Christian Living

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The Conflict That Most People Are Unaware Of


●HOW DID THE DEVIL COERCE EVE TO DISOBEY GOD?
●HOW DOES THE DEVIL BLIND THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS FROM RESPONDING TO THE GOSPEL?

HOW DID THE DEVIL COERCE EVE TO DISOBEY GOD?

The devil has fallen. His coup against the almighty God had failed. His only recourse is to somehow coerce and convince those new creations of God called humans to disobey Him so that they would become like him, fallen and alienated from God.

Is it possible that the devil was made aware that he along with his fallen angels had been sentenced in the future to a place called the lake of fire?

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:41

Is it also possible that he reasoned if he could coerce Adam and Eve to enter into human perception then God wouldn’t send all of human creation to this place of torment thus cancelling his sentence to the lake of fire?

Let’s go to the Book of Genesis and read about the devil’s deceitfulness of persuasion.

Now The Serpent Was More Subtil
Suggested Reading: Gen 2:8-25; Gen 3:1-24
Adam, whose name means red, was the first man whom God created. He was created out of the dust of the earth, and hence his name. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and gave him dominion over all the lower creatures. The place where he would ultimately reside would be called the Garden of Eden. While there he would “dress” (preparing and enriching the soil, and in distributing the seeds and training the shoots in the way most favorable for the full development of the plant, and especially of its seed or fruits16) it and “keep” (guard or protect) it. This geographical area had many plants, flowers, trees, and animals in it.

Was the idea to “keep” (protect) the garden related to keeping the animals out or was this idea related to a spiritual adversary?

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:15

Adam was asked by God to give names to all of the animals in the garden. He was provided with a helper named Eve, who was formed from one of his ribs.
God gave them one prohibition, that’s it. It’s interesting to think that there were no other prohibitions, but only one. Surely the both of them would have no problem obeying this one command. God told Adam that of all of the trees there was only one of which he could not eat the fruit thereof, that being of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Furthermore, if he ate of this tree, then he would die. The word “die” means dying thou shalt die. It speaks of a double death. Thou shalt not only die spiritually, by losing the life of God, but from that moment thou shalt become mortal, and shalt continue in a dying state till thou die17.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:16-17

Do I think that Adam fully understood the consequences for eating of this tree?

I think he did. I don’t believe that God would instruct him to not do something without informing him in a clear and concise manner as to what the consequences would be.

What would it mean to lose the life of God? It would mean that Adam would live a life that was devoid of God’s perception.
Another word he would become self-directed self-centered. Everything would be about him. He didn’t know what this would be like, but would he really want to find out?
What would it mean to die physically? Again, he didn’t know what this would be like. Would he want to take a chance and forfeit the continuum of his life in the Garden of Eden?

The next thing we know is that there is a serpent talking to Eve. There was nothing said by her in response such as, how are you able to talk? Maybe it was because it really wasn’t a snake at all, but simply a description of the creature known as the devil. We know that in the book of 1 Peter he is called a lion and in the book of Revelation he is called a dragon.
If indeed this was the devil in his splendor as a cherub, why didn’t she say to him, who are you, I have never seen you before? Could it be that she had seen him before in the garden having talked to him on other occasions?

This serpent is described as being more subtle (an intent to deceive) than any beast of the field. He brings up in conversation the prohibition that was given to Adam and Eve by God to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eve’s reply to him intimated that she was aware of this prohibition. The devil says to her that what God had said about you dying if you eat of this particular tree is not true.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Genesis 3:4

He tells her that what will happen is actually the opposite of death, in that her eyes will be “opened” (having attained higher wisdom). And then he continues to pour on the deception. He says that God knows that when you enter into this state of higher wisdom you will have become “as gods” (as divinity, as God), knowing good and evil (implying a fullness and accuracy of understanding such as was competent only to Elohim18). While it’s probably true that God is aware of human perception, he never engaged in it, because its inherent nature is evil. What Eve seemingly didn’t realize was that the state of perception that she and Adam were already abiding in was the state of higher wisdom that the devil was telling her that God was keeping from her.

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 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 3:1,5

The devil wanted Eve and Adam to forfeit their spiritual connection with God, as he had done, and live a life that is separated from any kind of divine influence. So Eve decided to eat of this fruit. After which she gave it to her husband, who also did eat. All of a sudden their perception had changed from being God-directed God conscious to being self-directed self-conscious. Immediately they discovered that they were “naked” (with the destruction of the normal connection between soul and body through sin, the body ceased to be the pure abode of a spirit in fellowship with God19).
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Genesis 3:6-7

Instead of Adam and Eve drawing closer to God or being as God having higher wisdom as insinuated by the devil they were now in a place where divine judgment was forthcoming. Life as they knew it would never be the same. Continuation of life in the Garden would be replaced with the termination of life outside of it. The relative easiness of the garden producing fruit would be replaced by the hard labor of planting and cultivating fruit outside of it. They were removed from the place of peace and God connectivity to a place of human contention and heartache.

Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. Genesis 3:23

This is the ultimate story of betrayal; someone who pretends to be your friend and seemingly has your best interests at heart, but who ultimately was plotting your spiritual and physical destruction behind your back.

This is what we have learned from this story about the devil’s insidious intentions toward those who are following the Lord.

●He attempts to convince them not to follow God’s directives, because by following what God says will cause them to be deprived of something that will actually benefit them.
●He attempts to convince them that there will be no consequences, if they choose not to follow God’s instructions.
●He attempts to convince them to make decisions that are based on the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
●He wants the occupation of their mind to not be centered on God’s word.
●He wants to take them out of the place of rest and peace in the soul.
●He wants to inhibit their spiritual connection with God.

Wow! Quite a story.

I think that the general idea or theme is this.
The devil promotes everything about self, period. He doesn’t see any value in anyone following God. He probably believes that he should be able to live the way he chooses without any consequence from God. Another word he probably concludes that he has free will, which he does, that allows him to think, speak, and act the way he chooses and that God in judging him by sentencing him to the lake of fire was being unfair.

I wonder how many people think this way. Live and let live for tomorrow might never come. If only life were that simple, but it isn’t.
Unfortunately there is a heaven, and there is a hell. There is a place where those who believe in God as he was revealed will abide forever. There is another place where those who don’t believe in God as he was revealed will abide forever.

What is the determining factor in order for someone to enter heaven?

Heaven, a place of holiness, can only receive those who are holy. How does a person become holy, by believing in God as he was revealed during a particular dispensation (period of time)?

In the Old Testament it was belief in Jehovah (Yahweh) as He revealed himself to mankind.
During the time when Christ lived on the earth it was belief in Him as the Messiah.
During the time following Christ’s ascension into heaven and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on his disciples on the Day of Pentecost, it was repenting to God the Father and believing in his son Christ who as God, came to earth in the form of a man having lived a sinless life, being condemned to death on the cross, paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world thus satisfying God the Father’s justice, providing forgiveness (wiping away their record), rose again after three days, and ascended into heaven as proof of the Father’s acceptance of his payment.

In the Garden of Eden man’s communion with God was lost. Following man’s banishment it has been God’s desire to see this communion be restored.

This is the conflict of the ages.

Why is the devil so persistent in inhibiting people from believing in God? What is in it for him, acquittal?
He wants his sentence to the lake of fire thrown out.

How does the devil blind mankind from repenting to God the Father and believing in his son Jesus Christ?

In the next chapter we will look at how he goes about trying to accomplish this.

HOW DOES THE DEVIL BLIND THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS FROM RESPONDING TO THE GOSPEL?

The devil has a strategy to make of no effect the gospel of Christ. He has to figure out how to distort the essence of the gospel, which is to repent of one’s sins to God the Father and believe in his son Jesus Christ, so that even when an unbeliever responds they won’t receive the Holy Spirit.

How does he do this?

Please go to 2 Cor 4.

The God Of This World Hath Blinded The Minds Of Them Which Believe Not
2 Cor 4:1-4
The apostle Paul is conveying to the Corinthian believers that the gospel ministry (the ministry by which the Holy Spirit acts on the hearts of people20), which they had received, was because of the mercy of God, and on account of such they fainted not (not to give into evil).
Therefore this gospel ministry serves as the basis for: their denial or renouncing of the hidden things of shame (disgraceful conduct and underhanded dealings); them not walking in craftiness (in a crafty manner of getting what one wants by deceiving people21); them nor handling the word of God deceitfully (not disguising part of what they believe so that they would become popular; not attacking prevalent and popular vices; not being more concerned about speaking ability than about correct content22) so that the explanation of those spiritual things as taught to them by the Holy Spirit, which are free from dishonesty, and art, and trick will be approved by the conscience of those who hear them.

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.

Paul continues to say that if the good news about Christ is concealed from view, then it is hid from those who are willfully blind, those who are fully under the power of sin; who have given up themselves to work wickedness23.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom (those who are lost) the god (the devil; as the being who is really being worshipped) of this world has blinded (by the systems of superstition and idolatry24) the minds (thoughts; mental perceptions) of those who are unbelievers.

4 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.

In these verses it appears that the devil does not intervene personally in blinding the minds of unbelievers, but uses the religious systems to do so. These systems are reflective of the devil’s spirit.

What are the characteristics of these religious systems that are reflective of the devil’s spirit?

●They support and encourage secret and shameful deeds.
●They provide teaching that shifts with the wind of popular opinion.
●They explain spiritual things in the words of man’s wisdom.
●They condone prevalent and popular vices.
●They approve appearance rather than correct content.

No wonder why God is not able to indwell unbelievers’ lives. They are so corrupted with false teachings that have affected their mental perception such that when the pure gospel is presented they consider it as being offensive, intrusive, discriminating, and adversarial to all that they have known from religion.
How else does the devil inhibit unbelievers from responding to the gospel?
Let’s go to the book of Ephesians.
In Time Past Ye Walked
Eph. 2:1-3; 1:17,20
Paul is praying for the Ephesian believers that God the Father would give them, based on the fact that their spirit is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, a moving by the Spirit in wisdom (an understanding of spiritual realities25) and revelation (the disclosing of spiritual truths) so that they would know Christ personally and intimately.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Eph. 1:17

He goes on to say that as God the Father raised Christ from the dead, seating him at his own right hand, so were they raised from the dead to be seated together with Christ.

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Eph. 1:20

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph 2:6

After which he decided to describe to them what their behavior was rooted in when they were unbelievers.
At that time in their life they ordered their behavior not only according to the customs or manners of this world (the system of evil … together with the purposes, pursuits, pleasures. and places where God is not wanted26), but also according to the prince (the ruler) of the power (the whole empire of evil spirits) of the air (the region between the sky and the earth), the spirit (the evil spirit), which is the ruling principle that influences the lives (their thinking and acting) of the children of disobedience (unbelievers; those who are unpersuadable).

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Eph 2;2

Like those who are unpersuadable their way of life way centered in the lusts (propensities; passionate longings) of the flesh (sin nature); performing the desires (wishes that come from the emotions) of the flesh (sin nature) and of the mind (reasoning processes; marked by the absence of any controlling regard to the will of God27), and because of such were by nature (by birth) the children of wrath (persons exposed to God’s displeasure).

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
These verses indicate that those who are unbelievers conduct their life according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air. Another word there is a spirit, that being the moral, or immoral atmosphere which at every moment of our lives we inhale, again inevitably to exhale28 that controls or influences us, which is that same spirit which characterizes the prince of the power of the air.

Here is another way that the devil inhibits unbelievers from responding to the gospel.
●By them being controlled or influenced by the moral or immoral atmosphere of this world.
Is there another mention in the scriptures of the devil inhibiting people from responding to the gospel?
Yes there is.
In this instance evidently one of Jesus own apostles apparently didn’t believe in him as the Messiah/savior. As a result he was susceptible to the influences of the evil one.
Let’s see what this was all about.
Then Entered Satan Into Judas
Suggested Reading: Luke 22:1-6
The chief priests and scribes are plotting as to how they might kill Jesus. At this time Satan enters Judas. Some believe that this doesn’t refer to demon possession, but rather is in regards to influencing his mind by filling it with an evil passion that coincides with his propensity or inclination for monetary gain.

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. Lk 22:3

All I could think of is that it sounds like the devil projected a thought or thoughts into Judas mind. Judas decided to act on these thoughts and go to the Jewish authorities in order to be an active participant in this sinister plot. It appears that when the plan is successfully carried out, then he would receive monetary compensation for his involvement.

A short time later Judas is in the company of Jesus with the other apostles attending the Feast of the Passover supper. This day and the subsequent supper were kept in remembrance of the Lord's passing over the houses of the Israelites when the first born of all the Egyptians were destroyed. On this occasion it says that Satan enters Judas again.
The Devil Having Now Put Into The Heart Of Judas
John 13:2-31
While celebrating the Passover supper, the account seems to confirm that Judas had already been influenced by the devil at an earlier occasion to betray Christ. The word “put into the heart” means to cast something into the heart. The inference is that there was some inclination of his mind, some natural propensity that the devil could tempt. Satan presents a projection of objects in alluring forms that are aligned with these corrupt inclinations which influences or excites the soul to sin.

2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

How would the devil know about Judas propensities?

I don’t believe that he can read peoples’ minds.
It’s possible that he or one of his angels observed Judas on a day to day basis and over time it became apparent by his speech and actions that he had a propensity in the area of monetary gain.

During the supper Jesus gives Judas the sop (the bread after it had been dipped in the common bowl). This was normally a sign of honor to the person who received it29. Right after this it says that Satan entered into him. From what we have read earlier this could mean that he entered his heart. Another word he impressed upon his heart a projection, in this case to complete his mission of betrayal and reap the monetary reward.

27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

What has just occurred is quite remarkable.

How does the devil (satan) impact unbelievers to betray or not believe in Christ?

●He infiltrates their minds with projections (thoughts) that are associated with a person’s propensities or inclinations of their sin nature.
●It can be assumed that he becomes aware of these propensities or inclinations through observation by himself and his evil forces. Together the projections and inclinations excite the soul to engage in sinful activities (e.g. betrayal, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc.) thus enslaving the unbeliever in addictive forms of behavior.

So what we can conclude is that an unbeliever, probably in many cases, unbeknownst to him/her, is engaged in a spiritual battle in which there are inside and outside forces that are trying to inhibit them from responding to the pure gospel message.

Let’s summarize as to what these inside and outside forces are.

The inside and outside forces that inhibit an unbeliever from responding to the pure gospel are:

A. Religious Systems
Whose characteristics are reflective of the devil’s spirit. These are they which:

●Support and encourage secret and shameful deeds.
●Provide teaching that shifts with the wind of popular opinion.
●Explain spiritual things in the words of man’s wisdom.
●Condone prevalent and popular vices.
●Give more approval to outward appearance rather than correct content.

B. The World System
That evidences a ruling principle or spirit, which characterizes the prince of the power of the air; that is designed to control or influence unbelievers by the promotion of its moral or immoral atmosphere.

C. The Devil
He and his angels impacts unbelievers by means of affecting them in their heart (mind). He does this by:
●Observing their propensities or inclinations as exhibited by their speech or actions. ●Infiltrating their mind with projections (thoughts) that are associated with a person’s propensities or inclinations of their sin nature, whose intent is to excite the soul to engage in sinful activities (e.g. betrayal, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc.) thus enslaving them in addictive forms of behavior.

I hope that what you have just learned has provided insight as to the many obstacles that the devil has at his disposal to blind the minds of unbelievers so that they choose not to believe in the pure gospel of Christ.

If the pure gospel is presented and the unbeliever responds, thus receiving the Holy Spirit, and becoming a believer, the devil has a protocol in place to inhibit them.

Inhibit them from what?

We’ll take a look at this in the next chapter.

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