I am excited about this next post. This was where God had me stop and take a second to learn more about our enemy the Devil. I hope you get as much out of it as we did when we studied it. Of course with so much to learn about him, we only scratched the surface.

                                 Genesis 3-Our Enemy

Let's review what we have learned so far.

1. There is a beginning to the world and all that is in it. Gen. 1:1
2. God created all things including the heavens, the earth, plants, animals and humans. It was very good. Gen. 1
3. The Trinity can be seen from the beginning. Gen. 1:1
4. God gives dominion over all things on earth to Adam.
5. 7 literal days of creation.

6. The LORD has two names now to describe His character:

• Elohim-Creator God
• Yahweh- Personal God

7. Our personal God forms man with His own hands out of dirt like a clay potter.
8. Our personal God breathes His Spirit into us giving us the breath of Life.
9. God creates the garden of Eden complete with 2 trees:

• The Tree of Life
• The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

10. God gives the first command: Do not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
11. The garden has 4 rivers flowing from it.

• Pishon
• Gihon
• Tigris
• Euphrates

12. God creates woman out of the side of Adam.

       Today we are moving into chapter 3-The Fall of Man.

      After much prayer I feel that the Holy Spirit wants me to slow this one down and break it into 2 lessons. This is so important to our faith that we should take some time and let it sink into us.            

     These past couple of days I was at the home school conference and felt very affirmed that we are on the right track with this study. Do you know who Ken Ham is? He is the creation scientist that founded the Creation Museum. He made the point several times of saying and I quote “Nation wide polls and denominational reports are showing that the next generation is calling it quits on the traditional church and it's not just happening on the nominal fringe. It's happening at the core of the faith.” This quote is from his book Already Gone, which I intend to purchase soon. But he says the reason for the exodus from the church is because of the weak foundation of core beliefs. Today in America we have one of 2 foundations to stand on.

     The World's Word or God's Word. We are at war with the world word but if we do not stand firm on the whole of God's Word and we choose to take a part out we will crumble and fall and lose the battle. “The core of our belief system must start where God's word starts” Ken Ham. In the beginning, that is where it begins. If you would like more information about Ken Ham, his books and beliefs check out Answers in Genesis. I came away confirmed and empowered. So today we are going to take some time and talk about our #1 enemy and adversary-The Devil. Let's read Gen. 3 in it's entirety. Here we are now introduced to a new character in the history of mankind.

     Gen. 3:1 tells us a serpent is now on the scene. So what is this serpent that can talk? Rev. 12:9

                  Satan means adversary& has many names: 

• The Great Dragon-Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:2

• That Ancient Serpent-Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:2 
• The Devil-Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:2, 1Peter 5:8 
• Satan-Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:2, Luke 10:18, Job 1:6&7
• Our Enemy-1Peter 5:8
• Prince of this World- John 12:31
• Masquerades as Angel of Light-2Cor.11:14
• Accuser- Job 3:1, Rev. 12:10
• Prince of Demons- Mark3:22, Matt. 12:24
• Ruler of the Kingdom of the air- Eph. 2:2
• Evil One- Matt. 6:13, Matt. 13:9
• Father of Lies- John 8:44
• Angel of Music- Is. 14:11-14

     So where did the Devil come from? Who created Satan?

      God created Satan as an angel to worship Him, not as evil

(Col. 1:16-17). Angels were created to do the will of God and to be His workers (Ps. 103:20-21). Angels do have a free will just like us but some of them chose by being deceived by Satan to follow him and fall with him (Jude 6). Some say that Ez. 28:11-19 is about Satan and his fall from grace and also Is. 14:9-20. He wanted to be like God or even higher than God. How did Satan show up as a serpent which was one of God's good creations?

Satan can enter into animals and people to do his evil work. For example Judas Iscariot (Luke 22:1-6) & (John 13:26-27). Satan can not however dwell or posses a believer. For two can not be in one, evil can not dwell with good (1Cor. 10:20-22). Evil can not be with God and since God is in us, evil has no place. So it is evident that the serpent is possessed by the devil so that he could do his evil work.

      We must know our enemy and his schemes. It is clear here in Gen. 3:1-6 that Eve is unaware of the enemies schemes. She didn't know that there was an enemy to be aware of. The first scheme we see is the devil coming through something innocent like the serpent. Then we see his planting doubt about God's word and what it really says. In vs. 1 he plants a subtle lie, twisting what God really said so that Eve would doubt God and His word. He twists it to “did God say you can not eat from any tree” instead of “The Tree”. It seems to work too because Eve answers him with the truth but also a twist of the words adding to what God said, “you must not touch it”. What did God really say? Gen. 2:16-17 the next part of his scheme is

planting desire. The desire to be like God, vs. 4. It works because she takes it and succumbs to the temptation.

       So here are the steps Satan took to deceive Eve.

                              1John 2:16

1. Seed of doubt of God's Word
2. Seed of desire-lust to the eyes-pleasure
3. Seed of pride- to be like God

      We see the enemy at work again with the same schemes.

                                              Luke 4:1-13

1. Seed of doubt of God's Word
2. Seed of desire-lust to the eyes-pleasure
3. Seed of pride- to be like God

     Where Eve failed, because she didn't stand on what God's words were, she fell into the temptation but Jesus being fully human knew God's Word and used it to battle Satan. This shows us the importance of knowing God's Word. It is our armor of God (Eph. 6:17). God's Word is our Sword of the Spirit(Is. 49:2).

      The enemy is strong and powerful but he is not like God. He is not all powerful, all knowing, all places. But he does know our weaknesses just like he did with Eve and tried with Jesus. Where Eve did not overcome the enemy we can by being aware of the enemy prowling around our lives (1Peter 5:8). knowing his schemes and overcoming him, fleeing from him and rebuking him (Jude9). The devil isn't really after us because of us. He wants to take as many down as he can because he hates God and that is who he is really waring against. If he can get God's children to fall he hurts God. He knows that his time is short and there is a lake of fire that awaits him (Matt. 25:41). His days are numbered and his evil will come to an end (Rev. 20:7-10).

      Satan is a created being by God to worship him like all the angels in heaven(Heb. 1:6, Ps. 148:2-5). They do God's work whatever He commands them to do. The devil has his fallen angels that we call demons to do his work (John 8:44). We must not think that the devil and his demons don't exist or he will have accomplished his first task, for us to doubt God's Word. Satan is crafty, cunning, sly with his schemes but we can overcome him by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. I know that we have barely scratched the subject of Satan and his evil schemes against us and God. I encourage you sisters, be aware of our enemy the devil as he prowls around the children of God looking for whom he can devour. Be on guard and put your Armor of God on daily. Knowing that we do not battle against flesh and blood (Eph. 6). The enemy will use whatever he can to cause us to stumble but take heart sisters, he can not snatch away a soul that is given over to God. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:37-38). Remember his soul purpose for believers is to take us out of commission and render us useless for the Kingdom of God. Stand firm on the Word of God. Know what God's Word really says. Rebuke the enemy when he comes at you and flee from him.

      Next week we will finish chapter 3. May God bless your study of His word.