Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. World English Bible.
The sixty-six (66) books of the Biblical canon do not tell us much about the origins of demonic spirits. However, there are ancient extra-biblical books that give us a lot of detail about the demonic powers that we must WRESTLE with during our life here on earth.
WRESTLE: G3823, palē
Thayer Definition:
When we read the gospels, we see that much of the ministry of Jesus dealt with opposing these demonic spirits. In the Book of Acts, the Apostles also contended with demons and sorcerers. There is absolutely every reason to believe that we must WRESTLE with these same demonic forces today! There are demons and sorcerers today just like in the Bible, but they are more hidden…they are called the OCCULT!
OCCULT', a. [L. occultus, occulo; ob and celo, to conceal.]
Hidden from the eye or understanding; invisible; secret; unknown; undiscovered; undetected; as the occult qualities of matter.
The occult sciences are magic, necromancy, &c.
Occult lines, in geometry, are such as are drawn with the compasses or a pencil, and are scarcely visible. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.
In my previous articles I have written about demonic spirits and their origins. The Book of Enoch informs us that demons are the disembodied spirits of the NEPHILIM.
NEPHILIM: H5303, nephı̂yl nephil, nef-eel', nef-eel'
From H5307; properly, a feller, that is, a bully or tyrant: - giant.
The Book of Genesis gives us brief description of the Nephilim:
Gen 6:4 The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had children with them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
There has been much speculation in the past about the identity of the SONS OF GOD, but the Book of Enoch makes it clear that the SONS OF GOD are fallen angels.
8 And now, the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon 9 the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling. Evil spirits have proceeded from their bodies; because they are born from men and from the holy Watchers is their beginning and primal origin; 10 they shall be evil spirits on earth, and evil spirits shall they be called. [As for the spirits of heaven, in heaven shall be their dwelling, but as for the spirits of the earth which were born upon the earth, on the earth shall be their dwelling.] And the spirits of the giants afflict, oppress, destroy, attack, do battle, and work destruction on the earth, and cause trouble: they take no food, but nevertheless 12 HUNGER and THIRST, and cause offences. And these spirits shall rise up against the children of men and against the women, because they have proceeded from them. I Enoch 15:8-12
There is even more detailed information about the NEPHILIM in a book found with the Dead Sea Scrolls called the “Book of Giants”.
The two hundred angels choose animals on which to perform unnatural acts,
including, presumably, humans.
1Q23 Frag. 1 + 6 [ . . . two hundred] 2donkeys, two hundred asses, two hundred
. . . rams of the] 3flock, two hundred goats, two hundred [ . . . beast of
the] 4field from every animal, from every [bird . . . ] 5[ . . . ] for
miscegenation [ . . . ]
The outcome of the demonic corruption was violence, perversion, and a brood of
monstrous beings. Compare Genesis 6:4. 4 Q531 Frag. 2 [ . . . ] they defiled [ . . . ] 2[ . . . they begot] giants and
monsters [ . . . ] 3[ . . . ] they begot, and, behold, all [the earth was
corrupted . . . ] 4[ . . . ] with its blood and by the hand of [ . . . ]
5[giant's] which did not suffice for them and [ . . . ] 6[ . . . ] and they
were seeking to devour many [ . . . ] 7[ . . . ] 8[ . . . ] the monsters
attacked it. The Book of Giants, Dead Sea Scrolls.
The fallen angels in the antediluvian age began to conduct “genetic engineering” with themselves, animals, and people. I wrote more about this in a previous article:
http://www.motsog.com/fundamentals/nephilim
We have hints of what the “nephiyl” looked like from the mythos of ancient culture’s descriptions of: centaurs, satyrs, minotaurs, and chimeras. These “mythical” creatures usually looked part human and part animal. They were usually faster, stronger, and bigger than an ordinary human being. However, what if these “mythical creatures” were real?
Berosus (q) speaks of a city about Lebanon, called Enos, which was a city of giants, who were men of vast bodies, and of great strength, inventors of arms and music, were cannibals, and exceedingly debauched.
If we can wrap our minds around the idea of the reality of DEMONS, and their continued existence and influence today, then we can begin to understand that they are “spirits” and it is impossible to “physically” overcome them. We absolutely MUST wrestle with them using “spiritual” weapons. We might even begin to understand why some people can commit unbelievably monstrous acts that we so often hear about in the news…because they are literally possessed by MONSTERS!
Perhaps the fact that scientists have been conducting “genetic engineering” for the last fifty years might give us a clue that we actually are living in the Last Days.
We absolutely MUST be led by the Holy Spirit in these Last Days!
Acts 13:2 … the Holy Ghost SAID, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Many people are completely out of control in these last days because they are being manipulated by demonic spirits like they are puppets on a string. People recognize that they have no control and everybody around them recognize they are out of control, but they do not know what to do about it…other than to keep drugged up and stoned, which only makes the problem worse. TERMPERANCE is a “fruit” of the Holy Ghost.
TEM'PERANCE, n. [L. temperantia, from tempero.]
Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth. Temperance in eating and drinking is opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.
It is my belief and contention that obesity, and all other carnal addictions, are mainly a “spiritual” problem. This has also been the view of the ancient world, and the Biblical world view, for many thousands of years. However, during our modern times, with the arrival of the so called “Age of Enlightenment”, the ancient beliefs were mocked and ridiculed until we have nearly zero restraint when it comes to indulging our flesh.
That is why we need every “spiritual” weapon at our disposal…including BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST and FASTING!
FASTING by itself is not good enough. The Pharisees FASTED often, but Jesus condemned them for their SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I FAST twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
When we begin to focus on our own deliverance, and we begin FASTING, and we are delivered, we can often times begin to think that there must be something “special” about us, and we can also tend to forget that we are just like everybody else EXCEPT we have God on our side! Like the Pharisees we can start being full of PRIDE.
The best way to avoid PRIDE is to focus on the deliverance of OTHER PEOPLE! Now a lot of people don’t want to be delivered…especially people suffering from the sin of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS and PRIDE. However, there are also a lot of people who do want deliverance from their addictions. Everybody has some weakness, but some are better at hiding it than other people. Once we have been delivered, it is imperative that we encourage other people that there is a way of deliverance…HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST! We can never afford to be condemning or judgmental because we are ALL SAVED BY GRACE!
2Ki 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2Ki 4:2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
2Ki 4:3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
2Ki 4:4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
2Ki 4:5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
2Ki 4:6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
2Ki 4:7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
I believe that this specific story of the widow burdened by an unpayable debt is an allegory for all of us. CLAY VESSELS in the Bible represent people.
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
OIL in the Bible represents the Holy Ghost…the CHRIST!
Mat 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called CHRIST.
CHRIST: G5547, Christos, khris-tos'
From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.
1Sa 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Let’s get back to the widow woman with an unpayable debt to her creditors. The prophet Elisha asks the widow if she has anything of value in her home, and she tells him she has a pot of oil. Elisha tells her to start borrowing as many “empty” vessels as she can from her neighbors, and then to start filling them up with the pot of oil she has in her house. As soon as ALL the empty vessels were filled, the oil stops flowing. However, with the proceeds she is able to pay off all of her debts AND live off the rest. Do you see the allegory?
As long as we have a “little oil” (the Baptism of the Holy Ghost), if we share the gospel AND the Holy Ghost with our “empty” neighbors, we will always have more than enough to meet our own needs!
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
If you are walking in the Spirit, living by faith, you can live by the natural AND supernatural provision of God. The Book of Hebrews explains that we have supernatural access to the very throne room of God.
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
If we have understanding, we know by FAITH that God will provide us everything necessary to live a supernaturally good and abundant life… if we trust on HIM and BELIEVE HIS WORD.
Heb 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
The CANDLESTICK represents direct revelation from God.
The SHEWBREAD represents direct natural provision from God.
The GOLDEN CENSER represents our prayers and requests going directly to God.
The ARK OF THE COVENANT represents the direct presence of God.
The GOLDEN POT OF MANNA represents the supernatural provision of God.
AARON’S ROD represents the supernatural resurrection life of God.
The CHERUBIMS OF GLORY represents the supernatural protection of God.
The MERCYSEAT represents the supernatural grace of God.
We can have it ALL by FAITH in the finished work of JESUS CHRIST, our HEAVENLY HIGH PRIEST. It sounds like GOOD NEWS to me!
Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
