Scripture Reading: Job 1:6-12
(Part 1)
Your Adversary, the Devil: Who is He?
Intro.
1. We are warned of our most deadly enemy, 1 Pet. 5:8.
2. We need a working knowledge of Satan to be on guard against him.
I. WHO IS SATAN? (Where did he come from? What kind of power does he possess? What can we do about him?)
A. There are False Doctrines about the Devil, 1 Tim. 1:3-4. Be careful.
1. The devil is not a myth.
a. Man has long ago mythologized Satan (“personification of evil in men’s minds”).
b. Caricatured and fictionalized out of existence (so to speak).
2. Liberal theology deconstructs the Bible teaching about Satan.
-Turn him into either a metaphor for evil, or perhaps “a member of God's inner council; a type of chief prosecutor of Heaven” (a “supernatural evil emissary acting on God’s behalf,” 1 Chron. 21:1), B. A. Robinson, “About Satan,” religioustolerance.org).
B. Bible Tells the Truth about the Devil.
1. The devil is very real and continues to be active in this world, Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:9, 12
2. “Ruler of this world” and “god of this age,” Jno. 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4.
-He rules this world by ruling hearts; “blinds minds;” cf. Jno. 13:2, 27.
II. DEFINING TERMS FROM THE BIBLE. 1 Pet. 4:11
A. Satan (satanas): Adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act), cf. Job 1:6.
1. Adversary of God and Christ, cf. Mk. 1:13; Lk. 4:8.
2. Adversary of God’s people, 1 Chron. 21:1; Zech. 3:1-2; Lk. 22:31; 1 Thess. 2:18 (1 Pet. 5:8).
3. Adversary of mankind, Acts 26:18.
B. Devil (diabolos): Accuser, slanderer, Jno. 8:44. Deceives the world and accuses our brethren, Rev. 12:9-10. He maligns, misrepresents, lies.
1. He slanders and accuses God to mankind, Gen. 3:4-5.
a. Accused God of being a liar (discredits God’s integrity), v. 4.
b. Accused God of having evil motives (selfishness), v. 5.
c. He afflicts men, tempting us to accuse God, Acts 10:38.
2. He slanders and accuses man to God, Job 1:8-12; 2:3-6.
C. Satan is not the Biblical Lucifer, Isa. 14:12. “(Latin for “light-bearer”), name for the planet Venus when it appears as the morning star; Vulgate translation of the Hebrew expression for “bright one.” (Encarta 97, Lucifer)
1. Context: King of Babylon, Isa. 14:3-4, 10-11, 13-15, 16-17.
2. Jerome (Latin Vulgate, 384 AD): “The identification of Isaiah's Lucifer with the Devil began with Saint Jerome and other Fathers of the Church, who held that Jesus implied the identification when he said, ‘I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven’ (Luke 10:18). Consequently, in Patristic literature, Lucifer is used as a synonym for Satan.” (Ibid)
III. APPLICATIONS FOR US.
A. The Devil does not Want You to Understand Him or Know His Tactics, Eph. 6:11. (wiles: “methods,” schemes, tricks)
1. He is always seeking an advantage over us, 2 Cor. 2:11.
2. He disguises himself in order to deceive, 2 Cor. 11:14 (Gal. 1:8).
a. He will use your strongest desires (including righteous ones), to tempt you to sin. Cf. the temptations of Jesus, Matt. 4:1-11.
b. He will use your closest relations to try to undermine your resolve to be faithful to God, cf. Job 2:9-10.
c. He will use smooth words and flattery to mislead and deceive you, Rom. 16:17-20. cf. False teachers, 1 Cor. 2:1-4
B. We Can Overcome the Devil, 1 Pet. 5:9 (Rev. 12:10-11).
-It is not inevitable and unavoidable that we fall under Satan’s power.
1. Resist him steadfast in the faith, 1 Pet. 5:9.
2. Submit to God and resist the devil – He will flee, Jas. 4:7.
3. The power of Christ is stronger than Satan, 1 Jno. 3:8; 4:4.
4. Give no place to the devil, Eph. 4:27. Do not yield ground (cf. Gal. 2:5).
5. Stand against the devil and his methods, Eph. 6:11. Put yourself against him and endure, persevere.
Conclusion
1. The reality of Satan compels us to put our faith and dependency in God and not ourselves.
2. The power of Christ and His gospel overwhelms the devil, Isa. 65:25.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: June 10, 2016