Messages from the Prince of this World. Supernatural physical strength. Unbridled, uncontrollable anger
Answered by Vasily Yunak, 06/11/2007
3.151. Elaina (eleina_2@???.com) writes: "Who is the 'prince of this world'? () What does it mean: 'I have conquered the world'? (Jn 16:33)"
Initially, Adam () was supposed to be the ruler or ruler of the earth. According to God's plan, a person was not supposed to die, but to multiply until the whole earth was populated by people. Adam, as the first man, would have been the ruler of mankind. But Adam sinned by submitting to Satan, thereby giving him his position as the ruler of the earth. Moreover, sin brought death to the earth (), and Adam died. Now Satan has become the ruler of the earth, and until some time he was her representative on the heavenly council (). This is why Jesus calls Satan the prince of the world. But I said "until some time" because at Calvary Satan was defeated and cast out of heaven ( ; ). Since then, Jesus Christ () has become the legitimate King of the earth, although Satan has been trying to convince people for some time that he is the owner of our earth. But Satan knows that his time is numbered ().
"I have said this to you so that you may have peace in Me. In the world you will have sorrow; but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world" (). Homonyms are words that sound the same but different meaning. Such are the words "peace" - peace, in the sense of the universe, and peace, in the sense of rest. IN this case, at first we are talking about the SPIRITUAL WORLD, that is, the rest that Christ offers, and then about the WORLDLY SPIRIT, which Christ conquered. Here is a similar text: “I do not pray that You take them out of the world, but that You save them from evil. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (). So, the meaning of our text is this: "Be at peace, being with Me. On earth you will have enough sorrows, but do not be afraid, I have already defeated the source of evil that does all this on earth."
Read more on the topic "Satan and demons":
St. John Chrysostom
Art. 31-32 now judgment is for this world: now the prince of this world will be cast out: and if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself
Now there is judgment for this world: now the prince of this world will be cast down (art. 31). What does this have to do with the words: glorify and glorify? Very close and very tight. Since He said: glorify, it also shows the very method of glorification. What is the way? He says that he will be overthrown. What does it mean: judgment is for this world? How would he say: there will be judgment and vengeance. How is it and how? (The Devil) slew the first man, finding him guilty of sin (since death entered through sin). But he did not find this in me; why did he attack me and put me to death? Why did you put into the soul of Judas the idea of destroying me? Do not tell me now that God arranged it this way, that this is not the work of the devil, but of God's Wisdom. For now, let us consider only the thought of this evil being. So how is the world judged in Me? The devil, as if in judgment, will be told: let you put to death all, because you found them guilty of sin; but why did he kill Christ? Isn't that obviously unfair? Therefore, through Him you will have vengeance for the whole world. And to make it clearer, I will explain with an example. Imagine some savage tyrant who subjects everyone who comes across to him to various cruelties. If this person, having met the king or the king's son, unjustly kills him, then the death of this latter can avenge him for all the others. Imagine again that some creditor, recovering from his debtors, will beat them and put them in prison; then, out of the same cruelty, he will also imprison the one who does not owe him at all. In this case, he will also be punished for what he did to others - namely, that he will kill him.
So it was exactly with the Son (of God). Because of what the devil dared to do to Christ, he will be punished for everything he has done to us. And that (Christ) points to just this is evident from the fact that He says: now the prince of this world will be cast down by my death. And if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself(v. 32), that is, the Gentiles. And lest someone say: how will he be cast down if he also overcomes you? - says: will not win; and can it be, when I also draw others to Myself? And he does not speak about the resurrection, but about what is more important than the resurrection: I will draw everything to myself. If he had said, I will rise again, it would not yet be seen that they would believe in him, but, having said, they will believe, he thus spoke both, that he would rise again, because if he remained dead and was common man then no one would believe. I will draw everything to myself. But how does He say that the Father attracts? This means that the Father attracts when the Son attracts. I will draw them, He says, because they are held by a tyrant, and by themselves they cannot come and free themselves from his hands, because he does not let them in. In another place it is called (Christ) theft. No one can plunder the strong vessels, unless he binds the strong first, and then his vessels will be plundered.(Mk. 3, 27) - this is what He says, depicting the power (of the enemy). Therefore, what He called robbery there, here He calls attraction.
Bliss. Theophylact of Bulgaria
Evfimy Zigaben
Now there is judgment for this world
Now comes the condemnation of the people of this world through the condemnation of Me. For all other people, death is the punishment for sin: all have sinned and by sin death is seen(Rom. 3, 23; 5, 12), but in no case for Me, because I have never sinned. And since the devil brought Me to death, although I always remained sinless, now, at the present time, he will be punished for the injustice done to Me, it is he who will lose his power. And this condemnation of the devil for the offense done to Me is at the same time the condemnation for the offense inflicted by the devil on the first ancestors and the entire human race.
Now the prince of this world will be cast out
from the power he acquired through seduction. As he himself once deprived the ancient Adam of power over the world through the fruit of the tree, so now the new Adam has deprived him of the same power through the tree of the Cross, healing the disobedience of the progenitor with His obedience.
Ep. Mikhail (Luzin)
Now is the judgment of this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out
Now- now: the near future - the death and glorification of the Lord - is already presented as having come and is expressed with solemn confidence in victory; now - by the cross and death, resurrection and ascension - judgment is being made on the world and on the prince of the world - the devil. Court over the world and the devil - this is a designation of the greatest moral upheaval in humanity, a turning point in its spiritual life. Now the court, by speech connection - condemnation, over this world- over unbelieving and anti-Christian humanity of this age, or common - over all mankind. The Cross of Christ will serve for all mankind - for salvation by faith by one, for condemnation for unbelief by others, and - in this is the judgment on the world, the actual judgment - in the moral consciousness of mankind (cf. John 3:18-19); the victory of the cause of the Messiah over everything hostile to Him, the victory gained through death, the whole world that does not believe in Christ will be convicted in all the impotence of its enmity against Christ, and - in this condemnation of the world, the actual, in his moral self-consciousness (cf. John 16:33). This victory of Christ over the world through His death must be experienced especially prince of this world whose power over the world is put to an end by the death of Christ and His subsequent glory, because by His death the redemption of the world was accomplished, the reconciliation of sinful mankind with a righteous God, by virtue of which all those who believe in redemption are freed from the power of the devil and are brought into communion with Christ (cf. John 12:32, Romans 5:12ff.). The prince of this world the devil is called, as possessing all mankind unbelieving and hostile to Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 4:14; Eph. 2:2; Eph. 6:12). This victory of Christ over the devil is expressed by the words: the prince of this world will be driven out, i.e. get out of the world, out of its hitherto realm. The expression points to the destruction of his power by the power of Christ, and, moreover, only in essence, and not in manifestations, in an ideal society or the Kingdom of Christ. By fellowship with Christ, believers are freed from the power of the devil, but this is only with the most perfect faith; and as perfection is not available to everyone, then the power of the devil in the world continues over the imperfect in proportion to their imperfection and over those who do not believe in Christ; believers, therefore, are granted only the possibility of liberation from the power of the devil by communion with Christ; This possibility is realized according to the measure and degree of faith and moral self-improvement of a person. That is why the victory of Christ proclaimed here over the world and the prince of the world, although the death and glorification of Christ actually took place and has come, but the Church of Christ in its temporary and gradual development in the world is still a militant Church and will be so until the end of the world and the last judgment; therefore, the places of the New Testament, which speak of the continuing power and activity in the world of the prince of this world (
Satan is the prince of this world. Some think that the Most High God is the prince of this world. If God were the prince of this world, then who will cast Him out? Of course, we are talking about Satan, not Jesus. Terrible things happen in the world, because the devil is the prince of this world, its god, and he does whatever he pleases. If there were no one to stop him (there would be no believers), then chaos would reign on earth.
Unbelievers often tell us: if God is God, if He is Almighty, Omniscient, why then do suffering, wars and other troubles exist on earth? Of course, the Creator of everything, God is the God of the Universe, but Satan is the temporary god of this world. He has a right to be here because man (Adam) gave him dominion over the whole world. And Satan legally rules the world, with the power that he received from Adam.
The devil has his own structure through which he rules the world. Let's open the Bible and see what this structure is:
Because our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spirits of wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6:12).
Here are the "helpers" of the devil. The authorities are the first category of his rulers and deputies; spiritual authorities, world rulers of the darkness of this world, and spirits of wickedness in high places are three more categories of Satan's rulers.
To these questions the Word of God gives a clear, exhaustive answer: "But even if our gospel is closed, it is closed to those who are perishing, to unbelievers, whose minds the God of this age has blinded, so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, does not shine on them. invisible.
Satan is "the god of this age", not because he is the creator of this age, but the ruler in it. "And, having lifted Him up to high mountain, the devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the universe in a moment of time, and the devil said to Him: I will give you power over all these [kingdoms] and their glory, for it is delivered to me, and I give it to whom I want; so if You bow down to me, then everything will be Yours."
How Satan blinds the minds Christ showed in a parable: "And what fell along the way, these are the hearers, to whom the devil then comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they would not believe and be saved;"
The Bible says, "The whole world lies in the power of the Evil One." And it specifically says who he is: "Called the Devil and Satan, misleading the whole inhabited earth" ( ).
When Jesus was tempted by the Devil, he did not deny that Satan rules this world. The Bible tells about it this way: “The Devil took him to an unusually high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and said to him:“ All this I will give you if you fall down and bow down to me. Then Jesus said to him: “Get away, Satan!” ( ).
Think about it. Satan tempted Jesus by offering him "All kingdoms peace". Would it be Satan's proposal temptation if in reality he was not the ruler of these kingdoms? Of course not. And note, Jesus did not deny that all these governments belong to Satan, which he certainly would have done if Satan had no power over them. Therefore, Satan the Devil is indeed the invisible ruler of the world! The Bible calls him "the god of this system of things" (). But how did such an evil person achieve such a powerful position?
Satan was once an angel created by God, but then he became jealous of God's position. He questioned the legitimacy of God's government. Through the serpent, he deceived the first woman, Eve. Adam and Eve began to do his will, and not the will of God ( ). Satan also declared that he could turn all the descendants of Adam and Eve away from God. Therefore, God gave him time to prove the truth of his statement, but Satan failed ( ).
It should be noted that Satan does not rule the world alone. He managed to win over other angels to his side. These angels became demons, his accomplices. Speaking of them, the Bible strongly advises Christians to “resist the intrigues of the Devil, for we are not fighting against blood and flesh, but... With rulers darkness of this world co evil spiritual forces which are within the heavenly limits ”().
These invisible evil rulers are determined to continue to deceive all of humanity from the worship of God.
As the Bible shows, the reign of the devil will end at Armageddon, where he will be bound in inactivity for 1000 years, and at the end will be released. Why?
Imagine that during the existence of mankind, there have always been people who wanted to sincerely serve God. But many were illiterate and could not search the Scriptures. For a long time and Scripture itself was forbidden. Many were deceived by religious leaders, as a result of which they did not pleasing to God. Are they worthy of being destroyed? I think no. Although they died in a state of unrighteousness.
GENERAL Patton was one of the most brilliant generals of the Second World War. He participated in hostilities as part of the allied forces. The outstanding military tactician of Germany at that time was Rommel. Some military historians believe that among all the generals Nazi Germany there was no more dangerous, cunning and insidious than Rommel. His successful military actions in the desert of North Africa were widely known, he was even called the "Desert Fox". But General Patton managed to lure German army into a trap and crushed it. The question arises: how was General Patton able to win such an incredible victory? Very simple. George Patton himself said this to Rommel: "Rommel, I've read your whole book!" The victory was made possible because Patton learned the tactics of his enemy. If a Christian wants to defeat his invisible enemies, Satan and his army, he too needs to learn their tactics. In the book of books, the Bible, we can find everything we need to win the spiritual war against the forces of evil.
“…Because our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spirits of wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Definitions
World history knows many battles and battles between the warring countries: the war between France and England, the seizure of Poland by Germany, the German attack on Russia, nuclear explosion in Hiroshima... This incredibly long list is full of cruelty and violence. In the Bible, we can also see how "the prince of this world" - Satan wages a relentless war against the "Kingdom of God" (the phrase "Kingdom of God" occurs 67 times in the New Testament). These two terms, "this world" and "Kingdom of God," represent on the pages of the Bible two sides in a state of continuous conflict. To protect yourselves, you must be careful and wise, you must know Satan's intentions, study in detail the plans of his battles. Some might say, “How can I know Satan's intentions? Even if he exists, will he reveal them to me?” You can and should know the intentions of the "prince of this world", this will be revealed to you by the Bible, which tells about spiritual warfare. And if you are attentive, you will understand why there are people who do not want to hear about God, do not go to Him, do not believe in Jesus Christ. This happens because:
“…the god of this age has blinded the minds, so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, should not shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
A. Battle
In the army, recruits are taught the art of war: how to put on military equipment, how to properly use weapons, and how to become a disciplined fighter. An army is impossible without discipline. At the same time, new warriors must learn the tactics of the enemy and the dangers they may face on the battlefield. There is no big difference in what kind of war it is, whether it takes place in the physical world or the spiritual one, one thing is important - to prepare well for it. Only a trained warrior is able to fight successfully and win. Wise Christians need to know how they can fight and win spiritual warfare.
Question: What is "spiritual warfare"?
Answer: Spiritual warfare is an ongoing conflict, aggression against humanity on the part of its enemies - the world, sinful flesh and Satan, the purpose of which is:
To keep unbelievers from accepting Christ into their hearts and fellowshipping with Him.
Prevent Christians from growing in Christ and bearing fruit.
To present Christians as fruitless and ineffective. Our task is to resist evil with the help of God and overcome it both in ourselves and in the world.
“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of the light…” (Ephesians 5:8).
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…” (Ephesians 6:11)
B. Three adversaries of man
The Greek word "cosmos" - the world has in the Bible next value- "Earth, Earth and people living on earth.
This word also has another meaning. invisible world controlled by Satan. The sole purpose of Satan and his world is to oppose God and His rules.
“Adulterers and adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity against God? So whoever wants to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy to God” (James 4:4).
The Greek word "sarx" - flesh, in a number of texts of the Holy Scriptures is used to refer to the physical body of a person.
The flesh, prompting a person to seek his own, and not God's, is the source of sin in every person, regardless of whether he is saved or not.
In Romans 7:18-25, the Greek word "sarx" refers to a person's body, not his sinful nature.
“For I know that it does not live in me, that is, in my flesh [sarks] good; because I have a desire for good, but I do not find it to do it” (Romans 7:18).
The Hebrew word "satan" means "adversary or enemy." Satan is the main opponent of God and the spiritual leader of the forces of evil.
Satan is the supreme angel created by God, He rebelled against God, but was defeated and cast down to earth. The Bible calls him "the prince of the power of the air" because God gave him some authority for a certain time. The Gospel of Matthew describes how Satan tempted Jesus Christ with wealth, power, and glory. The Lord answers Satan:
“... Get away from Me, Satan; For it is written: Worship the Lord thy God, and serve Him alone. (Matthew 4:10)
Demons are evil spirits, fallen angels who rebelled against God along with Satan, their leader, and continue to carry out all his orders. IN Greek the word "demon" corresponds to the word "diamonion", which means "spirit".
“Then he will also say to those who left side: Depart from me, you cursed, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels..."(Matthew 25:41).
— NAMES OF SATAN IN THE BIBLE - Slanderer
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ, because slanderer our brethren, accusing them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10).
Lucifer - Angel of Light
(Lucifer means "light-bearer, son of the dawn, morning star")
“And no wonder: because Satan himself takes the form Angel of light…”(2 Corinthians 11:14).
Destroyer
(Abaddon and Apollyon mean "destroyer")
“She had the angel of the abyss as king over her; his name in Hebrew Abaddon, but in Greek Apollyon"(Revelation 9:11).
Devil
(In Greek, the word "diabolos" means "slanderer, slanderer") "..A devil, who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
dragon or great dragon
“And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought against them, but did not stand, and no place was found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent, called the devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world; he was cast out to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9).
Enemy
“... The enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, but the reapers are angels” (Matthew 13:39).
Sly
“Most of all, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all fiery arrows evil…”(Ephesians 6:16).
Father of lies
“Your father is the devil; and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and did not stand in the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks his own, for he is a liar and father lies" (John 8:44).
God of this age
“..For unbelievers who have a god this century blinded the minds so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, should not shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Son of the Dawn or Lucifer
“How did you fall from the sky, morning star, son dawn! crushed on the ground, trampling the nations” (Isaiah 14:12).
Murderer
"Your. father devil; and you want to do the desires of your father. He was homicide from the beginning, and did not stand in the truth, for the truth is not in him.” (John 8:44).
Prince of this world
“Now is the judgment of this world; now prince of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31).
prince of the power of the air
“And you, who are dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you once lived, according to the course of this world, according to the will the prince of the power of the air, spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived according to our carnal lusts, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest ... ”(Ephesians 2: 1-3).
Serpent
(Sometimes the phrase "ancient serpent" occurs.)
"He took the dragon, snake ancient, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years…” (Revelation 20:2).
Tempter
"And I came to Him tempter and said, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matthew 4:3).
Satan's Actions and Their Characteristics
Christians are well aware of the notion of spiritual stronghold.
“For we, who walk in the flesh, do not fight according to the flesh; the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but strong by God to destruction strongholds: by them we cast down thoughts and every high thing that rises up against the knowledge of God, and we bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).
What is a spiritual stronghold?
Spiritual Stronghold:
This is a mindset deeply rooted in the mind of a person that controls his behavior:
- worldly thoughts
- carnal thoughts
- satanic influence
Like well-trained soldiers, we need to be able to see and recognize the dangers that threaten the world, our flesh, and the devil. You need to know them and prepare in advance to repel the attacks of the forces of evil.
“The prudent sees trouble and hides; but the inexperienced go ahead and are punished” (Proverbs 27:12).
We must be prepared to fight the enemy three directions:
A. Fight against the WORLD
The word "world" refers to the worldly, carnal way of life, which is controlled by Satan.
“Love not the world, nor anything that is in the world; if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
One must learn to recognize the dangers threatening from the side of the world. The world tempts you with:
Encourages you to seek approval and comfort from those around you.
Requires you to submit to generally accepted worldly norms of behavior and standards of ethics of the surrounding society.
Forces you to adopt a worldly world view.
Pushes you to the search for wealth and prosperity.
Encourages you to seek and pursue power.
Makes you doubt the Word of God.
Confuses your mind: "For the word of the cross to those who perish is foolishness..." (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Inspires you that trust in God is tantamount to madness. “But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews, but foolishness to the Greeks…” (1 Cor. 1:23).
B. Wrestling with the FLESH
We have already said that:
To live according to the flesh means to live, trusting not in Christ, but in our own own forces and abilities.
The flesh, by prompting a person to seek his own, and not God's, is the source of sin in every person, regardless of whether he is saved or not.
We must be able to recognize the dangers that threaten us from the side of the flesh. (Galatians 5:19-21 and Mark 7:21-23)
C. Fighting Satan
We must be able to recognize the dangers that threaten from Satan.
1. Attacks Satan can be sent to:
For a person's soul:
- Influencing emotions, as a result of which a person can become confused in his feelings.
- Impact on the will of a person, with the aim of weakening it.
- Influencing the mind of a person, as a result of which his mind is endangered.
On the human body:
- Various diseases.
“And Satan departed from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with a fierce leprosy from the sole of his foot to the very top of his head” (Job 2:7).
2. "Strongholds" in the person himself, giving Satan Opportunity to work from within
Periodic intrusion into a person's thoughts and manipulation of them.
Various fears, phobias - excessive and often exaggerated fear.
Forcing a person to do something.
Addictions (alcoholism, drug addiction, etc.)
“When angry, do not sin: let not the sun go down in your anger; and not
give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:26-27).
3. Complete control Satan over man (man becomes his property and possession):
Mental disorder.
A sudden change in a person's personality.
The inexplicable attachment of a person to one or another type of occultism.
catatonic states
Terrible visions / nightmares.
Supernatural abilities (such as telepathy)
Constant feeling fear.
Unbridled, uncontrollable anger.
Supernatural physical strength.
Insensitivity to pain.
Convulsions and seizures.
Speaking in a strange language (which does not exist on earth).
Loss of the ability to control your body (convulsions, twitches or involuntary scratching due to constant itching).
Violent anger and falling into a rage at the mention of the name of Jesus Christ and
everything related to God.
“And when He came ashore, a man from the city met Him, having been possessed by demons for a long time, and who had not put on clothes, and who did not live in a house, but in tombs” (Luke 8:27).
Question: Can a Christian be possessed by demons, fall under the complete control of Satan and the forces of evil?
Answer: In the Bible, we will not find such a case that a true Christian was possessed by demons. We can find evidence in it of how, on one occasion or another, the children of God could fall under the influence of Satan and be completely possessed by demons - never. Christians are saved by God and delivered from the power of Satan and darkness, they have become part of God's Kingdom of light and love. The Holy Spirit, constantly living in the hearts of believers, is the protection of every true Christian from the devil and his servants. That is why Satan cannot completely take over the heart and soul of such a person.
“Thanks to God and the Father, who called us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light, who delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of His beloved Son…” (Colossians 1:13)
Question: When will spiritual warfare end?
Answer: Today, the Kingdom of God is already present on earth, at the same time as that of Satan. But the time will come when God will eradicate all evil and condemn Satan and his army - the spirits of evil, and then He will cast them into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7 - 21:8). Then all that will come to an end
today seems normal and natural, God will create a new
earth and new heaven.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death; neither
there will be no more weeping, no outcry, no sickness, for the former is gone.”
(Revelation 21:4).
Causes of failure in spiritual warfare
The Battle of Waterloo is considered final defeat army of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France. After the rain, the battlefield turned into a viscous, impenetrable mess. Because of this, Napoleon delayed the entry of heavy artillery into hostilities. Delay led to defeat: while the emperor waited, his opponents joined forces. As a result, the number of their troops was twice that of the French army.
Spiritual warfare is constantly going on between Christians and the forces of evil. The battlefield is in our minds. If a person does not fight every thought directed against God, does not capture it "into the obedience of Christ," this can lead him to the "defeat at Waterloo."
“... I conjure you by the Lord so that you no longer act as other nations act, according to the vanity of your mind, being darkened in your mind, alienated from the life of God, because of their ignorance and hardness of their hearts; they, having reached insensibility, indulged in debauchery so that they do all kinds of uncleanness with insatiability. But you didn't know Christ that way. Because you have heard of Him and learned from Him, because the truth is in Jesus,— put off the old way of life of the old man, which is corrupted in deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, created according to God, in righteousness and holiness of truth" (Ephesians 4:17-24).
A. The emergence in the human heart of "strongholds" used by Satan.
“When angry, do not sin: let not the sun go down in your anger; and give no place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:26-27).
The battle always starts in the mind
Thoughts (false ideas) appear in the human mind under the influence of the surrounding world, the flesh and Satan.
Man does it willingly choice, accepting or rejecting thoughts that arise.
habits- These are actions performed by a person almost automatically. Habits are developed by a person when he constantly makes a choice in favor of certain actions in accordance with certain thoughts that arise in his mind.
"Strongholds" that give Satan the opportunity to actively operate in a person's life, arise when his deeply rooted habits begin to control his actions.
Bible example: King Saul(1 Samuel chapters 9,10,18,19, 28, 31)
Saul, son of Kish, was God's chosen king of Israel. At the very beginning of his reign, he was a humble ruler who freed his people from the Ammonites. When the young man David successfully marched against the army of the Philistines, Saul himself personally contributed to his advancement, making him one of the supreme commanders in the army of Israel. But over time, David's popularity increased, which aroused jealousy in the heart of Saul. Bitter jealousy led Saul to a shameful act - an attempt on the life of David (such was the choice made by Saul). The first attempt was followed by a series of actions that became familiar to him, which were aimed at destroying the young boy. Why did this become possible? Saul saw him as his enemy. Senseless, unjustified fear and distrust completely captured the mind of the Israeli king (the so-called "strongholds" arose), haunting the soul until the end of his days. Sudden and uncontrollable anger, fear, envy, inability to forgive, confusion in the soul and pride open the doors of every person's heart to Satan and allow demonic forces to take over his life. And the king of Israel was no exception. driven evil spirit, he turned to the sorceress for advice and help, despite the fact that such actions were prohibited both by the state laws of Israel and the commandments of God given in the Holy Scriptures. The consequences of this were dire.
“So Saul died for his iniquity, which he did before the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord and turned to the sorceress with a question, and did not seek the Lord. Therefore He put him to death and gave the kingdom to David the son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
Question: I constantly fail when I try to fight the thoughts that come into my mind. How can I defeat them?
Answer: Reread the short Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians every day. Ask God to speak through it to your heart. The Bible can be compared to a mirror that reflects the true picture of spiritual values. In James 1:23-24 we read the following: "For whoever hears the word and does not do it is like a man who examines the natural features of his face in a mirror: he looked at himself, turned away and immediately forgot what he was."
B. Main causes of lesions
1. PASSION FOR THE WORLD
- Wrong belief:
Happiness is the highest goal of my life on earth. The criteria for success and well-being that the world around me offers are the measure of my happiness.
But the Bible says:
“Adulterers and adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity against God? So whoever wants to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy to God” (James 4:4).
2. CONDITIONS AND APPRECIATION OF THE FLESH
- Wrong belief:
I have every right to fulfill my desires.
But the Bible says:
“The righteousness of the upright will save them, but the lawless will be caught by their iniquity” (Proverbs 11:6).
3. UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF SATAN
- Wrong belief:
The devil is just a myth that only uneducated people and religious fanatics believe in.
But the Bible says:
“Whoever commits sin is from the devil, because the devil sinned first. For this reason the Son of God appeared, to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
— Correct Belief:
When I fully rely on Christ, He gives me the strength to resist any attacks of Satan, to overcome spiritual strongholds. I will be very careful and vigilant to resist any thoughts that are not Divine truth.
“A wise man enters the city of the strong and overthrows the stronghold in which they trusted” (Proverbs 21:22).
Question: Why sometimes an evil spirit does not leave a person, despite all attempts to exorcise him?
Answer: Sometimes, intensified prayer is required for the final victory over the forces of evil. There is an example in the Bible of how a young man, possessed by an evil spirit, threw himself into fire and water, convulsing. The spirit of evil wanted to destroy him. To the question of the disciples: “Why were we not able to cast him out?” “Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out except by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).
Ways to solve the problem
In spiritual warfare God has already won the victory, but despite this, we are called to be warriors in the army of Jesus Christ to fight evil in modern world. In any strong army, the warriors are fully armed and prepared for battle. You and I must also be very carefully prepared for the fight and armed with the weapons that the Lord offers us. We also have a uniform uniform and our own armor. Our task is to put on them.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…” (Ephesians 6:10-11).
A. Key Bible verse to memorize:
"Children! you are from God, and you have overcome them; for the one
Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world"
(1 John 4:4).
B. Key text from the Bible for reading and repetition:
(Ephesians 6:10-18)
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the wiles of the devil, because our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spirits of wickedness in high places. For this, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day and, having overcome everything, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having your feet shod in readiness to preach the gospel of peace; above all, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the spirit, and strive for this very thing with all constancy and prayer for all the saints ... "
GOD'S PRINCIPLES FOR SPIRITUAL WAR
First: Trust in God to Lead You to Victory
(Ephesians 6:10).
Pray often that God will protect and support you.
Ask God for help in overcoming fear and despair in the face of difficulties.
Ask God to grant you His wisdom and insight.
Offer intercessory prayers for others.
Second: Know who your true enemy is(Ephesians 6:11-12).
People who perish in sin are not your real enemies.
Sinning Christians are not your enemy.
Politicians are not your enemies either.
Satan, sin, and evil spirits are your true enemies.
Third: Put on “the whole armor of God” and be ready for battle at any moment(Ephesians 6:13-17).
Gird yourself with the girdle of truth, to skillfully fight the lies of Satan.
- Memorize the Word of God and meditate on it constantly.
- Handle complaints and accusations with caution.
- Be responsible for your mistakes and failures.
— in every life situation maintain honesty, sincerity and chastity.
Put on the breastplate of righteousness, to overcome temptation.
- Build a right relationship with God (recognizing the sins that the Lord points out to you and repenting of them).
Live and act according to God's principles, not according to your desires and aspirations.
- Eliminate from your life everything that is not holy.
Let the righteousness of Christ be the foundation of your righteousness.
Shoe your feet in readiness to bring the gospel of peace and know that God is always with you.
Seek to repair broken relationships with those around you.
Pray for your enemies.
IN conflict situations act with mercy and compassion.
Be confident and calm, knowing that God is in control of all situations and events that arise in life.
Take the shield of faith to fight back doubt and unbelief.
- Accept with faith everything that the Lord tells you and be obedient to Him.
Resist the temptation to follow your will and your desires.
Let God decide what to do and when.
Trust God, let Him work through you.
And take the helmet of salvation, to protect your mind from the attacks of the evil one.
“Be firmly convinced that you are saved by Christ.
— Do not doubt that the Lord has "prepared a place for you in heaven" as one of His children.
“Know that you are free from punishment for the sins you have committed in the past if you have repented and accepted Christ into your heart by faith. Christ atoned for your sin by his death on the cross.
“Know that you are free from the power of sin—you are no longer slaves of sin.
Use in your fight against evil spiritual sword.
— Have a thirst for the study of the Word of God.
—Know all the passages of Holy Scripture that help you resist temptations.
- Memorize passages and verses from the Bible to be able to defend your faith.
“You need to know how you can use the Scriptures to bring others to Jesus Christ.
Fourth: Pray constantly (Ephesians 6:18).
“You need to make it a rule to pray about everything.
C- In prayer, ask God for wisdom and special insight about what to do and what not to do.
- After praying, be sure to expect an answer to your prayer, and God will answer you (if you listen carefully).
— Be constant in prayer; remember that God is always with you.
C. Overcoming the temptations of PEACE
“For everyone who is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that conquered the world, our faith. Who conquers the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)
DIRECT your eyes on Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that came into being” (John 1:1).
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14).
RECOGNIZE the truth that Jesus has already triumphed over the world and its temptations.
“I have said this to you so that you may have peace in Me. In the world you will have sorrow; but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
CLOTHING WITH Christ. His victory is your victory.
TRUST completely in the truths contained in the Word of God.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16).
LIVE following the Word of God, according to his commandments, different from the norms and laws of the surrounding world.
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
Question: If I feel that people dear to my heart are experiencing spiritual problems, attacks from the forces of evil, how can I pray for them? Will my prayer be helpful?
ANSWER: Yes, your prayer will be a great support and help for those who are in struggle. Pray especially that the faith of those close to you will not weaken. Jesus gave us a wonderful example of this kind of prayer when he prayed for his friend, the apostle Peter. And the Lord said: Simon! Simon! Behold, Satan asked to sow you like wheat, but I prayed for you that your faith would not fail; and once you have turned back, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32).
PRAYER FOR VICTORY OVER THE WORLD My dear Heavenly Father,
I ask You to help me overcome all worldly thoughts and avoid their harmful influence. I know that Satan is the father of lies. And when I read Your infallible Word with faith, You open my eyes and show me the falsity of the promises that the world gives. Save me from doubt and hesitation. I don't want to be a double minded person trying to please both the world and You, my Lord. I believe that if I place myself and my life in Your hands, my Christ, You will mold Your character in me. Thank You, my Father, for loving me, choosing me and helping me out of the world. Thank You for making me a child of God, accepting me into Your heavenly family, and giving me the Holy Spirit to instruct, teach, and guide me on the right path. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
D. Overcoming the Temptations of the FLESH
RECOGNIZE the fact that there is a struggle going on between the Holy Spirit and your "carnal" habits.
“But those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with passions and lusts” (Galatians 5:24).
REALIZE that you were born with a sinful nature and naturally prone to sin.
“…For the flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the flesh: they oppose one another, so that you do not what you would like to do” (Galatians 5:17).(The flesh is a sinful nature.)
ACCEPT Jesus Christ as your personal Savior who atoned for your sin.
“…For narrow is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14).
ACCEPT by faith that your sinful nature was crucified and died with Christ on the cross.
“... Knowing that our old man was crucified with Him, so that the sinful body would be abolished, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died has been set free from sin” (Romans 6:6-7).
ACCEPT by faith the power of the risen Christ and let it break the power of sin over you.
“Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
THANK God for the new nature that has been given to you.
“Great and precious promises have been given to us, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
CONFIRM by your life that you are a new creation in Christ Jesus.
“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation; the old has passed away, now everything is new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
ASK Jesus Christ in your heart for help in overcoming the selfish habits that drive you to fulfill the desires and lusts of the flesh.
“I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Question: If God knows how weak our flesh is, why does He tempt us with sin?
Answer: God doesn't tempt anyone. Satan is called the tempter in the Bible. We sin when, instead of avoiding sin, we give in - we begin to follow our desires, the lusts of our own flesh.
“In temptation, no one says: God is tempting me; For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one, but every one is tempted by being carried away and deceived by his own lust…” (James 1:13-14).
PRAYER FOR VICTORY OVER THE FLESH
My dear Heavenly Father,
I don't want to believe the lie that one can live a wonderful life relying only on one's own strength while being away from You. I place my whole self in Christ's hands to rule my life. I am fully aware that I cannot overcome sin on my own. Thank You, O My Christ, for the fact that You live in my heart, support me, give me the strength to overcome sinful desires and inclinations. Thank You, Jesus, for not only redeeming me for sin, but also freeing me from the power of sin. What's more, You said that I was "dead" to sin and should no longer sin.
Holy Spirit, free me from everything that is not pleasing to You, from everything that prevents me from becoming like Christ. I choose the path of complete dependence on You, My Lord, and give up relying on my abilities and my strength.
Help me to fully submit to the Spirit of Christ at work in my heart. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
E. Resist Satan
The basis of any victory on the battlefield is knowledge weaknesses your enemy. Although Satan is the most powerful of all beings created by God, he is vulnerable. Understanding that his powers and knowledge are limited gives us the courage to stand firm against the devil's attacks.
“Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).
Satan is not omnipotent
Satan is very powerful, but cannot be more powerful than the God who created him. Jesus Christ has triumphed over Satan. The Lord dwells in believers by the Holy Spirit, He gives us strength to endure all temptations and resist Satan.
"Children! you are from God, and you have overcome them; For greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Satan is not omnipresent
Satan is a fallen angel, but angels cannot be everywhere at the same time.
“And the Lord said to Satan: Where did you come from? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, I have walked on the earth, and have gone round it” (Job 1:7).
Satan is not omniscient
Satan has been called "the angel of light." This may mean that he was agile, intelligent and capable. However, sin so struck him that he directed all his abilities to fight with God. “Your heart has been lifted up because of your beauty, because of your vanity you have destroyed your wisdom; Therefore I will cast you to the ground; before kings I will put you to shame” (Ezekiah 28:17).
Satan's power is limited
Satan cannot influence Christians unless God allows him to.
“And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your hand; but do not stretch out your hand on him. And Satan departed from the presence of the Lord” (Job 1:12).
Satan can't stand resistance
Satan's favorite thing is to involve a person in arguments or discussions. You can never win a battle with Satan by relying only on your own strength. You will only repel his attacks if you abide in Christ.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Satan hates and cannot bear the blood of Christ
When the blood of Jesus Christ flowed from His tortured body at Calvary, Satan lost his last opportunity to defeat Christ. Despite the fact that Satan repeatedly tempted Jesus, the Lord remained without sin. The blood of Christ is a testimony and a sign of complete victory over Satan.
Satan is defeated when Christians' lives testify to their faith and loyalty to the Lord
Satan rejoices when Christians complain, murmur, swear and criticize each other, but he is defeated when true believers testify with their lives about Christ, thank and glorify God for the blood of Jesus Christ, with which he washed them, granting full forgiveness of sins.
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and did not love their souls even unto death” (Revelation 12:11).
Question: Does Satan have the power to read our minds?
Answer: The Bible says that only God knows what is in the heart of every person. Even though Satan has the highest intelligence (Ezekiah 28:12), he is still a created angel. We know that no creation of God has divine abilities. King Solomon, who was extraordinarily wise, said the following: "... for You alone know the heart of all the sons of men." (1 Kings 8:39)
Never, never, never let the thought of defeat
if you fight against the strongholds that the evil one has built in you.
Confess before the Lord recognize existence
these strongholds in you and ask Christ to wash you
With His pure blood. By the power of Christ defeat them.
Since you are soldiers of Christ, your Commander-in-Chief will give you
and instructions on how to act, and the strength to win back
territory occupied by the enemy.
Who still rules this world? If God, then why in the prayer "Our Father" there is a line: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Why is the devil called the prince of this world?
Priest Afanasy Gumerov, a resident of the Sretensky Monastery, answers:
In the sacred New Testament books, the word world is used in two meanings: 1. cosmological and 2. spiritual and moral.
1. The world of God, the cosmos, created by the all-wise Creator, the whole universe. This world has its own laws and enduring beauty. He was meant by the Lord when he said: “Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, it will be said, in her memory, and about what she did” (Mark 14:9). God loves this world so much that “he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God is the Lord of heaven, earth and the underworld, i.e. the entire created world. The psalmist speaks of this: “If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I go down to hell, and there you are. If I take the wings of the dawn and move to the edge of the sea, and there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will hold me ”(Ps. 139: 8-10).
2. The world is a part of humanity that has fallen away from God: “He [the Comforter], when he comes, will convict the world about sin and about righteousness and about judgment: about sin, that they do not believe in Me” (John 16: 8-9). The affairs of this world evil (John 7:7) and subject to judgment. According to St. Apostle "the whole world lies in evil" (1 John 5:19). That is why he says: “Love not the world, nor the things in the world; if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). The world hates the disciples of Christ. The Savior calls them to courage: “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
The devil is called the prince of the world (John 14:30), ruler of the darkness of this world(Eph. 6:12) because he rules over the part of humanity that has fallen away from God. People who are far from spiritual life, even to a small extent, do not realize how much their deeds, thoughts and even feelings are guided by ruler of darkness and his servants. They are convinced of their "freedom" and really do not like to hear about it, considering it all far-fetched. However, this is open to the spiritual gaze of the saints. “Abba Anthony told about himself: I saw all the nets of the devil stretched out over the earth; seeing this, I sighed and said: woe to the human race! who can free himself from these networks? To this I was told: humility is saved from them and they cannot even touch it. otechnik). St. Macarius the Great writes: “God watches over him who, in the jungle of this world, in any case, beware of snares and snares, who with fear and trembling works out his salvation(Phil. 2, 11), with all diligence bypasses the snares, snares and lusts of this world, seeks the Lord's help and, by the mercy of the Lord, hopes to be saved by grace ”(Spiritual Conversations. Conversation 4.5).
Words Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth- a prayer request. We pray to the Heavenly Father to enable us to fulfill His holy will on earth. Tertullian explains: “We cry out that Thy will be done, not because anyone could interfere with the will of God, but we pray that His will be done in all of us.<...>So that we can fulfill this, we need the will of God (in favor and help).
