We Believe in the Devil
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We believe in the Devil
We believe in the Devil
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The character know as Satan or the Devil is mentioned more than 85 times throughout with 67 of them in the New testament and 31 of those times it was by Jesus
Many today allegorize the existence of a real enemy yet Jesus did not romanticize it but warned that it is absolutely an issue believers should be aware of!
Peter describes this enemy of our soul as diabolos - a traducer - one who speaks maliciously and falsely; a defamer; from the Latin words meaning to expose with the intention to lead! Too alter, change or convert from a belief; a seducer!
You see Satan wants you to believe his lies in order to lead you away from your God given destiny
Kittle - one who disrupts friendships and sows discord among those who are at peace; there is a purposeful attempt to discord for one own benefit.
Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
You see David was given a command from God NOT to number the people yet the enemy altered the course of David’s obedience
There is an interesting description of Satan’s plan in Zec 3:1
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
After receiving the Holy Spirit at the baptism of John, Jesus was immediately taken to the wilderness where Satan tried to pervert the plan of God in the same way he did to Eve; prevent the Word of God
1/2 truths, lies, innuendos, always twisting the meaning of the word of God to appeal to the fallen nature of man!
Peter describes Satan with the word Adversary
A legal term describing the one challenging the law
In Job we see an interesting event - the heavenly courts are called to session and present is the prosecutor - Satan
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 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.”
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?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
The Hebrew here does not describe Satan as a demonic being but rather prosecutor - going throughout the earth and considering men’s opposition or favorable actions toward God
God presents Job as a loyal servant
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?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
Satan then attacks Job’s inward motive
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 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. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
look at the accusation:
God was a hedge around him - his household - his possessions
Satans plan was to attack everything earthly about Job
Listen my friends, earthly possessions are a benefit of relationship with God not the foundation as Satan would soon find out!
As the account goes Satan had authority to control sickness, natural disasters, robberies etc and soon Job is stripped of his possessions, family members, and friends but in the end
Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house;
and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
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!”
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!”
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!”
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,
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!”
Total destruction upon his eartly goods and his response?
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 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.”
In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
As we know the story goes on to tell of another heavenly court where Satan attacks his health
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
His response
But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
My friends you are being foolishly nieve if you think for one moment that as a born again believer in Christ
Satan’s plan is to disrupt man’s relationship with God by three means:
Temptation to sin; Accusing them before God; disrupt the divine plan of salvation
The heavenly courts are still in session today! The enemy of our soul is daily accusing us before the throne of grace
So what can we say today?
1 - Satan is the prince of this world and can dispose of its kingdoms according to his plan
And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
He is blinding the mind of the unredeemed
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
The unredeemed are living under the power of darkness
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
Christ then has brought the kingdom of God which puts an end to the kingdom of the devil
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
With the completion of the work of Christ, Satan has lost the rights as accuser of the brethren! Judgement is now committed to Christ who is seated at the right hand of the Father daily making intercession for you and I
But, the time has yet to come for Satan still has a short time left
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
As he contended with the nation of Israel in the past, his present battle is against the Kingdom of God which has now come to man!
But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.