Satan The Destroyer
Notes
Transcript
Intro; Last Sunday night we looked at Satan being the “Great Deceiver” as he deceived Eve in the garden and man fell into sin. But that’s not the end of satan’s arsenal, it’s just the beginning. If Satan cannot deceive you then he will take the next step and try to destroy you.
As the serpent in the garden, he deceives; as a lion he devours/destroys. If we fall to his deception then we destroy ourselves. But if we resit his deceit, then he will attack our person and try to destroy our body. For example;
16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
This morning we are going to look at the Bible’s most prime example of this kind of attack, with the exception of Jesus Christ. That person would be Job.
Text; Job 1:6-22, 2:7
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
7 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house;
14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Prayer
In this attack from satan on Job, which God allowed we see three things that happened;
Job lost the fruit of his body - his children [Job 1:18-19]
Job lost the means to sustain his body and that of his family - herds, flocks and wealth [Job 1:13-17]
Job lost the health of his body - a disease of boils [Job 2:7]
1. Satan Targets the Body;
1. Satan Targets the Body;
Scripture reveals that satan targets the body of all ages. He caused men to dumb/mute [Mt. 9:22-23], crippled [Lk. 13:16], and children to convulse and be thrown into the fire [Mt. 17:14-18].
So why does satan want to destroy the body of the believer?
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Creation reveals the power, wisdom and glory of God; but the Christian reveals the love and grace of God through the Gospel, and that requires a body!
Look with me at [Job 1:8-11, 2:5],
One might still honor God when he loses some things, but when our bodies are attacked some will begin to question God’s goodness! When we question His goodness then we won’t share His grace!
2. Satan’s Weapon of Suffering;
2. Satan’s Weapon of Suffering;
If satan can make us suffer in the flesh, then he feels he can control our circumstances.
Job’s circumstances brought him suffering with the loss of his family [grief], the loss of his possessions [prosperity to poverty], and the loss of his health [body]. And for the next 36 chapters [however long that is], Job sought to hear from God but there was silence from heaven.
Why would God allow suffering [bodily] in the life of the believer at the hand of our enemy? To test our faith, strengthen our faith, and to bring others to faith in Christ!
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Look with me at [Job 2:8-10]
Suffering affects people differently, and satan knows that. Job’s wife gives up on God while Job clings to Him. The same affects of suffering have happened this past week with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Some have given up on God but more have come to God in the loss of his life!
When God gives satan permission to light the furnace of suffering in our lives, we need to remember that God keeps His hand on the thermostat!
3. Satan’s Purpose, Our Impatience;
3. Satan’s Purpose, Our Impatience;
When satan attacks our body, it hurts and we want immediate relief. But relief doesn’t always come at our timing, as we saw with Job.
Patience is an important virtue for the believer. Patience enables one to grow in a deeper relationship with Christ which in turn creates a more fruitful ministry to God in our lives.
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Being impatient is very costly to the believer and his testimony;
[Gen. 16] Abraham became impatient in having children, got ahead of God and has cost Israel even to this day [Ishmael and his descendants]
[1 Sam. 13] King Saul was impatient in waiting for Samuel to offer sacrifices to the Lord and did it himself and God took the kingdom from him and gave to David.
[John 18] When they came to arrest Jesus in Gethsemane, Peter was impatient with the situation and drew a sword to kill Malchus the servant of the high priest. Peter not only put the life of the servant in jeopardy, but his as well.
Satan knows if he can make us impatient with God, he can lead us into making rash and stupid decisions that lead to costly consequences in our lives and the lives of others!
4. God’s Grace;
4. God’s Grace;
The riches of God’s grace is the provision for our defense against the destroyer.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul prayed for relief 3 times and God didn’t heal him. But God did give His grace to sustain Paul. God’s grace is the same thing that sustained Job. And God’s grace is the same riches that will sustain us when satan tries to destroy us!
Close;
When we are suffering from the attacks of satan, we need to immediately submit ourselves to God!
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
When we are suffering from the attacks of the destroyer, we need to spend more time in the Word!
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
When we are suffering from the destroyer we need to look for ways to glorify God instead of complaining!
20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
