Keystone Christian Reading Room

The Faces of Worship

Part Six-A

by William Vaught

July 1994

Cleansing the Temple of Devil Worship

Prologue

A careful and prayerful reading of the Genesis record is necessary to understanding, in part at least, what our Creator has done, is doing, and will do in His great plan for us. At present we know in part, prophesy in part, and see in part.

We can hardly deny that Babel (or Babylon) in ancient Samaria (Shinar) is the Mother of spiritual adultery and idolatrous abominations. If Babylon is the mother of harlotry - who, then, is the father? To anyone who believes the Bible the answer is obvious. Read what Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8.44, the Amplified Translation:

You are of your father the devil; and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. WHEN HE SPEAKS A FALSEHOOD, HE SPEAKS WHAT IS NATURAL TO HIM; FOR HE IS A LIAR [HIMSELF] AND THE FATHER OF LIES AND ALL THAT IS FALSE. (My emphasis.)

Despite this indictment by our Saviour, who is TRUTH personified, many professing Christians still "give the devil his due", and in so doing magnify him beyond that for which he was created. Satan, the adversary - whom we call "the devil" (and there's only one, though many demons) has been deceiving man ever since he razzle-dazzled Adam and Eve. He is "...the great dragon...that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world...". (Revelation 12.9)

The modern church, teeming with naturalist-evolutionists, ridicules the idea that the devil might have anything to do with world-wide decadence and they believe in about everything but God the Creator and Saviour. Whether it is socialism, naturalism, humanism, deism or any of the other unnumbered "isms" in the multi-faceted NEW AGE abominations, these isms detract from the worship of God! And no wonder, for most of this deceived world doesn't believe God exists, so obviously they don't believe Satan, the adversary, is real, either.

Nevertheless, Satan is a very real being, and one of the most successful devices the LORD has allowed him to use is the persuasion of mankind (especially a certain class of pseudo-intellectuals) that he doesn't exist. Those so deceived are sure that "natural evolution" (whatever that is) has produced the idea of satan in man's mind. This is but a subtle form of devil worship.

It's been said by one of the spokesmen for this sector of light-weight thinkers that if God exists it's because man invented Him - and they feel the same way about the devil. What a perfect deception! What a great victory for the adversary!??

It's just a temporary victory.

I believe it is significant that despite the skeptics of this supposed "scientific" age, occultism and satanism are followed by more people today than ever before in history. According to Revelation 13.4 the time is coming when essentially the whole world will worship Satan - FOR A TIME!

The plain assertion of Jesus Christ, who Himself is the Creator, the very creative Word made flesh (John 1.1-3,14) is that Satan is the father of lies and when he speaks he lies; - and man has been allowed to believe the liar and his lies -- FOR A TIME!

"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor 'All this I will give you', he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me'. Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only." (Matthew 4.8-10, NIV. See also Deuteronomy 6.13).

According to Hebrews 4.15 we have in Jesus Christ a high priest , "who has been tempted (proven, tried) in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." We have much to learn from His example as to how we should deal with our slandering adversary, giving no place to him.

We have read in Matthew's record (3.17) that immediately preceding the events cited, above, Jesus had been honored by a Voice from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (NIV). Soon after this unction was received He was led by a strong impulse of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for testing. We aren't told what transpired during the forty days of fasting, but when they ended we read of the climactic threefold testing, long before experienced by Adam, now endured by Jesus. The testings don't vary; the principles are the same on both occasions.

After His fast Jesus was hungry and the adversary used the natural desire to eat as a beginning point. "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." (Note well the word "if", "ei" in the Greek. It's a subordinating conjunction and introduces a condition indicating lack of knowledge on Satan's part. The adversary is NOT omniscient.) Here we have an immediate reference to the divine proclamation, "This is my Son", - which apparently Satan didn't completely comprehend. "IF YOU ARE SUCH, then you ought to be able to provide yourself with this basic need - bread."

Jesus quickly replied from the Scriptures using Deuteronomy 8.3 "...man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." God fed Israel of old by a miracle in the wilderness, and He now supports all who trust in Him. The life of man doesn't depend merely upon external circumstances, but upon the providence of God in whatever HE shall appoint for the preservation of human life.

Then from a turret or gable of the Temple the adversary said to Jesus, "IF you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it's written:

'He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" (Matthew 4.6)

"IF you are a son of God, give proof of your spirituality and your implicit confidence in God. Handle these snakes, drink this poison, walk through this bed of coals - ! Since you claim that man lives by every word that comes out of the mouth of God then remember 'it is written'" - and so on.

In the cited scripture Satan quoted scripture perversely, contrary to its true intent. He tried to persuade our LORD to test God Himself by unnecessarily courting danger and by unwarranted presumption of His protecting power.

Jesus wasn't ignorant of these devices. He saw the intent of this test and said, "It is also written: 'Do not put the LORD your God to the test.'" (Matthew 4.7, NIV). This is a good road-sign on the journey through the days God has lent us: It shows us that we are to take into account the WHOLE OF GOD'S WRITTEN WORD, not just singling out a verse here and another there to use for our own selfish ends. There is balance and uprightness in the scriptures OUR FATHER has given us, and when viewed as a whole we see a proper perspective of His Sovereign will and purpose for man.

The third part of the testings, no matter how presented, i.e., as a visionary representation of all terrestrial glory or by some other means, was daring and impudent on Satan's part. "All this (glory and splendor) I'll give you if you will bow down and worship me." (My parenthesis). To this Jesus immediately replied, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only'". (Matthew 4.10, NIV). I doubt Satan really knew that Jesus was the Son of God, but Jesus certainly gave the tempter to understand that He knew who His adversary was: Satan, a murderer from the beginning, a liar and the father of lies. He let Satan know in one great irrefragable statement that He would pay homage to God only - and that Satan himself was bound to do so. We must keep in mind that Satan is subservient to Almighty God, and that God's omnipotence precludes any other power from being supreme, or even existing , apart from what He allows for His omniscient purpose. The Holy Spirit emphasizes this in Romans 13.1, "...For there is no (power) authority except that which God has established. The authorities (powers) that exist have been established by God." (NIV, my parenthesis). That's very plain, isn't it?

Before we go any further with the investigation of worship there is an important point to be discussed. The record of Jesus' testing in the episode above (Matthew 4.1-11) ends with "Then the devil left Him..." Jesus wasn't in constant contact with Satan! Nor was Satan right on the spot hounding Jesus' every move.

Let's get this straight in our minds right now: No matter what the preachers, priests, theologians and other pious pinch porkers teach, SATAN IS NOT THE ANTITHESIS OF GOD! SATAN IS NOT some omnipresent force constantly communicating with each of God's creatures. ONLY GOD IS OMNIPRESENT AND OMNISCIENT SPIRIT! Certainly, on occasion, God may ordain that we be tested by direct confrontation with the devil - but it is NOT an ongoing experience.

"The devil left Him" - and the devil will see that the Spirit of God dwells in the believer at the slightest hint of resistance - and flee! God told James that almost 2,000 years ago - and James told us in his letter. See James 4.7.

Solomon said, "...now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, so there is no adversary nor evil confronting me." (1 Kings 5.4, Amplified Bible). The word translated "adversary" is the Hebrew word "Satan", and without dwelling much on words - we see that Solomon knew when God gave him rest. Satan wasn't around to bedevil him; the adversary left Solomon; the adversary left Jesus.

When God gives us our rest, when we see His hand in every situation, the wars within and without cease - and we have peace. FOR US THE ADVERSARY CEASES TO EXIST. What life, what victory is there in thinking and talking about the adversary? We need to cease paying homage to Satan; indeed, we will, when we come to the knowledge that ALL THINGS that pertain to our life come from GOD, and we don't give the adversary credit for them. We just allow the beaten old jackanapes to die of neglect, knowing that he is powerless in the presence of the enchristed.

Is it perhaps possible that we have already crossed over into the millennial realm where Satan is bound for a thousand years? Think about it? Since God does things in such a way that He works both individually and universally, it may well be that He has believers that are well on their way into the next age, where Christ reigns victoriously, Satan is bound and has no power, and has died for lack of the maudlin coddling the preachers are so wont to give. It's difficult to grasp the extent of what it means to taste of "the goodness of the word of God and the power of the coming age." (Hebrews 6.5, NIV).

Therefore, many who say they believe, who have known the LORD, are yet beset with fear and trembling when disciplined by God, blaming Satan and paying homage to him. We do well to keep our eye single on God's love, and especially in times of testing to maintain GOD CONSCIOUSNESS, for "IN HIM we live, and move and have our being." What has Satan to do with you , yoke-fellow of the Christ?

We see that much of what man attributes to Satan is that which has its origin in the heart of man, springing from the perverse and monstrous human nature. "The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually". (Genesis 6.5, Amplified Bible). The Hebrew word translated "imagination" in this verse signifies not only meditation or thought but the purpose and desires of man.

Christ our Saviour defined this quite well in Mark 7.20-23:

"That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness." (NASB)

Nothing is said about Satan's influence; no flippant "the devil made me do it" attitude; nor is there any evidence that Jesus thought such wickedness proceeded from demon inspired or demon possessed man. He lays the guilt squarely where it belongs - on the heart of unregenerate, depraved man, - man in desperate need of a Saviour, in need of TOTAL REGENERATION. And TOTALLY HELPLESS! Man must be born anew, born from above, to receive the God-nature and become an entirely NEW CREATION IN CHRIST.

Think about it! Much of man's attributing every misdeed and error to Satan is another under-handed form of devil worship.

Not every solicitation to do wrong and to pursue the desires of self is a direct attack of the adversary, whispering in the ear and seeking to draw us from the path of righteousness. Our acquaintances and co-workers, even our friends who may be falling short of the mark, will offer enticements to do wrong. Often these seducers think they have your best interest at heart but their blandishments are based on the reasoning’s of the grim carnal mind.

It is necessary that we discern what is satanic and what is simply "of the world". Remember, once we have been rescued by Christ, HE is LORD of our life - and we are no longer "of the world" - just as He is "not of the world". See John 17.16 where He declares this to God Almighty, our Father and His.

This being so, we seek to be LED BY HIS SPIRIT, and recognize the voice of the world when it calls to us. HIS "sheep follow Him because they know His voice. But they will never follow a stranger, in fact they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." (John 10.4-5, NIV).

There are many parallels between the beguilements of the world around us and the direct temptations of Satan. Maybe that is what has caused so much confusion among Christians; so much that they simply "give the devil his due" and attribute it all to the adversary. BUT, I say again, this is a form of devil worship.

The temptations used by Satan in Jesus' disciplinary training were later used by men - for instance, by the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Men frequently tempted OUR LORD to the performance of signs and wonders which they were determined to disparage, because they had no heart to believe in Him even when such notable acts were done in plain sight of all.

It is recorded that others tried to elevate Him to an earthly eminence by crowning Him King according to THEIR rules and plans. Jesus refused. There were other men so mean and knavish that they accused Him of being covetous of the temporal honors for which He had demonstrated His utter disdain. These weren't attacks of Satan; they were simply expressions of the moribund mind of the depraved state of man, - if not purposely corrupt at least misguided.

To accord all such base actions to Satan is to tender knee-jerk homage to the devil that is totally unscriptural.

I don't mean that there are not instances of actual demonic working. "...the chief priests and teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the twelve." (Luke 22.2-3, NIV). The professional religiosi were motivated by the fear that they might have lost control of the people, and since Jesus was the central and most obvious threat to their schemes they purposed to remove Him. IT WAS GOD'S TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN - so God used their fearfulness to execute a part of His plan.

"This man was handed over to you BY GOD'S SET PURPOSE AND FOREKNOWLEDGE ; and you, with the help of wicked men (literally lawless men), put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross". (Acts 2.23). It was God's plan, NOT man's. The instruments God used were lawless men, ignorant of the truth of who Jesus is, because if they'd known they would not have slain the LORD of glory. With the perversity of their human hearts, aided by Satan's possession of one of the twelve whom Jesus had chosen to share His ministry, these men, having the law, delivered Jesus to men without law, and proceeded to bring about the crucifixion. Outlaw or in-law - these men didn't know that their ignorance and hatred, as well as Satan's rebelliousness, were under the control of Almighty God, WHO HAD PLANNED EVERY DETAIL OF THE REDEEMING EVENTS AT CALVARY. I must say again: Jesus Christ is not the Father's Plan B. HE IS VERY GOD - OMNISCIENT, OMNIPOTENT -- AND HE IS VICTORIOUS!

I don't know if one can emphasize often enough that GOD, ALMIGHTY, CREATOR AND REDEEMER, IS SOVEREIGN! HE HAS NO RIVAL FOR POWER. Whatever He purposes to use to work perfection in His plan, that He ordains to happen. What He does NOT purpose to use and ultimately work into His plan of restoration, He just doesn't let happen. He is ALWAYS in total control of the interplay of good and evil, and of light and darkness. He created ALL things, and whatever negative forces surface, whatever satanic interference is evident, they are still under the absolute control of our God. A Christian should always disparage and denounce openly the pagan praise rendered Satan for his actions, no matter how widespread such practice is in churchdom!

We desperately need the working of the Holy Spirit for the "discerning of spirits", to know of what spirit we are, and what spirit is motivating today's events. Read in Acts 5.3 how Peter discerned the spirit at work in Ananias: "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit...?" Peter didn't charge Sapphira with the same unrighteousness but recognized that she only knowingly went along with her husband's deception. Acting upon the usual greed in natural man, Satan had worked his evil way in Ananias. Sapphira knew what her husband was doing and agreed to the unrighteous act. She paid the price for her deception.

Note well - the record doesn't say that Satan filled her heart as well as her husband's. Satan had the head of the house, the rest followed. Why does supposedly God-reverencing Christendom consider every misdeed as being Satan-inspired? Such homage magnifies him to an unjustified degree.

Returning to the temptations of our LORD: The devil bargained with Jesus to "...fall down and worship me,etc". To "fall down" in this sense means to prostrate oneself, literally, "to fall head-long before" someone or something, and in the Orient, still means to completely subject one's self to another in worship and reverential adoration. This physical attitude is the external recognition of inward acknowledgement of a superior presence, - a response from within, so to speak - indicative of servitude.

Note the word "fall" - a good translation of the Greek. This is a lowering, a diminishing of the self that is required in worship. In effect Satan said to Jesus, "I'm higher than you. You must acknowledge my superiority by physically lowering yourself before me as you render homage."

Jesus countered this outrage with the truth: exaltation and reverence is due to God and HIM ONLY.

Worship requires recognition of a presence so it is wise to heed the Holy Spirit's admonition, "Leave no room or foothold for the devil - give no opportunity to him." (Ephesians 4.27, Amplified Bible). According to this instruction we ought not to give "old scratch" even a passing nod of encouragement, let alone a foot in the door to our life. There shouldn't be a place in our meditations for the adversary - the devil did this, the devil did that, and so on - for we can hardly be GOD-CONSCIOUS, and devil-conscious at the same time.

I think that statement deserves clarification.

We see a distinct boundary between "being aware" of something and "being conscious" of it. A good dictionary will define "consciousness" in many ways - to include "an inward sensibility". "Awareness" is often defined as being informed or knowledgeable of something. Consciousness , then, applies primarily to what is within, while awareness is that which is ordinarily perceived as without oneself.

We know that Jesus was AWARE of the devil and his works, because He had a perfect discernment of spirits. He knows the difference between the degraded spirit of man and what is satanic. By His spoken word He cast out demons and other unclean spirits, then went on His way without more thought about the situation - because He knew that He was LORD over everything. Now, in contrast to awareness , HIS INTERNAL CONSCIOUS STATE WAS OF HIS FATHER, an ongoing fellowship and continuous communion. If we maintain an INNER GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS, then when we are outwardly aware of a wrong spirit, we can no doubt take dominion over it just as our LORD does - and "give NO place to the devil". Our heart and mind should be centered on the Christ, and we must rid our mind and speech of obsession with Satan and his works.

Devil consciousness requires that we FALL from total God-consciousness, a place where He has "raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realm, in Christ Jesus". (See Ephesians 2.6). Why should we leave that realm to give recognition to the devil, talk to him, talk about him, fear him? Our dwelling place is in the heavenlies in fellowship with God the Supreme, but many callously let slip this precious singleness of blessing. Devil worshippers perpetuate this "falling short", and from the simplicity of His Sovereignty lapse into a duality, a kind of double-mindedness, and rob themselves of God's blessings.

This dissertation will be continued.