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Enmity with Hope

Words of Faith Final

Enmity with Hope
Words of Faith 1-24-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 3
    [14] So the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. [15] And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

            There were several curses that came as a result of the Fall. The Hebrew word for curse means a "bitter curse." Bitterness is one result of rebellion and sin. Life that had been sweet in the Garden became bitter. The bitter curses are not vindictive or vengeful. They are simply the consequence of choosing to no longer be under the sweet protection and blessing of the Lord God.
            The serpent was cursed among all animals to eat dust all its days. There would be an enmity-- hostility and hatred-- between the serpent and the woman and between their offspring. There is much more to this curse than generalizing that women will fear snakes, and snakes had better fear women. The curse speaks not so much to the "snake" used in the Garden to talk to the woman but to the fallen angel Satan who stood behind that temptation.
           This curse describes a perpetual struggle between satanic forces and mankind. The "offspring" of the woman was Cain, then all humanity at large, and then Christ and those collectively in Him. The "offspring" of the serpent includes demons and anyone serving his kingdom of darkness, those whose "father" is the devil (John 8:44). This text lays the groundwork for understanding the spiritual warfare that continues to this day.
            There is a powerful prophetic word here concerning Satan and Christ. Satan would wound mankind (you will strike at his heel), but the Seed, Christ, would deliver the fatal blow (He will crush your head). Christ is the victor over Satan and his realm, and that victory is being concluded until the final battle and judgment.
            What do we gather from this about the human condition and our response to it? Perhaps the Apostle Paul said it best:  "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:10-12).
           The Tempter has not stopped his scheming even though he was defeated at Calvary. Satan has no power over a believer in Jesus, but that does not mean he will not try to persuade or assault us. For this reason, we must avail ourselves of the armor of truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the weapons of prayer and the Word of God.
          We think about these truths during the season that celebrates incarnation. Centuries after this curse, there came a birth that fulfilled the prophecy. A baby was born in the most humble place, which caused Satan and his entire realm to shudder. The baby born in Bethlehem was the mighty warrior who would defeat the Enemy's offspring.

           Father God, I give thanks that you scheduled and planned hope and victory even in the cursing that came from human rebellion. I rejoice in knowing that Christ is my victor and that He has provided everything I need in order to stand against the Enemy. Gird me with Your truth and righteousness, fit my feet with readiness. Shield me from attack. Call me to battle as You see fit. In Jesus' Name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.