The Battle for your SOUL
77
Between GOOD and EVIL
The sole purpose of the Bible is to point to God's purpose, which is to reconcile sinful man to God through Jesus Christ, His Son. God's plan is to restore all things as it was in the beginning, before the fall of Adam and Eve ~ God dwelling with man and man, while subject to God. ruling over His New Earth (Rev 21:7).
Why do we need to be reconciled? Reconciliation is that of owing a debt and having it paid in full. Jesus paid that debt for us; He came to draw us back to Him because sin entered the world through the first man and woman, who were deceived by and obeyed Satan in the Garden of Eden. This is not an easy task, for there is a battle going on...a battle for your soul.
How did this battle begin? There was a rebellion in heaven. In Revelation 12:1-3 the dragon, the serpent of old, who is called the devil and Satan, waged war against Michael, God's Archangel, and his angels and LOST. In vs. 4 we see a third of the stars (angels) of heaven thrown down to the earth by the dragon's tail. In vs. 9 we are told the great dragon, the serpent of old, who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." At that point, they went after the woman (Jews) who was about to give birth to a male son (Jesus), and also against her offspring, the children of God saved through Jesus (vs. 17), called Christians (Acts 11:25-26). Thus began the spiritual warfare we read about throughout the Bible. Have you ever been in the middle of a war? There are only two involved: GOOD and EVIL.
God created Man to rule over the earth. When Satan was cast out of heaven to the earth, he tempted Eve. Understand that being tempted is not a sin, for Jesus was also tempted and did not fail. Adam and Eve did fail. Because of this, they gave their authority over the earth to Satan, who then became the "god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4). When Jesus Christ died on the cross and overcame death, He took back all authority, in order to give it back to those who follow Him. Once the last enemy is destroyed, death, and believers are resurrected, they will once again rule over the earth with God as the Head, forever...as it was in the beginning. In the meantime, this battle will rage on. Just as Adam and Eve were tempted to sin, the Spirit of God now draws us back to giving Lordship to Jesus Christ in our lives. God created Man to respond to temptation (by Satan) or the drawing of the Spirit (God). We have a choice to obey GOOD or EVIL.
GOOD is a master and EVIL is a master. The Word says in Matthew 6:24 that “No man can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” Believe it or not, because of Adam and Eve we are born on the side of EVIL (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12-14) and God's Spirit (GOOD) draws all men unto Himself (since Christ was lifted up from the earth - John 12:32).
The Word also states in Ephesians 6:12, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” This warfare happens on earth as well as in heaven. Check out Jude 1:9 where the Archangel Michael disputes with the devil over the body of Moses. Satan is alive and well, and is at war (while he has time) to keep people deceived. 2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us "the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
When God created man, God’s words were not physically written anywhere. God spoke to Adam and Eve directly. He told them what they could and could not do. Because Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan into disobeying God’s command, God sentenced the serpent, Adam and Eve with a curse of judgment. What does that mean?
We can only assume Adam and Eve were never supposed to see death, but because they rebelled like Satan did, their sin was subject to God’s law; that is “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Surely, all mankind dies, but because we are sinful, our own death does not forgive our sin. When the nations of Adam and Eve repented by doing their best to serve God, they were saved by faith (Hebrews 11), yet were still enslaved to sinning (Romans 6:17), even as it is today.
When Israel was enslaved in Egypt, God sent a final plague, an angel of death to take the lives of every first-born Egyptian male. In order for Israel to be spared, they had to brush the blood of a lamb on their doorposts, causing the angel of death to "pass over" (sanctify/set apart) them. Every year since, Israel sacrificed the very best lamb they had at a time they called Passover (Exodus 12:6). This lamb would "pass over" their sins from that year to the next. This practice was symbolic of the coming of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). That Lamb was Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
After Israel was delivered from Egypt, they fell into rampant sin. God then gave Moses the 10 Commandments, written by His Own finger (Deuteronomy 9:10/Luke 11:20). When man could physically write the words of God, these writings were called “scriptures”, now known as “The Holy Bible”. The original language of the first scriptures was Hebrew/Chaldea. After Jesus Christ came into the world as the Lamb of God and fulfilled the Old Testament laws and prophesies (Matthew 5:17), the New Testament was then written in Greek. The English translations since printed have caused many to err in doctrinal understanding. This is why it is imperative we research questionable English wording by finding the applicable definition in the original languages.
The Bible says we are slaves to sin (John 8:34). So, even though God gave His laws to Israel, they couldn't keep them! Satan's purpose is to keep us enslaved! The Bible says the Law is against us! (Colossians 2:14). This is WHY God made THE WAY to deliver everyone from sin and its consequences (Romans 8:21). We can choose to remain slaves to sin and ignore the Way God has made for us, or we can choose the Way, the Truth and the Life, which sets us free from the law of sin and death (John 14:6; John 8:1, 32). You belong to one or the other based on your choice. You don't have the choice NOT to choose, people.
What is the Way, the Truth and the Life? Well, this brings us back to the purpose of Jesus Christ. He is the only WAY to reconcile mankind back to God (Romans 5:6-11). Jesus paid for our sin IN FULL by His death on the cross (Luke 23:46); however, we must deny (repent) one master (Satan) and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord (our Master). However, if we don’t believe or receive Jesus Christ, we have denied His payment. If we do this, we are still under the law of sin and death (ensnared in the dragon's trap). Again, no one can serve two masters! No one can serve NO master either!
- Romans 6:16 "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?"
When you give your heart to Jesus Christ, God empowers you to overcome Satan (Luke 10:17-20). As I stated before, mankind can not pay for his own sin or be righteous enough for God. Because Jesus was sinless, He alone was worthy to pay for our sin; believers are blameless through Him and are worthy (because of the Lamb) to receive the Spirit of God/Spirit of Christ within (Romans 8:9), and live in the kingdom of God for all eternity! (Philippians 2:15). We are set free from the dragon's clenches, both here on earth, in death and in heaven. However, the battle for your soul will continue. It is possible for a believer to yet turn away from the truth (Hebrews 6:4). In other words, just because the Seed (the gospel) is sown in you, one can still be at risk of turning away from the truth (Mat 13:3-23; Mk 4:2-20; Lk 8:4-15; Rom 11:19-21).
We must CHOOSE this day whom we will serve (Joshua 14:15). To reject the One (Jesus Christ) is to serve the other, which is EVIL (Satan). Because we are sinful and have no sacrifice for sin when we reject Jesus Christ, those who physically die without Him will also experience eternity apart from God with Satan (Rev 20:10, 15). Rather than focus on EVIL and what God has in store for them, let’s focus on the GOOD and what lies in store for those who love God and are called according to His purpose, that purpose being salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28).
So how do we become saved? It's explained in my hub Come to JESUS: Salvation.
More on the Battle for Your SOUL!
- The GOSPEL In A GLASS
Rain. Imagine its raining all over the world. The rain gives life to all things. It is refreshing! It washes clean. It satisfies thirst. Imagine God is the rain. One day, God made two glasses and they... - Satan's PURPOSE
Satan was given power and dominion of the world and is called the god of this world who has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. So what are the characteristics of Satan? We c
 | Amazon Price: $11.39 List Price: $16.99 |
CommentsLoading...
Praise the Lord, Wehzo! The most common factor in witnessing to those considering turning their lives over to Jesus is that of the battle they constantly feel in their spirits; for as they begin to turn to Jesus, the enemy immediately battles them and causes them to "put it off". I pray that this truth will help them understand what is going on, that it is a battle for their soul. NO man is promised tomorrow, and to put it off even one more hour can be a matter of "who wins" one's soul. If one doesn't choose, the enemy wins. That's the truth. Amen.
Great article and you are a brilliant writer.
We, the body, have to pray and evangelize.
BJC
BJC, I so appreciate your comment and I'm glad we found each other! I love the Lord's ministry through you; your boldness to tell the truth ~ which is the Spirit of Truth in you!! Praise the Lord!
How well anybody that's been saved more than 2 days realizes, we have an enemy, two enemies in fact. Our flesh is the first we run into because God gives us a window of protection as new Christians. Then very soon after we run smack dab into the old Lizard. It is plain as the nose on our face that we are in a struggle and we sense in our spirit that it is not all things we can see. That's why this hub is so important. People need to know that our enemies are real and not just in our head. They're smart but not as smart as God and His word. They're relentless but Jesus sticks closer than a brother who will never leave you or forsake you. And you know I always will love you.
I often think of Jesus' teaching about how we should pray, when He said, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". That's so important, because I also remember how Gabriel was prevented from getting to Daniel for two or three weeks because he was obstructed by the "Prince of Persia" (if I recall accurately). When we pray, we release God's will in heaven to be performed on earth, and we pray the Word of God and in His authority, praise God! We can bind on earth what will be bound in heaven. We can knock out our Adversary in the spirit realm because of the work and victory in the Name and the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God!! Praise His Holy Name! Love you, too, brother!
It's always been interesting to me, once the reality hit me...that the angels in heaven were also able to make choices? Lucifer committed the first sin in heaven, deceiving so many angels to follow him. Little did they know, truely what they lost, until they lost it. Pride did come before the fall... Satan, can make things sound so good, so tempting at times, but he never reveals, the true consequences to the sin. The consequences played out for selling your soul. I would say if most people could see full picture, they wouldn't buy the painting. Keep up the good fight:) With the Help of God, He did make a way for our Souls to be Spared and Redeemed:) Great Hub Judah's Daughter:)
Hi heart4theword! Indeed, "Satan, can make things sound so good, so tempting at times, but he never reveals, the true consequences to the sin. The consequences played out for selling your soul."
God created Satan for His purpose ~ to act as the "prosecuting attorney" and the one who will test us and try us, either leading us to the faith that will stand against his prosecution and desire for God to sentence us to hell, or deceive us into thinking he is the god of 'fun'. Satanists believe hell is a party place...they most certainly ARE deceived.
I have a hub called "Satan's Purpose" you might enjoy reading. I've added the link just above the comments here :-)
Regarding Lucifer, I did some in depth Bible study regarding him. Initially, I set out to prove he was indeed Satan, but what I found might be fascinating to you. Here are two hubs I invite you to read:
http://hubpages.com/_ui1xcnn62gpk/hub/Is-Lucifer-t
http://hubpages.com/_ui1xcnn62gpk/hub/LUCIFER-The-
I so appreciate your heart for our Lord! Many blessings to you!!!
This hub is why I say we need to go as Jesus told us and preach in all the world, and that world is not always abroad, it's our own backyard. I have as our motto in doing so simply "GO YE"!
Amen, brother Michael!! There's no place like HOME! Jesus even told His disciples to start where they were, then go out from there; likewise, we should all do the same! Amen :-) God bless you!!!
I spent such a long time writing about how i felt about The evil that is so potent and yet so subtle only to have it disappear but i just want to say that despite all that is going on in our world God is always the father i must put all my faith in him and cling to him above all and not be deceived by the darkness of this us and takes us in..God is my refuge and my strenght whom shall i fear?
I have learb-nt so much about the forces of darkness and it sends a shiver down my spine but to God be the Glory we must hold fast to his saving Grace I love you Jesus we need you now more than ever i feel closer drawn to you now is the time to have a constant consciousness of what is going on around u let us be able to recognize and resist the forces of evil and walk with the Lord in the light of His Words....i pray i may not be decieved and be lost my prayer is the same for my fellow human race but do not try to live in the darkness and turn a blind eye to the lessons you earn and the things you see ..Love the Lord and Live his words!
how glad I am that The Lord is still afightning for my soul inspite of myself!
Awesome hub, I am going through a battle of epic puportion but God is with me and for me and I thank you for writing this. Glad to follow you, God Bless you.
Tim
Brother tim kenner, you are in my prayers and I'm sure other saints will continue to lift up your situation, whatever it may be, unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Keep the faith, brother. He will see you THROUGH (Ps 23). Bless your heart.
kay kay, I feel your heart! Without the almighty power of our Lord and Savior who crushed Satan's head at the cross, we would all be lost and condemned...at the "mercy" (the opposite of, I should say) of our Adversary! Keep the faith; and may I suggest you read my series called "Spiritual Warfare: Old Testament" all four ~ you will see the consistency of the Lord in fighting these battles for us! We ask Him to rebuke the devil by the blood of the Lamb of God. We are redeemed by His blood! God is with you and may He bless you in seeing His hand at work in your life!! Thank you for commenting and leaving such an anointed message.
When one's heart is set/not moved by sin, God will surly protect/empower him. We will all be tempted for temptation is in/of the world. Set your minds upon the Lord and evil will not prevail. Seek comfort in Our Lord Jesus Christ for He will strengthen you. God is able to provide us with a Christlike mind. We can be forever changed/come into a new mind/overcomers of sin. In God ALL things are possible to those who believe! Your hubs inspire me sis! I love you!
Good word, sis! AMEN! I tell my daughter that what goes into her mind through her eyes and ears will eventually enter her heart ~ even I, by the grace of God, have the desire to be careful what I see and what I hear ~ that my mind will be stayed on Him and He will be so ever present in my heart.
Rom 12:2 states, "And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Isaiah 26:3 states, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You."
Love you, too!! God bless!!!
Love it Judah's daughter,
Sound Word, I am glad to follow you.....
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name (Ps 103:1), sister LeslieAdrienne! Thank you and I am thankul we are sisters in our LORD, Jesus Christ! God bless you abundantly!!
I am lost god turn is back on me and there was the devil with open arm he make me feel happy but I can see now the evil in the devil eye I call out to god but god is hearing me
Hi spikez ~ I praise God you can see now. The Bible says that God does not hear sinners (John 9:31). If this is true, then how does He hear us when we ask Him to be Lord of our life? It's all about the heart [motive] of man when He prays.
Satan is selfish and is all about self. Think of criminals and how they 'lure' their 'prey'. Child molesters lure children with candy. Drug dealers give the best to those just starting out ~ the most addictive. I've heard that certain drugs make a person feel super-human (like a god, so to speak}, but once enslaved, can lead to death. Thieves have typically been in or at your home as a repair man or magazine salesman working for 'charity'. I could go on, but you get the point. Satan tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God in order to become like God. He tempted them to exalt themselves, just as he did and does ~ which ended up in the great fall ~ of him and of mankind.
Satan appeals to pleasures and ego of man, in order to make him selfish and think he has no need of God. See, we become like our fathers: If we choose to follow Satan we will be like him; if we choose to follow God we will be like Him. God was unselfish in creating man to rule over the entire earth. He was unselfish in giving His life on the cross to save us. Read the book of John and see the message of salvation. We must be born of God by accepting Jesus Christ into our heart. When we are humble, knowing we are sinners in need of a Savior, knowing we need to change from selfish to selfless...that is when God hears us and saves us. If we are telling God what to do, and if He doesn't do it we won't believe ~ that is about self. We must yeild control of our lives to God, Who loves us truly. Dieing to self leads to life. Pride of life in self leads to death (John 12:25).
When we open our heart to Jesus, it is then He begins to transform us. We are as newborn babes and by His Word, prayer and fellowship we grow to become more like Him and less like we used to be. I think of the words of "Amazing Grace": "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see." God bless you.
I am a monster a monster with out a soul
spikez, Who is telling you this? Has God condemned you or have you condemned yourself? I don't know you, and you don't know me, but I will be here, step-by-step to assist you in your heart's desire for healing.
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 5:31 "And Jesus answered and said to them, 'It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick."
Titus 3:5 states, "He [Jesus] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" The word 'saved' here is the Greek word 'sozo', which means "save, heal, preserve, rescue".
If you are willing to let me be here for you, I've been in your shoes ~ will you please read this hub called "Walk of Shame and Forgiveness":
http://hubpages.com/_ui1xcnn62gpk/hub/Walk-of-Sham
There is not one person born on this earth that Jesus didn't die to save. He is the Savior of the world, the Savior of ALL men.
1 John 4:14 "We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world."
1 Timothy 4:10 "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."
Only by choosing to remain enslaved to the Adversary of God will your name be blotted out of the Lamb's Book of Life ~ the Book in which your name was written from the foundation of the world.
Romans 6:16 "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?"
Our righteousness is not in our efforts to do right, but to acknowledge we are sinners and that without Christ we are lost. Right now, you feel like a lost soul. Did you know Jesus came to seek and save those that are lost?
God is no respecter of persons when it comes to giving His gift of salvation and infilling of His Spirit to those who genuinely seek Him.
Acts 10:34 "God is no respecter of persons"
Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
I don't want to give you too much at one time, spikez. Jesus even told His disciples the purpose of His Holy Spirit begin given to them [and us]:
John 16:12-13 Jesus said, "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
The Holy Spirit is in me, and until you come to receiving Him yourself, I will share with you as He leads me to. He loves you. Jesus died for your sins, so that you might become the righteousness of God in Him. There is no other way to salvation, but in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 "He made Him who knew no sin [Jesus] to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
Hang in there, my friend.
thx you it good to know that I got a friend who want to help me
I'm here for you, spikez. If God could save a wretch like me, and heal me from my selfishness and shame, my arrogance and pride, make me into someone no one would recognize that knew me so long ago....He can do it for you. He didn't bring me this far just for me...for it is for others. That's why I'm still here and why He's waiting to come for HIs church. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
His children are as branches, while He is the vine. We are to bear fruit, which is to share the gospel of salvation with others. I may be just one in many the Lord will put in your path, and I want to do all I can, as He would have me to do. 1 Corinthians 3:7 states, "So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." God loves you, and I hope you can see that. He is sending those who plant the Word and water it your way, while He will bring the growth of understand and saving faith in you. In His agape love (the love of God), JD.
JD Hello sista. I so loved how the Spirit moved in you to put into words this wonderful hub. Your wrote in words that are truth and wisdom but in simplicity so all could understand. Your writing has grown in leaps and bounds. You rock sister and I love how you have touched skikez. Glory to God JD God is raising up HIS kids for the days to come.
I have been in a spiritual battle. Thank You God I know what I am to do. The revelation came this AM at 1:30. I have much peace. God is amazing. Every path is beautiful and necessary. I am excited to write for the Glory of God. Thank you for an up and awesome writing. I love you JD. You keep on girl friend. God Bless you and keep you. Hugs Galore.
Hi, skye2day, my sista! Thank you for your beautiful words straight from the heart ~ I am thankful to God for His wisdom to put into words a message easy to be understood ~ 'Thank You, Jesus'. It's obvious the Lord is seeking after spikez and what a Honeymooner He is! I rejoice, for the love He will bestow upon spikez will be ongoing from those who are obedient to the Spirit in ministering to him as he goes through his journey.
I'm not sure if you've read my hub "Trials and Temptations", but if it will minister/confirm to you what you're going through and the goodness of God you experienced this morning at 1:30 ~ BE BLESSED IN HIS NAME!
Yes, you keep on writing and shining His love and Light. Do not be weary in well-doing, for in due season you shall reap! (Gal 6:9) Satan wants to wear you down, but greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! (1 John 4:4) You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! (Phil 4:13) The victory is yours, in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:37). The victory is to submit to the will of God, not demand our own way (Rom 8:13) ~ which goes back to the first response message I wrote to spikez. You know it and walk in it, sista! Love you also! God is with you.
YOUR HUBS ARE SO WONDERFUL. I PRAY FOR ALL.-------BILL WILSON
Our LORD is WONDERFUL, amen, brother Bill Wilson! Thank you and prayer is POWERFUL because in us and through us, He prays (1 Pet 2:9; Rom 8:26; John 7:38), desiring all men everywhere repent unto salvation (2 Pet 3:9; Acts 17:30). This world is already judged and our only hope of salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord (John 3:18; John 12:47-48). God bless you!!
Wehzo 2 years ago
Very good hub, and sound teaching. It is very well written and easy to understand. Thank you for sharing this with us. Keep them coming :).
God Bless You