Your Adversary the Devil Sun Tzu's The Art of War says Know your enemy It is a way to prepare for battle. We are in a battle for our souls. - Satan is the enemy LSC p. 69 It is still further disclosed that enmity of Satan is not only toward the person of God from who he has everything to fear, but is also toward every true child of God. Too much emphasis cannot be placed on this fact. [For a list of the names of Satan, see Dickason pages 127ff] Need to understand his: Philosophy Methods of operation Methods of temptation We need to be prepared to meet him and not fall in defeat. We need to learn what Scripture says about his: Person Methods Plans Program Devices The Bible gives us the weapons for victory. Victory may be ours. But victory depends on knowledge. p. 10 1. The Fall of Satan Ezekiel 28:11 27 Where did Satan come from? The only answer is found in Scripture. Ezekiel 25-32 judgment on many of Israel s enemies In chapter 28:1-10 message to against Tyre part of biblical Syria to the north 11-17 moves beyond the physical prince of Tyre to the one who controls that prince Called the king of Tyre Note: Satan works through men Here and in other places stirs up nations against Israel defeat Messiah The judgment moves from the nation to the one who controls Your Adversary the Devil Page 1
Original name Lucifer the light bearer or the brilliant one the shinning one Ezekiel shows us why he was so named - Ezekiel 28:11-13 11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (Eze 28:11 13 AV) We see something of the perfection of Lucifer before the fall Yet a created being [read v. 15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (Eze 28:15 AV) God alone is eternal Only He has uncreated life All else exists because He created it In His creation were the innumerable angels Lucifer being one Lucifer, as a creature, obliged to obey and worship In v. 15 he was still perfect Not only perfect (v. 12) epitome of wisdom and beauty Wisest of all God s created beings Established by God as administrator of angelic realm God s authority delegated to Lucifer God had prepared him to discharge certain assigned functions Some of these are seen in the Bible Ephesians 1:21 - different classes or gradations of angels [principality, and power, and might, and dominion] These words show the classes or gradations of angelic beings each with responsibilities or spheres of ministry Some angels serve God in the function of: Preservation (Heb. 1:14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Heb 1:14 AV) Satan would depopulate heaven by preventing souls from being saved Some angels prevent him from doing so the heirs of salvation It is a comfort to use that God has assigned to watch over us Your Adversary the Devil Page 2
Some perform miracles Acts 5:9 delivered from prison Acts 12:7-8 again seen Ministry of judgment Revelation 16:1 wrath of God upon the earth In Egypt an angel went to smite the firstborn Channels of God s revelation Heb. 2:2 the law to Moses Not only to men, but also some ministries to God Isaiah 6:1 seraphim Ezekiel 1:13 living creatures Ezekiel 10:1 cherubim There and other references show ministry to God worship to Him Ezekiel 28:14 Lucifer was one of the anointed cherubs that covers Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (Eze 28:14 AV) We see his once exalted position at the time of creation Not some angel of lesser order Could look upon the throne of God Voice praise, thanksgiving, adoration, worship We could consider that Lucifer was in the highest class of angels Authority by divine appointment Not only the wisest, but the most beautiful of created beings Ezekiel 28:13 gives description Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (Eze 28:13 AV) An array of color could reflect the glory of God to a greater degree It was a reflected beauty Perfect in beauty because he best reflected the glory of God Musical instruments are used to praise God Lucifer appears to have had a pipe organ built in to praise God Your Adversary the Devil Page 3
What is the responsibility of a creature? Be in subjection to the Creator Recognize has come from the hand of God Creator is superior In Ezekiel 28:16-17 Lucifer left the place of a creature and usurper the position of the Creator Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness v. 17 The Creator who made Lucifer so beautiful was not recognized as sovereign The wisdom given Lucifer was perverted He did not want to give worship, but to receive it The beauty given him had become a snare Instead of manifesting the glory of God, sought to glorify himself declared independence Did God know this would happen? Yes Why did He let it? We do not know God has chosen to enter into conflict with the prince of the power of the air so that through His victory over the innumerable hosts of wickedness, God can demonstrate to all of creation that He is a God of glory, a God of holiness, and God of power, a God who is worthy to be worshipped and praised p. 17 As men we cannot grasp why God permitted Satan to fall But Scripture records the fact the most beautiful, wisest looked away from God to himself Satan thus became a selfish thing Man now has this same nature like his father the devil Man, as Satan, is characterized by pride living independent of God Unless you come to understand something of the basic selfishness, pride and independence that characterized Satan when he left his original state, you will neither understand yourself nor will you understand the temptations that come day by day. P. 18 Man today: Walks according to Satan s pattern Being proud of what he is, done, has yet not recognize all from God Man in being apart from God is perpetuating the sin of Lucifer Only a pattern broken by receiving Jesus Christ A new birth, a new nature Your Adversary the Devil Page 4
2. The Sin of Satan Isaiah 14:12 17 Lucifer: Wisest and most beautiful Placed in authority over all cherubs at God s throne Responsible to be in subjection to the Creator as well as all in God s creation Privilege brings responsibility The very things that set Lucifer apart from all the other angelic beings brought about his downfall Lucifer's heart was lifted up because of pride, his wisdom, in his privileges and responsibilities only by divine revelation do we know this thought process that proceeded Lucifer s rebellion against God in Isaiah 14:12-14 God has shown us this step-by-step Five times we see I will come from the heart of Satan 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isa 14:12 14 AV) The conflict is between the Will of God and the will of Lucifer God did not create Lucifer to fall He was created with the capacity to choose God revealed His purpose for Lucifer to Lucifer - it opened the possibility for Lucifer to rebel against God's plan and purpose Sin - Lucifer s will against God's will - I will shown five times Each I Will sets his will against God's will these five statements reveals Satan's program He has not changed his purpose Let us consider the five I Will's of Satan 1. I will ascend into heaven heaven has three different spheres the first spheres is where the birds fly the second is interstellar space the third heaven envelops all - is the abode of God Your Adversary the Devil Page 5
that place from which God manifest His rule over the interstellar heavens and the heavens that envelopes this earth or the atmosphere Lucifer dwelt in the second heaven he desired to ascend into the abode of God Lucifer had access to the third heaven - see Isaiah 6:1 It seems to me Lucifer lived in the second heaven but worked in the third Lucifer wanted to ascend to the third heaven to make himself equal with God 2. I will exalted I throne above the stars of God Job 38 gives us a clue to the meaning of the phrase stars of God the morning stars are equated with the sons of God - or angels Satan s thinking was that he would usurp God's authority over the entire angelic creation all created beings are subject to some authority even Lucifer, over all angelic beings, was subject to God here Lucifer was making himself the final Authority 3. I Will said also upon the mount all of the congregation, in the sides of the north here Lucifer expresses a desire to control all the affairs of the universe from previous studies we know the word mount refers to government sides of the north belonged first to Jerusalem, the authority of David's kingdom Satan desired to control both heaven and earth 4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds in the Old Testament God appeared in clouds in Matthew 24:30 Jesus promised to come in clouds Lucifer was seeking to be above the glory of God 5. I will be like the most High Lucifer was the created being, he had a beginning he was not omniscient he was not omnipotent, nor omnipresent then how could he be like the most High? Only in being responsible to no one but himself it is possible he did not believe God when God said that He Himself was eternal The desire of Satan was to move in and occupy the throne of God, exercise absolute independent authority over the angelic creation, bring the earth at all the universe under his authority, cover himself with the glory that belongs to God alone, and then be responsible to no one but himself. P. 26 Your Adversary the Devil Page 6
Where did this insane, inconceivable lust for power and glory come from? Ezekiel 28: 17 shows that his heart was lifted up because of his beauty he was corrupted by his own wisdom he was made by God as the most brilliant of all the shining ones that which was given to him became a burning passion his desire to cover himself with God's glory, exert his own independence, led to his rebellion and eventual destruction when Christ came the Jewish leaders rejected Him He said they will of their father the devil - in what way? Just as with Satan, pride was the issue they would not acknowledge that their doctrine was wrong Not only is Satan s sin reproduced by the unsaved, but it may be reproduced by the child of God as well. P. 27 First Timothy 3: 6 shows that we need to be careful in choosing elders Paul warns of being lifted up with pride and fall into condemnation of the devil there is no child of God who was exempt from this temptation to reproduced the sin of pride -to be independent of any authority outside himself Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, and haughty spirit before fall in Romans 12 Paul warns that we must not think of ourselves higher than we ought we all susceptible to pride look at Moses, he had much to be proud of, but God said he was the meekest of men yet he was used of God because he did not succumb to the temptation of pride if God is going to use you it will be because you are yielded to Him 3. The Hierarchy of Satan Ephesians 6:10 17 Lucifer was the wisest and most beautiful of all God's created beings He was given immeasurable privilege of standing before God to oversee the hierarchies of created angelic beings the very things given him by creation became his downfall lifted up by pride because of his wisdom and beauty he desired to clothe himself with all the glory that belonged only to the Creator Satan lusted to move into heaven and the occupy heaven as his dwelling place He desired to become independent of external authority if he is to be as God he must have control over all created things and exercise that control in every realm We will consider first Satan's plan to rule the angelic realm Your Adversary the Devil Page 7
we will later see Satan is plan to rule the earth The average believer knows little about angels children often called angels as angels are never seen most know little about their nature, activity, purpose, or existence the Word of God gives us clear revelation in understanding this angelic realm to understand the realm of Satan it is necessary to understand facts about angels The materialistic world can be measured by weight, size, and shape angels do not fit these dimensions But Scripture shows that when God began creation He did not begin the physical but in the angelic He created vast numbers of angels Colossians 1:16 shows the creation of both visible and invisible these are two distinct spheres Paul shows here that the Son is the Creator of both realms angels then are created beings, created by the authority of God through the power of the Son Angels have personalities they and not a force or a power, but are individuals who possess personality Psalm 148:2 shows that angels worship, this is an act of their will they possess the capacity of knowledge Hebrews 1:14 shows that angels were created to administer the will of God God executes His will on the earth through angels They preserve those who are to be the heirs of salvation Angels do not die, see Matthew 22: 28-30 their ranks are not depleted, every angels who was created still lives they do not possess physical bodies, but that does not mean they do not possess bodies I Corinthians 15 shows there are different kinds of bodies, including celestial they must have bodies not limited by time and space, see Daniel 9 they were created to live in and exist in the sphere of the heavenlies their number is no where given in Scripture - but described as innumerable angels are divided into ranks, each with its own responsibility thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers God then executes His Will and supervises the ministrations of His total universe through these ranks of angels, created by and subject to God Your Adversary the Devil Page 8
When Lucifer rebelled against God and decided to usurp God s throne, before he could move God from his throne and rule as sovereign in the universe, it was necessary for him to bring angelic creation under his authority and control. Revelation 12:4-9 shows the extent all of angelic rebellion, one third of the stars heaven angels then, were confronted with a choice, remain where placed by the Creator or follow Satan Satan was 33% successful angels were created with the capacity of volition, the ability to make a choice either remain faithful or must follow Satan's promise that he would elevate them above what they were by God's creation these angels who rebelled expected to rule with Satan over thrones in dominions, and powers these angels believed Satan could rule the universe better than God that group of angels which Satan led after him, he brought together into a kingdom like God's system we will later see Lucifer has never originated any program other than his initial program to make himself superior to God Satan is an imitator, not an originator, his kingdom is patterned after a God's note Ephesians 6:12 - here we see their ranks that correspond to Colossians 1:16 Those who followed Satan s original rebellion we referred to as demons these fallen angels still possess all the capacity which they had before they follow Satan all power, wisdom, they had before the fall, they now have after the fall then no more limited to time and space as other angels while fewer in number still innumerable Satan is not omnipresent, he cannot be in two places at once this is little comfort, considering the number or demons the child of God is surrounded by a host of fallen angels, as well as that guardian angel assigned by God we are not dealing with an impersonal force, it is not evil against good we are dealing the personalities, who have been assigned to frustrate and to defeat the will of God -for us children of God demons serve faithfully, without interruption in this service, no eight hour day as spirit beings then not limited by time and space they can give constant attendance to you wherever you are and whatever you are doing Having once chosen to obey Satan, these demons obey him perfectly and completely and Satan s will for you is to defeat the will of God at any moment of your life Your Adversary the Devil Page 9
We recognize that these demons have been assigned to their part in the Lake of Fire Matthew 25:41, the eternal Lake of fire was prepared for the Devil and his angels they are assigned there, for the eternal condemnation in judgment in the meantime they are in a frenzy of activity motivated by the coming judgment we need to be conscious of this activity, to prepare for the battle and victory this knowledge helps us prepare for Satan's attacks and Satan has organized his kingdom to defeat God's purposes therefore we are subject to daily attacks, even moment by moment we cannot see our opponent, so we need to be prepared Ephesians 6 reminds us to put on the whole armor of God Satan was not able to draw all the angels, but enough to organize an imitation system arranged after the pattern of God he is still seeking to fill his will to get to glory that belongs to God In effect when we disobey God we are choosing Satan's side if you are not saved, you have been born as part of Satan's kingdom you have been born a rebel you under Satan's leadership, the god of this world Christ died in order that He might translate you out of this kingdom of Satan 4. Satan s Conquest of the Earth Genesis 3:1 7 As we have discovered, Lucifer coveted for himself the glory that belong to an infinite and eternal God to do this he decided to bring an innumerable host on angels into subjection Revelation 12 shows us he led one third of the angelic host into subjection Satan also desired to extend his authority into the earthly realm then he might declare himself independent of God and claim an authority equal to God He put his plan into operation Genesis 1: 26 - God gave man dominion or authority over the earth man was not independent of God he recognized that God was sovereign, had the right to rule, that God is a God of Glory man was God's appointed representative man ruled by divine permission to realize his plan Satan needed to attack man Genesis 3 - Satan's first assaults into the earthly realm, against God's representative, man Scripture shows the historical account of this attack Your Adversary the Devil Page 10
Satan came to the Garden of Eden where God had placed man here to turn away his heart from the path of obedience to God Note Genesis 2:16, restricted liberty and the freedom of man it never entered into the heart or mind of Adam to question this restriction neither felt that God had jealously withheld something from him God had provided all the man could need or desire yet when Lucifer came to test Adam, he tested him in a very area of God's prohibition, the area that had made Adam truly free. p.41 In Genesis 3 we see a serpent, subtle understand Satan s methodology he cannot materialize his body which was suited for a heavenly existence he must appropriate a physical body to work Eternal Son could appear in physical form, see Angel of Jehovah to test Adam and Eve Satan chose to use the body of a serpent The reptile was only involved in so much as his body was appropriated animal creation is in perfect subjection to God it is interesting to note that in all creation only man refuses to recognize that God is sovereign the serpent was chosen, not because he was in rebellion, but because he was a suitable vehicle to approach Eve The subtlety here was that Satan could approach Eve without revealing who he was or his purpose he could not have come as the enemy of God, Adam and Eve would have rejected him so it was necessary for Satan to change himself into something that he was not Satan is still using the same method, II Corinthians 11:13-14, as angels of light Revelation 12, he deceives the world Now Devil and Satan are significant words, they mean deceiver and slanderer When Satan came to oppose the will of God, he appeared as a deceiver and he slandered the character and the love of God in order that he might divert Adam and Eve from the will of God. P- 43 Note: Satan always works by slandering the goodness and holiness of God by deceiving man concerning the relationship of God and the will of God In Genesis 3 his deceit came in the form of a question, verse 1 he was probing to see it Eve really knew what God said Your Adversary the Devil Page 11
if Satan is to deceive man he must start with the knowledge that man has today if a man is ignorant of the truth of the Word of God it is easy for Satan to deceive if man knows the Word and holiness of God is most difficult for Satan So Satan probed to find out how much of the Word of God Eve knew he basically said, is it true that God said Eve answered correctly, God had put restriction on her Eve knew both restriction and the penalty for disobedience so Eve was familiar with what God had said, that He demanded obedience, and then He affixed a penalty for disobedience on this basis of knowledge Satan proceeded Satan responded to Eve's knowledge with an outright denial ye shall not surely die this is a categorical denial of what God had said, an insult to God Satan openly said God is a liar he accused God of deception here the deceiver labels The Holy One a deceiver In the fifth verse Satan explains why God had withheld the fruit of the tree ye shall be as gods Satan was not saying that Eve would become an idol, or a false god but then she would become like God Satan was saying that if she disobeyed then took the fruit she would be just like the Most High disobedience by Eve to God would become obedience to Satan and he would deserve to be worshiped Satan was saying God his jealous, He does not want to share his glory if you take the fruit you will have what God is withheld from you, what makes you less than God if you eat the fruit you will be like God A desire was created in the mind it Eve to elevate herself to this position of the equality with God, to clothe herself with the glory that was associated with the throne of God, a desire to share the glory of God's throne. p.45 Eve took the fruit, offered it to Adam, and he ate Verse 7, the eyes of them both will opened, and they knew the day when naked. They were naked in the site of God because there is no covering for the disobedience that now characterize their life and their walk Your Adversary the Devil Page 12
There was no covering for their sin and wickedness generated by their rebellion against God In taking the fruit from Eve Adam released the scepter of dominion of the earth Adam could not hold the scepter and the forbidden fruit at the same time and could only rule if he were obedient Lucifer was there to snatch the scepter Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Eph 2:2 AV) This description, and the prince of the power of the air, recognizes that Satan has usurped the power of God in the angelic realm In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2Co 4:4 AV) Here we see Satan has usurped the authority in another realm, this world Satan is called there the god of this world in rebellion Satan led angels after him, became a prince of the heavenly realm by leading Adam and Eve into disobedience he became the god of this world he usurped power in these two realms to cover himself with the Glory that belongs to God alone he is obeyed by innumerable host of fallen angels, he declares himself independent of God equal or superior to God by obedience given to him from the time of Adam s fall, Satan claims authority that belongs to the Creator he claims that he is now sovereign in the earthly realm Consider, Eve had knowledge from God she knew the command of God she walked in harmony, fellowship with God in the cool of the day Eve's sin began when she substituted rational reasoning for divine knowledge when she listened to Satan's whispering, she took the first step Your Adversary the Devil Page 13
Doubt and skepticism have to began in the mind approaching the Word of God with rational reasoning opens the door to repudiation of divine revelation it substitutes human reasoning for divine revelation the first chapter of Romans shows the world does not know God read I Corinthians 1:18-25 in Corinth Paul said he did not come as a philosopher, with natural reasoning he came as a revealer, not seeking light but bringing light If one trusts natural wisdom, reasoning, philosophy, they will never understand the Word of God because philosophy does not know God one will not know Him until he sets aside his own wisdom and seeks God's revelation Faith in the Word of God 5. Satan, the Deceiver I Timothy 4:1 8 Lucifer coveted the glory, the authority, and the power of God To do this he needed to lead astray created beings God created beings who were to be subject to Him and glorify Him Lucifer could not create He needed therefore to lead astray beings already created after usurping authority over part of the angelic realm Satan became the god of this world Satan is a deceiver must operate in the realm of denial of truth, the realm of a lie Lucifer could not have persuaded angelic beings by telling them the truth their end was the Lake of fire he had to lie John 8:44, Jesus told the Pharisees and they were of the Father the devil they follow the pattern of Satan, thinking as he wanted them to think Jesus showed the characteristics of Satan: he was a murderer, and he was a liar Look at Revelation 12 we see the work of Satan to defeat the purpose and program of God he is pictured as a dragon, called the devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world he deceived Eve into following him the results: the whole world today is deceived Satan lied to Eve, he denied God's truth he denied that they would die Your Adversary the Devil Page 14
God who is true said Ye shall die Satan said God's lied; you shall not die Eve was confronted with the decision, which one to believe both could not be correct, Eve said God was not believing God wrong, Eve disobeyed and took of the fruit she immediately discovered Satan was the liar, and brought that lie to Adam trying to cover nakedness showed them then under condemnation I Timothy 2:14, Paul traces the sin of Eve to its ultimate source, a response to a lie And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1Ti 2:14 AV) Deceit is how the Word of God characterizes Satan we must understand Satan cannot in any way operate in the realm of truth we must know this to prepare for his temptations The Word of God, very specific concerning some of the lies of Satan II Corinthians 4, Paul shows that Satan lies in the area of the Word of God Paul's authority was questioned in Corinth by those who despised his doctrine. They could not deny the truth, so they denied Paul's divine authority 1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man s conscience in the sight of God. (2Co 4:1 2 AV) Verses 1-2 - note the phrase have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty Paul was saying he had no part in preaching and teaching a lie Paul also said he was not walking in craftiness, in other words: hypocrisy We have not lied when we presented to you the truth of God Paul was putting himself in contrast to these false teachers they denied a simple gospel, man is saved by faith in Jesus Christ they had come with false doctrine they said Paul was a liar; he did not believe what he preached message not from God; his own philosophy- but we teach the truth in this passage Paul shows this not to be true If Satan is to hold the minds and hearts of man captive to his lie, it is necessary for him to blind man to the truth as it is revealed in the Word of God. p. 51 Scripture - God's Word - God's own revelation to man since this alone is God's truth - Satan must deceive man concerning the Word of God Your Adversary the Devil Page 15
it is clear through history there is satanic attack against the integrity, authority, and divine inspiration of God's Word That is part of the satanic purpose and program propagate his lie that the Bible is not the Word of God is not authoritative to be studied only as a curiosity no relevancy to our relationship to our life today but we stand unequivocally for the absolute inerrancy and the authority of the Word of God written under divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit it is our rule and guide for faith and practice Any departure from the doctrine of the Word of God is to fall into the lie of the devil. p. 52 May God protect us from being subjected to this deception I Timothy 4:1 - a second area in which Satan propagates a lie The person and work of Jesus Christ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1Ti 4:1 AV) Paul is saying they shall give heed to teachers who seduce man away from the truth into the doctrines that propagated by the devil Paul was anticipating what we see today he saw that Satan would dominate the religious realm what is said to be Christianity has no resemblance to Biblical Christianity what is taught in Sunday school and the pulpit in the name of God subtly and satanically denies the truth of the Word of God concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ Satan has moved into the church and has planted his standard into many pulpits, controlling in preaching and ministry - with subtlety The Apostle John was anticipating the same thing, 1 John 2:21-22 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (1Jo 2:21 22 AV) John was very specific as to who is the liar the liar is one who denies that Jesus Christ is the Messiah the One who came in the plan of God to redeem and to reign Your Adversary the Devil Page 16
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (AV) we see the same thing here you want to test the spirits whether they are of God we measure by the standard of the Word of God John shows, man's teaching must conform to the Word of God if he makes Jesus Christ any less than the absolute Son of God Who come in the flesh - he is of the devil and his propagating lies he has fallen for the deceit if Satan, is an instrument of deception as well Satan is seeking to reproduce his character in his children this is also God's purpose so here are two seeking to reproduce themselves when Satan reproduces himself in you, it will be by a lie with God, it is by truth there are many practical exhortations about the tongue because through this we often get place to the devil to put it bluntly, we lie Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (AV) what is corrupt communication? A lie Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (Col 4:6 AV) Paul says, tell the truth! It is evident then, if Satan is to reproduce himself in your life, he will begin by starting a practice on the deception stretching the truth is the first step to repudiating the truth how about adding an inch or two to that fish you caught? Did you ever stop to think that that is Satan trying to reproduce himself in you and make you a liar? p. 54 we like to impress people, we enlarged the truth, what we've done, what we make that is the devil making a liar out of us we make appointments and don't keep them That is lying and we are reproducing our father the devil Woven into the fabric of our whole life is his temptation to deceive we give excuses - are they truth? When Satan gets his foot in the door he can keep it opened Your Adversary the Devil Page 17
he cannot take the truth of the Word of God from you but may he can cause you to deny it Another fact that Satan wants to deny is the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation many preach but don't tell man that they have to accept Jesus Christ as Savior Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life there is no other way 6. Satan, the Perverter Isaiah 5:8 23 Paul was dealing with doctoral and moral defections in Corinth He bluntly told them their conduct was dishonoring to God God had redeemed them and the Savior who had died for them Paul traced to conduct to the ultimate source Satan He is the author of discord, denial, confusion and every form of perversion 2 Cor. 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (AV) Paul had sufficient experience in dealing with his adversary He could recognize his foot print He knew Satan s philosophy, purpose, method of working He was writing to them so that he could show them what he knew they needed to know how to deal with Satan We have seen Satan is a liar We want to consider next that Satan is a perverter He perverts or distorts that which is been given by God to man for his blessing and benefit To pervert is to change something from its original or intended use In Eden Satan distorted the truth, but he also perverted God s program Genesis 3: 5 Lucifer came to test Eve asking if it was true that creatures should not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil To this that Eve consented then follows Satan s lie, Ye shall not surely die The lie was followed by perversion he basically said God had not revealed the whole truth God withheld information from you, not because it was good for you, but that he did not want to share with them Satan distorted and perverted and the whole purpose of God in demanding obedience from Adam and Eve. P. 57 Your Adversary the Devil Page 18
Through obedience man would continue in fellowship with God through voluntary submission man might have fellowship Satan denied the truth, then distorted the use God had intended for the restriction From this point on Satan became a distorter and a perverter All blessings, benefits, good gifts may be distorted by Satan There is no gift from God which may not be perverted and distorted For example in Genesis God gave man food to eat freely Colossians 2:21 shows distortion of the command to eat freely The Colossians who have been saved are being brought under a law contradicting what God said in the garden of Eden Paul showed this spiritual life being corrupted due to a perversion of Satan I Timothy 4:3, 4 false teachers had come into Ephesus forbidding marriage, certain meats Verse one shows all those to be the doctrine of demons They were preaching sanctification through work But there is another way that Satan can pervert another realm of food. I Peter 4:3 here we see gluttony Satan has perverted the intended use of food Deuteronomy 21:20 gluttony was as serious to God as adultery or murder Proverbs 23:1, 2 another place to be careful about eating be careful who you eat with Proverbs 23: 20, 21 we should not be among drunkards and gluttons Now what are we saying? God has given food to be a blessing to men and, that physically we might be sustained But what has Satan caused men to make of that blessing of God? He has perverted food from its intended use Now we wrestle with obesity, related health issues Others have chosen legalism rather than grace, the serving Satan s end Another blessing of God, the juice he put in grapes Satan has taken that and distorted it for his purpose The blessing and benefit is seen in I Timothy 5:23 Timothy could have used some as a medicine But concerns of his position as an elder caused him to abstained Paul focused on a blessing and benefit, that is as medicine Today we have many medicines rather than using wine Alcoholism, a subtle device of Satan Ephesians 5 reminds us to depend on the Holy Spirit Satan certainly does not want us control by the Spirit Your Adversary the Devil Page 19
We see Satan working in the moral climate I Corinthians 7, Paul shows the marriage relationship is God s answer to sexual desires That which God has given as His greatest blessing to the human race has been diverted and distorted and turned to satanic ends Romans chapter one shows the results This whole area of perversion, or of immorality and promiscuity, is opened evidence that Satan is a perverter of those appetites and desires which God has given for the blessing and benefits of the human race. P. 61 He produces all manner of uncleanness, immorality and impurity Paul had to deal with this epistle after epistle: premarital sex, divorce We see Satan s hand in perverting the relationship of the child of God to the will of God Jonah would be an example, he went the opposite way We see excuses in Luke 9: earthly things, family ties Satan likes to emphasize the loss of material things as if God would give nothing in return Think of the man who would not follow Christ because he loved his earthly riches Satan wants people to believe that if they put their faith in Christ they will lose He is suggesting that doing the will of God is too expensive, it cost you too much Satan also perverts the standards of God s holiness Isaiah 5:20 calling the evil good and good evil We see this more and more today Satan has perverted those standards so that the world s standard of what is acceptable conduct does not conform to the Word of God p. 64 A final area the way of salvation God has one standard, John 14:6 Satan offers a multitude of philosophies and doctrines, all perversion Millions are heading to hell because of Satan s perversion and distortion We need to know the devices of Satan so as to be on guard against his wiles The deceiver will pervert and distort every blessing of God that He has provided for His child I Corinthians 12 14, spiritual gifts, for God s service, not Satan s control Any good thing Satan can pervert Your Adversary the Devil Page 20
7. Satan, the Imitator II Corinthians 11:1 15 Satan is a liar and a deceiver. II Corinthians 11, vs. 13 to 15, Satan is also an imitator. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2Co 11:13 15 AV) Genesis 3 is record that Satan said to Eve: in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods or like God It was Satan s avowed purpose not to make Eve as ungodly as possible, but to make her as godlike as possible without God. And Satan s plan and Satan s program has always been to imitate God to deceive man concerning his plan so that as they follow his imitation they will be convinced they are following God. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2Co 11:13 15 AV) Note: transforming themselves into apostles of Christ I Timothy 6:16, speaking of the Eternal God: blessing, only potentate, king of Kings, Lord of lords, who only has immortality Paul adds Dwelling in light which no man can approach into, whom no man has seen nor can see. God dwells in light, no man can approach Him We know the story of Moses, in the cleft of a rock Yet in Genesis Adam and Eve conversed with God who was clothed with light They knew His presence because of the out shining of His Glory Israel saw the pillar of fire, also those on the Mount of transfiguration Adam and Eve fellowshipped with this God of light Eve was faced with another manifestation of glory, yet somewhat different Satan was here transforming himself into an angel of light He did not come as a beast is a field, but came as God would come Eve was not suspicious, accustomed to approaching the light to hear the voice of God This voice contradicted what God had said earlier This light convinced Eve that God was commanding her to eat Satan had deceived Eve because he had imitated God s mode of revelation He had appeared as an angel of light Your Adversary the Devil Page 21
Eve did not seem to understand that God would contradict Himself She was deceived by one who transformed himself into an angel of light Satan is still transforming himself, his representatives, his ministers Preaching death and darkness they profess to be representatives of God Claim to be propagating doctrine that comes from the God of light This is a part of satanic deception, imitating the program of God We can see this illustrated in several incidents from the Bible Moses was given several signs to prove that he was from God Pharaoh s magicians were able to imitate Moses signs The Apostle Paul had sign gifts Elymas used sorcery, professing to be a minister of righteousness yet he shared Satan s lie Revelation 13, the False Prophet imitates the miracles of Elijah, and deceive those that dwell on the earth Satan has one whom he transforms into a minister of righteousness to imitate the miracles of God Acts 1:8, Jesus sent out his witnesses to testify of Him Through the book of Acts the apostles spread the message Satan sent out messengers to deny the message II Corinthians 11:3, Paul feared as they would be deceived as Eve was Someone was preaching another Jesus, one that Paul had not preached I Timothy 4, Paul warns of giving heaved to seducing spirits, not teaching about demons, but to teaching by demons The devil is a preacher don t forget it P. 71 He is diabolical, but a preacher He has another gospel and another Jesus He has the power to perform that which he desires in the lives of men His demons are preaching actively I John 4:1, many false prophets are gone out into the world, we need to test the spirits I John 2:2, who was a liar? One that denies in Jesus is the Christ Satan is willing to concede any of the doctrine that you may insist on believing, but he cannot and will not, under any circumstances, consent to have the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ preach to men. P. 71 The person and work of Christ is the heart of the gospel Therefore both Paul and John warn that they will come preaching another gospel, another Christ, by another spirit Your Adversary the Devil Page 22
God s method of reaching men and is to have men preach the truth concerning Jesus Christ Satan has not devised another program He imitates the program of God and he sends his ministers who proclaimed to be ministers and righteousness With Satan s power, they go out to deceive, to delude, to take away the truth from the minds of men, as they propagated a lie Galatians 1:6 9 Paul says such a man should be accursed, (the Greek shows damned forever) Satan s masterpiece is not the gutter bum, or the derelict Satan is a masterpiece is that good, upright, honest, honorable, respected individual in the community who feels he has no need of Jesus Christ, he can work out his own salvation One who leads a good life, no flaws, but leaves out God, this is Satan s delight Satan is striving for perfection He is seeking to produce a perfect man apart from Christ Evolution shows man moving toward perfection Evolution is a theory Satan uses, accomplishing his design, making men like God, but having no knowledge of God LSC In his Chapter 7, Satan s Methods speaks much about the counterfeit system Satan has in the world II Tim. 3:1-5 in the last days having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof Here is form but no substance the power of the gospel in missing Rom. 1:16 I Tim. 4:1, 2 seducing spirits, doctrines of demons So attractive some will be drawn from the faith Spoken by those with a seared conscience leading souls to the Lake of Fire with no present remorse or regret Revelation doctrines of demons, synagogue of Satan counterfeits of the visible church - with its ministers and teachers These ministers are sincere but unregenerate they have no idea of how Satan is using them many full of humanitarian zeal yet natural men (I Cor. 2:14) Matt. 13 tares among the wheat growing side by side 8. Satan, the Lawless One II Thessalonians 2:1 12 If Satan asked to have his photo taken and ask the photographer to take his good side the photographer would not be able to take a picture. Satan has no good side. He is a liar He is an imitator He is a cheat Here we will see that Satan is a He is a deceiver lawless one Your Adversary the Devil Page 23