HATH GOD SAID?

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 17 March 2013

Jim & Phyllida

Hi all,
Do you ever think about Satan? Have you wondered what type of creature he is or was? Many believe that Ezekiel 28 describes him. Ezekiel was referring to the King of Tyre when the message was written. In spite of this, it is commonly believed that the description alludes to Satan. If this is the case, it seems that we are too informal with this creature. He is referred to as the “cherub that covereth” Ezek 28:14

It seems he was perhaps the very first “being” God created and in all probability was the greatest of them all. There seems to be a direct reference to the Cherubs, which were at each end of the mercy seat, on the Ark of the Covenant. Their “wings” extended over the mercy seat. The thought is that he was the third and perhaps the greatest of the cherubs. Perhaps he had been stationed in a similar position over the mercy seat, hence the expression, the “cherub that covereth”

This is speculation and may not be correct. What it does suggest is that he was the mightiest of all the “angels”. It also suggests that after his “fall” he retained much of his power. So much so that, in Jude 9, Michael the Archangel was respectful toward him.

From all this we are compelled to realise that Satan is not a wimp. Yet we address him as a wimp! Should we? There is no question that he is far more powerful than we are. This does not mean we should be afraid of Him. Jesus has defeated him. But we need to learn something from the angels.

In WW2, the Nazi war machine in North Africa was headed up by Rommel. He was a highly skilled general. He was both feared and respected by the allies. They came against him and his Africa Corp. But as a general and later a Field Marshall, he earned the respect of men on both sides. This is what I mean when I talk about respect. Yes, Satan is our sworn enemy. But we would be well advised to be more respectful in our dealing with him.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 17 March 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	Hath God Said?
We talk about “the battle of the sexes”. We tell little jokes against each other. Mostly it’s a lot of fun. “Adam was the first dumb blond!” is one that makes me laugh! The one against the ladies refers to Adam talking to Enoch, his great, great, great, great, Grandson. “Why are we living here and not in paradise?” asked Enoch? “It was your great, great, great, great, Grandmother Eve’s fault!” said Adam. “She ate us out of house and home!” The whole tragic incident is summarised for us in Genesis; 6 the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat. It was also pleasing to look at. And it would make a person wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it. Gen 3:6 NIrV Satan came with three basic temptations. 1) the lust of the flesh, 2) the lust of the eyes; 3) the pride of life. Eve fell for all three! Dumbo (Adam) let it happen! We make light of such things. But they are not really something to laugh at. The fall of man was the greatest tragedy to ever befall the human race. From paradise to poverty in one bite! It’s tragic rather than funny! The ramifications – sin - echoes down the centuries like the sound of a guillotine to this very day. Jesus was the only One Who could fix it! Fix it, He most certainly did! I’ve often wondered what happened to Jesus while He was growing and before He was baptised by John. Matthew tells us 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. Mat 4:1 NLT What had happened to Jesus during the previous 30 years? Had the devil been kept away somehow? I doubt it! However, we know so little about those years. In the wilderness, Satan tried to defeat Jesus with the same three temptations. Jesus did not fall for it. We often do. The Apostle John summarised the basic temptations as follows. 16 Here is what people who belong to this world do. They try to satisfy what their sinful natures want to do. They long for what their sinful eyes look at. They brag about what they have and what they do. All of this comes from the world. It doesn't come from the Father. 1 John 2:16 NIrV Satan uses one other feature. It’s rather subtle. The temptation often comes in the form of a question. The technique is shown in the temptation of Adam and Eve. He tried the same stunt when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. The circumstances were different; but Satan questioned the three basic assumptions. “Did God really say --------?” Back in the late 1980’s it occurred to me that he still employs the same technique. In old English, Satan asked the question, “Hath God said?” He used it directly on Eve. He tried the same technique on Jesus. Furthermore, we know that when he tempts us, he repeats it. It gets a bit boring, but in the final analysis he asks, “Hath God said?” With this in mind I compiled a nine verse poem. Each of the first two lines begin with “Hath God said?” It still gets a bit boring. But Satan has no new tricks. He rehashes the same stuff which worked so well with Adam and Eve. It failed with Jesus. But he keeps coming back to the same routine. It’s like a cracked gramophone record. Mostly, Adam and Eve’s offspring still fall for it. That 1989 poem is today’s meditation. It’s as true today as it was back then. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Heb. 4:15 ESV 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. Gen 3:6-7 NLT 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:16-17 NLT 3 During that time the devil came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." 4 But Jesus told Him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Mat 4:3-4 NLT 8 Next the devil took Him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 "I will give it all to You," he said, "if You will kneel down and worship me." 10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only Him.'" Mat 4:8-10 NLT 18 Because Jesus experienced temptation when he suffered, he is able to help others when they are tempted. Heb 2:18 GW 12 Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Jas 1:12 GW	"Hath God said?” the serpent asked the time he tempted Eve. "Hath God said?" His purpose was intended to deceive The woman into doing that which her husband knew, Was something God instructed him they should not ever do! "Hath God said?" And when she looked, the fruit had such appeal. "Hath God said?" But when she touched, it was so good to feel! It seemed so very innocent. To eat would make them wise. They'd be a little more like God and see with open eyes! "Hath God said?" He tempted her and so she took and ate. "Hath God said?" But nonetheless, she fed some to her mate. Who, through these proceedings, had silently looked on, Neglecting his authority to say to sin, "Be gone!" "Hath God said?" The wilderness was shimmering with heat. "Hath God said?” The devil asked attempting to defeat The Son of God incarnate, who stood in Adam's place; The Man who represented the fallen human race. "Hath God said?" The devil asked when to the Man he came; "Hath God said?" He tempted Him. The test was just the same. "To satisfy Your hunger, just turn these stones to bread. If You’re who You say You are, why shouldn't You be fed?" "Hath God said? Just look at all the kingdoms which are mine.” Hath God said? A miracle will prove You are divine. If You are the Son of God, then You can jump from here. His angels will protect You and harm will not come near!" "Hath God said?" the devil asks of Adam's race today? "Hath God said? Is that a fact? Did God really say, The thing you know He told you?” "Perhaps it isn't true?" That's only just the devil's voice and he is tempting you. Hath God said?" he questions; "But doesn't it look good." "Hath God said? That can't be wrong; Do what you feel you should.” “It doesn't really matter, so let it all hang out." The devil keeps on tempting us to disbelieve and doubt. "Hath God said?" Of course He has. It's written in His Word. "Hath God said?" That question is utterly absurd; And just like the Lord Jesus, we'll make the devil flee, When everything we say and do with God's Word does agree! Jim Strickland  Written 1989