Section 1: Overcoming Satan's Agenda

Galatians 5:9 A little yeast completely permeates a portion of dough. (GBMV)

Blessing or Cursing

There are two main experiences we can have in life. We can walk in Blessing or we can walk in a Curse. We know that the Lord is the author of Blessing and that is what he always wants for us. He has also provided a way for us to walk in Blessing.

But where a curse is concerned we have an enemy and Satan is always the author of a curse. And in order to bring curses into our lives, Satan has an agenda. We need to learn to recognize that agenda. If we can then it is possible for us to avoid the curses.

I would like to share with you firstly how Satan carries out his agenda and I think you will see very clearly what Satan's plan has been and where he has been going.

The Elements of a Curse

Let's consider firstly the elements of a curse. How do we know when a curse is in operation? Well, there are always three main symptoms to a curse and they are theft and strife and destruction.

God is not the author of theft or strife or destruction so when these three things are present we know that a curse is in operation. And a curse has a motivating force behind it, so when a curse is in operation you will always see this force.

It will either come before or will be manifest during the operation of that curse as it manifests in your life. That force is the force of fear – fear lies at the base of every curse.

Now fear is what motivates most of us to do the wrong thing. So when a curse comes into being it usually starts with fear. Fear comes first and once fear begins to bring the manifestation of the curse, the next thing that kicks in is one of the roots of the flesh.

The taproot of the flesh is bitterness and the second manifestation of the curse is conflict. Once the conflict appears we start to see the full manifestation of the evil that a curse brings.

James tells us what happens when envying and strife exist.

James 3:16 For where envying and strife [exist], there [is] confusion and every evil activity. (GBMV)

So Satan will always start with fear and then he will transition from fear to conflict and strife. And once he gets to that the door is open wide for every kind of evil that the enemy wants to bring into our lives.

Signs of Blessing

Blessing is very different and they are also three elements in a blessing. These are the manifestations that show that a blessing is in operation.

The first one is a bountiful provision which is the total opposite of theft. This is far more than simply a provision; it is abundant provision.

The second is continual harmony, and the third one is protection from all evil and harm.

Blessing also has a motivating force and that force is the love of God. The Scripture tells us that there is no fear in love.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in [agape] love; but mature [agape] love throws out fear: because fear carries negative consequences. The person that is continually in fear has not matured in [agape] love. (GBMV)

Now Satan has some helpers to ensure that his force and his power and his destructive curses are manifested in this world. There are three enemies to the spiritual life which any theological student will know. They are the world the flesh and the devil.

The devil is at the heart and the root of all of them but there are two main facilities that he uses. The first one is what the Bible calls the flesh which is our inherent tendency to sin. It is the sinful nature with which we are all born.

There is a manifestation of three roots that give rise to a tree which we call the Tree of the Flesh. Those roots are bitterness, lust for things, and sexual desire. And bitterness is the taproot.

So Satan starts and has an entry because of sin. That is because we are by nature sinful creatures and because of that he can manipulate that sinful desire in us. And the main agent that he uses for that is what the Bible calls the world or the world system.

Identifying The World System

I personally like to refer to it as The System. We grow up under The System which is a system that is ruled by Satan and his helpers. The Bible warns us against this very clearly in 1 John chapter 2.

1 John 2:15 Do not show love for the world system or anything in the world system. Whoever loves the world system does not have the love of the Father continually in them. (GBMV)

I don't think you can get much clearer than that. You are not to be part of the system. You are not to be influenced by the system. We are called to be under a different system that is ruled by Almighty God.

Liberation Movements

What does the world system produce? The world system produces what is known as liberation movements. The cry in many quarters has always been for freedom. The whole world is crying for freedom.

Freedom from what? Everyone wants to break out of the shackles of the bondage that has held them and they want to be free.

I'm going to show you that true freedom can only come in Christ. God alone is the author and the source of true liberty.

But there are in this world organizations that are ungodly, that do not use the Scriptures, are not based on the Word, yet claim that they have the answer to bring liberation and freedom to the people.

Probably one of the most influential bondages in this world is that of racial prejudice. And so the liberation movements are saying, "We break free of racial prejudice. All men are equal. One race is not above another race.

I will show you what the scripture teaches about that, but first I want to ask you this question.

"If this world is shouting for something, should not we as believers be a little suspicious?"

Because the world is the instrument of Satan. And if the world has an agenda, if the world is pushing and promoting something, should we not as believers be standing back and saying,

"Hold on, since when does the World support God's agenda? Since when does the world promote what God requires?"

You need to be very careful, because though the liberation may be true; though the bondage may be true; the manner in which liberation is brought about by the world system is never ever in agreement with the Word of God.

Past Slavery

The second bondage is slavery. We don't know much about slavery today as it was in times past but slavery was there way back in the Old Testament already. It has been there down through the years and occurred when people sold themselves into slavery.

People sold their children into slavery when they could not pay their debts. You could sell yourself as a slave if you could not pay your debts and this is what caused a lot of early slavery.

In more recent times it became a racial thing. Poor people from Africa were taken across to be sold as slaves, largely in North America. But slavery was not a new thing and slavery was not always a racial thing.

What does the Bible say about it?

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (KJV)

I doubt whether many have fully understood that passage. But as I went about translating this verse for this teaching, I discovered something that I've never seen before. So here is the GBM translation,

Galatians 5:1 Continue to stand firm therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not start holding a grudge again because of the bonds of slavery. (GBMV)

That entanglement is an anger and a rebellion and arguing and disputing. In most places, slavery has now long gone but sadly it has risen again. And many are looking back and holding a grudge again over slavery that was carried out back then.

Yes, there is still bondage, and many people are still held in bondage. There are still forms of slavery and there are those who impose their will on others. But what will it take to break free? Certainly not the liberation movements of this world.

Onesimus The Runaway Slave

In New Testament times, when slavery was still legal and valid, a slave by the name of Onesimus ran away from his owner, whose name was Philemon. It appears that Philemon was a believer whom Paul had won to the Lord, and he was a committed Christian.

Onesimus somehow came across Paul and Paul led him to the Lord and he was born again. He was now in somewhat of a dilemma because once Paul found out that he was a legal slave who had run away from his master, Paul had to do the right thing.

He had to show Onesimus that he did not have a right to leave his master and he needed to return to him. But now things had changed somewhat. Philemon was a child of God and Onesimus was also a child of God.

So though in the natural their relationship was that of master and slave, their relationship in the spirit now became brothers in Christ. So Paul writes the book of the Philemon which only has one chapter and he sends this letter with Onesimus to take to his master.

Paul tells him not to hold a grudge against him but to forgive him and to stop seeing him as a slave. He must start seeing him now as a fellow brother in Christ.

You see, the Gospel and the Spirit of God and the New Birth change everything. In Christ, everything is different but in the natural, and legally, Onesimus was still a slave. And he was still obligated to go back to his master and submit to him. The rebirth did not cancel that obligation, but it changed their relationship.

Women's Liberation

One of the biggest liberation movements in the world is what is known as the Woman's Liberation Movement. It arose because through the years women have been oppressed. They have been held back and have not been allowed to do the same things that men could do.

Women were not allowed to vote and were considered merely housewives and mothers. A woman was considered part of the property of her husband and in some nations that still applies.

How do we break free of this? The woman's liberation movement says, "We will set the women free! We will rise up and claim our rights! But where is Christ in this and where is the Lord?

Certainly, things may be wrong but we do not break free using the world system. Paul tells us the following in Galatians:

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into [the Body of] Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither a Jew nor is there a non-Jew or Greek, there is neither a slave nor is there a non-slave, there is neither a male nor is there a female: for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (GBMV)

Now is there a Jew in the natural and a Greek or Gentile? Absolutely! Are there different nations in the natural? Are there different races? Absolutely! They exist.

In the natural, is there slavery? In some places yes there probably still is; these things do exist. In the natural are men and women different? Absolutely! And that will never change.

But in Christ, those differences all disappear. In Christ, we are all one and the same because we are not looking at our bodies we are looking at our spirits. Only in Christ can we break free.

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