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Scripture Reading:  Revelation 12:7-12

How Real is Satan to You?

Intro.

1.  How real is Satan to you?  He is a real enemy – 1 Pet. 5:8.

  a.  Satan:  Adversary (to lie in wait).

  b.  Devil:  Slanderer, accuser (deceiver) – Rev. 12:9-10.

2.  Many names:  Accuser (Rev. 12:10); Beelzebub (Matt. 12:24); the Enemy (Matt. 13:39); Evil One (Matt. 13:19); Belial (2 Cor. 6:15); Father of lies (Jno. 8:44); God of this world (2 Cor. 4:4); Prince of the powers of the air (Eph. 2:2).

3.  Point:  Satan is real to God, Jesus, apostles, Xians; must be real to us.

4.  Until he is real to us, he will continue to deceive & devour souls.

I.  SATAN HATES GOD AND MAN.

  A.  He Accuses God Before Man – Gen. 3:4-5.

    1.  His hatred of God’s efforts to bless man is seen in two ways:

      a.  By trying to stop God’s work – Matt. 4:1-10 (Rev. 12:4).

      b.  By tempting man to sin against God’s goodness (1 Ths. 3:5).

    2.  He will always accuse God to man.

  B.  He Accuses Man before God – Job 1:6-12; Zech. 3:1; Lk. 22:31-32.

    1.  He lies about our faith and lives.

    2.  He wants you out of God’s favor.

  C.  He Accuses Men to Each Other – Col. 3:8-9.

  D.  He Works on Christians – 1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 2:2.

    1.  He has the world – cf. Mk. 3:22-26 (Controls his domain of sin).

    2.  He wants the kingdom of Christ – Eph. 6:12; 1 Pet. 5:8 (“your adversary”).

    3.  Satan failed to defeat Christ, so he tries to destroy the church – Rev. 12:17.

II.  HOW SATAN WORKS – 2 Cor. 2:11.

  A.  Satan Operates through Enticements – Jas. 1:14 (“lure by bait”).

    1.  By twisting evil into “good” – To obtain a good thing at the cost of doing wrong (Isa. 5:20).

      a.  Matt. 4:1ff – Bread, God’s care, Christ’s power – Tempted to acquire good things by evil means (same today, 1 Jno. 2:16).  (Pride of life:  preoccupation with one’s own cravings)

      b.  Jno. 8:44 – When his lusts become our objective – We sin against God (Jas. 1:15)

    2.  Remedy:  We must control our desires to avoid his enticements.

  B.  Satan Operates on our Minds –Jno. 13:2, 27; Acts 5:3 (Mk. 7:20-23).

  C.  Satan Operates through Human Agents – Matt. 16:23; Jno. 6:70.

    1.  Acts 13:10 – Perversion of God’s ways.

    2.  1 Cor. 15:33-34 – Those without knowledge.

  D.  Satan Operates through things that Appear Right – 2 Cor. 11:13-15 (crafty, 11:3).

    1.  Institutions, movements, religious teachers, friends, feelings, etc. – cf. Rev. 2:9 (3:9).

    2.  This is why we must try the spirits – 1 Jno. 4:1.

    3.  Satan appears appealing (deception).

III.  HOW WE CAN BE VICTORIOUS OVER SATAN – Rev. 12:10-12.

  A.  Remember that Satan is (fundamentally) a Liar – Jno. 8:44.

    1.  His kingdom is founded upon liars & deception (“…there is no truth in him…”)

    2.  He counterfeits truth (makes evil look good, cf. Heb. 11:25).

  B.  The Truth of the Gospel of Christ Delivers Us from the Lies of Satan – Jno. 8:32.

    1.  He is a liar & is defeated by truth.

      a.  Truth overcomes Satan – 2 Ths. 2:8-12.

      b.  Be subject to God (truth) – Jas. 4:7-10.

    2.  God’s word in our hearts – Psa. 119:11.

  C.  Practical Ways to Resist Satan (Jas. 4:7):

    1.  Be alert; be armed; self-control; know escape routes; obey God; pray – Eph. 4:27; 6:10-17; 1 Pet. 5:9.

    2.  Faith:  Victory in Christ – 1 Jno. 3:8; Rev. 12:10-12 (v. 11)…

      a.  Blood of Christ (Jno. 12:31; Heb. 2:14-18).

      b.  Word of God (Rom. 1:16).

      c.  Self-denial (Rev. 2:10).

Conclusion

1.  1 Jno. 4:4 – Christ is greater than Satan.

2.  Satan is a real enemy.  We must never forget he is ceaselessly working to ruin our souls & our salvation in Christ.