The Devil Might Be Loose, But God Is Still In Control

The Devil Might Be Loose, But God Is Still In Control A few weeks ago, before he went to Adelaide for a few days to celebrate the birth of Alexander, Ron and I had a nice chat about a variety of things. Among other things Ron told me about some of the illnesses and accidents that members of this fellowship experienced. He then made the comment: It seems as if the devil is loose Johann. Ever since this comment I’ve been pondering. Friends, Ron’s comment is much closer to the truth than what most of us would like it to be or is comfortable with. When we look at what’s going on around us, the devil is indeed loose. Now, you might wonder whether it really matters. I would like to suggest to you this morning that this issue matters more than what you might think it does. I would like to suggest 2 things to you this morning: 1) this issue matters more than what you might think it does; and 2) if you want to distinguish between fact and fantasy regarding this matter, the Bible should always be your starting and finishing point. This doesn’t mean that we are not allowed to read other material. What we should make sure of though, is that the secondary material that we consider is actually biblically sound. In this regard I could recommend Michael Heiser and Peter Kreeft as reliable resources if you ever want to read more. [Heiser wrote: 1) Supernatural – What the Bible teaches about the unseen world and why it matters; 2) The Unseen Realm – Recovering the supernatural worldview of the Bible; and 3) Angels: What the Bible really says about God’s heavenly hosts; and Peter Kreeft wrote 4) Angels and Demons: What do we really know about them?] What do you know about Satan? Do you know that Scripture talks about him and his cronies a great deal! There are more than 560 occurrences of references to demons/devil in the Bible. Satan is mentioned more often in Scripture than all other evil angels combined, and of twenty-nine references in the Gospels, Jesus spoke of him twenty-five times. We cannot look at all these references today. But, I can reveal to you a biblical pattern that reveals that God’s adversary, Satan/the Devil/the Serpent, is constantly tracing God’s tracks trying to undo the good that God is doing. Ron was right: The devil is loose. And he and his cronies are trying to create havoc in God’s people’s lives. • He is “the prince of demons” (Matthew 12:24), the undisputed ruler of a host of evil spirits. • He is “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), exercising massive authority in the ordered system of things opposed to God. • He is “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), which includes all unregenerate humanity and all fallen angels. • He is “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), the whole world order that rejects the Creator. • The Bible refers to him fifty-two times as “Satan” (“adversary” or “opposer”) and thirty-five times as the “Devil” (“accuser” or “slanderer”), while other titles include “the evil one” (John 17:15), “a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8), “Abaddon” (“destroyer,” Revelation 9:11), “a great red dragon” (12:3) and “that ancient serpent” (12:9). • Demons are involved in every part of Satan’s program—opposing God, preventing people understanding the Gospel, opposing God’s people, attacking the church, tempting people to sin and preventing the spread of the Gospel. • In the Old Testament we are told of those who “sacrificed to demons that were no gods” (Deuteronomy 32:17) and others who “sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons” (Psalm 106:37). • Demons are mentioned in nineteen out of the twenty-seven New Testament books, and Jesus frequently claimed to “cast out demons” (Matthew 12:27). Pulling all of these together, you can see why I agree with Ron. The Devil is loose. We have a truly terrifying picture not merely of some of kind of vague influence but of an immensely powerful, amazingly clever, intrinsically evil and destructive person, the ruler and leader of a host of lesser spirits utterly under his control. The supernatural world, that we cannot see, is as real as the natural one we live in. God and Satan are real. Angels are real. Demons, devils or evil spirits are real. Why can I say this? Because Scripture reminds us that they are! Ron was right; the devil is loose. And this should matter to us because he has an impact on our lives. Scripture reveals this pattern: From the beginning of time God and his angels took care of God’s people. And from the beginning of time God’s adversary tried to undo God’s care. In Paradise both God and Satan visited Adam and Eve. Right from the beginning, from Genesis it became clear that God has got mankind’s well-being in mind while Satan is trying to corrupt man, just to prove a point. To this very day this conflict is still ongoing. The Devil was loose in Adam’s time. Listen with me to Genesis 3:1–6 (NIV84) 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. The Devil was loose in David’s time. In 1 Chronicles 21:1 (NIV84) we are told that Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. The Devil was loose in the time of Job. Listen to Job 1:6–9 (NIV84) 6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. The devil was loose in Zechariah’s time. In Zechariah 3:1–2 (NIV84) we read: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?’” The devil was loose in Jesus’ day too. Just read the account of Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4 and you’ll see that this is true. The devil was loose when Judas betrayed Jesus. And the devil was loose in James and Peter’s day. James 4:16 and 1 Peter 5:8-9 confirm this. The devil is real, and he is loose, this is true. But just as real and just as active, if not more so, is God’s angels, guarding us and guiding us so that we can get through life unscathed – even when Satan is running amuck. There are 1,133 references to angels in the Bible. These references reveal God’s loving care. If we really want to know more about God’s angels and how they guard and guide us it’ll pay us to research these references. We cannot look at all these references today. But I can show you another biblical pattern; A pattern that reveals God’s caring nature; A pattern that reveals that God desire to keep his people safe. Yes, friends, the good new is the God has got it under control. He will not let Satan get away with harassing and ruining us unto eternity. Satan is loose, however, friend, right from the beginning he didn’t have free reign. He might be loose, but he is curbed. God’s loving care didn’t stop to exist at Adam and Eve’s disobedience. No, Scripture makes it abundantly clear that God continues to care. He covered their vulnerability by supplying them with clothes. In Exodus 23:20–23 (NIV84) for instance God told Moses and Joshua that he would send angels to guard and guide them: 20 “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. 22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. 23 My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out. God promised guidance and support. Like Adam and Eve, Israel didn’t take God seriously. In the wake of Joshua’s death they disobeyed and God’s angel appeared, bringing a message no one would want to hear. Listen to Judges 2:1-4 (NIV84) The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.” 4 When the angel of the Lord had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, …” But God loving care doesn’t stop. His promise to send someone to guard and to guide doesn’t stop. Daniel 10:5–6 (NIV84) 5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. 6 His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. Revelation 1:13–16 describes the very same person: Among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When the Apostle John saw Jesus, as recorded in the book of Revelation, he fell at Jesus’ feet as though dead, and Jesus placed his hand on him saying, “Do not be afraid.” Notice the similarities to Daniel’s meeting: So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel.” (Daniel 10:8–12a) Daniel 10:10–14 (NIV84) 10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” When the prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of the glory of God, he too fell facedown on the ground, and notice what happened: This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” As he spoke, the spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. (Ezekiel 1:28–2:2) In a similar way Daniel experienced the strengthening of the Lord. The voice said: “Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.… Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. “Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed. Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. (Daniel 10:11, 18–19) Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.” (Daniel 10:12-13) The first day that Daniel set his mind on gaining understanding was the first day of his twenty-one-day fast. He continued in prayer until the Lord responded like he did in the past, but for three weeks nothing happened. Now we find out why. This one who “looked like a man,” this one in the golden sash with eyes of blazing fire, was detained in battle for three weeks. He would have been there sooner, but an evil angel, the prince who hovers over the empire of Persia, resisted him. This is why Satan is called “the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 2:2) God’s guard and guide might’ve been late or delayed, but he turned up. Do you remember how the walls of Jericho came tumbling down? On the night before the people began the battle of Jericho, Joshua went out all by himself, and suddenly there was a man before him with a drawn sword (Joshua 5). Joshua said, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” Do you remember the answer of the one who looked like a soldier? He said, “Neither, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.… Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” This was God’s angel. He described himself as the captain of the army of God. He is the leader of all God’s angels when they go into battle against Satan and his angels. He was Joshua’s guard and guide. In Daniel 10:1b we read, “Its message was true and it concerned a great war.” The word translated “war” is the same word, “armies” or “host”. This vision is about the spiritual war, taking place in heaven that we know very little about. Paul tells us to put on the whole armour of God because of this spiritual warfare. The warfare in the heavenly realms is being acted out on earth among human beings. In Ephesians 6:11–13 (NIV84) Paul challenges God’s people to put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Revelation 12:4 says, “The dragon [Satan] stood in front of the woman [Mary] who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.” But God didn’t leave her unprotected. In Revelation 12:7–12 (NIV84) we read: 7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” Friends, the devil might be loose, but he is conquered. Jesus was, is and always will be Satan’s Nemesis. He conquered him in the dessert; He conquered him on the Cross; He conquered him in the grave; and He conquered him in heaven when he returned! Paul writes in Ephesians 1:20–22: [God] raised [Jesus] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church. And from this place of authority, Jesus stands for his people in all the important battles, in times of adversity he speaks important messages to his people, and he strengthens his people at important times of hardship and suffering. And he is guiding us to become more than conquerors too! But you might think: What about those times when it seems like God doesn’t answer our prayers or fight our battles? Has he forgotten us? I don’t feel like a conqueror. No! He didn’t. And we are! I love the account of Stephen after he preached in Jerusalem. Luke writes: But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55–56) The Jews became so angry that they began to stone him. The Lord could have intervened in that battle and saved Stephen’s life, but he chose not to. But he gave Stephen a glimpse of the Lord standing for his people. Even and maybe especially during our most difficult times God’s loving care triumphs. We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). So, no matter how difficult things are for you in your life right now, let this truth set you free from worry. He is working in your life right now to deliver you. When we submit to God we are on a protected part of this great battlefield between angels and devils, extending to eternity. So, remember today that angels are guards standing at the crossroads where life meets death. They work especially at moments of crisis, at the brink of disaster—for bodies, for souls, and for nations. This is the message of Daniel 10:15–19): While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my Lord, and I am helpless. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.” Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. “Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.” ( Daniel 12:1–3 (NIV84) 1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28–31) Friends, Ron was right; the devil is loose. When we look around and see the battles people encounter we get a small glimpse here of the spiritual realities of unseen warfare that take place around God’s people. But once we realise this it will pay us to remember that God, our creator, is infinitely good! He is the origin of everything that is good. His adversary, Satan, is the author of evil. All that he plans is evil, chaotic, catastrophic, senseless evil. But it pays to remember that God’s angels appear on the brink of that chaos, or that catastrophe, or at least at the threat of chaos or catastrophe to guide us safely through so that our eternal status before God doesn’t become compromised. They are spiritual soldiers in the great cosmic jihad, the spiritual war between Good and Evil. Yes, Ron was right, the devil is loose, but thankfully God has given us the promise, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Dear friend, you and I can go home today knowing that our Father is sending the A-Team to help us in our daily battles with the evil one. He will continue to stand with us, he will continue to speak to us, and he will strengthen us for whatever we face in life. What more do we need?