IX. Satan’s Entrapment

            There has been a strange silence within Christendom concerning the purpose of Satan to destroy Bible obedient Christians.  This silence is the result of ignorance to the boundaries of the jurisdiction between Christ and Satan that center in the Ten Commandment Law.  And yet, in the days of Christ and His Apostles, all was made known concerning the restrictions of Satan’s legal rights and how his authority was to be overruled.  All of the devil’s snares that lead men to sin are identified in the Bible.  Nothing was omitted from Scripture concerning his many lures of deception.  The Apostle Paul verified the need for this crucial knowledge: “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” II Cor.2:11.  But the churches today are woefully ignorant of Satan’s devices.  This is verified by the fact that very few “Christians” will inherit eternal life according to Scripture’s warnings (Hos.4:6; Matt.7:14; I Pet.4:18). 

            Satan’s snares to entrap the unwary have one objective: to lead men to violate the same Law that condemns him: the Ten Commandment Law.  This is verified by GOD’S Words to Satan, “Thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub.” Eze.28:16. It was Satan’s mutiny against the Ten Commandments that inaugurated the very first “war in heaven.”  It was Satan’s defiance of GOD’S Law that he “was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Rev.12:9). It was Satan’s defiance of GOD’S Law that lured Adam and Eve to commit sin.  But it was man’s defiance of GOD’S Law that led the bitterest of enemies, Jews and Romans to unite as one and murder “the Christ of God.”  And it will be man’s globally united defiance of GOD’S Law that leads to Earth’s final battle, Armageddon. 

1. What is the first indication that man has cast caution to

     the wind?

Deuteronomy 12:8  Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man ________________  ____  __________  ____  _____  ______  ________.  

2. Why is there danger in following one's natural

inclinations?

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are ______  _______  ____  ______________.

1.   What then is the principle that assures us of our safety

including the gift of everlasting life?

John 3:1-5  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, [v.5] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and ____  ______  ___________, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

4. Just how easy is it to receive the Born-Again Spirit of

GOD?

Matthew 21:22  And all things, _______________  ____  ________  _______ in prayer, believing, ____  _______  _______________.

Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: _____  _______  _______ shall your heavenly Father give _____  _______  __________ to them that ______ him?

5. Do I have to be free of my sins before I can approach to

    GOD?

John 6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and _____  ______  ___________  ____  ____ I will ____  ____  ________ cast out.

6. Are we to be vigilant in harnessing the truth of Jesus and

     not merely trust in the opinions of others?

Psalms 146:3  _____  _____  ______  ________ in princes, _____  ____  ______  ______  ____  _______, in whom there is no help.

Acts 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all ________________  ____  _______, and searched the scriptures daily, ___________  ________  _________  _______  ____.

7. In the assurances given to us by our religious leaders why

    are we to be guarded in our acceptance of their words?

II Corinthians 11:13-15  For such are ________  ____________, _____________  ____________, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

8. How can we know when we are on safe ground?

Isaiah 8:20  To _____  ______ [the Ten Commandments of GOD] and to _____  ____________________ [the Holy Bible]: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Isaiah 34:16  Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read; ____  ______ of these ________  ________.

9. Are there people who live up to their conscience who

     have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ or of GOD’S

     Holy Law?

Romans 2:13-15  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but ______  _________ of the law ________  _____  __________________.  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [v.15] Which _______  _____  _______  ____  _____  _____  _____________  ____  _______  __________, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

         These words of the Apostle Paul assures us of GOD’S perfect design and full breadth of salvation through Christ, declaring that multitudes will be in heaven who had never heard the name of Jesus, nor had any knowledge of the great controversy between Christ and Satan over the Ten Commandment Law.  But they lived up to the light of their understanding and they refused to violate their conscience concerning the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  And while Scripture declares that there is no other name “given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), this must never be used to disannul the other passages of the Bible allowing for the innocently ignorant or even those who reject a sinful and corrupt version of Christianity, but remain obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading in their lives.  Many will be surprised who is in heaven and who is not because GOD looks on the heart and knows who allows His Spirit to lead in their lives and those who refuse His Presence (I Sam.16:7).

Zechariah 13:6  And one shall say unto him, _______  _____  _______  ___________  ____  _________  ________? Then he [Jesus Christ] shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

         The above verse teaches that many will hear the Gospel of Jesus for the first time in heaven.  All throughout time, GOD has known His own in every walk of life and in every religion.  And in our day, He will gather them “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev.5:9) when the last great test comes to the human race as the end of our present history draws near.  A last message will go forth where the LORD “will plead with all flesh” (Jer.25:31).

10.  If GOD knows His own in all walks of life why did Jesus

        give the commission: “Go ye into all the world and

        preach the Gospel to every creature?” Mk.16:15

Hosea 4:6a  [GOD said,] _____  _____________  ______  _______________  _____  ________  ____  __________________.

            That “knowledge” is found in knowing the dangers and acting on them as the Bible instructs, and not as men prescribe.  Jesus desires us to know of His personal Presence in our lives: that we may rest and rejoice that the Saviour Himself is with us in all that we say and do (Matt.28:20).  But Satan is diligent to tempt the mind with ideas and suggestions that contradict GOD’S Word and His purposes for His children.  These temptations are intended to create confusion, thus leaving the human mind ignorant of the devil’s intent to destroy their souls.  Through confusion, ignorance prevails.  And through ignorance, sin remains in the life.  

11. Does Satan desire church ministers to be ignorant of

      his tactics to pervert “the testimony of Jesus Christ?”

Isaiah 56:10.11  His watchmen are blind: they are all ___________, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. [v.11] Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds ______  __________  ______________: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

12. What miracles does Satan use to lead people to reject the

       Gospel of Christ and the Law He obeyed to redeem man?

Deuteronomy 18:9-12  When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. [v.10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire [sacrificing human life to appease an angry god], or that useth ________________ [psychic or fortune telling powers], or ____  ______________  ____  ________ [astrology], or ____  ________________ [hypnosis], or ___  ___________ [those who ally themselves with demon angels for supernatural power], [v.11] Or ___  ______________ [use of superstitions], or ___  _______________  ______  _____________  __________ [open contact with Satan’s demon angels], or ___  ____________ [magicians and sorcerers], or ___  ___________________ [communication with demons posing as deceased human beings]. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

         These verses, written over 3,400 years ago by Moses, outline the dangers of evil spirits: everything from selling one’s soul to the devil for wealth and power to having communication with the dead for comfort and counsel.  This includes the disgraceful doctrine of Catholicism who misleads their congregations to turn to the dead Virgin Mary and the dead saints for intercession, guidance and blessings.  This pagan doctrine of Rome robs from Christians the only Intercessor for our salvation: Jesus Christ: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” I Tim.2:5,6.  In essence, Satan leads man to turn to anything & anyone but Jesus Christ for salvation.  And when men allow Satan’s delusions to lead their lives “the second death” becomes a real and present danger.

            We need to study the spiritualism in today’s churches that are ignorant of the warning counsel of GOD.  Many “rejoice in a thing of nought” (Amos 6:13) and have fallen into the age-old trap of Satan who leads men to turn to him for salvation in place of Jesus Christ.

13. Can Satan raise up false prophets and false christs to

       counterfeit GOD'S work of redemption?

Deuteronomy 13:1-3  If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; [v.3] Thou shalt ______  _____________  ______  _____  _______  ____  _______  __________, or ________  ____________  ____  __________, for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 18:22  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which _____  ________  _______  ______  _____________, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Matthew 24:24  For there shall arise ____________  ____________ and __________  _____________, and shall show _________  _________  _____  _______________, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Galatians 1:8  But though ____, or ____  ________  _______  ____________, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be _______________.

14. Will Satan’s agents pretend to be loyal followers of

       Jesus Christ?

Acts 16:16,17  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters _______  _______ by soothsaying: [v.17] The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, _________  ______  ______  ______  _____________  ____  ______  ________  ________  ______,  _________  _______  ______  ____  _____  _____  ____  __________________.  [v.18] And this she did many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.  And he came out that same hour.

15. Just how destructive is the lust for selfish gain in the

         Christian Church?

I Timothy 6:10  For the love of money ____  _____  _________  ____  _____  __________: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

                  The brutal history of popery proves their lust for domination. 

16. What other traps of Satan have ensnared multitudes of

       professing Christians into disobedience to the Gospel of

       Jesus Christ?

Galatians 5:19-23  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; ___________ [unfaithful in wedlock], ________________ [sexual immorality], uncleanness [impurity], ____________________ [morally unrestrained], [v.20] ___________ [placing exaggerated value on people, ideas and materials], witchcraft [demonic demonstrations of power], hatred, _____________ [striving competitively against another], emulations [rivalry with malice], _________ [actions of rage], strife [selfish ambition], seditions [unreasonable opposition to authority], heresies [opposing opinions to the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ], [v.21] Envyings [spiteful jealousy], murders, _______________ [habitual intoxication], revellings [mocking merriment], and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Jeremiah 3:5  Will he reserve his anger for ever? Will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast ____________ and _______ evil things as thou ______________.

Matthew 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her ______  _______________  ___________  ______  _____ already in his heart.

         A most profound warning is rarely addressed from the pulpit: men will be judged by the sins they would have committed had they been given the opportunity.  A secretly cherished sin is all that is needed to disqualify the Presence of the Holy Spirit from the soul (Isa.59:2).  But this truth must be united with the other Biblical truth as we reviewed earlier declaring that our facing temptation is not the same as sinning.  Temptation is not sin!  We are not sinning when we are tempted!  It is only by entering the temptation, indulging its pleasure that leads to sin; “and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Ja.1:15.

Jeremiah 50:31,32  Behold, I am against thee, 0 thou _________  ___________ saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. [v.32] And the most proud shall ____________  _____  ______, and _______ shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.  

Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: [v.17] A __________  ________, a ________  ___________, and ________  _______  ________  _______________  _________, [v.18] An heart that deviseth __________  ____________________, feet that be swift in __________  ____  ____________, [v.19] A ________  _____________ that speaketh lies, and he that ___________  _____________ among brethren.  

Proverbs 26:12  Seest thou a man ________  ____  _____  ______  ___________? there is ________  ________  _____  ____  ________ than of him.

I John 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and __________  ______  _____________, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 

I John 2:11  But ____  _______  __________  ______  ___________  ____  ____  ________________, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

I John 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that ____  ______________  _______  ___________  _______ abiding in him.

Revelation 21:8  But the ____________, and ________________, and the __________________, and murderers, and ______________________, and _____________, and ____________, and all _______, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

       renounce GOD’S call to repentance and thus perish in

       their sins?

I Peter 4:18  And if _____  ________________ [referring to church members (v.17)] ____________  ____  __________, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?

Matthew 7:13,14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and ________ there be which go in thereat.  [v.14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and ______ there be that find it.

         Peter used the word scarcely to describe the extremely low number of the redeemed among professing Christians.  This warning declares that the vast majority of professing Christians will not escape the condemnation of sin.  Christ’s call to “Repent” has been overruled by leaders in the church who evangelize the transgression of GOD’S Law as a legitimate part of the Gospel, even to declaring unforsaken sins as acceptable service to Him.  But to live in open sin while leading others to follow their example guarantees their condemnation before Jesus Christ (Matt.5:19).  The greatest privilege as well as the greatest danger for a man in this world is to lead another to Christ’s salvation.  Far too many take this responsibility lightly!  While viewing themselves as “saved” they stand void of entering Solomon’s prayer to the GOD of Heaven, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” I Ki.3:9. In summation: Faith and sin are not partners in salvation!

Mark 7:6-9  He [Jesus] answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. [v.7] Howbeit in vain do they worship me, _____________  _____ 

________________  _____  ____________________  ____  _______. [v.8] For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold ______  _________________  _____  ______, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. [v.9] And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own ________________.

Isaiah 5:20,21  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put ________________ for _____________, and ______________ for __________________; that put _______________ for _____________, and _____________ for _______________. [v.21] ______  ______  __________  _________  ______  ________  ____  ________  ______  _______  _____  _____________  _____  ________  ______  _____________.  

18. How are Christians to show forth Christian virtue in the

       midst of man’s defiant stance against GOD’S Holy Law?

Psalms 119:136  __________  ____  _________  ______  ________  _______  _______ because they keep not thy law.

Ephesians 4:26,27  _____  _____  _________,  ______  ______  ______: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

James 1:20,21  For the wrath of man ____________  _____  _____  _________________  ____  _____. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness [immorality] and superfluidy [excess] of naughtiness [wickedness], and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

Matthew 5:44,45  But I say unto you, ______  ______  _________, ______  ______ that curse you, ____  ______ to them that hate you, and ______  _____  ______ which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

            The Bible’s standard of forgiveness, mercy and care for our fellow man is defined through two sources:

1. True love only comes from above.  Only the Presence of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit can this love be demonstrated.

2. “With all thy getting get understanding.” Prov.4:7.  When we come to terms with the fact that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood” (Eph.6:12) we see the value of Christ’s prayer for His executioners, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lu.23:34).