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Defeating Our Adversary part 1
By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved
A Spiritual Competition requires skill
A Spiritual Competition
With the movie Hocus Pocus 2 out in 2022 and Halloween coming soon, leaving aside the goof and fun-funny-let’s make evil a good thing or good things evil (at least ridiculous or non-existent), let’s get serious. Let’s talk about things pertaining to the spirit realm and specifically, ‘Dealing with Our Adversary.’
Before beginning, I would briefly like to write about what within this series are NOT my intentions and give an overview of what IS.
- it is not some joke, fiction or funny
- it is not to be afraid of
- it is to present information, which God wants us to know and to apply this — boldly, fearlessly, and victoriously
I sort of hesitated in working this material and whether or not I should write and post it. A big consideration was my motivation. Would this be to get back at someone I know or suffice it to say I knew, back in high school, for recently unfriending me and blocking me on FaceBook?
Unfriending is no big deal, but blocking, they cannot see what I post nor can I view what they post. I guess that is only important if we want to know what others are posting about us and how our friends/family/associates are responding to what they post?
I had tried to be nice to this person for quite some time, being non-confrontational and trying to stay non-political. I truly tried to not saying (writing anything), unless I had something positive to communicate. For the most part, this was all one-sided. Even though they disdained many things that I believe in (including Christianity), they were hypocritical in using the very subjects they held in denial, to harshly judge anyone that believe differently than they do. Even though it is not entirely a joke, in my mind, I started to refer to this person as a modern day, ‘Witch of Endor’ , which in part is, included in this series. Her science, skill set and degrees she may tout and the world may accept as special or even normal (Okey—Dokey’), but God in His Word, does not! I will address this association with this person, later in this series. But no, this research, my writing and this post is not to get back at my former, so-called friend, but they were a trigger for it.
Trigger? Yes, my used-to-be friend was a trigger for this subject, ‘Dealing with Our Adversary’. If you are a Christian or not, we all have the same adversary and this adversary may even operate with or behind the scenes, manipulating those we are familiar with or what Job called his own friends and family— “miserable comforters.” Job 16:2 Sincerity is never any guarantee for the truth. And there is no excuse for the deer-in-the-headlights look as a defense either.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
I Peter 5:8 King James Version (KJV)
Yes, our adversary is personal “your [and my] adversary”. Like a lion roars to instill fear into its intended victim and make it unmovable, before the lion attacks and devours them, our “adversary” seeks to instill fear in us. And if that is not possible, at least to deceive us.
“…if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
Matthew 24:24b KJV
Let us study to show ourselves approved towards God (II Timothy 2:15), so that we are not deceived!
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:11 KJV
The Greek word panoplian πανοπλίαν is translated (whole armor) is, “with complete armor.” But the word can also be translated as “instruments.” I know what you and I have been taught and from likely, good intentioned and sincere people, who in turn are just teaching what they were taught. But the idea that you, anyone or myself is a soldier of the Lord or for the Lord and that we must do battle and are in a war, a spiritual war is, incorrect! All I can write for NO is— look up the words “athlete” and athletics from the Greek and find every place the words are used in the New Testament of the Bible!
Based on warfare, the ‘games’ were made to keep the military in top physical condition during peace time. There were many events.
Historically, the ancient Greek empire at one time, had defeated its known enemies and had relative peace. Wisely, their military was kept in top physical form, just in case they were needed to do battle against some up-and-coming or future enemy. To do this, the Olympic Games were invented. The ancient Romans had their “games” as well. The world still follows this tradition, normally every four years.
Jesus Christ came and fulfilled all the law. He did battle for us and won the victory for us.
“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
Ephesians 4:8 KJV
In another part of this series, we will look into Ephesians 4:8 above and Ephesians 6:11 (the amour of God), in more depth. But for now, we need to understand that we are neither in a war (spiritual war between good and evil), nor are we soldiers.
We are in a competition, not a war. But yes, even a competition can be real and dangerous and fatal. All the biblical imagery, if using military weaponry – a shield , sword (javelin), and wrestling (for hand to hand combat), and etc. is that of a competition, rather than war.
The ancient Olympics pentathlon, is a contest featuring five events. The name is derived from Greek: combining the words pente (five) and –athlon (competition) (Greek: πένταθλον). The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the ancient Olympic Games. Five events were contested over one day for the ancient Olympic pentathlon, starting with the long jump, javelin throwing, and discus throwing (see David and his five stones), followed by the stadion (a short foot race) and wrestling. Pentathletes or those in a decathlon, were considered to be among the most skilled athletes, and their training was often part of military service—each of the five events in the pentathlon was thought to be useful in war or battle. There were other events as well.
The prizes they sought were crowns of laurel leaves given them by some royal or emperor. The origin is ancient Greece with a grievance between Eros (Cupid to the Romans), and Apollo. Cupid sought to punish Apollo for making fun of him, so he made Apollo to become infatuated with a young female nymph named Dahne. Apollo pursued her repeatedly and violently and Dahne repeatedly repelled his advances. Finally, she begged her father, a river god for help and he transformed his daughter into the laurel tree. Daphne avoided Apollo in her human form, but she could not escape becoming his sacred property. The laurel leaves were considered to have medicinal and healing qualities. Some believe oracles chewed the laurel leaves for their hallucinogenic properties so that they could supposedly prophecy from the gods. So, the laurel crown has long been connected with the Olympics and great honor.
The prizes we seek are seven crowns in the Bible and from God. These are available to all athletes of the spirit. I bring these up because, the adversary does not want us to know that Jesus Christ has already obtained the victory for us. Our adversary wants us to think we are in a war with him together and especially to get us off alone to fight. We contend legally. We are not in a war as soldiers. We are not on a battlefield. We are in a stadium. We are athletes of the spirit.
The ancient crowns were fashioned from real leaves of the laurel tree. The word “laureate” comes from “laurel”. = A great honor in both the Greek and Roman games.
Our subject here will move towards a further view to, charming, “familiar” or lying spirits as they are called. These are all, the same type of devil spirits. Even attempts at taming spirits in calling them disembodied souls (ghosts), or demons, does not lesson their potential harm or evil.
Our subject is dark and deep, but it is necessary for each Christian to know, understand and apply these biblical truths, as are many others!
There are seven things in the Bible, God’s Word that God does not want His people ignorant of. The following is one of these seven.
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
II Corinthians 2:11 King James Version (KJV)
If God does not want us ignorant, then He wants us smart or to be intelligent, so our adversary (your’s and mine), can neither instill fear in us nor deceive us!
Before moving on, I should also clear the air. If I am to be writing here and you are reading here about the devil, Lucifer, Satan, witches and stuff like this, unless you are a Christian you will neither believe it, nor understand it. It is just the way it is. Why?
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
I Corinthians 2:14 KJV
The “natural man” [or woman or child] has body and soul, but no spirit of God the Father and the creator of the universe. Therefore, the subject we are dealing with here is spiritual and can only be spiritually discerned (understood).
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
John 10:10 shows the purposes of both our adversary (“the thief”), and of Jesus Christ. The word “life” is the Greek word zoa and means, “life in all of it’s manifestations” (physically, mentally, spiritually, and etc.)
“The thief,” Lucifer, Satan and other names are just a few of our adversary’s names and he is a liar and the father of the lie (lies, lying). In John chapter eight, Jesus Christ was speaking with members of the supposed spiritual leadership of Israel—
“Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. “
John 8: 43,44 KJV
As a thief (“the thief” from John 10:10), our adversary uses stealth in secret, and secrecy is how he moves or is his method, of operation. One of if not the earliest known reference of some behind-the-scenes enemy was by Job, thousands of years ago, even before the New Testament.
“Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me,
and that mine adversary had written a book.”
Job 31.35
Job thought it good if his adversary would have written a book as to how he operates. Jesus Christ had to expose the hidden secrets of our adversary so that we can know how he operates. It is always with a lie to deceive. He will kill if possible and he will destroy whenever it is available. The greater the false or fake imitates the true and real, the greater the deception.
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
II Corinthians 11:14 KJV
Lucifer was an archangel along with Michael and Gabriel. God was the creator and like the architect for the universe, but Lucifer was like the builder. He believed he should have had more credit.
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
Isaiah 14: 12-14 KJV
The word “Lucifer” in the verse above is only found in the 1611 version of the King James Bible. “Lucifer” is a Latin word. Some scholars may want to dispute the entity of Lucifer, his association with a King of Babylon, or that he even exists. But the secret to his success is the secrecy of his moves. Jesus Christ exposed his methods that only thousands of years ago, the best that Job could sense was that he had an enemy and if his enemy, had only written a book, it would have been so very helpful to Job, to know who and what was behind the repeated attacks on his life and all that was his.
Lucifer was also once associated with the ‘morning star’, the ‘daystar’ ‘the star of dawn’, the bright and morning star’ or what we refer to as, the planet Venus. But when Jesus Christ fulfilled all the law, was resurrected and ascended up through the “heavens” and sat down (completeness), on the right hand of God, he legally acquired and became, “the bright and morning star.”
Because of the above, there was a war in Heaven, Lucifer was cast out and he drew a 1/3 of the host of heaven with him and it was to earth, where he (Lucifer), legally became the “god of this world” when he deceived Adam and Eve and their authority was wrongfully, but legally acquired by him.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Revelation 12:7-9 KJV
It does not matter if people believe in the devil, Satan, Lucifer, the Thief, the Dragon or whatever name of his is named. As long as the true God is not worshipped, directly, indirectly and accurately, our adversary is then worshipped as a god. What God conferred upon Adam and Eve, they transferred to Lucifer through disobedience to God, and Lucifer legally, became the god of this world.
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
II Corinthians 4:4 KJV
This spirit being could be depicted as horrific, terrible and cause fear as a lion roars. He could be shown as a red being with horns, a forked tongue and a long red spiked tail, red flaming eyes and razor sharp claws on his hands and feet and piercing teeth with flames all around him. He could also, be shown as a beautiful being full of light.
Paint with Flames
Paint with Light
Either way, his true nature is concealed and countless people are deceived, especially since no one can see spirit!
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:24 KJV
“Spirit” – Greek word pneuma means: “spirit,” “breath” or “wind” Spirit has no form or comeliness for that matter. Just because it cannot be seen does not mean it cannot manifest itself, come into some form of concretion, make itself known or that we cannot detect it’s presence (effects-actions), like the wind blowing the leaves in fall and etc.
I just want to make this clear, perfectly clear. If you or anyone, the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope in Rome, any religion or head (and I do mean anyone), if you think you can use science and wit as a “ghost buster”, holy water, silver bullets, amulets, curses, crosses, reverse-curses, tea leaves, astrology, a medium and some form of magic to rid you and others of evil-devil spirits and their influence, you would be wrong and foolish to even try. And you don’t need to keep repeating something like we “adjure you in the name of…” (some name), to come out, as if it’s all about numbers (repetition), with devil spirits. And it is not out of boredom (from repeated bunk). They are not going to release their hold freely. And one final thing— whereas stories, books. plays, movies, musicals and all forms of spooky-entertainment, may seek to frighten, to be sure, evil spirits (yes even multiple spirits), are more afraid of just one child of God. Just one child of God who know who they are and stand upon the integrity and accuracy of God’s rightly divided word, can freak out and cast out multiple devil spirits. see II Timothy 2:15 and…
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
I John 4:4 KJV
In Part II we will see by what authority and power we have to contend with, the god of this world.
Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…
…a witness!
Dahni
Pentecost 