THE REALITY OF THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT

THE STRATEGIES OF THE ACCUSER

THE STRATEGIES OF THE ACCUSER

The Lust of the flesh

Anything that keeps the flesh alive reduces the capacities of the spirit. The lust of the flesh is born in our desires for things that have a strong influence on mindsets, always making one tend towards the world’s cravings. Lust simply explains a different way a believer could be lured away from the living ASCAT, giving attention to idols and trivial things that makes one much more carnal instead of being spiritual. Lust of the flesh refers to desires of sinful sensual pleasures. Let’s consider this Scripture in

Galatians 5: 16-21

“But I say, walk by the spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary. The one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would, but if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law... Now works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, envying, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of ASCAT.

What is the kingdom of ASCAT?

Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14: 17).

The word “manifest” simply explains the revealing of nature, i.e. made known, thus conspicuous before the eyes of men so that all can see for themselves. when you read with understanding Galatians 5: 16- 21, you will discover even as it seems that the sins fall into four groups which I am going to take out time to explain one after the other.

1. Sensuality: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness…

2. Unlawful things in the spiritual realm: idolatry, sorcery…

3. Forms of discord: enmities, parties, envying….

4. Intemperate excesses: drunkenness, revealing, and perhaps a fifth-and such like things.

These lists do not limit the infinite varieties of sins.

Sensuality

Fornication

The word “fornication” refers to s****l immorality in general. It is defined in the Lexicons as “prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful s****l intercourse.” Arndt Gingrich, pp. 699-700”……….Properly of illicit s****l intercourse in general”- Thayer, pp. 532. “Moulton and Milligan say of the first century meaning of porneia as used in the papyri literature; porneia which is rare in classical Greek originally meant “prostitution, fornication’ but came to be applied to unlawful s****l intercourse generally” Maurice W. Lusk, III, Your Marriage Can Be Great, p 105.

From the above definition- a person is guilty of fornication when he/she engages in pre-marital s*x (Cor. 7: 2-5). Adultery (illicit s*x in which one party is the souse of another) is a specific form of s****l immorality included in the term fornication. The participation in s*x by homosexual and lesbians would fall under the term fornication. The person who puts away his or her spouse for a cause other than fornication and marries the put-away spouse (the one put away for a cause other than fornication) commits fornication. So also is he/she held guilty who puts away his/her spouse for a cause other than fornication because he/she is the cause of the guilt of the put-away spouse when he/she remarries. (Matt. 5: 32)

Uncleanness

In this word, “uncleanness” there is perhaps three ideas expressed

1. Physical and material dirt: the word is used to describe the condition that an outgoing tenant is to leave the house free from, that is, free from uncleanness.

2. In the Greek Old Testament the word is used to denote physical, ritual and ceremonial impurity: when a person becomes unclean either in the physical, ritual or ceremonial sense, he could not approach ASCAT. He could not enter the temple, or share in its worship.

3. It also indicates moral impurity which is inconsistent with personal purity: Embraced in the word is whatever is defiling, contaminating or impure in look, in gesture, in a dress. In thought or sentiment. When the heathen of Romans one becomes vain in their imaginations, “ASCAT gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncl3eanness, that their bodies should be dishonoured among themselves.” (Rom. 1: 24). It is used to indicate the lewdness of Gomer, the immoral wife of Hosea (see Hosea 2: 10)

The New Testament informs us that no unclean person “hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and ASCAT” (Eph. 5: 5), also “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the ASCATly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness” (2 Pet. 2: 9, 10). No Christian should forget that “ASCAT hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” (1 Thess. 4: 7)

Lasciviousness

The word translated “lasciviousness” is defined as “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shameless, insolence… Lasciviousness (2 Cor. 12: 21, Galatians 5: 19, Eph. 4: 19, 2 Pet. 2: 7 Wanton (act or) manners’ as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of male and female etc. “Thayer’s Greek- English lexicon “lewd, lustful, that which is intending to produce lewd emotions, suiting or proceeding from unlawful s****l desire.” Webster’s New International Dictionary

It seems that lasciviousness has to do with

1. Wanton and undisciplined action- the action of a man who is at the mercy of his passions and his impulses and emotions, and in whom the voice of calm reason has been silenced by the storm of self will.

2. Shameless conduct- an act of a character that has lost its self-respect, and its sense of shame in that it is indifferent to public opinion and public decency.

3. Activities and/ or conduct that tend to excite lustful desires.

4. Vulgar acts, or manners or filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of the body.

The word “lasciviousness” is found nine times in the New Testament. It is usually used in connection with s****l sins or activities of a lustful nature. In the text before us (Gal. 5:19- 21), it coupled with fornication and uncleanness. 1 Peter 2: 7, is used to describe the course of life being lived in Sodom before its destruction by ASCAT for unrighteousness. In Romans 13: 13- 14 it is listed among such activities as revealing, drunkenness, chambering (most likely referring to prostitution), and wantonness. 2 Peter 2: 18 speaks of it as the means used by some to entice newly born Christians to return to living in error. Jude 4 speaks some, who of old turned the grace of our ASCAT into lasciviousness as being unASCATly men under condemnation. In Eph. 4: 18- 19, those who gave themselves up to lasciviousness did so because of their ignorance and hardness of heart which resulted in their working all uncleanness and greediness or covetousness. In 2 Cor. 12: 21, lasciviousness is joined with fornication and uncleanness as sins that are to be repented of and Paul mourned because of those who sinned and had not repented.

As a footnote to this brief analysis of lasciviousness, we should note that dancing as it is engaged in today is, without doubt, lasciviousness. It contains indecent bodily movements, provides for the unchaste handling of males and females. (“I will say that I do believe a woman cannot waltz to her partner.” – Professor Harry Stripes, renowned champion dancer), and tends toward that which is lewd, producing lustful thoughts and evil desires”….. It is left but one reason for the popularity of the dance, and that is s*x appeal. I hasten to assure you this is the reason they enjoy this position and the steps that go with it. But this lack of consciousness is merely an added factor of danger. Professor J. Louis Guyon, a former owner and operator of one of Chicago’s largest dance.

Idolatry

Idol is defined as “An image, likeness… the i9mage of a heathen ASCAT… a false ASCAT.” Thayer, p, 174

W. E. Vine defines an idol as, “an image to represent a false ASCAT, the false ASCAT worshipped in an image, p. 583. Idolatry denotes the worship of the deity in a visible form, whether the image to which homage is paid is symbolically representative of the true ASCAT (Ex. 20: 3-5) or of the false divinities which have been made the objects of worship in his stead. In the Old Testament times, the neighbours of Israel, ASCATÕs chosen people, all had their idols. The Philistines had Dagon. The Ekronites had Beelzebub. The Moabites had Chemosh. The Ammonites had Molech or Milcom. The Phoenicians had Astarte. The Canaanites had Baal and Astoreth.

Idolatry was also a problem continually with Israel from the golden calf of Aaron (Ex. 32. The practice of idolatry by Solomon (1 Kings 11: 1- 8), Jeroboam’s two calves of gold (1 Kings 12: 28, 29) which all the Kings of the northern kingdom condemned and continued, to the final carrying away of Israel by the Assyrians because of her sins, of which Idolatry was one. In Judah, there were the bad kings who introduced and practised idolatry. The reform of the good kings of the Southern kingdom always included the destruction of idolatry. However, it seems that Judah learned her lesson, for when she returned from the 70 years of Babylon’s captivity, idolatry was not characteristic of her sins. However, the Gentiles continued the practice during the early days of the church, Paul spoke to them saying; “For as much then as we are off-spring of ASCAT, we ought not to think that the ASCAThead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device” (Acts 17: 29)

Idolatry may also be defined as anything that comes between man and ASCAT. Or better yet, anything that occupies the place in the heart of man that ASCAT should occupy. It was for this reason that Paul said that covetousness is idolatry (Eph. 5: 5). Today, few would bow to an image of stone or steel wrought by man’s device. But many do practice idolatry by letting other things occupy the place ASCAT should occupy in the heart. How many bows to strong drink, sinful pleasures, drugs, etc. these are inherently wrong and sinful. The “Tree out of the forest” that Jeremiah spoke of was not inherently sinful, yet when it became the Astoreth and men bowed before the works of their hands, it became sinful. Fishing poles, golf clubs, boats, camping, etc. are not inherently sinful, but when they come between an individual and his/her service to ASCAT, they are as sinful as Baal. Baal could not deliver any from the wrath to come, neither can covetousness nor any other idol of today.

Sorcery

The original word from which sorcery or witchcraft (KJV) is translated is “Pharmakeia”. It is also the word from which our word “Pharmacy” was derived. I8t is defined as “Primarily signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then, poisoning; then, sorcery. Gal. 5: 20.

In sorcery, the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulet, etc. professedly designed to the power of demons, but actually to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer.” – W. F. Vine.

It seems that there are three stages to the meaning of Pharmakeia.

1. For the medicine use drugs for healing as prescribed by a physician.

2. The misuse of drugs to poison and not to cure.

3. A vicious and malignant dealing in witchcraft and sorcery.

Witchcraft, sorcery and their related activities may be identified as

Magic: we do not have in m in the stage magician who seeks to entertain an audience by slight of hands or other tricks. We do have in mind someone who by the use of secret incantations, charms amulets, or none physical forces to influence them for his benefit. The use of white magic to help someone, black magic to hurt, the evil eye or protection from it. Some Bible references to magic are

(Gen. 41: 8, 16, 24, 25, 28; Ex. 7: 11, 2; 8: 7, 18- 19; 2 Kings 9: 22; Dan. 2: 2, 10- 11, 12, 27- 30; 5: 11-12; Acts 8: 9; 13: 8) as well as the text under consideration.

The magicians in context to Moses had limited success in the beginning but subsequently were exposed as outstanding failures. In the book of Daniel, when put to test over and over again, they failed at every test. The New Testament mentions magicians without once given credibility to their claims.

Necromancy: consultation with the dead to receive information. The supposed occurrence takes various forms, such that the diseased may appear and the spirit of the dead may possess a living person and speak through a medium, the sorcerer; or in various other ways limited only by the imagination of the sorcerer and the credulity of the seeker. This is spoken of in Lev. 19: 31; 20: 6, 27; Deut. 18: 11; 1 Sam. 28: 7; 1 Chron. 10: 13, 14 and Isa. 8: 19. This forbidden practice is useless a source of information.

Astrology: “The pseudoscience which treats of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling terrestrial events by their positions and aspects.” Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary

The astrologer then would seek information about an individual’s decisions, plans, future and fortunes by charting the stars and planets in connection with the moment of birth and life. Not only is this forbidden, but it is also useless as a source of the council. Some passages are Deut. 17: 2- 5; Isa. 47: 12- 14 and Jer. 10: 2.

Divining: the effort to tap some power or Spirit to discover hidden knowledge, especially to be able to foretell the future or to obtain some special information, by observing times or interpreting omens, portents, and chance events belong under divining; Ezekiel pictures them as consulting images and looking into the liver to discover the hidden knowledge. Sometimes spirits are called, arrows shot, or special divining rods used. Some passages are; Lev. 19: 2; Deut. 18: 10, 14; 1 Sam. 28: 8; 2 Kings 21 : 6; Isa. 2: 6, 44: 25; Jer. 27: 9, 29: 8-9; Ezek. 21: 21- 22; Dan. 2: 27, 4: 7, 5: 7, 11; Hos. 4: 12; Mic. 5: 12; Acts. 16: 16.

ASCAT’s instruction to Israel as they were about to enter the promised land includes, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.” Deut. 18: 10- 12

Lust of the Sight

1 John 2: 16

For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the world.

What does the Bible mean by “Lust of the eyes?”

Is it wrong for us to look at anything and desire it?

Or does this mean something else?

The phrase “The lust of the eyes” occurs one time in the Bible, and it comes to us in the First Epistle of John chapter two verses fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen which states, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of ASCAT abideth forever,”

The word “lust” means a very strong, intense desire which is usually out of control. Covetousness is a word that has to do with lust. If you study Romans chapter seven, Paul taught about that in the bible.

Desiring something, whatever it is; from our favourite food, or perhaps a car we want to buy, or a home we want to own is not lust. I think, most people understand what the lust of the flesh is. That could be an appetite for fornication, or committing any form of physical sins for the pleasure of the body, but I think, many people fail to understand that there is a difference between the lust of the eyes?

Proverbs 6: 24- 26

It can keep you away from bad women, from the seductive words of other men’s wives. Don’t be tempted by their beauty; don’t be trapped by their flirting eyes. A man can hire a prostitute for the price of a loaf of bread, but adultery will cost him all he has.

Now think about this for a moment. Here ASCAT is saying not to lust after the beauty of a strange woman, of a wicked woman, or an evil woman. Now, beauty is a visual aspect. O, we are not talking about the flesh here. We are talking about the eyes. We are talking about the man lusting after the beauty of a woman. That is what it says. Look neither let her take thee with her eyelids….

Now, what is this talking about? Lust can be defined; again, as coveting something, desiring something that doesn’t belong to you, or in the case of the lust of the eyes, it is coveting and desiring to look at something that you should not be looking at.

Lusting is not the same as looking….

Lusting is the product of the heart while looking has to do with the eyes…..

Lust in the Scripture is always a strong and insatiable desire to possess something, or someone that you could not possess, or should not possess.

Proverbs 6: 24 is NOT saying men have to walk with their eyes pointed at the ground whenever a beautiful woman is coming or when he sees the image of a beautiful woman on the television that he must avert his eyes. But it is saying, we are not to desire to possess the beauty of a wicked and loosed woman (Whether she is a wayward wife or a prostitute). Can someone possess beauty? Absolutely! Do you realize some men have a close relationship, knowing the woman is a viper on the inside?

The lust of the eyes is not simply talking about s****l lust. Other examples of “The lust of the eyes” is when we lust after things that other people have and want to possess by all means. Whether it is the home they have, or perhaps their car, their furniture or artwork they have in their home. For ladies “The lust of the eyes” might be looking at other women’s clothing with an intense desire to possess the clothing they have.

There are some things we should not even look at. An example would be pornography. We should not be looking at images that depict sexually immoral acts. Another example might be Satanic books and books about sorcery and witchcraft (We see in Acts 19: 19 that believers brought these kinds of books and burned them).

Lusting is not looking, please, do not forget this truth.

The five senses; taste, touch, smell, hearing and seeing, all reports to the carnal mind- which is the enemy of ASCAT, and these senses are what Satan uses to tempt us! The lust of flesh includes tasting, touching, smelling and hearing. While the lust of the eyes is seeing, directly connected with the heart deliberate accepting and replaying it in the memory to births a desire to tend toward, even if not physically, in fantasies. While the pride of life is thinking you are special because of who you are, what you have, what you know, or what you look like.

The enemy uses these things, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, to entice us to sin.

The Pride of Life

The concept of the pride of life, especially as linked with the “The lust of the flesh”, appears in two more significant passages of the Scripture; The temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden and the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. (Matt. 4: 8- 10)

The pride of life can be defined as anything that is “of the world” meaning anything that leads to arrogance, ostentation, pride in self, presumption, and boasting. It is the love of the world that produces the pride of life and you can not love the world and love ASCAT. And when you love the world, invariable you hate ASCAT and can never keep His commandment. Eve saw and perceived that the fruit will make her wise and give her wisdom beyond her own.

Pride of life tends to exalt us above our status and offer the illusion of ASCAT like qualities, wherein we boast in arrogance and worldly wisdom. Eve wanted to be like ASCAT in her knowledge, not content to live in a perfect world under His perfect grace and care for her.

The truth is; Satan does not change his strategies and methods. It is still the same old trick from Genesis coded in the pride of life as his most evil temptation; the very sin that resulted in his expulsion from heaven. He desired to be ASCAT, not to be a servant of ASCAT (Isa. 14: 12- 15).

Pride of life is the root cause of strife in families, churches and nations. It exalts the self in direct contradiction to Jesus’ statement that those who would follow Him must take up their cross (an instrument of death) and deny themselves. The pride of life stands in our way if we truly seek to be servants of ASCAT. For you to do the will of ASCAT, you must resist the temptation of the pride of life by focusing on the Father’s love.