The LORD requires that His people “examine” and “judge” themselves.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine and honest judge yourself and amend your ways or God will judge you.
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
More Bible Verses on Restitution
Read Exodus 22:1-31
“If a thief be found breaking up (stealing in a burglary, home invasion), and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” Exodus 22:2-3
“Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; 7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.” Numbers 5:6-7
“And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Genesis 9:5-6
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What Church is Jesus Coming Back for? [podcast]
ETERNAL SECURITY DEATH NAIL. CASE CLOSED!
Are you personally, intimately familiar with the words of Holy Scripture found in Ephesians 5:25-27?
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:21-27
Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but one that is “holy and without blemish.” So this speaks of those who were His and yet presently have spotted garments, sin they haven’t repented of (Ephesians 5:25-27).
“Be ye holy”
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
“NO MAN shall see the Lord” without “holiness”
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14
Regrettably, most preachers today are so busy making excuse for sin that they refuse to disclose this preeminent, self-evident New Testament truth.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” 2 Peter 3:10-12
As this fallen world system and its inhabitants spiral unalterably downward in darkness and disarray, it becomes even more essential for the wise virgin saint to be anchored in the LORD in private prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and Bible reading. No man shall withstand the darkness of this late hour who is not seeking the LORD diligently, daily, relentlessly – demonstrating perpetually that they love the LORD supremely more than self or any other (Matthew 24:10-13, 22). Memorize 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 57:7; 63:8.
IF he’s not hastening you to the holiness of God, he’s playing you for your allegiance to him, and perhaps your money! are you a gullible pawn? Read 2 Peter 2 and 3.
SO, the sinful seminarian wolf you call your “pastor” isn’t preaching the return of Christ, the cross, the necessity of personal holiness, hell, the essential of repentance, or Christ, the Messiah….. and you still sit under that darkness? Repent.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 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; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
SO MANY have more faith, more confidence in SIN than they do in the SAVIOR who came and died to make us free from ALL SIN! That’s a cross-less false gospel! Just as Jude foretold, these deceivers – “ungodly men” – cover their sins with a false grace message (Jude 3-4). With no exception, the saving grace of God – IFFFF you really have it – delivers you from sin and never justifies you in sin! Time to repent and be changed today! …. These grace abusing tares want to relish a false grace message that erroneously says that God is going to save them IN their sin but the Bible says Jesus came to save us “FROM” our sin – not in our sins (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Titus 2:11-4, etc.). SO, God’s grace isn’t sufficient to deliver you from sin? If you believe that you don’t know Him.
Some among us are so enthralled in listening to modern end times teachers as they seek to figure everything out, that they are not abiding in Christ. These are among the foolish virgins.
ARE YOU spending more time engrossed in some supposed end times scenario than you are obeying God by doing the Great Commission mandate? If so, you are not ready to meet Jesus and in big trouble. Isn’t it time to let God be God and to get about the Father’s business?
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“Thou hast been in Eden the Garden of God.” ~ Ezekiel 28:13 [podcast]
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
THE INTRUDERS—THE RESTORATION
“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God.” ~ Ezekiel 28:13
The evil one had been thrust down from Heaven to the earth for the iniquity found in him (Ezek. 28:15; Lk. 10:18). This evil foe, who had been ejected by God from Heaven’s pristine and perfect premises, was cast down to the earth and allowed in the sanctuary of the Garden of Eden, because God gives men a choice to serve—or to not serve Him. He created in mankind the gift of free will. Temptation is ultimately the test as to whom the individual will love and serve. “For the LORD your God proveth (tests) you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 13:3).
The serpent slithered among the lush embellishments of the Garden of Eden. His goal was the fall of the first man and woman who were created in the image of the One who made all things. Satan obviously schemed and strategized as to what weapon to employ in order to accomplish his main objective—to cause the first man and woman to fall from grace by sinning, and consequently, be alienated from the LORD. This enemy of souls knew from personal experience that the Almighty keeps His Word and casts down those who disobey Him. To this point, Adam and Eve knew only righteousness. They did not yet realize what the evil one knew and had already been the recipient of – that is, the judgment of God for his sin. A hard lesson lay ahead of Adam and Eve, and a fallen creation would be left in the wake of their defiance of the holy LORD and His righteous command – not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17).
The enemy of all souls has not changed. His temptations are “common to man” (1 Cor. 10:13). Satan’s goal was, and is, to interrupt and destroy the relationship between his enemy, God, and His special creation—man. Jesus informed us that the ultimate “thief” has come to “steal, to kill and to destroy” (Jn. 10:10). This same goal—the fall of man—is still his aim and will be until the LORD Himself puts him away for good (Rev. 20:10).
From the Garden to the modern pulpit, the enemy has lied to mankind. Satan and his false teachers are the intruders—the very enemies of the Almighty. The serpent has slithered through the garden path of history, seductively spreading his poisonous seed, causing the fall of many and now possesses the thoughts and doctrines of an army of deceived men in ministry.
Ever since the Garden, the lie of the ages dwells among men, especially in the sanctuary where the LORD is supposed to be reigning—the Church world. As in the Garden of creation, so the enemy specifically concentrates on the sanctuary of his enemy’s people. He seeks to molest purity, beguiling those who are unlearned. Many times, he uses the body of Christ’s own leaders.
Today, the pulpits and platforms of modern media are the places that most people simply do not suspect to be the mediums where falsehoods thrive, reside, and flow. They do not see the serpent lurking among the trees in the garden of modern “Christian” pulpits, organizations, and media. Most are not aware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing who, like the lurking serpent in the garden, “lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14).
As foretold by the prophet Amos, the enemy of souls seeks to alter and remove the Word of God from the hearing of God’s people (Amos 8:11). This is what he did in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:17; 3:4). Today this same enemy uses the most subtle messengers—the ones many people look to for truth. The Holy Spirit forewarned us that in these last of days men would not remain in the truth but rather that “some shall depart from the faith” and that “many” would “corrupt the word of God” (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 2:17): “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
It simply doesn’t matter if a leader realizes he is teaching heresy or not. If he is teaching anything other than the Word, he is a detractor from the glory of God and leading others astray. Men of God are to “preach the word” and speak only “as the oracles (words) of God” (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 4:11). This is a non-negotiable command to all who would accurately represent the LORD. No matter the reasoning, one will be found a deceiver on Judgment Day if he preaches any other message than the Word of God (Isa. 8:20). One can be sincere and sincerely wrong at the same time (Prov. 14:12). “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).
The holy and almighty God told us that He is going to judge all men according to His Word (Jn. 12:48; Rom. 2:16; Rev. 20:11-15).
From the very beginning (Garden of Creation), the beguiler’s target has been God’s people. Nothing has changed. His message to men is simple— “You don’t have to worry about obedience, it’s optional, you can live the way you choose and still remain in the grace of God.”
Through those men he uses today, the enemy mixes in some truth with this deadly lie of lasciviousness and poisons the whole pond, leading many astray into a false gospel and false security. Perhaps it has been wisely stated that “Satan will give you a million pounds of truth to blind you with that one ounce of a deadly lie which will kill you.” In order to bring in a lie among God’s people, the enemy likes to lead with truth as his smokescreen in order to bring in that deadly distortion behind the cover of truth. See Matthew 16:6-12 and 1 Corinthians 5:6. “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Gal. 5:9).
Why should we be surprised that this ultimate enemy still uses the most “subtle” and unsuspected methods and personalities to communicate his deadly message to God’s people? After all, his message still works to cause unsuspecting men to fall out of fellowship with God. Why should we wonder why the evil one still utilizes the same lie that claimed the first man and woman? Has this message not captured untold scores of souls since then? Are we so blindly naïve as to believe that there is no evil or devil? Why should we be surprised to realize that this same evil enemy of souls is ceaselessly in the midst of our garden today, telling this same lie by adding to the Word of the Maker?
God said “Thou shalt surely die,” and Satan countered with “Ye shall not surely die.”
Are pulpits more sacred than the very Garden of Eden? Obviously not. There was no sin in the Garden until Satan introduced the lie of the ages, and the man and woman bought it. In the very cradle of creation, the enemy of God initiated and launched the lie that would fatally wound mankind, claiming the souls of millions throughout the centuries. This exact same deadly lie was picked up, incorporated, and perpetuated by early century church fathers, so-called theologians, whose heresy-laced writings and commentaries regrettably hold great prominence among many evangelicals today—even though they have no reconciliation with the Counsel of God, which will be demonstrated throughout this book.
The Bible enlightens us to the reality that Satan is a strategist and has schemes of which believers are instructed not to be ignorant (2 Cor. 2:11; 1 Pet. 5:8). We are in a war, and like any good war general and his staff, we are to study and know the nature, weapons, and ways of our enemy.
The apostle Paul informed us that Satan’s methods are the same today as they were from the start—in the Garden.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
In this same text, the LORD told us that He makes a way to escape the re-used lies of the enemy and his temptations.
As can be clearly seen in Genesis, “once saved always saved” is not a new doctrine, and it’s also not the LORD’s doctrine. “Once saved always saved” is clearly the lie that caused the fall of man. This is the doctrine of the arch enemy of the Almighty. As in the very beginning, the unholy serpent himself is still creeping into the homes and gathering places of believers today and utilizing the same lie to mislead people and cause their fall from grace. The chief wolf who has come “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” seeks to devour souls for his kingdom and from the Chief Shepherd, who is “come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10; Heb. 13:20). Beware! “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).
The first lie led to the fall of the first man and woman and is leading to the fall of masses of people today. Millions in our day are being taught that they are unconditionally eternally secure—in the absence of the truth about the holiness of the God they will stand before in judgment, and His demand that we be made holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16).
The pulpits of America have been hi-jacked by men who have “crept in unawares” who are teaching a doctrine originated by the enemy of all souls and calling it “Christian.” This is paramount to using the name of the LORD in vain, by attaching His holy name to a teaching of his arch enemy.
Tracing the Lie
The adversary attacked God through His own creation—the Garden, the fruit, the serpent, the woman, and the man.
Does it intrigue you to uncover the very first lie told by the one Christ warned us of who is the father of all lies? Of Satan, Jesus said: “for he is a liar, and the father of it” (Jn. 8:44).
One three-letter word— “not”—changed the course of history! Satan told the woman “Ye shall not surely die,” after their Maker had told them that they would “surely die” in the day they disobeyed Him (Gen. 2:17; 3:4).
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” ~ Genesis 3:4-5
This first and poisonous falsehood, the lie of the ages, is still today the same deadly venom being injected by the evil one in the battle that rages for the eternal souls of men. The serpent infused the first man and woman with this venomous and paralyzing deception, robbing from their hearts the fear of the LORD, which led to their fall from grace. Consequently, a separation was incurred between a holy Maker and His creation with a catastrophic curse which fell.
This unconditional eternal security—without condition to the recipient—is the very FIRST LIE the devil ever told to mankind. “Once saved always saved” (OSAS) is one of the modern labels of the renamed, or repackaged, lie of the ages. In this deception in the Garden, as well as in our day, Satan craftily convinces people that they have irrevocable “security” and “assurance,” no matter what their actions against the clear command/Word of God.
The message of eternal security without condition to the recipient is that once one has been born again, he has no responsibility to continue to faithfully obey the Almighty—the One who saved him. Those who sit under this teaching are told that once they have been brought into fellowship with Him in His garden of salvation through Christ, they can never “die” or be separated from Him again, even if they blatantly rebel. This lie teaches that the person who Christ has saved can then choose to live as he wishes with no fear of consequence or righteous retribution from the One who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). This is the very lie that Satan gave Adam and Eve which led to their fall into sin and separation from the LORD.
Can you see why it is a big score for the enemy of souls when people are told by their misled leaders that they are “once saved always saved”—no matter what they choose to do, including revolt completely against the Most High and go back to the life of sin?
In the sanctity of the Garden, where there was no suspicion, Satan intruded. Today, in the sanctuary of the pulpits and various Christian media, his emissaries are intruding where few suspect. He prospers because so many believe that their leaders are guiding them correctly, and yet do not know and obey the Word of God for themselves. Only those who learn the way of the LORD through His Word can know and see the enemy’s work. Those who do not have a life in the Word will fall prey to deception and ultimately be destroyed (Hos. 4:6; Matt. 22:29). Discernment comes from being personally exercised in the Word of God (Heb. 5:11-14).
The New Garden—Restored Holy Bliss
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” ~ Isaiah 9:6-7
The Genesis account of creation and the relationship between the LORD and the first man and woman, is an ongoing saga to continue until the hour of Christ’s return, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. We are given this record (the Bible) in order to know the LORD and how He deals with men, and who He blesses and who He curses.
From the Garden to the Holy City—Genesis to Revelation, the war over the souls of men rages. The enemy seeks to reclaim those redeemed by the blood of the One who is the seed of woman (Gen. 3:15). What better way to undertake such an evil mission than to use those shepherds at the very helm of the visible church?
God’s account of man’s creation and fall is not left without a solution from the only One who can remedy his alienation. Holy Writ opens with the creation and fall of mankind and the promised prophetic restoration through the Messiah of all who will come to Him, as He justly prescribed (Gen. 3:15). The book of all Books ends with a warning to all of us concerning making the very same error Adam and Eve made when they bought into the distortion of His holy words, and thereby fell, joining forces with His archenemy.
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” ~ Revelation 22:12-21
In these final words of Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ tells us that He is coming quickly to reward all according to each person’s works. He says to us that those who keep and do His Word will receive blessings and “have right to the tree of life” in the restored “holy city” of God. Outside this blessedness will be all who have lived in and justified their sins—no matter what their previous relationship with Him might have been. Then, in the very final words of Holy Writ, there is the warning of adding to or taking from His words. This adding to or removing of truth is done first internally, in the hearts of those who do not genuinely love the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Those who love darkness rather than His holy light do not wish to come clean under the light of divine truth (Jn. 3:18-21; 2 Tim. 4:3-4).
This war for the souls of men spans from Genesis to Revelation, and the words of God are pivotal in this most crucial and consequential of battles. Those who play into the enemy’s scheme to “add unto” or “take away” from God’s words of instruction will be removed from the book of life, cut out of the holy city, and from all eternal blessings. The lake of fire waits.
PRAYER: LORD Jesus, please purify my heart and remove all dissimulation and mixture from me. Rid my life of all secret faults and presumptuous sins! Father, please grant me the blessing of knowing You in truth and living in Your holy light and will. Jesus, please preserve my eternal soul until the day of Your soon return. Amen.
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
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