The Shadows
Hidden
And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. NLT John 3:19-20
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. NLT Galatians 5:19-21
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. NASB 1 Corinthians 10:13
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. NLT Galatians 5:19-21
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. NASB 1 Corinthians 10:13
We all have them, something that pulls us away. The desire to take care of ourselves at one level or another, because who will if we don't. This is both common and dangerous ground for us to tread. For me it was entertainment; movies, video games, and roleplaying games. Enjoyment was my primary goal. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that entertainment is a bad thing, it just should not be and can not be the main thing for a follower of Christ.
We as Christians, are soldiers in a battle that will have eternal impact. The enemy is clearly pointed out to us in scripture, but he has more experience in this battle than we have. We often don't even notice when we are under attack until the damage has been done. That is because we are soldiers that have not readied ourselves for the battle.
We as Christians, are soldiers in a battle that will have eternal impact. The enemy is clearly pointed out to us in scripture, but he has more experience in this battle than we have. We often don't even notice when we are under attack until the damage has been done. That is because we are soldiers that have not readied ourselves for the battle.
Know Your Enemy
HERE BE DRAGONS!
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. NASB Revelation 12:9-10
Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. NASB 1 Chronicles 21:1
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. NASB 1 Peter 5:8
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it." The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause." Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. "However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face." So the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. NASB Job 2:1-7
Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. NASB 1 Chronicles 21:1
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. NASB 1 Peter 5:8
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it." The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause." Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. "However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face." So the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. NASB Job 2:1-7
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. NASB John 8:44
The Flesh
DESIRE
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. NASB Ephesians 2:3
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. NLT Galations 5:17
For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. NASB Romans 6:5-7
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. NLT Galations 5:17
For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. NASB Romans 6:5-7
You are your own worst enemy, kind of. It is the sinful nature that dwells in each of us. This is what the bible tells us has to be put to death, "the old man". The flesh is a way of saying our desires to take care of ourselves. Satan and his forces can not be everywhere, but each of us has an enemy we carry with us. The flesh is the reason repentace is a daily thing for christians. The flesh is a slave to sin and only desires sinful things.
A. Pride (Value of self above others) - Anger, Murder, Arrogance, Jealousy, Judgmental, Unforgiveness, Deceit
B. Fear (Distrust of others) - Paranoia, Panic, Shyness, Control, Worry, Depression
C. Lust (Selfish pleasure) - Adultery, Pornography, Rape, Gluttony, Hedonism, Addictions
A. Pride (Value of self above others) - Anger, Murder, Arrogance, Jealousy, Judgmental, Unforgiveness, Deceit
B. Fear (Distrust of others) - Paranoia, Panic, Shyness, Control, Worry, Depression
C. Lust (Selfish pleasure) - Adultery, Pornography, Rape, Gluttony, Hedonism, Addictions
The World
Do you reflect the World?
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. NASB 1 John 5:19
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. NLT 1 John 2:16
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. NLT 1 John 2:16
The world puts presure on us to go along with what everyone else is doing. It can get pretty voilent when we don't agree with public opinion. Because the church has so many carnal christians in it, a lot of people veiw the church as a source of presure to just go along with what everyone else is doing. I have to agree with them, the church is guilty of this. This kind of presure is part of the world system not the kingdom of heaven. This kind of presure is not freedom like what Jesus talked about, it is just another chain holding prisoners down.
The Demonic
Prisoner
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. NASB Ephesians 6:12
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. NLT 2 Corinthians 4:4
When He (Jesus) had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. NASB Colossians 2:15
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. NLT 2 Corinthians 4:4
When He (Jesus) had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. NASB Colossians 2:15
How active are demons today? How much suffering is tied to demonic activity? What does the bible say about demonic activity? These are my questions and there is a lot of books written on this topic. I must be careful on this topic because there is a lot of false teachings about this.
The demonic forces start at the top with Satan, but it continues with all the fallen angels (refered to as demons.) This topic often scares a lot of people. Satan likes it that way, but the truth is that Satan is on a leash. Satan can only do what God allows him to do in this fallen world. The main weapon Satan has is lies. Lies can rob us of faith, our trust in God, lies are a dangerous weapon. Distorting or destroying our faith (trust) in God is the devil's goal in our lives. Why? Satan hates God but he can't defeat God. We are made in God's image by God. Satan wanted to de-throne God. He tried and failed; Jesus defeated Satan at the cross.
The main thing is to focus on God, not the enemy. Still, the bible says that we are aware of his schemes, but 2000 years has not made us more aware. If anything we have bought into lies used to hide what the enemy is doing. He wants to rob us of faith or lead us into disobediance. I don't want to give to much credit to the enemy. God is in control so the enemy can not do anything without God allowing it. Our sins have a lot to do with the suffering that is in the world. For every sin is followed by a curse (if you don't like that wording I could say that every sin has negative consequences.) These negative consequences (curses) may seem like they are the cause of the problem but really our sins are what brought the curse. Sins are open doors, inviting the enemy into our lives.
The demonic forces start at the top with Satan, but it continues with all the fallen angels (refered to as demons.) This topic often scares a lot of people. Satan likes it that way, but the truth is that Satan is on a leash. Satan can only do what God allows him to do in this fallen world. The main weapon Satan has is lies. Lies can rob us of faith, our trust in God, lies are a dangerous weapon. Distorting or destroying our faith (trust) in God is the devil's goal in our lives. Why? Satan hates God but he can't defeat God. We are made in God's image by God. Satan wanted to de-throne God. He tried and failed; Jesus defeated Satan at the cross.
The main thing is to focus on God, not the enemy. Still, the bible says that we are aware of his schemes, but 2000 years has not made us more aware. If anything we have bought into lies used to hide what the enemy is doing. He wants to rob us of faith or lead us into disobediance. I don't want to give to much credit to the enemy. God is in control so the enemy can not do anything without God allowing it. Our sins have a lot to do with the suffering that is in the world. For every sin is followed by a curse (if you don't like that wording I could say that every sin has negative consequences.) These negative consequences (curses) may seem like they are the cause of the problem but really our sins are what brought the curse. Sins are open doors, inviting the enemy into our lives.
Sin
Seven Deadly Sins
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” NIV Genesis 4:6-8
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. NIV Isaiah 59:2
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. NLT James 1:14-15
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. NIV Isaiah 59:2
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. NLT James 1:14-15
For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die. NLT Ezekiel 18:4
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. NIV John 8:34
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. NIV John 8:34
The Curse of Sin
The word sin means to miss the mark. The mark or target for all of us was set by God. The target is for us to be perfect like our Father in heaven is perfect. When we miss the target we hit something else. The impact has a negative effect, the curse. The consequence of sin is death, but it also has other consequences for our lives.
Lets look at the ten commandments and see if we can follow a sin through to see the curse it can cause.
1. Don't worship other gods - Demonic activity, skewed sense of purpose
2. Don't worship idols - Insecurity, skewed sense of control
3. Don't take the Lord's name in vain - False beliefs, Skewed sense of who God is
4. Remember the Sabbath day - Inability to relax, Skewed sense of duty
5. Honor your father and your mother - Disrespectfulness, skewed sense of respect and love
6. Don't murder - Loss of self-control, ostracization, skewed sense of human value
7. Don't commit adultery- Loss of trust in others, skewed sense of intamentcy
8. Don't steal - Loss of self-respect, skewed sense of entitlement
9. Don't lie - Loss of integrity, skewed sense of truth
10. Don't covet - Ungreatfulness, skewed sense of joy & peace
This is just the start of a curse, it gets worse the longer a person continues to live in disobediance. When your understanding of the truth is skewed we walk in disobedience unknowingly, because we can justify it in our own eyes. It can even continue on to future generations through learned behavior. This is not a complete list of commandments God has given us, but it displays my point about the consequences of sin and God's purpose was not rules for the sake of rules.
Lets look at the ten commandments and see if we can follow a sin through to see the curse it can cause.
1. Don't worship other gods - Demonic activity, skewed sense of purpose
2. Don't worship idols - Insecurity, skewed sense of control
3. Don't take the Lord's name in vain - False beliefs, Skewed sense of who God is
4. Remember the Sabbath day - Inability to relax, Skewed sense of duty
5. Honor your father and your mother - Disrespectfulness, skewed sense of respect and love
6. Don't murder - Loss of self-control, ostracization, skewed sense of human value
7. Don't commit adultery- Loss of trust in others, skewed sense of intamentcy
8. Don't steal - Loss of self-respect, skewed sense of entitlement
9. Don't lie - Loss of integrity, skewed sense of truth
10. Don't covet - Ungreatfulness, skewed sense of joy & peace
This is just the start of a curse, it gets worse the longer a person continues to live in disobediance. When your understanding of the truth is skewed we walk in disobedience unknowingly, because we can justify it in our own eyes. It can even continue on to future generations through learned behavior. This is not a complete list of commandments God has given us, but it displays my point about the consequences of sin and God's purpose was not rules for the sake of rules.
Hell
Lake of Fire
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. NASB Revelation 20:13-15
I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. NASB Matthew 8:11-12
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. NASB Daniel 12:2
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. NASB Ecclesiastes 9:10
For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. NASB Isaiah 38:18
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. NASB Revelation 21:8
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. NASB Matthew 25:46
I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. NASB Matthew 8:11-12
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. NASB Daniel 12:2
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. NASB Ecclesiastes 9:10
For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. NASB Isaiah 38:18
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. NASB Revelation 21:8
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. NASB Matthew 25:46
Hell is total seperation from God forever. While we live we are not cut off completely from God. All life comes from God, and no life exist apart from God. In the book of James we are told that all good things come from God. So hell is an absence of all good things. Really think about that. All positive feelings gone. All that will be left is hate, greif, worry, contempment, greed, jealousy, resentment and selfishness (no pleasure ever.)
Word Study - Hell
The word hell is an English word sometimes selected by the translators of the English Bible to express the sense of the Hebrew word sheol and the Greek words hades, gehenna, and tartaroo. I also want to look at outer darkness.
Definition of HELL (from Webster's Dictionary)
1 a (1) : a nether world in which the dead continue to exist : hades
(2) : the nether realm of the devil and the demons in which the damned suffer everlasting punishment —often used in curses <go to hell> or as a generalized term of abuse <the hell with it> b Christian Science : error 2b, sin
2 a : a place or state of misery, torment, or wickedness <war is hell — W. T. Sherman> b : a place or state of turmoil or destruction <all hell broke loose> c : a severe scolding; also : flak, grief <gave me hell for coming in late> d : unrestrained fun or sportiveness <the kids were full of hell> —often used in the phrase for the hell of it especially to suggest action on impulse or without a serious motive <decided to go for the hell of it> e : an extremely unpleasant and often inescapable situation <rush-hour hell>
3 archaic : a tailor's receptacle
4 used as an interjection <hell, I don't know!> or as an intensive <hurts like hell> <funny as hell> ; often used in the phrase hell of a <it was one hell of a good fight> or hell out of <scared the hell out of him> or with the or in <moved way the hell up north> <what in hell is wrong, now?> ~
Sheol - Strong's H7585 - shĕ'owl
Part of Speech - feminine noun
1) sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
a) the underworld
b) Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead
1) place of no return
2) without praise of God
3) wicked sent there for punishment
4) righteous not abandoned to it
5) of the place of exile (fig)
6) of extreme degradation in sin
Hades - Strong's G86 - hadēs
Part of Speech - proper locative noun
1) name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions
2) Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead
3) later use of this word: the grave, death, hell
Gehenna - Strong's G1067 - geenna
Part of Speech - feminine noun
1) Hell is the place of the future punishment call "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.
Tartaroo - Strong's G5020 - tartaroō
Part of Speech - verb
1) the name of the subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds; it answers to Gehenna of the Jews
2) to thrust down to Tartarus, to hold captive in Tartarus
Outer - Strong's G1857 - exōteros
Part of Speech - adjective
1) outer
Darkness - Strong's G4655 - skotos
Part of Speech - neuter noun
1) darkness
a) of night darkness
b) of darkened eyesight or blindness
2) metaph.
a) of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together
with their consequent misery in hell
b) persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway
Definition of HELL (from Webster's Dictionary)
1 a (1) : a nether world in which the dead continue to exist : hades
(2) : the nether realm of the devil and the demons in which the damned suffer everlasting punishment —often used in curses <go to hell> or as a generalized term of abuse <the hell with it> b Christian Science : error 2b, sin
2 a : a place or state of misery, torment, or wickedness <war is hell — W. T. Sherman> b : a place or state of turmoil or destruction <all hell broke loose> c : a severe scolding; also : flak, grief <gave me hell for coming in late> d : unrestrained fun or sportiveness <the kids were full of hell> —often used in the phrase for the hell of it especially to suggest action on impulse or without a serious motive <decided to go for the hell of it> e : an extremely unpleasant and often inescapable situation <rush-hour hell>
3 archaic : a tailor's receptacle
4 used as an interjection <hell, I don't know!> or as an intensive <hurts like hell> <funny as hell> ; often used in the phrase hell of a <it was one hell of a good fight> or hell out of <scared the hell out of him> or with the or in <moved way the hell up north> <what in hell is wrong, now?> ~
Sheol - Strong's H7585 - shĕ'owl
Part of Speech - feminine noun
1) sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
a) the underworld
b) Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead
1) place of no return
2) without praise of God
3) wicked sent there for punishment
4) righteous not abandoned to it
5) of the place of exile (fig)
6) of extreme degradation in sin
Hades - Strong's G86 - hadēs
Part of Speech - proper locative noun
1) name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions
2) Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead
3) later use of this word: the grave, death, hell
Gehenna - Strong's G1067 - geenna
Part of Speech - feminine noun
1) Hell is the place of the future punishment call "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.
Tartaroo - Strong's G5020 - tartaroō
Part of Speech - verb
1) the name of the subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds; it answers to Gehenna of the Jews
2) to thrust down to Tartarus, to hold captive in Tartarus
Outer - Strong's G1857 - exōteros
Part of Speech - adjective
1) outer
Darkness - Strong's G4655 - skotos
Part of Speech - neuter noun
1) darkness
a) of night darkness
b) of darkened eyesight or blindness
2) metaph.
a) of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together
with their consequent misery in hell
b) persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway