The Reality of Satan
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Lucifer is none other than Satan...
Lucifer is the name by which Satan was known before his fall.
He was once the highest of all created intelligences, standing as “the anointed cherub” (Ezek. 28:14) at the very top of God’s creation.
The name Lucifer means light-bearer, shining one, or morning star. The Bible tells us Lucifer was a powerful angel.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Driven by prideful ambition, he thought he could lead a successful revolution against the throne of God.
Great was his fall.
Lucifer, the son of the morning, was like the morning star that fades in the light of dawn.
He lost his brilliance and was brought down to the ground.
He went from being the highest creature ever created to being the embodiment of evil and deception.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Satan is real!
This is why we have murderers, war, crime, and so much more.
Even Jesus was tempted by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11.
Because Christ overcame Satan, we too may be overcomers.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Let’s take a look at some things this morning concerning the reality of Satan...
I-Satan’s Pride
I-Satan’s Pride
Lucifer was next to God in power. He was a beautiful angel, but pride got the best of him, and he thought he could be better than God!
Once Satan began to sin, the sin of pride, and began to be infatuated by his own splendor and his own glory and the wonder of his own person, he then sought violently to overthrow the place of whom? God.
In Ezekiel 28, verse 16, God said,
Ezekiel 28:16 (KJV 1900)
16 ...I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Boy is that ever true. In just one activity, that anointed cherub went from being only good to being only evil. And since that moment, the anointed cherub cast out has never had one good thought. Not one.
What a massive transformation. He wanted to be like God. God made him as unlike God as is possible.
Satan’s desire is to drag you into doing the same. He’s miserable, and the only pleasure he truly has is dragging people into the same misery. When you hear the phrase, “misery loves company.” You ought to think about how Satan wants nothing more than company in his misery.
John 10:10 says concerning Satan...
John 10:10 (KJV 1900)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: ...
Look at our text today…Isaiah 14:12-15.
Notice some phrases and how we can see Satan’s pride in these verses:
He said:
I will ascend into heaven.
I will exalt my throne.
I will sit on the mount of the congregation.
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
I will be like the most High.
This passage is often referred to as The Five “I wills” of Satan. The statements reveal Satan’s sinful nature, his rebellion, his disobedience, his self-sufficiency, his pride, his self-exaltation, and his all-encompassing pride and arrogance.
For Satan, it’s all about him, and nothing about God.
John Milton, in his epic poem, “Paradise Lost,” expounded on the sinful nature of Satan’s heart using poetic license. Although not biblical words, Milton certainly describes Satan’s intent and desire when he “quotes” Satan as saying, “Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven.”
Sadly, many people today have that same ideology. I’ve heard people with my own ears say that very statement!
Pride was Satan’s downfall, and it’ll be your’s too if you don’t get it in check.
II-Satan’s Power
II-Satan’s Power
What does the Bible have to say about Satan’s power?
He comes as an angel of light...
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
He comes as a roaring lion...
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
He comes as a cunning snake...
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
He blinds people to the truth...
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
He sets traps before people...
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
He produces miracles...
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Always remember folks, for every real thing that God does, Satan has a counterfeit!
He afflicts people...
12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
Satan oppresses, depresses, and even possesses people...
He brings sickness...
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
He opposes the righteous...
1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
You need to understand this morning that Satan is against any and all Christians! He does have power, and the only thing that will keep us from falling into one of his traps is a close relationship with God!
We see Satan’s Pride, and Satan’s Power…What about:
III-Satan’s Person
III-Satan’s Person
The Bible tells us that...
He is a murderer...
John 8:44 (KJV 1900)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning,...
That verse goes on to say that,
He is a liar...
John 8:44 (KJV 1900)
44 ...and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
He’s a liar, yet so many people listen to him and follow him!
He is a deceiver...
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
And don’t forget, as in this verse, he uses man to do his dirty work...
He is an accuser...
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
He tries to have Christians think of the past and their mistakes, and uses these as stumblingblocks to keep them from pressing forward!
He is a hinderer...
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
Satan always works to hinder God’s work and God’s workers!
IV-Satan’s Punishment
IV-Satan’s Punishment
Look back where we began today…Isaiah 14.
Satan will be brought down to hell…These are the words of God after Satan’s boasting in verses 12-14...
Look at what God says:
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; That opened not the house of his prisoners?
Verse 15 tells us that Satan will be destroyed in hell...
Verse 16-17 tells us that Satan will be mocked in hell...
Notice the mocking title in verse 16… “the man” what was once the most glorious angel ever created is now mocked as “the man”...
Notice the mocking taunts…The people that see Satan at the end of it all will say, hey man! Where now is your power to impress mankind, to imperil mankind, or to imprison mankind?
They will mock him...
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Satan’s final destination is the bottomless pit!
Satan will be punished for his crimes…He will be destroyed...
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Conclusion
Conclusion
Here’s the conclusion of the matter this morning...
We can over Satan! But we must overcome him God’s way...
Revelation 12:11 (KJV 1900)
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; ...
James 4:7 (KJV 1900)
7 ...Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
27 Neither give place to the devil.
Always remember child of God...
All God’s power is available to help us live an overcoming life...
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.