StewardoftheMystery
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I didn’t start out writing this with this question in mind, it is just where I ended up. Let me first show you how I got to the question in the Title.
The name Satan means adversary, and adversary means one who withstands, or opposes in word, in purpose, or in act. Peter refers to the Devil as your adversary in 1 Peter 5:8; so one could say he is opposed to those who believe in God and in His Word. In the New testament Satan is also referred to as the accuser, and those who are of his spirit will also falsely accuse.
Jesus called the Devil a murderer and a liar, and the enemy, so no doubt he is evil. God said he is more subtil, or cunning and crafty than any other beast He had created. These same traits are also manifest in those who are of the Devil, as is witnessed in Elymas; who Paul called (by the Holy Spirit) a child of the devil, and full of all subtilty in Acts 13:10.
Satan is an evil angel, and angels are also spirits, just as it is written God makes his angels spirits. And this spirit of Satan is the same spirit that is at work in the world, and in those who are of the world. But those who are born again from above have the Holy Spirit of God working in them. Just as it is written, greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
It is also written that the spirit of the Devil is at work in the children of disobedience. So you could say by this same adversarial spirit men are also opposed to the words and will of God. This spirit of the adversary entered into man, and into the world by way of sin. And when man sinned the Devils desire also became mans desire. In this we can see why those who are still in Adam and are still in sin, that is to say, “still in the flesh”, are also opposed to the words and will of God.
A good example of Satan's desire also being mans desire was given to us by Jesus in Matthew 16:23. Jesus told his disciples of his coming persecution, death, and resurrection, but Peter rebuked Jesus saying “this shall not be so.” Jesus then turned to Peter and said “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourist not the things that be of God, but those things that be of men”.
At the time, I don’t believe Peter fully understood the importance of Jesus’ death, and how his death was a part of God’s will and plan of salvation. But because Peter was opposed to what Jesus had said, Jesus showed us that this same desire of the Devil was also working in men who are also opposed to God’s words and will.
Jesus also showed this same desire of the Devil working in man in John 8:44 when he said to the Jews who sought to kill him, that they did the deeds of their father the Devil. Jesus goes on to say that they are of their father the Devil, and the lusts of their father they will do.
This is a sign of those who are of the serpents seed, and those who have the spirit of the adversary working in them. This being opposed to God’s word and will is the “enmity” spoken of between the serpents seed and the woman's seed in the beginning. The mind of the flesh strives against the mind of the Spirit. This is the same enmity that is between those who are firstborn of the flesh, vs. those who are born again of God’s Holy Spirit.
This is why Paul says in Romans 8:5-8 That they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, and that they are also carnally minded. Paul goes on to say that this carnal mind is enmity against God, and is against God’s words and will; also not being subject to the law of God, neither in deed can it be. Paul goes on to say in verse 8 that all they who are still in the flesh cannot please God because of this condition.
So one could say one easy way to spot those who are of the spirit of the adversary would be those who are still living in sin; as it is written, whosoever sins is of the Devil. This includes those who oppose God, those who oppose His words, and also those who oppose God’s will.
Jesus said something interesting in Mark 9:40 after the disciples saw one casting out devils in Jesus’ name, but who refused to follow the disciples; and for this the disciples forbid the man. But Jesus told the disciples not to forbid him“For he that is not against us is on our part.” Or in Luke 9:50 it says “For he that is not against us is for us.” Notice, not to be against is not the position of the adversary, who is opposed, or is against.
But Jesus also said in Matthew “he that is not with me is against me.” So the position of being against, is the position of the adversary.
So even though in Mark 9:40 he or they were not following Jesus and the disciples, he or they were not against, or they were not opposed to them; meaning they were not their enemy or adversary. Now these who were casting out devils in Jesus name may, or may not have been of God’s Spirit; but clearly Jesus did not see these as the adversary, or as against Him.
But we do have the example in Matthew 7:22 where there are those who said they have cast out devils in Jesus’ name, but Jesus said “I never knew you, depart from me, you that work iniquity.” So these were sinners professing Jesus as their Lord.
I believe it is also important to note, in verse 21 Jesus said not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my father in heaven.”
So “a worker of iniquity” is not doing the will of God the Father, thus they would be of the spirit of the adversary, being the children of disobedience, as is written in Ephesians 2:2.
So even though some may confess Jesus Christ as their Lord, they will eventually manifest themselves as being opposed to God’s law, opposed to God’s words, and opposed to God’s will by being disobedient and living a life of sinful behavior.
But this brings to mind another question. If they were of the spirit of the adversary, then how did they cast out devils? Or did they really cast out devils? I suppose being sinners they could be lying about casting out devils. Which then made me ask the question, can Satan cast out devils? And if he could, then why would he? I know of no instances in scripture where Satan is shown as healing people and casting out devils. Do you?
Also Jesus said the sign of casting out devils would follow those who believe. So that tells me, those who confessed to be casting out devils, really did not, because Jesus called them “workers of iniquity.” And to me believers in Jesus Christ are not workers of iniquity.
Also, I always believed it is only by the power of God’s Spirit that the Devil, and devils can be cast out. We see this in Jesus, and also by those who Jesus empowered to cast out devils in His name.
So, can the adversary and his minions cast out devils? We get more insight into this in Matthew…
I would say these Pharisees were of the devil because they were against Jesus, and they also brought false accusations against him, as is the manner of the accuser of the brethren. But notice Jesus’ response in verse 26 after he was accused of casting out devils by the prince of devils. Jesus said “If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself.”
This made me ask the question, can Satan really cast out Satan? And if he could, then why would he? Do we have scriptural proof of Satan casting out Satan? Or was this just a hypothetical question Jesus asked?
Also notice what Jesus says in verse 27 “And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?”
We know Jesus was not casting out devils by Beelzebub, because in verse 28 Jesus said He did so by the Spirit of God. But I believe Jesus was being a wee bit sarcastic here when he asked the Pharisees”by whom do your children cast them out?”
Another question I would have to ask here is, where the children of the Pharisees really casting out devils? Or was this just a rhetorical question asked by Jesus to expose their wickedness?
There are a lot of other examples of people being empowered by God to cast out devils.
But what do you think. Can Satan cast out Satan? And can those workers of iniquity who are of his spirit, also cast out devils?
The name Satan means adversary, and adversary means one who withstands, or opposes in word, in purpose, or in act. Peter refers to the Devil as your adversary in 1 Peter 5:8; so one could say he is opposed to those who believe in God and in His Word. In the New testament Satan is also referred to as the accuser, and those who are of his spirit will also falsely accuse.
Jesus called the Devil a murderer and a liar, and the enemy, so no doubt he is evil. God said he is more subtil, or cunning and crafty than any other beast He had created. These same traits are also manifest in those who are of the Devil, as is witnessed in Elymas; who Paul called (by the Holy Spirit) a child of the devil, and full of all subtilty in Acts 13:10.
Satan is an evil angel, and angels are also spirits, just as it is written God makes his angels spirits. And this spirit of Satan is the same spirit that is at work in the world, and in those who are of the world. But those who are born again from above have the Holy Spirit of God working in them. Just as it is written, greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
It is also written that the spirit of the Devil is at work in the children of disobedience. So you could say by this same adversarial spirit men are also opposed to the words and will of God. This spirit of the adversary entered into man, and into the world by way of sin. And when man sinned the Devils desire also became mans desire. In this we can see why those who are still in Adam and are still in sin, that is to say, “still in the flesh”, are also opposed to the words and will of God.
A good example of Satan's desire also being mans desire was given to us by Jesus in Matthew 16:23. Jesus told his disciples of his coming persecution, death, and resurrection, but Peter rebuked Jesus saying “this shall not be so.” Jesus then turned to Peter and said “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourist not the things that be of God, but those things that be of men”.
At the time, I don’t believe Peter fully understood the importance of Jesus’ death, and how his death was a part of God’s will and plan of salvation. But because Peter was opposed to what Jesus had said, Jesus showed us that this same desire of the Devil was also working in men who are also opposed to God’s words and will.
Jesus also showed this same desire of the Devil working in man in John 8:44 when he said to the Jews who sought to kill him, that they did the deeds of their father the Devil. Jesus goes on to say that they are of their father the Devil, and the lusts of their father they will do.
This is a sign of those who are of the serpents seed, and those who have the spirit of the adversary working in them. This being opposed to God’s word and will is the “enmity” spoken of between the serpents seed and the woman's seed in the beginning. The mind of the flesh strives against the mind of the Spirit. This is the same enmity that is between those who are firstborn of the flesh, vs. those who are born again of God’s Holy Spirit.
This is why Paul says in Romans 8:5-8 That they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, and that they are also carnally minded. Paul goes on to say that this carnal mind is enmity against God, and is against God’s words and will; also not being subject to the law of God, neither in deed can it be. Paul goes on to say in verse 8 that all they who are still in the flesh cannot please God because of this condition.
So one could say one easy way to spot those who are of the spirit of the adversary would be those who are still living in sin; as it is written, whosoever sins is of the Devil. This includes those who oppose God, those who oppose His words, and also those who oppose God’s will.
Jesus said something interesting in Mark 9:40 after the disciples saw one casting out devils in Jesus’ name, but who refused to follow the disciples; and for this the disciples forbid the man. But Jesus told the disciples not to forbid him“For he that is not against us is on our part.” Or in Luke 9:50 it says “For he that is not against us is for us.” Notice, not to be against is not the position of the adversary, who is opposed, or is against.
But Jesus also said in Matthew “he that is not with me is against me.” So the position of being against, is the position of the adversary.
So even though in Mark 9:40 he or they were not following Jesus and the disciples, he or they were not against, or they were not opposed to them; meaning they were not their enemy or adversary. Now these who were casting out devils in Jesus name may, or may not have been of God’s Spirit; but clearly Jesus did not see these as the adversary, or as against Him.
But we do have the example in Matthew 7:22 where there are those who said they have cast out devils in Jesus’ name, but Jesus said “I never knew you, depart from me, you that work iniquity.” So these were sinners professing Jesus as their Lord.
I believe it is also important to note, in verse 21 Jesus said not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my father in heaven.”
So “a worker of iniquity” is not doing the will of God the Father, thus they would be of the spirit of the adversary, being the children of disobedience, as is written in Ephesians 2:2.
So even though some may confess Jesus Christ as their Lord, they will eventually manifest themselves as being opposed to God’s law, opposed to God’s words, and opposed to God’s will by being disobedient and living a life of sinful behavior.
But this brings to mind another question. If they were of the spirit of the adversary, then how did they cast out devils? Or did they really cast out devils? I suppose being sinners they could be lying about casting out devils. Which then made me ask the question, can Satan cast out devils? And if he could, then why would he? I know of no instances in scripture where Satan is shown as healing people and casting out devils. Do you?
Also Jesus said the sign of casting out devils would follow those who believe. So that tells me, those who confessed to be casting out devils, really did not, because Jesus called them “workers of iniquity.” And to me believers in Jesus Christ are not workers of iniquity.
Also, I always believed it is only by the power of God’s Spirit that the Devil, and devils can be cast out. We see this in Jesus, and also by those who Jesus empowered to cast out devils in His name.
So, can the adversary and his minions cast out devils? We get more insight into this in Matthew…
Matthew 12:22-30 22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”
I would say these Pharisees were of the devil because they were against Jesus, and they also brought false accusations against him, as is the manner of the accuser of the brethren. But notice Jesus’ response in verse 26 after he was accused of casting out devils by the prince of devils. Jesus said “If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself.”
This made me ask the question, can Satan really cast out Satan? And if he could, then why would he? Do we have scriptural proof of Satan casting out Satan? Or was this just a hypothetical question Jesus asked?
Also notice what Jesus says in verse 27 “And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?”
We know Jesus was not casting out devils by Beelzebub, because in verse 28 Jesus said He did so by the Spirit of God. But I believe Jesus was being a wee bit sarcastic here when he asked the Pharisees”by whom do your children cast them out?”
Another question I would have to ask here is, where the children of the Pharisees really casting out devils? Or was this just a rhetorical question asked by Jesus to expose their wickedness?
There are a lot of other examples of people being empowered by God to cast out devils.
But what do you think. Can Satan cast out Satan? And can those workers of iniquity who are of his spirit, also cast out devils?
