Satan: His Realm of Influence

On any given day, you may scan the news headlines and see such topics as this:

Gas prices hit all-time high

Inflation is out of control

Pandemic claims millions of lives

School shooter kills and injures many

Critical Race Theory teaches all white people are racist

Riots are happening in major cities

Shooter opens fire in crowded shopping mall

Local venue to host “Drag queen” comedy show

Climate changes is the greatest threat to the world today

Fighting intensifies in Ukraine

Pastor/Christian school principal/teacher arrested for taking indecent liberties with a minor

Experts say we must begin teaching sex education as early as 4 years old

You get the picture.

While there is some truth in these headlines, they never truly get to the source of these tragic events and they always overlook the obvious fact that this world, is under the control of Satan. Look at 1 John 5:19

1 John 5:19 KJV 1900

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

This verse points out two things we know:

We know we are of God

We know the whole world lieth in wickedness - wickedness = moral evil.

I wan to propose to you that we are not facing an economic crisis, a climate crisis, a violence crisis, we are facing a moral crisis and Satan is behind it! The Bible rightly says, that he is the “god of this world” Jesus declared in John 12:31 “31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” The word prince means that Satan is the ruler of this world

Rulership of the world was given to Adam, and was stolen by Satan. I want to point out that God has not taken this ownership away from Satan, he is still in control, working behind the scenes. If there was going to be a time when God would have put Satan in his place, it would have been in Matthew 4:8-9 “8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Jesus did not rebuke him for offering the kingdoms of the world to Him, because the kingdoms of the world belong to Satan, Jesus rebuked him for his demand that he be worshiped.

World = cosmos, speaks of cosmetics, refers to being in an orderly fashion. Certainly, God is a God of order, and everything He does is good.

However, there is another usage of the word world. Used 185 times in the NT, the vast majority of those times it refers to an “orderly system that functions apart from God. At the head of this system sits none other than Satan.” Someone has defined Cosmos as the,

“...world system organized by Satan, headed by Satan, and run by Satan, which leaves God out and is rival to Him.”

Today I want to conclude this series on Satan by discussing the world system, his realm of influence.

**Why is it so important that we know about Satan’s world?

**Because, Christian, we are living in it.

You will notice with me today just two simply facts regarding Satan and his world system. First we will acknowledge his...

Authority Over the World

Stolen - It was never his.

Given to Adam and Eve

Genesis 1:27-28 “27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Usurped by Satan

These verses are known as the creation mandate as given to our first parents. Two words I want o point out:

Subdue - means to bring under control or to dominate

Dominion - means to rule

The right to rule over the earth was given to Adam and Eve, but we know...

It was stolen by Satan

Genesis 3.1 “1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

Once they accepted his lie, they relinquished their authority over the earth, and gave their authority to Satan.

On that day Satan stole the authority over the earth which God gave to man and now his authority is...

Supreme

Jesus acknowledged this (already mentioned) (Matthew 4:8-9).

Satan is known as the prince of this world

John 12:31 “31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

John 16:11 “11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

The word prince in these verses means, simply, “ruler”

We see his evil nature behind the scenes

Tempting - tempting the unsaved to go further into the depths of sin and the saved to ruin their testimony by giving in to his temptations.

Opposing - Do we not see the opposition of Satan today?

In our schools - the devil is the one behind the progressive sex education being taught in school systems today. I’m not talking about California, I’m talking about Moore County…be aware, and be prepared to take a stand.

In our country/government - Right now our president is urging congress to pass a law making abortion the law of the land. Whether or not it gets passed, whether or not it holds up, the point is they are fighting for the right to kill innocent lives.

In our churches - we have churches ordaining gay ministers, performing gay marriages, and championing transgenderism. We have preachers who do not proclaim the word of God, who promote prosperity and never preach on sin, the devil, or hell.

When we stand up and speak the truth....we are attacked!

We cannot be silent

We cannot be afraid

We must speak the truth, but in love.

Accusing - the devil is the accuser of the brethren.

The sheer number of Christians today battling depression and anxiety is unreal

The number of young people, I’m talking of Christians, who are contemplating, attempting suicide is through the roof.

From where is this coming from? Satan.

He is attempting to take away our hope - he is using the news media to do so.

He is attempting to take away our joy - we are living in a time of fear and anxiety

Church, we need to have faith in God!

Yes, Satan’s authority over this world is supreme, but never forget that it was first stolen! Satan has his court date set, and he will stand before the Judge. Christian, your place in this world is to have faith in God, to trust Him to take care of you. Jesus acknowledged Satan’s rule, but Jesus also acknowledged God’s power over all. 1 John 4..4

1 John 4:4 KJV 1900

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

We have seen Satan’s authority in the world, we move lastly to his...

Ambition in the World

Rival God

His is a system that promises no accountability

This was his claim in Genesis 3:1,4-5 “4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

“God is holding you back, you don’t need God to tell you what to do if you’ll just taste this delicious food. Just follow your heart.”

In other words…you are not accountable to anyone but yourself.

This was the same promise Satan made to the rich man in Luke 16:19 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:” This man lived his life never considering he would one day stand before God.

Yet we read in Luke 16:22-23 “22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”

In his life the rich man decided he would not answer to God, but in the end, learned otherwise.

Satan’s system rivals God’s in that it offers no accountability, but his ultimate ambition is to...

Replace God

The system is attractive

Because it prioritizes self

1 John 2:15-17 “15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

The lusts or desires in verse 16 are not of themselves bad if fulfilled in accordance with God’s plan

It is when we put our natural desires ahead of God’s desires that we have a problem

This is exactly what Satan did in Eden, and what he attempted to do with Jesus, and what he is doing now for billions of people today, and what he will stop at nothing to do to you today.

His system is attractive because it prioritizes self and...

Because it promises pleasure now

Hebrews 11:23-26 “23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

Our sinful nature wants what it wants when it wants it.

Satan understands this and that is why his system is so attractive to people today

Christian, you must be aware of this, because you are not above it’s allure!

His system is attractive, but...

The system is a trap

Some years ago my oldest brother came home with a wooden, rectangular box. It was closed off on all sides, except one side. This side had a slot cut into and that end of the box could be slid out. There was a stick, a string, and some holes drilled into the side. Me, being the curious little brother, asked what it was. He told me, it is a rabbit trap. He took this trap out to the wood line and put some vegetables in it, lettuce, carrots, and such. He set the door and string and I asked, now what? He answered, we wait. So we waited, a long time. Every day we checked the trap, and the door was still set, the bait was still there and we’d continue waiting. One day he came to the house carrying the trap with a smile on his face. The door was shut! We had a rabbit! In reality we had a possum, but the point is this:

That possum did not see the trap. The possum saw only the food. The possum ignored all the danger signs and went after what was easy. Once the trap was sprung, it was too late from Mr. Possum to get out. That is how Satan operates.

It appeals to what we want

It gives us what we desire

It brings us into bondage

Conclusion: Satan’s realm of influence is in the world system he rules. His authority is supreme, to the extent evil is now called good, and good evil. Satan’s goal is to replace God. To be an alternative to God. To do this he has set his trap and is working to ensnare as many as he can with it. You have to be blind to not be able to see that it is working.

Do you want some good news? God is greater than Satan!

You may be here today under Satan’s influence, but you do not have to leave under it. You say, “How can I break Satan’s influence over me?”

Simple, 1 John 3:8 “8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, among those works are the snares and the traps that he has for you. Today you can be from from this bondage if you will just believe.

Every head bowed every eye closed as they make their way up front...

Today do you know that you’re saved, raise your hand and wave it at God.

Maybe you couldn’t raise your hand today because you’re not sure about your salvation. My friend, God wants you to be sure. He sent His Son Jesus to destroy the works of the devil by dying on the cross for your sin. Today if you will admit you’re a sinner, believe that Jesus died for you and ask Him to save you, He will.

I wonder, is there someone today that would say, “Pastor, that’s me. Today I acknowledge I’m a sinner and I want to ask Jesus to save me.” As we stand and sing, if that is you, I invite you to this altar today.