Resist the Devil

Please find a seat in the middle section!

Schedule:

- 7:00-7:45 Lesson (Joe)

- 7:45-8:15 Discussion (Small Groups)

- 8:15-8:25 Prayer (Groups of 2/3)

Victory over the Enemy

Defeating the World, the Flesh, and the Devil

William F. Cook III & Chuck Lawless

Part 1: Recognizing Our Enemy

Opening

Spiritual warfare is one of the most misunderstood issues in the Bible.

How would you rate your overall awareness of the spiritual realm using the scale? (No spiritual activity — Demon behind every rock)

When we stray from God’s Word we are at risk of error.

We must remain connected to God’s Word!

Purpose of the book

1. To give us a biblical view on spiritual warfare, and give strategies for overcoming our enemy. (1 John 4:4)

“The Christian life is a daily battle for holiness against the three-headed monster of the world, the flesh, and the devil. While this depiction of our enemy sounds ominous, Christians must never forget, “the one who is in you is greater that the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).” — pg. 2

2. To focus on the believer’s sanctification. (Romans 8:29)

We are justified at the moment of our salvation, but sanctification is a lifelong process of becoming more like Jesus.

Romans 8:29 ESV

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

3. To teach us the resources God has given us for overcoming the enemy. (1 Peter 1:3—4)

God has not left us to fight these battles in our own strength.

2 Peter 1:3–4 ESV

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Introduction

Our world tends to tends to gravitate to two positions when it comes to spiritual warfare:

is not real…

fantasy, like the movies/shows we watch…

OR

they have an unhealthy fascination with it.

As Christians, we must believe in spiritual warfare… because it’s in the Bible!

The Bible tells us about God’s enemy… Satan.

In the book, Bill Cook quotes John Stott, who gives a brief description of Satan…

“We need to rid our minds of the medieval caricature of Satan. Dispensing with the horns, the hooves and the tail, we are left with a diabolical portrait of a spiritual being, highly intelligent, immensely powerful and utterly scrupulous. Jesus himself both believed in his existence and warned us of his power. He called him “the ruler of the kingdom of the air.” He has therefore a throne and a kingdom, and under his command is an army of malignant spirits who are described in Scripture as “the powers of this dark world,” and “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (John 12:31; Eph 6:12).” — John Stott “What Christ Thinks of the Church”

As intimidating as this sounds, we must remember Satan is NOT God’s equal!

Chapter 1: Resist the Devil

Satan in the Bible: An Overview

In the book, Bill Cook gives an overview of passages in the Bible where Satan is mentioned.

First, in the OT, and then in the NT.

We begin, with…

Satan in the OT

Three Direct References

Satan is mentioned explicitly 3 times in the OT.

We can see his work in many areas, but only 3 times is he mentioned by name.

The first direct reference is in Job chapters 1 & 2…

Job 1:6

Job 1:6 ESV

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.

Along with the other angels, Satan comes before God to give an account.

He stands before God, accusing Job.

He believes Job loves God because of blessing… and

that he will curse God if it is taken away.

The second direct reference is in

Zechariah 3:1

Zechariah 3:1 ESV

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

Again, we see Satan before the throne of God,

this time he is accusing Joshua, who is representative of the nation Israel.

The third direct reference is in

1 Chronicles 21:1

1 Chronicles 21:1 ESV

1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

God actually allowed Satan to tempt David to count Israel,

which is something God commanded them not to do.

David gave in.

Satan’s Origin

When God created the world, it was good (Genesis 1:31), this included angels.

Somewhere between the creation and the Fall, Satan and the angels turned away from God.

Two NT passages that shed some light on Satan’s fall are:

John 8:44;

1 Timothy 3:6.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

1 Timothy 3:6 ESV

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Two passages that may allude to the fall of Satan are:

Isaiah 14:3–23

Ezekiel 28:2–19

They are referring to the downfall of two earthly kings, because of their pride and arrogance.

But these may also reference the fall of Satan.

Two Important Lessons

Even though spiritual warfare is real:

1. We are still responsible for our actions.

Adam and Eve were still punished for their sin.

Even though spiritual warfare is real:

2. We may not be aware.

Job had no idea what he was suffering was a result of spiritual attacks.

Satan in the NT

There are quite a few more references to Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare in the NT.

Jesus’s ministry begins with an attack from Satan, as he is tempted in the wilderness for 40 days.

There are many references to powerful exorcisms in Jesus’ ministry.

The NT recognizes that Satan is very powerful, calling him:

The ruler of this world

The god of this age

The whole world is under the sway of the evil one

The one holding the power of death

However, the NT emphasizes that Jesus is greater!

Jesus “cast [Satan] out” at the cross

Illumines hearts Satan tries in vain to blind

“destroys the devil’s works”

Through his death destroyed the devil

Satan is at work all through the book of Acts.

But God is continuing to build His Church,

through miraculous signs and the work of the Holy Spirit.

God’s work cannot be stopped!

Acts ends with this statement…

Acts 28:31 ESV

31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Bill Cook summarizes some of the ways Satan seeks to attack the church throughout the NT:

Persecuting the church (Rev 12:15—17)

Promoting false teachers and heretical doctrine (2 Cor 11:3—4, 12—15; Col 2:20—21; 1 Tim 4:1—2; 2 Tim 2:24—26; Rev 2:24)

Setting traps for church leaders: pride, promiscuity, and greed (1 Tim 3:6—7)

Encouraging moral compromise within the church (Acts 5:1—11)

Exploiting sinful tendencies of individual believers (Eph 4:26—27)

Tempting with false wisdom (1 Cor 2:6—8; James 3:14—16)

Propagating idolatrous worship (1 Cor 10: 18—22)

Seeking to cause churches to do the right thing in the wrong way (2 Cor 2:10—11)

Tempting believers to do God’s work in the power of flesh rather than the power of the Spirit (2 Cor 10:3—5)

Tempting believers to turn from God during times of intense suffering (1 Tim 5:14—15; compare Job 1—2)

The work of Satan causes us to see the importance of heeding James’ command to believers in James 4:7—8.

James 4:7–8 ESV

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Satan’s Role in Biblical Turning Points

The Bible can be summarized in 4 major sections:

Creation

God created all things, and it was good.

Fall

Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, and the world was cursed.

Redemption

Jesus came to reverse the curse. He defeated sin and death.

Consummation

One day God will make all things new.

Creation and the Fall: The War Begins

The battle of the ages began in the garden.

Satan tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God’s Word.

Desiring their own glory, they disobey God.

When God confronts them, they blame one another.

God curses the Serpent, Eve, and then Adam.

BUT… God promises the man ultimate victory over the serpent in…

Gen 3:15…

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Though Satan and the man will be at war,

through the seed of the woman, the serpent will be defeated.

This is an OT reference to Jesus.

Genesis 3:15 is referred to as the: protoevangelium (the first gospel)

However… we see the devastating effects of the Fall:

Cook summarizes it this way:

Before the fall, they enjoyed a full, satisfying, and abundant life. After the fall, they suffered heartache and pain.

Before the fall, they enjoyed God’s abundant provision, and work was pleasurable. After the fall, they learned to labor for food, and that work was drudgery.

Before the fall, they enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God and one another. After the fall, they experienced alienation, conflict, loneliness, and death. — Cook (pg. 19)

What do we learn from Genesis 3?

Satan conceals his identity

angel of light; wolf in sheep’s clothing

The certainty of God’s victory

even when it seems bleak

Satan challenges and distorts God’s Word

we must know it!

Satan wants us to doubt God’s goodness

doesn’t have our best interest at heart

Jesus is greater than Adam

undid what was done in the garden

“While the first Adam ate from a forbidden tree, Jesus (the second Adam) died on a forsaken tree (Deut 21:23). While Adam and Eve were punished for their sin against God, Jesus (the second Adam) bore the punishment of God’s wrath on the cross for the sins of others. After the first Adam died, his body decomposed in a tomb, but after Jesus (the second Adam) died, his body was raised from the dead!”

Satan never defeats God

Though at times it seems like Satan is hindering God’s plan, God is actually in control and using it for His good.

1 Thess. 2:17-18 — Paul mentions they were hindered by Satan from going back.

This resulted in Paul’s letters, which have had a worldwide impact for centuries; and

This resulted in Paul going to Corinth for 18 months, and planting a church.

Redemption: Crushing the Serpent at the Cross

At the cross, Jesus paid the debt we owed through His death, bearing the wrath of God on our behalf.

He also defeated Satan at the cross!

According to Paul

Colossians 2:14—15

Colossians 2:14–15 ESV

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Through taking away our sin, Christ disarmed the demonic forces of Satan.

They have no more grounds to accuse us… since we are forgiven!

“Ironically, at the precise moment the world and the forces of evil were shaming and humiliating Christ according to their own standards, according to Paul just the opposite was true according to God’s standards—in his death, Christ put them to public shame.” — Cook (pg. 25)

According to John

Revelation 12:7—12

Through the cross, Christ defeated Satan, casting him out of heaven.

He used to be able to bring accusations before God, but not anymore.

Then we get a depiction of his work on earth after being cast out of heaven…

Revelation 12:17 ESV

17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Now, being sent to earth, he works to against God’s people.

But he is under the authority of God, and

all His purposes serve God’s ends.

Sharing in Victory

Satan and his demons are powerless against Christ.

Since we are united with Christ, we share in His victory!

Romans 8:37–39.

Romans 8:37–39 ESV

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 16:20.

Romans 16:20 ESV

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

1 Corinthians 15:24–25.

1 Corinthians 15:24–25 ESV

24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

1 Corinthians 15:57 .

1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:4 .

Galatians 1:4 ESV

4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Colossians 1:12–14 .

Colossians 1:12–14 ESV

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 John 3:8 .

1 John 3:8 ESV

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 4:4.

1 John 4:4 ESV

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Consummation: At the End of All Things

The devil’s final judgement. Revelation 20:10

Revelation 20:10 ESV

10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

“In graphic imagery, Satan is thrown into the lake of fire forever. Never again will Satan deceive the nations. Never again will Satan and his demons tempt the people of God. Never again will Satan instigate persecution against the church. Never again will the devil use heartache and suffering against God’s people.” Cook (pg. 29—30)

What Satan Doesn’t Want You to Know

Since Christ defeated Satan at the cross,

we have no reason to fear,

since we are united to Christ.

But we must stay vigilant,

recognizing that Satan is working against us,

and has nothing to lose.

We will struggle if we don’t understand who we are in Christ.

This is why Satan tries to cause us to doubt/misunderstand who we truly are in Christ.

“Satan does not want Christians to understand their new identity in Christ. He is delighted when they, like the world, find their identity elsewhere—whether in their sexuality, skin color, career, family, sports team, favorite video game, academic guild, social club, or otherwise. Whatever you fancy, so long as it is unhinged from Christ, Satan will work with that.” — Cook (pg. 31)

Many, many verses!!!

• You have been born again to a living hope (1 Pet 1:3).

• You are a child of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1).

• You are a saint (Phil 1:1).

• You have a protected salvation (1 Pet 1:4–5).

• You are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17).

• You have been bought with a price (2 Cor 6:10).

• You are washed, sanctified, and justified by the blood of Jesus (1 Cor 6:11).

• You are God’s temple (1 Cor 3:16).

• You are more than a conqueror through Christ (Rom 8:37).

• Nothing can separate you from the love of God (Rom 8:39).

• The Holy Spirit intercedes for you (Rom 8:27).

• You are being conformed into the image of Christ (Rom 8:29).

• God causes all things to work together for your good (Rom 8:28).

• You are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9).

• You are no longer a slave to sin (Rom 6:17).

• You are free from condemnation (Rom 8:1).

• You have eternal life in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:23).

• You’re alive to God and dead to sin (Rom 6:11).

• Your old self was crucified with Christ (Rom 6:6).

• You have been baptized into Christ’s death and raised to walk in newness of life (Rom 6:3–4).

• Your citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20).

• God has begun a good work in you, and he will complete it (Phil 1:6).

• You are a child of light (Eph 5:8).

• You are the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13).

• You are the light of the world (Matt 5:14).

• You are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3).

• You were chosen by God before the creation of the world (Eph 1:4).

• If you ask for anything in Jesus’s name, he will do it (John 14:16).

• You have been raised with Christ and are seated with him in the heavenlies (Eph 2:6).

• You have been saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8).

• God loves you, just as he loves Jesus (John 17:23).

• You are redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal 5:13).

• You have been crucified with Christ, and Christ now lives his life through you (Gal 2:20).

• You are an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor 5:20).

• You are kept from the evil one (John 17:15).

• You are part of God’s gracious gift to Jesus (John 17:6).

• You have peace with God (Rom 5:1).

• You have been justified by faith (Rom 5:1).

• You have been transferred out of Satan’s kingdom and into Christ’s kingdom (Col 1:13).

• You are forgiven of all your transgressions (Eph 1:7).

The Daily Battle and the Eternal Victory

We have a wonderful promise… if we resist the devil, he will flee!

James 4:7–8 (ESV)

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

We must draw near to God through reading, prayer, worship, clothing ourselves with the armour of God.

Then God will draw near to us.

Satan wants us to think only of this life, but we must have an eternal perspective.

“While the devil wants you to think you can have “your best life now” perspective, God’s Word provides an eternal perspective. You are a child of God, indwell by God’s Spirit, clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and have open access to God’s presence. If that’s the case, what more do we need? An eternity without any spiritual battles to fight is waiting for God’s people to enjoy.” — Cook (pg. 34)