Opposition

Opposition

The late Carl H. Stevens Jr. was pastor of the Greater Grace World Outreach in Baltimore, Maryland, until 2005, and he also founded thriving ministries in Maine and Massachusetts. Pastor Stevens’ death in June 2008 marked the completion of a ministry that spanned four decades and included the establishment of Maryland Bible College and Seminary in Baltimore and the development of “The Grace Hour,” an Angel Award-winning radio talk show that is still heard on Christian stations throughout North America and via the Internet.

This booklet was created from a message preached by Pastor Stevens.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the King James Version. Italics for emphasis are ours.

Grace Publications 6025 Moravia Park Drive BALTIMORE, MD 21206 Printed in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. Copyright © 2010 From a message preached in April, 1987 Grace Publications is a ministry of Greater Grace World Outreach, Inc. ISBN # 1-57907-569-X

Table Of contents

Introduction ............................................ 5 Chapter 1.................................................... 6 Diabolos Chapter 2................................................... 10 The Danger of Evil Reports Chapter 3................................................... 13 Combat Mode

INTRODUCTION In itself, the word “Satan” implies opposition. It is a derivative of the Hebrew satan, which means adversary. Satan stands as the Church’s primary adversary in his place as the “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) and “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Bible also describes him as the ruler of darkness (Ephesians 6:12), a murderer devoid of truth (John 8:44), and the father of lies (John 8:44).

In fulfilling his opposition to the work of God, Satan operates a three-fold program of slander, maligning, and accusation. This booklet exposes the intricate, well-developed program Satan has formed against God’s people. These pages also explain how Christians can be victorious over the adversary through humility.

Chapter One

DIABOLOS Diabolos, the Greek word for “devil,” comes from the root diaballo. The word means “to go through by casting down or lying down.”

Throughout the King James Version of the Bible, diaballo is translated as “slander,” “accuse,” or “malign.” These three words characterize Satan’s enterprise. “Slander” refers to the spreading of falsehood that is harmful to another’s reputation. “Accuse” is the action of finding fault and fixing blame. “Malign” is defined as speaking evil of someone and wishing ill will or desiring to harm others.

This three-fold program is Satan’s full-time operation. Revelation 20:10 labels the devil as “the accuser of the brethren … which accused them before our God day and night.” Job 1:7 describes Satan as roaming “to and fro in the earth.” Satan alienated himself from the Lord when iniquity was found in him. Henceforth, he possessed no settled place. He forsook his part in the eternal plan of God to exalt himself and his purposes. Now, he moves constantly searching out reasons to slander the saints of God. Satan accuses men before God and he accuses God before men. He also works to bring accu

sation by men against other men. Satan’s first recording accusation was against God to Eve in the Garden. Disguised as a serpent, Satan beguiled the woman into a conversation concerning the integrity of God. “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). This was Satan’s statement to Eve. His argument convinced her that God could be hiding something from her and Adam by forbidding them to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. There are those today who entertain similar arguments against the character of God and the integrity of His standards, which are revealed clearly in His Word, the Bible.

“And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, “And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself.

If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

“Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

“He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

“The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth” (Matthew 27:3944).

At Calvary, Christ experienced the most intense attack on His character and identity. Each challenge is introduced with “if,” which is translated from the Greek ei, a primitive particle of condition. Those in the crowd at the Cross sought a sign from Christ, a sign that would support His testimony about Himself. Jesus was accused of not being who He said He was, and is—God the Son. Being God, Jesus could have answered any of these challenges. However, in coming down from the Cross, He would not have fulfilled the eternal plan of redemption. What would Christ have lost? Us. Without His perfect, finished sacrifice at Calvary, the wages of sin would have remained unpaid. His death paid the sin debt for all souls—past, present and future—and made way for the Holy One to welcome us into His presence. It makes sense then that Satan’s primary was to hinder the Christ from fulfilling the plan of God. It is the devil’s plan today to hinder any believer from following the will of God as he knows it.

There are those today who confront various “ifs.” It is not uncommon to hear someone say, “If God exists, why does He allow so much death? Why are there wars? How come people

suffer with pain and hunger, if there is a God?�

People who propound such questions fail to realize the reality of free volition and the old sin nature at work in humanity. These are the things that should be blamed for the condition of our world. God established the right to choose; He gave men this great measure of freedom. People are not puppets strung up and manipulated through their days. No, we are created in the image of God to think, to relate and to choose.

Men choose to refuse God. They will not come to Him and to His Word, wherein they would find true peace and healing. As a result, they continue under the influence of the satanic program of opposition and miss out on experiencing God’s blessings.

Chapter Two

THE DANGER OF EVIL REPORTS “The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words” (Proverbs 23:8).

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).

What goes in is what comes out. That is, the believer who nourishes his soul with doctrine from the Word of God will manifest truth in every aspect of his life. In contrast, the person who receives accusation, slander, and maligning will express the things that he hears. This is why Jesus warned the disciples not only to “take heed how ye hear” (Luke 8:18), but also to “take heed what ye hear” (Mark 4:24). Proverbs 23:6 says, “Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats.” “Eye” is ayin in the Hebrew text of Proverbs. This word refers to the perceptive capacity of the mind.

The slanderer’s perception is evil (ra—adverse, given to perniciousness and hurt). His “bread” and “dainty meats” of accusation and maligning cause the listener to “vomit” and “lose thy 10

sweet words.” “Lose” (shacath) means “to decay; to ruin; to corrupt.” “Sweet words” is a Hebrew phrase that means “lovely testimony.” Listening to accusations, slanders, and malignity hinders a believer’s witness for Christ.

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge” (James 4:11).

“Speak not evil one of another” is the Greek phrase me katalaleite allelon. This wording represents an imperative command of prohibition against a habit or practice. James, the writer of this epistle, addressed this exhortation to a group of Christian Jews who were having trouble accepting other believers. Being Jews, the understood the Law very well and knew much about how to keep it. But the writer’s contention here was that he who speaks evil and judges his brother makes himself to be a judge of the Law.” “Judgeth” is krino in the Greek; it is a word that speaks of calling things into question. Given this definition, it becomes clear that one who speaks evil of another does not hold the Bible as truth.

He may say that he believes the Bible to be the Word of God. Actions, however, do speak louder than words. The truth he has heard and read remains mere theory to him. He has yet to allow it 11

to produce fruit in his daily life. He is not applying the principle of Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

“Speaking evil” violates everything about this verse. “Think on these things” in the Greek is a present tense, imperative mood phrase. This collection of words signifies habitual action in response to a dogmatic command. All Christians, therefore, should continually pattern their thinking according to the categories outlined in this verse. Any thought that is not true, honest, pure, lovely, etc., is to be cast aside. In thinking or speaking outside of these guidelines, a believer begins to question the Word of God. He does not consider the truth to veritable; otherwise he would heed its instructions.

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Chapter Three

COMBAT MODE “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10).

Humility represents the ultimate weapon in our fight against Satan’s three-fold attack. In the Greek, “humble yourselves” is tapienete, meaning that one allows himself to be humbled before God. How? By choosing to hear, speak, and think according to the precepts of the Word of God. David humbled himself before God and the Lord made him king over all of Israel—all 12 tribes were under his authority. The centurion in Matthew 8:8 expressed humility when he chose to believe that Christ’s word alone would be enough to heal his beloved servant: “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”

Paul consistently humbled himself before God, recognizing the inadequacy of his flesh to accomplish anything for the Kingdom. As a result, God used him as the primary catalyst of the early church’s missionary efforts. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, 13

that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

The believer who humbles himself and lives by the truth shall be lifted up. Humility is the only prerequisite for spiritual promotion. The nation of Israel, with Joshua, humbled itself in listening to the command of God regarding Jericho. For seven days, the people marched around the city without saying a word. Then, finally, the trumpets were blown, the people shouted, and the down came the walls, “so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city” (Joshua 6:20).

Satan flees from humility. He would not submit to the order and purpose of God and so he cannot stand to see others humbling themselves before the Lord. He was a cherub with tremendous ministerial duties and was assigned to serve before the throne of God in the bringing the praises of creation. This position did not suit Satan. He sought to bring himself to another level of authority and led a conspiracy against the rule of God. One-third of the host of Heaven followed in the devil’s rebellion to be “as the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12).

Victory, promotion, and power to make Satan flee are all given to the believer who humbles himself before God by obeying His Word.

In John 8, the scribes and Pharisees brought 14

to Jesus a woman caught in the very act of adultery. They pressured Him to make a decision on their accusation according the Law, which commanded that she be stoned to death: “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7).

Yes, this woman was guilty. She would have deserved the penalty for her sin. But Christ, Himself, would go on to pay the debt for her. Satan may accuse. He may slander and malign, but the fact remains that he had been overcome by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11). This blood atonement cannot be reversed. Christ has paid for the sins of the world. He served and, in humility, He completely fulfilled every letter of the Father’s command, even unto the death on the Cross of Calvary. Then, in victory, He rose again, destroying the power sin and death forever.

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

“The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your la15

bour is not in vain in the Lord� (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

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