How many times have you been sidetracked by satan the deceiver? How many times have you felt the weight of a malignancy; of a being you immediately recognize as a bitter enemy of yourself and God. Have you noticed so little is being said today about the rulers of the darkness of this world not only in the church, but in world rulers, even the rulers of our own nation. In the third chapter of Genesis he is called a serpent, thus evil appears early in Genesis with the serpent figure (Gen. 3:1–5). While Genesis does not identify this figure as “Satan,” Revelation alludes to him as such, And the great dragon was thrown down, the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. (Rev. 12:9). The Scriptures portray Satan as a personal being in direct opposition to God and His purposes. Satan is not equal to God, nor does he threaten God’s power (Isa. 45:5–7).
My purpose in this teaching is of course not to acquaint you with satan, it is however to cause an awareness of his ways and methods. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly, (John 10:10) The thief is the devil or satan so that we may orient our thinking in a world of problems, economic and political, We need to have a clear picture, of our enemy.
By the time of the NT, the doctrine of Satan was well developed. The origin of evil was placed in Satan, recognizing the reality of evil beyond the scope of human will. The NT mentions Satan over 35 times. The NT has many different names for Satan. The Gospels refer to Satan as “tempter” (Matt. 4:3), “ruler of demons” (Matt. 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15), “evil one” (Matt. 13:38), “enemy” (Matt. 13:39), “the father of lies” (John 8:44), “a murderer” (John 8:44), and “ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Paul referred to him as “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), “the prince of the powers of the air” (Eph. 2:2), “the ruler of the darkness of this age” (Eph. 6:12); and “tempter” (1 Thess. 3:5). Paul warned the Corinthians that Satan may appear as an “angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). In the General Epistles he is referred to as “an adversary” (1 Pet. 5:8) and “the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Revelation refers to him as “one who deceives” (Rev. 12:9), “an accuser” (Rev. 12:10), “a serpent” (Rev. 12:9), and “a dragon” (Rev. 12:3–17; 13:2, 11).
In the Synoptic Gospels Satan is responsible for the temptation of Christ in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1). He is the leader of demonic forces which are able to inflict disease (Matt. 17:14–18; Luke 13:16) and possess people (Luke 22:3). Paul portrayed Satan as the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4). He is the chief power of the demonic forces often referred to as “powers of the air” (Eph. 2:2; 6:12). In the General Epistles Satan is graphically portrayed as a roaring lion that seeks to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Second Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 refer to angels which did not keep their place and thus sinned.
Although the NT teaches that this world is under the power of Satan, it must be remembered that neither he nor the demons are coequal with God. Satan and the demonic beings are creatures that are subject to God’s authority. The evil host may tempt but not coerce a person to sin. The NT is clear that Satan and his demonic following have already been judged and decisively defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:13; 2:15). Believers have the armor of Christ as spiritual security (Eph. 6:11–19).
Jesus said the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. There are some scriptures in the Bible you won’t want to forget, John 10:14-16 (is one of them). The first thing we must learn is the voice of our shepherd. He said, I know My own and My own know me. At some point you have to learn the voice of the shepherd. Let's begin with the voice of God.
God called to Moses from the cloud (Exod. 24:16); Moses heard a voice from between the cherubim (Num. 7:89); I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking (Ezek. 1:28); above the platform there came a voice (Ezek. 1:25); after the fire, a still small voice (1 Kgs. 19:12); God speaks with a mighty voice (Ps. 68:33); the power of the voice of the Lord (Ps. 29:3–9); God utters his voice and the earth melts (Ps. 46:6); the Most High uttered his voice like thunder (2 Sam. 22:14; Ps. 18:13); the voice of the Lord like the sound of many waters (Ezek. 43:2); his voice was like the sound of many waters (Rev. 1:15); when he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens (Jer. 10:13); he cried in my hearing with a loud voice (Ezek. 9:1); the cherubim’s wings were like the voice of God Almighty (Ezek. 10:5); the cherubim’s wings sounded like the voice of the Lord (Ezek. 1:24); a voice like a trumpet (Rev. 1:10; Rev. 4:1); a voice came from heaven (Dan. 4:31; Matt. 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; John 12:28–30); we heard this voice from heaven (2 Pet. 1:18); the voice of the Lord calls to the city (Mic. 6:9); he will rejoice over you with shouts of joy (Zeph. 3:17); a voice from the cloud (Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35); as Moses drew near there came the voice of the Lord (Acts 7:31); his voice shook the earth (Heb. 12:26); a voice came from the throne (Rev. 19:5); I heard a loud voice from the throne (Rev. 21:3); his voice you have never heard (John 5:37).[1]It seems we have learned the voice of the devil; sin doesn’t seem to be particularly hard. There are many “ifs” in life. The devil knows them all.Why would God make that stuff if it wasn’t to enjoy?
It will feel good just Taste, see, feel, experience the devil, the bad and ugliness of his destructive ways, did you know that nothing the devil owns will help you in any way or enhance your relationship with Jesus.
His knowledge, the knowledge of hell, is nothing more than a perversion of everything he learned from God. It is just a different spin on it now, say this with me, I know the voice of my shepherd, Jesus Christ and I listen for His voice. No other voice will I respond to.
The devil is full of lies and talks that stuff all the time He will tell you the word won’t work this time, you don’t have the strength for the task. It is easier just to give up and quit or die than to see it through.
IT IS TIME TO COMBAT THE DEVILS METHODS WITH THE WISDOM OF GOD, HIS WORD
Ist Peter 5:8-9 Satan is the father of division and a counterfeit. Resist the devil steadfastly, that means I will patiently resist him if it is a thousand times every day.
James 4:7 I submit my life fully to Jesus the Lord of the church and to God my Father and I resist the devil so that he flees or runs as in terror. Jesus, the son of God employed these same weapons that I am called to use triumphing over him.
Col. 2:15 Satan is stripped of all his power and authority over me and my family He is left with nothing in hand, he has become a deceiver and a thief, the only profession he knows, and by the way, devil how does it feel to be a looser.
1 John 4:4 I am born of God and because He overcame I am born over-comer I overcome every demon sent after me because my lord Jesus lives in me and since He is greater, THERE NO CONTEST
1John 4:16-17 I confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in me in all His power and might and I live in Him and partake of all He is. I have come to know and believe in God's love and I abide in Him, so love is perfected in me. I have confidence in His judgment and as He is He has made me to be like Himself.
I John 5:4 I am born of God heaven is my most comfortable environment I am like my older brother and we overcome the world, we not only overcome the world and the wisdom of this world, my faith is growing in the process.
Eph. 6:16 In every circumstance of life I take up the shield of faith and with it I extinguish all,, not some; all the fiery darts the enemy throws my way
Say this - I live in the full power of the Cross of Christ – Christ’s victory over the powers of darkness is mine-
Matthew 18 Because I know and confess who Jesus Christ is the gates of hell shall never prevail against me!
II Cor. 10:5 the weapons of my warfare are mighty through God, they pull down every stronghold every seeming impossibility that rises to impede my progress.
We give ground to the devil when we accept his lies. Doubt and sin will give him ground to work his evil. Jesus was confronted with the word, “if you are the son of God”, had he given in to doubt, He would have yielded the high ground to satan. Jesus taught us how to displace the lies and half truths in our lives; we displace them with the Word of God.
That is Huge!!! We have an invincible claim, a blood bought rite and He said, it is finished. So I will rise and take my place in Christ, far above principalities and powers
John 16:23-24 If you find yourself a little short on time, the name of Jesus will work
This I know, on the battlefield of life the only thing that counts is a Christian who knows how to buckle up the armor of light and stand against the forces of darkness.(Eph 6:11)The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, (Eph 6:17) has never been defeated in battle. Lord raise up men, women, boys and girls who will continue to lift the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, in the battle of life today. (Eph 6:10-19, Romans 13:12)
