We need to see the true nature of God. By knowing God's attributes we can see the extreme contrast of Satan's nature vs. God's nature. Satan is diametrically opposed to all for which God stands. We need to understand that there are only two supernatural powers in the earth today, and that we are going to be influenced by either one or the other. We cannot remain neutral. The two powers are actually two opposite laws that are working in the world: "the law of life in Christ" and "the law of sin and death" ruled by Satan. (Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.")

Many people are serving Satan out of ignorance, not realizing that they are his victims and pawns. (Ephesians 4:18, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.") Others have deliberately chosen to follow the devil.

Romans 1:29-32, "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

Some have chosen to follow their own ways and are thus following the devil because selfishness is part of his nature.

II Timothy 3:2, "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God."

And, still others have utterly rejected Christ and therefore are also followers of Satan. (Mark 16:16, "...He that believeth not shall be damned.")

Let us look at the nature of Satan so that we will be able to recognize his devices. His lies can be exposed by examining their source, thus perceiving that his work is behind them. Once they are exposed, we can resist the devil and overcome him. It is very important to know the nature and the tactics of our enemy if we are to defeat him.

We read in Revelation 12:9 the following description of the devil: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." From this, we see that one of Satan's major roles is that of deceiver. He has deceived the whole world. When we are "born again" into the Lord's kingdom, we are no longer a part of this world. If we seek only the Lord for truth, we will no longer remain under bondage to the devil's lies and deception. (Colossians 1:13, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.") The only power Satan has over any child of God is the power of deception, and that can be overcome by seeking the Lord and the truth of His Word. Actually, Satan has no power over Christians except what they allow him to have. On the other hand, people in the world who are unbelievers have no protection against the devil and his evils. The only thing that keeps them from immediate death is God's mercy and grace. God is not willing that any should perish. (II Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.")

In Genesis, we find the first account of Satan's deception as he,in the form of a serpent, beguiles the first man and woman that the Lord created. Genesis 1 and 2 record the creation of the earth and God's special creation, man. Genesis 1:26-28a reads, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them...".

As we look at this tragic story, we will discover that the same lies Satan told Adam and Eve are the same ones he is still using today to get man to sin and break fellowship with God. He has not changed his method of attack. By studying Genesis 1, we can understand and

benefit greatly from the record of the invasion of the planet earth by this hostile power, seeing him strike at God through the ones whom He created and loved. There was a sweet fellowship existing between man and God in the garden of Eden. Satan knew if he could only break the bonds of that fellowship and cause those two in the garden to step out into independence as he had done, then God would lose something which was most precious to Him.

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