LIVING LIKE JESUS

The Reality of Satan

Q: Is Satan real?

While for us this question has an obvious answer, there are many even in “christiandom” that do not believe that Jesus is a real being but a character representing evil.

As our book states there are a number of surveys that show this to be true.

But even among the who believe that Satan is real, there is a huge problem of PEOPLE NOT TAKING SATAN SERIOUSLY!

Q: So, how do you know Satan is a real reason? Besides the bible saying so...

Yes, the bible shows that He is a real being, possibly a fallen angel who turned against God along with many other angels.

Scripture

says that hell is prepared “for the Devil and his angels.”

We see the evidence of Satan’s work in the world.His influence is everywhere and it is obvious from the things that we hear about and see that are wrong with our world and nation.

Ill: Think about the tragedies that we have seen in our country just this year. School shootings, packages bombers, political evils and on and one…

Q: what do we hear of people doing in response to these things…like school shooting for example? (1 How did this happen, (2 how can we keep it from happening again, (3 who fault is it? Yet who is never mentioned as being any part of it? Satan! The devil or even addressing the evil involved is hardly mentioned. As a people the things that are offered as a solution are just treating the symptoms of evil instead of treating the source: people living without God.

Q: What did Jesus say about Satan?

Jesus said that Satan is “the father of lies,” and a “murderer from the beginning.” As we will see his influence on death entering the world and the first murder.

Something that is mind blowing is to think about the fact that God not only deceives individuals but nations and in fact much of the world.

Jeus

Q:

Think about it…the unparalleled level of deceit...Satan has so much influence on the world…leading people to commit mass murder, start wars, starve the poor (corruption in leadership), believe ridiculous unscientific theories about our origins that leave God out...

AND DOING ALL OF THIS ALL THE WHILE DECEIVING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT HE DOESN’T EVEN EXIST! THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE AND TERRIBLE THOUGHT!

Revelation 12:9 ESV

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.

Because we are not ignorant of his existence and work in the world and the church and Christ’s followers WE KNOW THAT WE WILL BE TEMPTED BY HIM EVEN AS JESUS WAS.

So as we see Satan at work from the beginning, in both the Old Testament and New we should learn how to overcome Him as Jesus did and scriptures tells us how to!

Satan in the Garden

Q: Satan used the disguise of a serpent, how do we explain this?

There could be a few explanations for this. (1 That Satan appeared as a serpent or (2 Satan used a real serpent [possibly by possession one] as with legion possessing the pigs.

I believe that he was a real serpent but for our purposes it does not matter except that we learn from it and become stronger to defend ourselves from his attacks.

Q: What can we learn from Satan disguising himself as a serpent?

That Satan is cunning and does not approach us in the most obvious ways.

Q: How did Satan approach Eve?

Genesis 3:

Genesis 3:1 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Our book: (1 put a question in Eve’s mind…causing her to question God’s word, (2 lied to her, (3 then she influenced others.

This is actually how it works today? One person believes the lies, sins and influences others to do the some and it spreads.

Satan and Job

Job chapter 2 gives us a very interesting look into Satan and his workings.

Job 1:7 ESV

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

Our book uses the example of “the message” which expressing this as checking out things on earth” which is interesting but we know Satan was doing a whole lot more than looking around.

God’s response implies what Satan was doing…going to and fro on the earth influencing evil and doing his best to destroy people’s lives and souls.

Hence God pointing out Job

God points out Job as one who would not turn against Him no matter what.

Q: What does this imply Satan’s number one goal is?

Satan’s goal is to get people to turn away from God. “In Hebrew Satan’s name means (what?) accuser or adversary.” Satan is God and man’s adversary and man’s accuser.

Job 1:8–9 ESV

And 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, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?

Job 1:9–10 ESV

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

Job 1:9–11 ESV

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”

Job 1:

From what Satan says it is easy to see that he know a lot about people turning from God.

Satan knows our weaknesses as well and as God’s people he wants us to fall and bring shame to God’s name.

Satan and Jesus

Q: is the most well known time that Jesus was tempted, but at what other times do you think Jesus would have been tempted greatly?

When Peter told Jesus that He should not die in perhaps. Jesus said “get behind me Satan.”

Q: Do you think this shocked Peter? Do you think Peter knew?

Q: Do people know when they are being used by Satan?

NO, the people who are influential and do not follow Christ or do not believe in Satan are being used by Satan. So we need to be careful that we are not used to hurt someone’s faith or discourage them.

The idea of being used by Satan does not cross the minds of those sow discord.

Back to and the Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness

Q: What can we learn from Satan’s timing when he tempted Jesus in the wildness?

Matthew 4:2–3 ESV

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Satan knows how to take opportunities and when we are tired, physically, emotionally, spiritually or hungry (ill: this is funny but real), angry, disappointed, lonely, hurting he will come after us. He is a good hunter…like the lion that watches and goes after the weak or the one that is alone.

The Three Temptations: We typically focus on the specific temptations but for time sake let us get right down to what Jesus did to overcome Satan.

We often try to pick out one specific thing that Satan is using to tempt Jesus with each temptation but I have come to think that there are multiple things at play with each one.

Q: For example: with the bread what is Satan appealing to or using? (Notice the “if” you are)

The flesh (hunger) but also perhaps (pride) or (trust) that God will provide…with the second pride and perhaps trust and the third the flesh…and pride, power, compromise...

Our temptations are multifaceted as well at times. The flesh and emotions…pleasure, pride...

Q: What can we learn from Jesus in how to overcome temptation?

Jesus says with every temptation...”it is written.” Jesus does what Eve does not. He sticks to God’s word and does not follow Satan’s lies. (What does our sign out front say?)

Matthew 4:10 ESV

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

James 4:7 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Jesus also resists Satan and he goes away. Jesus submit Himself to God.

Q: What does submitting to God have to do with resisting the Devil?

Satan appeals to us through our desire, or flesh or selfishness. BUT IF WE SUBMIT OURSELVES (OUR FLESH INCLUDED) OUR WILL, OUR WANTS (AND BECOME LIVING SACRIFICES) WE TAKE AWAY SATAN’S POWER as what he appeals to most is not longer in the equation.

We are either submitting ourselves to God or ourselves and Satan can use our selfishness against us.

3 TAKE AWAYS: (1 Be Ever Vigilant (2 Know and trust in God’s word (3 Submit to God and Resist the Devil and He will leave