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FinalCall.com News
Minister Louis Farrakhan
Stand against the wiles of Satan
By The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
Updated Nov 18, 2005 - 6:36:00 PM
[Editor’s note: The following article is based on excerpts from an address delivered by Minister Farrakhan at Muhammad’s Mosque No. 45 in Houston, Texas on October 30, 2005, which was broadcasted nationally via webcast. During this lecture, Minister Farrakhan instructed the audience members to get the tape and study it with their families and neighbors. Click here to order this message.]
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.
I thank Allah (God) for all those who helped to create the beginning of a Movement. The Millions More Movement represents danger to those who have traditionally abused the masses. We were so completely thoroughly divided because of the impure motivations of those who lead us—wanting to be seen and not being effective; wanting material things but not wanting to be servants; wanting to be fed and clothed from the wool of the sheep, but not desirous of leading the sheep into green pastures.
Even if the unity on October 15 was false, the whole spectrum of Black thought came together on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Never before in our history has every spectrum of thought from the Black community been represented in one place at one time.
What we did on that day must be countered by the enemies of our rise, because there is a law in physics: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. What should we expect as the reaction of the forces of evil against our creation of a Movement?
The Millions More Movement has the potential of unseating powers that have traditionally kept us divided and poor people at each other’s throats, so that the rich can stay rich and in power. Our unity is the death knell of White supremacy and those who have a vested interest in White supremacy.
Many came to the rally without the thought of ending the power of our enemies; they were only desirous of creating a movement. They were thinking about ending our suffering as a people, but ending our suffering is ending the power of those who have caused us to suffer and keep us remaining in suffering. So we have to expect a reaction to what we did.
First, the enemy must sift us. The Bible says that Satan sifted Peter because Peter was to be the foundational stone of the Kingdom of God or the Church. Satan wanted to know the weaknesses of Peter, so he could attack the Kingdom through those weaknesses. So, the enemies of the Millions More Movement want to sift the leaders of this Movement to see where we are weak, so that they can come in through that weakness and destroy or divert the Movement from its intended goal.
In the Holy Qur’an, it reads: “And they plan, and Allah plans and Allah is the best of planners.” Satan always desires to turn people from their goals; wherever they are going that might benefit them to the detriment of Satan. His desire is to turn that person or that movement to his benefit. His function is to create confusion and division, and then see how people respond, and report back. So, in every organization, there is a Judas. In every family, there is someone that can be sifted against the family.
The Judas factor is that Judas seemed to have a problem with Jesus; Judas was a revolutionary and he believed Jesus was, too. That is why he came to Jesus’ side. But Jesus was very spiritual. As they neared the end of the term, Judas could not continue with Jesus because he felt that Jesus had betrayed the cause of the Jews by talking about a future kingdom, while Judas was looking for power in another way. He was being sifted and he was envious of his teacher.
My own ministers and helpers should check their hearts because secret thoughts manifest and Satan is not only listening to our telephone conversations and tapping our offices and homes. You cannot hide from him the secrets in your heart that you think no one knows and those secret councils that you have. Once Satan sifts a weakness, he expands and exploits it for the destruction of the individual and the person that individual envies, as well as the Movement in order to take it off its course. The enemy is also concerned about the future of movements that he has trouble turning; so he is patient enough to wait, if he cannot turn the leader, to see who of the disciples will be present after the leader is gone or dies that he can turn.
What is the disease in the heart that would make people stand with you, but not be with you? What is the disease in the heart that would make people agree that we need a movement that is good for the masses of our people but, in their heart, they say, “I don’t want this Brother to get the credit for it. I am going to stand with him with a smile on my face, but I am going to work against him with all my might”? The disease is envy. “Smiling faces sometimes tell lies.”
Some of us think that we should not have opposition. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad would say to us, “It is very easy to follow a man in the cool of the evening, but very difficult to follow a man in the heat of the day.” It is very easy to walk behind someone when you do not see the opposition and the power of the opposition, but when you see forces coming, you become afraid because you are not ready to make a stand for what you know is right. All the cowardice and weakness come out. Then, for your own personal safety, bank account, closeness to the enemy and any future plans that you have that include the enemy’s loving of you, you back away from something you know is right and in the best interest of our people. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said, “Opposition is a vital, necessary component of the struggle.”
Satan does not have to come out of his hiding place until he sees his hiding place is threatened. Satan can always work through a group of dumb devils. He will make a devil in your house. Jesus says in the Bible that, “Two will be laying in the bed…” You can’t get any closer than that. Jesus continued, “He’ll take one and leave one,” because one is not worthy to be saved. The Bible says, “They of a man’s own household will be his worst enemy.” So, Satan has come in your house now. It could be your husband, wife, brother or sister. That is how Satan works. He comes into the heart of somebody close, so while you are busy fighting one that you never thought you would have to fight, Satan can continue ruling the world.
If you can get past all the things that Satan does to keep us at variance with one another, then you force Satan to come out of his hiding place, because now the line is drawn in the sand and the battle in the sky has begun.
The Millions More Movement drew the line in the sand. For the NAACP, Urban League, SCLC, Rainbow/PUSH, National Action Network to join with the National Black United Front, N’COBRA, Malcolm X Society, Five Percent Nation, New Black Panther Party, to join with the Socialists, Communists and fraternities, the enemy said, “They intend to be free.” The line is drawn in the sand. If Satan loses this battle, he loses power over the poor.
How will you know if the idea of our liberation is the right idea, except that the greatest force comes in opposition to the idea? If they win, the idea was weak or it was not the proper time. So opposition has to come against all those who say they are the exponents of the idea, since you all have joined me in support of the idea. The enemy wants to know how strong is your foundation. Can you survive if he puts the pressure on you?
The idea is tested, but the men and women who believe in and espouse that idea are also tested. If Satan can win, then we all lose, and will sentence our children and grandchildren to White rule forever, because we lacked the strength to stand up for an idea that is bigger than us all.
Galileo believed that the sun was the center of the universe, while the Church believed that the Earth was the center. Galileo spoke against what the Church believed, which meant that the Church would come against him. He compromised his belief because the Church was going to kill him. He was not willing to suffer death to advance his belief that the sun was the center of the universe. The Church later discovered that Galileo was right, but his memory is forever tainted because he was not willing to die for the truth.
Your life is precious. All we have is the life that God gave us, but it is not more precious than the truth. It is not more precious than the principles that under-gird life—freedom, justice and equality. So throughout history, people gave their lives for truth, freedom, justice and equality. Jesus Christ will always be honored and remembered, and people in every generation will try to follow his noble example because he not only issued a belief and was opposed for what he believed, but he was willing to suffer whatever it took and even go to death to establish what he believed. Not only was he that strong, but even those who were with him were put in an arena to face wild beasts, yet they would not recant their faith.
The Bible says, “When the wolf comes, the kind of shepherd who is not a shepherd but a hireling runs away and leaves the sheep.” All of us are going to be tested. Are you a hired hand that will only be there as long as there is some money or some personal gain? When persecution comes on behalf of what you say you believe, will you turn and run? We do not know how we are going to act until we are tested, so let us not be too quick to say what we will or will not do. Let us ask Allah (God) to make us strong enough to withstand the ferocity of the battle.
Since the battle lines have been drawn, how can we be sure that we are going to win? In the Bible, Paul said, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
The enemy is always working, planning and plotting for you to do his dirty work. Since you did not do it, now he has to come out himself. Why not call Satan out since he is the power that rules this world? If Allah (God) is with me, then Satan cannot have me. So let’s call Satan out for the battle and find out where God is. I have no power, guns and carry no weapons. But we will beat this enemy without any weapons, because any weapon that we have, Satan has one bigger. I want to prove that God is present and it is God Who has drawn the battle lines. It is God who is calling Satan out against a people who appear to be defenseless in the midst of the tremendous power of the Satanic force that rules this world.
What kind of armor do you need in a battle with Satan? In the Bible, Paul says, “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
His wiles are tricks or strategies that he will use to ensnare and entrap us. Then, in the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 6, beginning with verse 10, Paul says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities.” I want you to get a dictionary and study the root of the definitions of each word.
A “principality” is the position, territory or jurisdiction of a prince. Satan is the God of his world and he rules not just America, but the planet. Nine-tenths of it is under Satan’s power. There are rulers over territories because there are princes under Satan’s rule; he is the king and they are his princes.
Then Paul says “against the powers,” and power represents the ability to act or produce an effect; or one that has control or authority. The “wiles” represent “strategy to deceive and ensnare.” “Principalities” mean that when you come against power, he has power in all the territories and the ability to produce an effect against you wherever you go. So we are not warring against the small-scale conflict in the street; we are warring against principalities, against power.
Then Paul says, “against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” Who are the rulers? What kind of darkness? It is the darkness that controls Hollywood, the recording industry, media, publishing and the institutions of religion, education, politics and juris prudence. We are fighting powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world. If you are not under the rulers of darkness, then why are you not a child of the Light?
Then Paul says, “and against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Could this be referring to the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rabbis in Jerusalem, Imams in Mecca or other spiritual leaders? Spiritual wickedness in high places means people you think are holy or who you believe has power with God.
Then Paul says, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, stand.” What does it mean to stand? It means to take or be at rest in an upright or firm position. After they have done all they can, let them see you standing, being firm in your resolve to stand.
I am going to remain stationary because I know that the idea of a movement for the liberation of our people is right. The idea of the unity of all of us working for the benefit and uplift of the masses of our people is right. I am going to be unchanged and steadfast. I will be in a position of resistance and will endure. I will tolerate whatever you bring and will not bend. I will stand.
Stand for a government that believes in freedom, justice and equality for all. Stand. Die standing. The Bible says, “Blessed are those who die in the Lord.” Jesus said, “He who seeks to save his life will lose it. But he who is willing to lose his life for my sake shall find eternal life.” We are all walking toward that final destiny, death. To die in the Lord is to die in the idea of His truth, which is a liberator for all humanity and especially for His chosen people. We must be willing to die for that truth.
Then Paul says, “Therefore, having your loins gird about with truth.” When you are getting ready to fight, it is not about looking good in the gym, it is about preparing your heart to gird up your loins. At the end of the real battle, only one man will be standing—the one who had it deeper in the heart.
So the Bible says, “Gird your loins about with truth.” But if you do not know God, it is very difficult to be strong in that which you do not have the knowledge of. I would suggest that you get and read the book, “Message to the Black Man” by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. If you have read it, I would suggest that you read it again, because what the Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught, you can stand on every word. It is so real, that you can gird your loins with it.
While your loins are girded about with truth, Paul says to “put on the breastplate of righteousness.” Brothers and Sisters, you cannot live an indecent life, committing evil against one another, and claim to have on the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate guards your vital organs: heart, lungs, pancreas, liver, etc. So, how can you withstand the battle with Satan if you are tricking one another, cheating, lying and stealing?
All of our wrongdoings must be put to the side because, if you are going to gird your loins with truth, the action on the basis of truth is righteousness. When you put on your breastplate, it will protect your heart, and the basis of a real good fight is to be right. When you are wrong, your nature will not make you strong. So, we must treat each other right. You do not have to lie, slander or backbite anyone. Do not go in your Sister’s house for her husband or in your Brother’s house for his wife, and stop scoping his daughters. We must try to treat each other like we would want to be treated.
Then Paul says, “and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.” You have to put something on your feet. If you do not know what the Good News is, then you are ill prepared for the battle, because you really do not know what you are fighting for. The Good News is about God’s Presence, choosing a people to be His own people and He will be their God. The promise is that He will make them the head, no more the tail, and the least He will make the most.
I believe that. I believe it is our time to rule. So since I believe the Gospel, I am prepared for the battle. Then Paul says, “Above all, take the shield of faith.” I was with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad one day at his table, when he said, “If 10,000 gathered outside my door, I would not be afraid, because that 10,000 do not have the power of the One who backs me.” Now, that is the shield of faith.
On another occasion, I was with him when he went to Washington, D.C., the same city where the FBI arrested him and sent him to jail for five years because they did not want him to teach the truth he was given, while America was prosecuting a war with Japan. When he returned to Washington, D.C. in 1959, I was at the airport when his plane landed. I was in the motorcade when they gave him a police escort down Pennsylvania Avenue, like a head of state. That day in the Uline Arena, he said, “There are 20 million of us. If 10 million of us lost our lives in the fight for freedom, 10 million would be alive to go free.” The point is that the loss of life is necessary in the battle for freedom, but we need the shield of faith.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. With faith, I can see the liberation of our people. I can see the day, even though it is not here yet. I can see us free. I can see us standing tall. I can see our brotherhood. I can see the love bursting forth between us. I can see our children going on to great heights. And if I can see it and I can believe it, then I can live and die to bring what I see into existence.
That is a goal that is worth fighting for. That is why the president and his staff had to sell the American people on a good and justifiable reason to go to war in Iraq. However, on the basis of a lie, American children are dying. The president implanted his false vision in the minds of the young soldiers.
The Millions More Movement is not guided by a false vision. Allah (God) is on the side of freedom. Allah (God) is on the side of justice. Allah (God) has always been on the side of the oppressed. All of the oppressed people, no matter how powerful their oppressor, are bound to go free. Do you believe it?
Then Paul says, “Take that shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and then put on the helmet of salvation. Protect your head with the wisdom that can save your life and with the sword of the spirit in your hand.” The Bible says, “not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit sayeth the Lord.”
Brothers and Sisters, I never think about carnal weapons. I always think about victory, because the victory is not with carnal weapons; it is with the Spirit of God.
We did not conquer on the Mall in 1995 or 2005 with a carnal weapon; we conquered with the spirit of truth and the spirit of our unity. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said, “Our unity is more powerful than a hydrogen or atomic bomb.” We need to unite.
Believers, be prayerful, please. We must be prayerful in this hour and watch with all perseverance, because if our enemies cannot destroy the Movement from without, they are already sending agents to destroy the Movement from within. So, those of us who want the Movement, we must be clear on where the Movement is headed and do not deviate from that goal.
