Our Enemy Beyond: The Devil

Lead Vocalist (Joel)

Welcome & Announcements (Hopson)

Good morning family!

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Announcements:

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Now please take a moment of silence to prepare your heart for worship.

Call to Worship (Advent Reading: Hope)

Prayer of Praise (Ella Boutot)

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Sing We The Song of Emmanuel

Prayer of Confession (Sam Hamontree)

Assurance of Pardon (2 Cor 6:17–18)

Angels We Have Heard on High

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Scripture Reading (John 8:39-47)—page _________ in the black Bibles

Explain why not finishing Ecclesiastes this morning.

Pastoral Prayer (Hopson)

Prayer for PBC—Help us to resist the devil

Prayer for kingdom partner—Reformation Christian (Kenny D'Auria)

Prayer for US—Against pornography

Prayer for the world—Cambodia

Leader—_________

Social issue(s)—_________

Spiritual issue(s)—_________

Local churches—_________

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Pray for the sermon

SERMON

START TIMER!!!

On Christmas Eve, 1914, along the Western Front of World War I, something remarkable happened.

As darkness fell over the trenches of France and Belgium, British and German soldiers—men who had been killing each other just hours earlier—began to sing.

First it was “Silent Night.” Then came “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”

Soon candles flickered along the lines, and voices joined in harmony across no man’s land.

By morning, the unthinkable took place.

Men from both sides cautiously stepped out of their trenches. They shook hands, exchanged gifts, shared food, and even played soccer together. For one brief, beautiful moment, the guns of war fell silent.

Perhaps it’s stories like these that have led us to consider Christmastime as a time of peace, a season that’s stronger than war.

But the truth is, some wars don’t stop just because it’s Christmas.

Whether we realize it or not, we are at war. Not with governments or armies, but with three deadly enemies:

The flesh is our enemy within us, the indwelling desire to disobey Jesus and do what we want instead.

The world is our enemy around us, constantly tempting us to forsake King Jesus and pursue something else.

And the devil is our enemy beyond us—an enemy we cannot see.

We are at war with a deceitful enemy and a destructive culture that appeals to our disordered desires.

That’s the Big Idea we’re going to be talking about over the next three weeks.

Merry Christmas!

Each week we’re going to ask three crucial questions:

Who/What is our enemy?

Why is this enemy so dangerous?

How is this enemy resisted?

Today, we begin by considering the first of those enemies: the devil.

If you’ve closed your Bible, please open it back up to John 8.

Jesus is in the middle of a heated debate with the Pharisees during the Feast of Tabernacles, a weeklong Jewish festival that was celebrated every fall.

And in the middle of this debate, Jesus’ teaching helps us answer three important questions about our enemy, the devil.

First, from Jesus’ teaching we can answer the question…

1) Who is the DEVIL?

Is he a mischievous trickster in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork?

Is he a supernatural terrorist whose main objective is to frighten people?

Is he a myth from a more primitive age given to superstitions?

Is he an all-powerful cosmic rival to God, a kind of “yin and yang” balance of good and evil?

Is he merely a symbol of evil?

Jesus teaches us that...

A) The Devil is a REAL Being

In 8:12, Jesus said He was the light of the world and the only way to avoid walking in darkness was to follow Him.

The Pharisees, of course, rejected Jesus and His teaching.

And in our text, Jesus tells us why they rejected Him.

Look at...

John 8:43–44a—Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. . . .

In the mind of Jesus, the devil was not a myth or a symbol of evil. The devil is a real being.

The word “devil” means slanderer or accuser in the original language, which tells us a bit about what he does.

But it’s just one of many names for our enemy including Abaddon, the accuser, Apollyon, Beelzebul, Belial, the dragon, the evil one, the father of lies, the god of this world, the prince of demons, the prince of the power of the air, the ruler of this world, Satan, the serpent, and the tempter.

Despite the fact that the Bible has hundreds of references to the devil, more and more people today deny his existence.

A 2023 Gallup poll found that only 58% of Americans believe in the existence of Satan, a 10% decrease over the last 20 years. [1]

Far more troubling is a 2025 Barna study that found that only 21% of self-identified Christians believe Satan is living and impactful. [2]

At PBC we don’t determine our beliefs based on polling data.

We believe the devil is a real being—not a myth or a symbol of evil—but a real spiritual being.

And we believe this because we believe in Jesus and the Scriptures.

Satan’s existence is mentioned in nine Old Testament books and by every New Testament writer. [3]

There are dozens of passages in the gospels where Jesus either talks about or interacts with Satan and the demons.

If you will not believe what the Bible clearly teaches about Satan, you may find yourself not believing any of it.

As J.C. Ryle said, “Unbelief about the existence and personality of Satan has often proved the first step to unbelief about God.” [4]

But where did Satan come from?

Jesus teaches us that...

B) The Devil is an ANCIENT Being

Look at…

John 8:44b—He was a murderer from the beginning, …

What does Jesus mean by “from the beginning”?

He’s referring back to the beginning of humanity, in Genesis 3 where we first meet a slithering serpent whispering lies to Adam and Eve in the garden.

Jesus is telling us that Satan and his demons have been around as long as the entire human race.

As Martin Luther wrote in his most famous hymn,

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great,

And, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

But why in the world would God create such an evil and powerful being?

He didn’t! Not because Satan wasn’t created, but because Satan was created good.

Jesus teaches us that...

C) The Devil is a FALLEN Being

Look at…

John 8:44c—He . . . 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.

In these words Jesus is hinting at something that we learn in little bits and pieces throughout the Scriptures: Satan was created in the truth, but he did not stand in it. He fell from the glory in which he was created and became the father of lies.

Passages like Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 suggest that Satan was created as a perfect angel, designed to serve God in a perfect universe. And yet he grew proud and was cast out of heaven.

Jesus tells us about this event in…

Luke 10:18—And [Jesus] said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”

That’s our enemy beyond.

Who is the devil? He is real, ancient, and fallen.

Let’s consider the answer to our second question...

2) Why is the Devil so DANGEROUS?

In the preface to his book about demons called The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis says this: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” [5]

Some of us are tempted to overestimate Satan’s power.

We forget that Satan is a created being.

He is not eternal. He had a beginning, and he will have an end.

He is not omnipresent. Like every other created being, Satan can only be in one place at a time.

He is not omnipotent. Satan is powerful, but his power is limited.

In the book of Job we see Satan asking God permission before he acts.

Satan is like a dog on a leash!

He is not omniscient. He cannot know your thoughts.

So don’t overestimate the power of Satan. And yet, be careful not to make the opposite error either.

Others are tempted to underestimate Satan’s power.

Satan and the demons are not in hell. They are in an unseen realm, wreaking havoc on our world.

They can cause physical affliction, including muteness (Matt. 9:32–33), blindness (Matt. 12:22), and seizures (Mark 9:17–18).

They can possess a human and take control over their body, causing paralysis-like symptoms that throw victims to the ground (Luke 9:42), split personalities (Mark 5:9), and more.

They drive people toward self-destruction (Mark 5:5, 9:22), reveal supernatural knowledge (Mark 1:24, Acts 16:16–18), and can harass and oppress individuals for years (Luke 13:11, 16).

They can masquerade as false gods to lure people into idolatry (1 Cor. 10:20), teach false doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1), perform deceptive signs to lead people astray (Rev. 16:14), tempt people to sin (1 Thess. 3:5), and accuse believers (Job 1:9-11; Rev. 12:10).

But perhaps Satan’s greatest danger is his ability to deceive.

Look again at our text.

Notice what Jesus says to the Pharisees in…

John 8:39–41—They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”

Jesus knows the Pharisees are planning to kill Him. And the Pharisees don’t even try to deny it!

But they are so deceived. They’re plotting to kill Jesus while claiming to be holy and upright, followers of God.

Why? Because they have been deceived by the father of lies.

Do not underestimate Satan’s power to deceive us!

In his book The Wiles of Satan a Puritan pastor named William Spurstowe lists several reasons why Satan is such a deceptive foe. [6]

First, Satan is intellectually superior to us.

Joel Beeke says “Apart from God, Satan may be the most powerful mind in the universe.” [7]

Intellectually, you and I are no match for Satan.

Second, Satan has unmatched experience.

He may be an ancient foe, but he is not weak.

He is like an expert fisherman. He knows which bait works for which fish. And the moment you swim away from the hook you’ll swim into a net.

Third, Satan doesn’t get tired of promoting evil.

Satan may tempt you to be idle, but he isn’t idle himself.

As a spiritual being, he doesn’t grow weary. While you rest, he is continually working to promote evil in your life and beyond.

Fourth, Satan has a kingdom of demons to do his bidding.

The book of Revelation tells us that Satan did not fall alone.

Revelation 12:9—And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

These fallen angels are what the Bible calls demons. Ancient, powerful, evil, supernatural beings that are hellbent on opposing God and His people.

There are countless demons in the unseen realm, and they never go on strike, never rest, and never give up on their mission to destroy everything God loves.

Spurstowe lists more reasons why the devil is so deceptively dangerous, but instead let’s consider a story.

A few months ago I listened to a book by a journalist named Randall Sullivan called The Devil’s Best Secret.

In it, Sullivan—who spent most of his life as a secular skeptic—describes how his belief in God actually grew stronger as he investigated claims of real demonic activity. The more he became convinced that Satan was real, the harder it became for him to deny the existence of a God who stands against him.

As part of that investigation, Sullivan visited a town in Mexico called Catemaco, a place so saturated with occult practices and spiritual fear that it has become famous for its obsession with the demonic.

Many of the villagers in Catemaco insisted that the only reliable way to protect themselves from the evil powers tormenting the city was to stock up on medallions bearing the image of Saint Benedict. [8]

These coins were sold everywhere—market stalls, roadside stands, and tiny shops—each one promising spiritual safety.

But as I listened to Sullivan describe this, a question dawned on me: What if the demons really did terrorize the people who didn’t have these medallions, and left alone the ones who did? And what if that was all part of the plan?

Because whether you’re trusting in a medallion or terrorized by a demon, you’re still under their deceptive control.

But the deception in Catemaco isn’t unique to a village in Mexico. It’s just a more visible form of the same strategy Satan uses everywhere—including here. His goal is always the same: to deceive you.

For some, the deception looks like fear-based superstition—believing that charms, crystals, or rituals can keep the darkness away.

For others, it looks like materialistic unbelief—assuming the unseen realm isn’t real and that evil is just a metaphor.

For others, it’s curiosity without discernment—dabbling in astrology, tarot, and occult practices dressed up as wellness or entertainment.

And for many, the deception looks like spiritual numbness—a life so full of noise, distraction, and self-focus that the reality of spiritual warfare never crosses the mind.

And perhaps what’s most dangerous is the deception embraced by the Pharisees: religious practices and habits without a real relationship with Jesus.

Just think about the words of Jesus in...

Matthew 7:22–23—“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Do you see what Jesus is saying?!?

Satan will even give some people—actually Jesus says “MANY” people!—the power to prophesy and cast out demons and do miracles. Satan will give you real, effective, supernatural power! Just as long as you care more about that power than Jesus Himself.

Satan doesn’t care whether your mind is glued to Netflix or Disney+, TikTok or Facebook, UFOs or Bigfoot. He doesn’t care if your heart is wrapped up in career or money, health or family, sports or hobbies, drugs or wellness, shopping or vacations. He doesn’t care if your hours disappear into Xbox or PlayStation, podcasts or politics, YouTube rabbit holes or endless scrolling. He’ll use fear or fun, busyness or boredom, superstition or skepticism, religion or rebellion—whatever keeps you distracted from the one obsession that really matters.

Be obsessed with whatever you want, as long as you’re not obsessed with Jesus.

Even now, some of you may be convicted about one of these obsessions.

And you tell yourself, “I’ll take care of this later!”

Hear these words from John Owen—“Satan’s greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare.”

Why is the devil so dangerous? Because he’ll do whatever he can to deceive you.

What are we going to do about it?

Let’s consider the answer to our final question...

3) How is the Devil RESISTED?

Before we answer that question, we need to understand that in Christ the devil has already been defeated.

At Christmas, we’re not just celebrating a baby in a manger; we’re celebrating the arrival of a Warrior King who came to crush the serpent’s head.

He was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. Lived a real human life—just like us!—but without sin.

He was tempted 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness, and yet not once did He give in.

So Satan changed His tactics. He deceived the Pharisees to crucify Him.

And on that cross the only innocent man who ever lived died a bloody, brutal death.

And yet, God had the last laugh, because He was using Satan to defeat Satan!!!

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus dealt a knockout blow to Satan.

Because Jesus died and rose from the dead, Satan has been defeated!!!

Dear friend, have you repented and believed in this Gospel? You can today!

If you already have, you might be wondering: If Satan is defeated, why do we need to resist Him?

In his phenomenal book, “Satan Cast Out,” Frederick Leahy says this: “We must strike a Scriptural balance between the truth that Satan is a crushed, defeated foe, and the truth that he is on the prowl like a hungry lion. In other words, we must avoid the extreme of regarding him as a reigning foe, and the extreme, equally wrong, of not taking him seriously. Both extremes are condemned by the Scripture.” [9]

So how do we resist Him?

We’re going to repeat the same formula for each of the three enemies we discuss in this series.

We resist with the SCRIPTURES in the SPIRIT beside the SAINTS.

We don’t see that formula clearly explained here, but we do find it in Ephesians 6, one of the clearest passages in Scripture to understand what we call spiritual warfare.

After explaining how we use our spiritual armor to combat the devil, the Apostle Paul concludes with this...

Ephesians 6:16–18—In all circumstances take up . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

First, we resist with the Scriptures.

Think of how Jesus Himself resisted the temptations of the Devil. Every time he responded to the Devil’s lies with the Word of God.

We only have one offensive weapon in our battle against Satan and its’ the Scriptures.

John Calvin put it like this: “The only way to overcome [Satan] is by keeping to the Word of God in its entirety.” [10]

Or as Martin Luther said, “The Devil hates the Word of God more than any other thing.” [11]

Does your Bible intake look like you understand there’s a war going on?

Second, we resist in the Spirit.

Ephesians 6 says we wield the Scriptures while praying in the Spirit.

This is your daily interaction with God through prayer.

Again, think of Jesus in the wilderness. He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. He communed with God throughout His temptation.

It’s possible to know a lot of Bible without communing with the God of the Bible. If that’s you, you won’t be able to resist the devil when temptation comes.

How’s your prayer life, Christian? Does it look like you really believe prayer is your lifeline in the battle against Satan?

Third, we resist beside the saints.

As we wield the Scriptures in the power of the Spirit we do alongside the people of God.

Ephesians 6 urges us to not just be praying, but pray for all the saints.

The Bible says that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion. And just like a lion, Satan and the devils find it much easier to attack the Christian living in isolation.

Does your involvement in your local church look like your soul depends on it?

How is the devil resisted? Win the Scriptures, in the Spirit, beside the saints.

Christmas Eve, 1914 gave the world a glimpse—a tiny preview—of what true peace might look like.

But the peace we long for will never come from temporary truces, holiday feelings, or human goodwill.

It comes from a Child born in Bethlehem.

A King who conquers.

A Warrior who wins.

So even as we enter a season of joy and lights and celebration, remember: we celebrate because the Serpent-Crusher has come. He has disarmed the powers of darkness. He has broken the chains of deception. And He equips His people with the Scriptures, His Spirit, and each other until He comes again.

So lift your eyes. Steady your heart.

The war is real, but our Savior reigns.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

In Christ Alone

Benediction (Romans 16:20)