The Devil and His Work

Lt. Col. Hal Moore is a hero of the Vietnam war. He led his men into one of the first confrontations between American and Vietnamese soldiers. Only a fool would think that Hal Moore waited until he was under enemy fire to begin studying their tactics. For months leading up to his deployment he studied the history of the conflict that had be raging since 1954. He wanted to know what they had done in the past so that he could predict their moves in the future. He was a firm believer in the principle of “knowing your enemy”.

Church we have such an obligation today to know our enemy. We have been looking at the angelic host for some time now, and just so we don’t forget it, Satan is numbered among them. From the Bible we learn of....

Satan’s Personality

He is not an evil influence, he is the influencer of evil.

He was...

Of the order of the cherubim

Ezekiel 28:14 “14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.”

Was, past tense, because of his sin. He is now...

Archangel - leader of the evil angels

He convinced an innumerable group of angels to follow him

He is their leader, their king.

Like all angels he possesses the following:

Intellect 2 Corinthians 11:3 “3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Emotions

Revelation 12:17 “17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Luke 22:31 “31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”

He also possesses a will

Isaiah 14:12–14 “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.”

2 Timothy 2:26 “26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

His personality is no place better described than in the names which he goes by or is called by in Scripture.

His Names Reflect His Character

There are twelve titles, names, or characteristics by which Satan is described in the Bible:

Satan - “Adversary”.

He stands against God and His people

Matthew 4:10 “10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Acts 5:3 “3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”

Revelation 12:9 “9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Devil - “Slanderer”. This title refers to his ungodly feelings and activities against God’s people and the things of God.

Matthew 4:1 “1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”

John 8:44 “44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, 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.”

1 Peter 5:8 “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

Beelzebub - “lord of flies”

Describing the nature of the work he is about

Matthew 12:24–26 “24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?”

The evil one - described his nature and purpose in the world

John 17:15 “15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

1 John 5:18–19 “18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

The serpent - referring tot his deceptive nature as he appeared first to mankind and continues to appear

Genesis 3:1 “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?”

Revelation 20:2 “2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,”

Dragon - refers to his fierce nature

Revelation 12:3 “3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.”

Revelation 12:7 “7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,”

Revelation 12:9 “9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

The tempter - refers to the manner and means he employs in getting men to disobey God

1 Corinthians 7:5 “5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”

1 Thessalonians 3:5 “5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.”

The prince/god of this world - describes his position of ruler over this present world system so that it may not have any dependence on or allegiance to God

John 12:31 “31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 “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.”

The prince of the power of the air - referring to his position over the fallen angels, who he uses to fulfill his will in the world Ephesians 2:2 “2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

The father of lies - his very nature is deceit and this is how he accomplishes his work and will John 8:44 “44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, 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.”

Accuser - refers to his present activities before God against believers

Revelation 12:10 “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.”

This will end during the middle of the Tribulation!

Lucifer - “Shining one”, deals with how he manifests himself to others

Isaiah 14:12 “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!”

2 Corinthians 11:14–15 “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.”

Take Away

That’s a lot to take in, but there is also a lot to rejoice over.

We see that our enemy is powerful, crafty, and one to be taken seriously, but we also see that he is limited and can be overcome.

1 John 4:4 “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 hold on to this truth as we press on during these next few weeks.