Brian Cole: 'Operation Mindcrime' – Part 1

Editor's Note: Every Sunday, DrydenWire.com publishes a submitted article in a weekly series from Pastor Brian Cole. If you would have a question for Brian or would like to learn more about him, visit his website or his official Facebook page.

In these first few verses of Genesis 3, a profound insight is revealed of how the Adversary will approach humanity for the remainder of our days. We can search the Scriptures and find many examples of just this same strategy throughout both the OT and the NT. Tactics have and will change over time and culture, but the strategy remains the same.

I Wonder what must go through Satan’s mind with memories of when he was in intimate fellowship with God. How lonely he must be now that he hates God and cannot delight in the creation God has made, but rather, hates it and wants to destroy it. When Satan looked on the purity and happiness of man and woman in the garden, there’s no wonder he hated them.

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Misery loves company.” Those who have not, hate those who have. Those who are poor hate those who are rich. Those who are ignorant hate those who are wise. The unbelieving hate those who walk in sweet and simple faith. And so, Satan was tormented with the urge to ruin the happiness in Eden, to destroy the plan of God, to put an end to all that was beautiful and holy in mankind.

And how many in human history, including ourselves have this same mindset?? We see someone enjoying life and succeeding in life, living happy, and we get jealous and set out to destroy them?!!!

I KNOW there is a personal devil from firsthand experience. I made him my god for 33 years. I KNOW he hates the children of God and would do them evil. I know that he resists the Gospel and takes away the Gospel seed out of the heart of the hearer whenever he can. I know that when God says to the poor sinner, “Now is the day of salvation,” Satan whispers in the other ear, “Not now. Wait until you have had your fun. Wait until you have had a good time. Wait until YOU feel like it...” I KNOW there is a personal devil, the enemy of Jesus Christ, the enemy of the Gospel and my own enemy! I KNOW that when I go to rescue souls from the burning pits, that I snatch the lambs from the very mouth of the lion! I KNOW that “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Many people ask me if I REALLY believe the devil is a person and is real. I tell you that after being his puppet for so many years, and I say now that if you twisted the devil's tail as much as I do; if you pulled out of his hands the addicts and prostitutes, the sexual deviants and the pharisees, the infidels and those who are indwelled by his demons... the devil would bother you too!!!!

We need to be reminded that, even if you aren’t “pursuing God and the word,” the devil is constantly pursuing you! The devil, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking those whom he may devour.” So, we must “put on the whole armor of God” for this constant warfare. You don’t have much to worry about if you're stagnant in your faith and not doing anything to deal the devil blows.

So, in saying this, we should learn from the manner of Satan’s temptation through the serpent and always be on guard against his methods.

First, Satan came as a friend! Since the serpent was the most intelligent beast of all God had created before he put the curse on the serpent, I would imagine Adam and Eve had been around that creature quite a bit. Sometimes those who see to bring us down are those closest and the most intimate with us, and those who seem the most wise and educated, those we spend the most time with.

And Satan came claiming to offer a way of happiness and wisdom. The scriptures say MANY things about False Teachers: “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

Satan himself does not come with horns and hoofs and pitchforks, but he comes as a good friend. He comes in the form of a beautiful and attractive woman. Or, it may be with smiles and tears of love, as in the case of Delilah with Samson. Or, he comes in the form of some dignified, scholarly man, as modernists and unbelievers in Christ and the Bible come. He comes in the guise of the smart professor who would lead you into “truth,” he says, while he breaks down your faith in God and the Bible.

So, Satan in Eden came to the woman as a friend seeking, he said, to show her how to be happy and wise. Oh, how Satan has deceived and damned millions! Satan promises happiness, but in the bottom of the cup of nectar is poison and bitterness! ALL Satan’s fruit has worms. ALL Satan’s promises are lies! ALL Satan’s good times end in heartbreak or death. ALL Satan’s scholarship leads to the darkness of eternal night, with blinded mind, perverted heart and a soul lost to God.

Satan started with the question, “Hath God said?” Unbelief and sin ALWAYS start with a question about the Word of God, some denial of God’s authority. Did God really say it? Is the Bible really the infallible Word of God? Maybe that isn’t what He meant, here’s what I think it says! It’s old, we have to keep up to the times... Unbelievers deny the story of Jonah, while Satan means that to be a denial of Christ’s Resurrection, of which it is the prophetic type.

So-called scientists, by their guesses and theories, deny the direct creation of man in the image of God; but Satan means it to turn people from the second creation, the new birth. Men affirm that the moral standards of the bible are only relative and temporary and not suited to our times; but really Satan means to use this to lead people on the road to broken hearts, broken homes, diseased bodies, tainted minds, and, at last, to hell. A warning, that whenever you hear someone questioning the Word of God, you should listen for the hiss of the serpent! You will see the leering eyes of Satan behind it!

All Christianity stands or falls with the Bible. The deity of Christ, the truth about heaven and hell and the new birth, and EVERY promise of God hinges on whether or not the Bible is really God’s infallible Word.