|
|
|
1+2=3 A Preliminary Teaching On Spiritual Warfare By Pastor Tim Hodge One of Shakespeare’s characters spoke these words: “Where ignorance is bliss tis folly to be wise.” Unfortunately most ignorance is “willfully” chosen. We live in the “information” age, therefore willful ignorance should be a thing of the past. Shakespeare’s famous quote rebounds upon those choosing to remain “willfully ignorant.” When it comes to spiritual matters I have to stand in direct opposition to Mr. Shakespeare’s character. The body of Christ can’t allow people, redeemed or unredeemed, to remain ignorant. Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32, NKJV). It has been commented on this verse that our level of experiential freedom is in direct proportion to the level of “knowledge” of truth. I would like to address a point of ignorance in this writing dispelling a fabled untruth and give direction to biblical truth concerning the question, “Where is the devil?” This is not to be a “Satan” or “demon”-centered treatise. However, I will explain certain attributes of the kingdom of darkness, and its leader, that the body of Christ may, in turn, ascribe to a higher level of freedom and victory over our adversaries. As a young man I recall statements being made which went something like this, “Tell the devil to go back to hell.” American Christianity has almost deified Satan by attributing God-like qualities to him; describing actions of omniscience and omnipresence. The flip side of that coin is where we sing “the devil’s in the phone booth dialing 911”… frivolously describing a potentially dangerous adversary. Is Satan in hell? Let us start by looking at hell and what it is all about. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus gives two descriptions of hell by saying there is a flame that can’t be quenched and there are worms (undoubtedly some type of tormenting punishment) that do not die (9:45, 46). Jesus referred to “hell” by giving it the word “Gehenna” which was the name of the trash pile outside of Jerusalem. This trash pile was piled up with not just refuse, but with human waste, dead animals, and the carcasses of unclaimed humans. People were appointed to continually douse this trash pile with flammable liquids to keep the flame burning. Even a small imagination can envision all the maggots and like insects swarming there. This is how Jesus painted the picture of hell. Scripture declares that “hell” was not intended for mankind, though thousands are finding their destinations there each day, but that place was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). Allow me to pose a hypothetical situation to you. Suppose you were guilty of a crime. You have been through the court system and your sentence has been declared as life in prison and “the” prison you will be assigned to announced. However, the judge looks at you and says, “You have one year to do as you wish until you have to start serving your sentence.” What would you do? Would you go back home and spend the next year with your family? Would you have a bunch of fun in that one year? Would you work? Would you try to save up money for your family? Would you stay in your own house, in your own bedroom, use your own restroom? OR --- would you go ahead and ask the judge to let you go to prison and start your sentence? Unless you have some type of mental deficiency, I would almost bet you would not be spending that year of freedom in the penitentiary. This may come as a surprise to many, but SATAN IS NOT IN HELL!!! That is the place that he has already been sentenced to according to Revelation 20:10, but that sentence has not yet been enforced. Why would he want to go ahead and live in his specially prepared prison and daily experience the heat, the smell, and the screams of torment souls already there. Not to mention he would continually be reminded of his future? Go ahead and think about it. I know some of you are thinking right now, “Okay, Mister Whipper-Snapper, then where is the devil?” I’m so glad you asked! But, let’s talk about God for a second. In 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4 the apostle Paul refers to a man being caught up into the “third heaven” and he refers to this place as “paradise”… the throne room of God… heaven. It doesn’t take a computer scientist to add this up. Paul mentions this “third heaven” as being paradise. So… if there is a “third” heaven there has to be a “second” heaven and a “first” heaven. Count with me… one… two… three. One plus two equals three! If God’s throne room and paradise occupies the third heaven then “what is up with the other two?” The “first” heaven is the atmosphere of the earth. It is the area in which the birds fly, the jets soar, and the space shuttles and rockets blaze in and out of space. This “first” heaven is the “natural” realm of the atmosphere and space around the earth. Ephesians 2:1-2 states, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, (v.2) in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (NIV). This verse declares to us that Satan and his kingdom is “temporarily” in control of certain aspects in the earth and they have certain privileges as “the ruler of the kingdom of the air.” What about number two? What is the “second” heaven? Ephesians 3:10 and Ephesians 6:12 talk about the “principalities and powers of heavenly realms.” The word for “heavenly” carries the connotation of “a celestial area” and denotes a spiritual realm where these “powers” have their seats.
I submit to you that it is in this “second” heaven where the powers of darkness have setup their headquarters to plan and scheme against all mankind. This “second” heaven is the “conference room” of the devil and his demons. The throne of God is a place where God gives commands and dispatches his angels on assignment (as they came to Mary the mother of Jesus, Joseph the carpenter, and as an angel appeared to the women on resurrection morning). Don’t forget that Satan and his demons were once angels. They know how God operates and they know the efficiency of heaven (after all, it was the efficiency of God’s “God-ship” that caused Satan to want to be like Him). Therefore, we have to see Satan’s MO (method of operation) in his kingdom will closely follow God’s. A “throne room” and workers ready to be dispatched. In this “second” heaven is the established “spiritual realm” where the powers of darkness plan, scheme, and implement these plans for the destruction of mankind… the headquarters of darkness. In closing I want to declare the limitations of this “second” heaven and its occupants as well as those who are working on assignment from it in the earth. Satan, the devil, or whatever you chose to call him, is a spiritual entity, as are his demons, and that alone means they are more powerful than natural man. They are spiritual powers… supernatural… superceding the natural. They are fallen angels and still possess the supernatural might of angels. What are angels capable of in their supernatural abilities? 2 Kings 19:35 records that one angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. Therefore, demonic forces must be reckoned with as being supernatural. Yet, these principalities in this “second” heaven are limited. Only God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are OMNIPOTENT – all powerful. John, in speaking to those who have received Christ as Lord declares this fact: “Greater is HE that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Satan and the powers of darkness are powerful, but they are limited; God Almighty is NOT LIMITED!!! Finally, let us as followers of Christ not give undue worth to His adversary Satan. Too often we say, “The devil did this…” or “The devil did that….” Satan, the devil, is only one being and he can only be one place at one time. Unfortunately the credit we attribute to him makes him seem OMNIPRESENT – everywhere at one time. God alone is omnipresent. Mark your words and speak wisely, not out of ignorance. When declaring something that the adversaries of God are working (or attempting to work) in your life refer to “them” as such: the adversaries of God, the powers of darkness, demonic forces, etc. Hosea 4:6a informs us that God’s people are “destroyed for a lack of knowledge… because they have rejected knowledge”. The converse of that thought would be God’s people will “conquer if they receive and walk in the knowledge He gives them.” Go and conquer! Words: 1500 |
