Reality

I find it to be very difficult indeed to convince people, even professing Christians, that we are absolutely spiritual beings and this body we observe in the mirror and feel with our touch is nothing more than a vessel we inhabit for a time.

YOU are not what you see in the mirror; that is not who you are. The name you have here on earth will not exist in Heaven or hell; it is nothing more than a word given for your fleshly ears to recognize, for the drawing of your attention, and a means for others to distinguish you from others.

We are not humans having a spiritual experience; we are, in fact ,a spirit having a human experience!

This is why we are told in the Scripture Ephesians 6:12 For 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.

We are, without doubt, spiritual beings that are, in fact, eternal beings. We will reside in the hereafter in one of two places. In the presence of God our creator (Heaven), or in a prison of torment designed for the fallen Archangel Lucifer (Hell)!

I wish to impart some understanding of the spiritual realm that may help the reader understand. Satan (Lucifer) is the Prince of this Earth. He was cast out of Heaven to earth and he rules over it.

God is the Creator and above all things, including Satan. Satan is not the opposite of God. Satan is the opposite of Michael the Archangel! God created Satan as well as all the rest of the Angels.

God the Father/God the Son/God the Spirit are so far above those He created that the creations cannot compare.

There is a rank and file system in the Angelic Host, in both the Heavenly and in the fallen.

For this teaching, I will concentrate on the fallen: Satan and his six generals, and those that obey the orders given to them. Think of the seven by these names: first Pride (Satan), and the rest are Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Lust. All sin can be categorized in one or another of these terms/names. (The seven deadly sins)

I want to impart some truth about people here. You/we will behave as we believe! If we earnestly believe something, then that is fact/truth and understanding in our hearts and minds. If we do not believe in something, then at the very least we are in question, waiting on the answer but also noncommittal accordingly.

Here is a fact—if someone does not truly believe in God, then they will act or behave in an ungodly manner. The unbeliever is easy prey for Satan and his ilk. In Job 1, when asked where he had been, Satan answered God, “Roaming the earth seeking whom I may devour.” Satan still does that today, and today he has far less resistance than there was in days past.

Imagine yourself hiking in the mountains carrying a small day pack with the basic necessities in it to camp overnight. As you’re walking along you notice a very large Grizzly Bear stalking you from just inside the tree line.

You know you have no method of defending yourself, no chance of escaping or outrunning the bear. As the fear builds and builds within you waiting on the imminent attack, all you can possibly do is keep walking and hope the bear goes away. (This is the life of the lost.)

Let me dispel some common misconceptions. Satan does not reign or rule over Hell. Hell is a prison designed for Satan and his fallen angels.

Satan cannot destroy your soul, your soul is an eternal, immortal spirit. You will not know or realize anyone else in Hell.

When the Scripture speaks of Satan devouring, the way to understand that is he is robbing God. Satan only wants to prevent your soul from returning to God, to corrupt your soul through sin and cause you to turn away from God.

Please understand that what is contained in the Scripture and this writing is all you ever need to know about the dark side of the spiritual realm.

DIRE WARNING! DO NOT GO GIVING THE FALLEN YOUR ATTENTION, BECAUSE THEY WILL GIVE YOU THEIR ATTENTION! As they say, don’t go poking the bear.

I’ll break down the Scripture from Job 1. When Satan said he had been roaming the earth seeking whom he may devour, he was not just gobbling up every human he found.

In fact, it is quite the opposite. Satan and those that obey him must put forth great effort with some to even get anything more than a turn of the head.

For the purpose of explaining how that happens, I’ll expound on a single word in Satan’s reply: “seeking”. There is a lot contained in this seemingly simple word. In fact, it is so deceptively simple that it is difficult to understand.

Satan knows mankind! He understands how we think, and how we act and react. In the teaching of Satan’s expulsion from Heaven, one of the attributes of Satan that I listed is “wise”. Satan has much wisdom and knowledge, not only of heaven and God but of man.

Satan was around long before Adam was created, so he witnessed that event! Satan watched Adam live his days, he watched and listened as Adam walked with God in the Garden every evening, and he learned of Adam.

Without going into further detail on the subject of Adam and subsequently Eve and sin entering mankind, I’ll press forward on how the fallen “seek”.

First and foremost, they are looking for Believers. The lost are easy prey and do not require much effort. So the roaming and seeking are for those who Believe in God, especially those who are devout, and Clergy members.

So how do the fallen go about attempting to “devour”?

They are continuously exploiting every avenue of who you are, searching for weakness. First from the common knowledge they have of man, then the understanding they have of us as individuals. They exploit any and all areas; they will use anything and anyone to try and achieve their destructive goal.

They…

Entice

Lure

Tempt

Manipulate

Whisper to your spirit

Whisper to your humanity (this generally happens while you are sleeping)

Set traps

Encourage self-desires

Deceive

Frustrate

Lie

Confuse

Divert

Exhaust

Destroy, even Murder

And they do these relentlessly.

Any possible way they can turn you from God is within the realm of possibility! Remember Satan Hates God, man is just a tool to manifest that hatred. Satan is not mad at God for having been kicked out of Heaven.

Satan understands exactly who God is and His Holy Sovereignty. Satan hates God because he knew/knows he could not be like God. He could not be as powerful as God or worshiped as God, without God making it happen, and God said NO!

Satan uses our flesh against us. This is why reading, knowing, meditating on, and understanding God’s Word is of dire importance!

In James 7 we are told, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We resist Satan by the Word of God and the power contained in it!

When Christ was tempted by Satan, Jesus turned him by quoting Scripture. The Word of God has power on Earth and in the spiritual realm!

Prayer and understanding God’s Holy Word is our defense against evil. Keep in mind that Satan only hates us because God loves us, and Satan is jealous.

Why did I stipulate that Satan focuses on Believers and Clergy? The answer is simple—because we are the only ones out in the world sharing God’s word, trying to live Godly lives and give understanding of Salvation. That in itself hinders the fallen in their efforts, so of course it draws their attention.

We do have a means of battling the fallen. This is explained in Ephesians 6:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For 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.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Another good way to ease the defeat the fallen try to cause in us is to limit our exposure of evil itself. It is so very important to restrict our children’s exposure and access to evil sights and sounds, and if great lengths are taken to do so, this provides far fewer avenues for the principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness to successfully attack them as they grow older.

There is an old children’s song that was learned in many Sunday schools that says, “be careful little ears what you hear”, “be careful little eyes what you see”. This is so absolutely important and necessary to prevent Satan and his minions from stealing our children and teens. Limiting exposure to evil is important for us as well. A strong Christian is a formidable foe for the devil.

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

In closing, there are only two sides, Good and Evil, and the only real decision-making capabilities we have is in choosing which side we will serve!

“If you’re not sold out to Jesus, then you are still on sale to the Devil.”

Kenneth Kellar
A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple