163 Sermon Illustrations on Satan

The binding of Satan means he is like a wild and cornered aniMal. We used to have a beautiful German Shepherd dog. I remember the time I was working outside when my dog went into her dog house. Suddenly I heard a painful yelp. The dog came tearing out of the dog house and right behind here were two very angry and upset black birds. My dog found out that when you corner a bird -- or any animal for that matter -- it will fight. Satan is like this. He has been cornered but this makes him especially dangerous.

National Geographic ran an article about the Alaskan bull moose. The

males of the species battle for dominance during the fall breeding

season, literally going head-to-head with antlers crunching together

as they collide. Often the antlers, their only weapon, are broken,

which ensures defeat.

The heftiest moose, with the largest and strongest antlers, triumphs.

Therefore, the battle fought in the fall is really won during the

Summer, when the moose eat continually. The one that consumes the best

diet for growing antlers and gaining weight will be the heavyweight in

the fight. Those that eat inadequately sport weaker antlers and less

bulk.

There is a lesson here for us. Spiritual battles await. Satan will

choose a season to attack. Will we be victorious, or will we fall?

Much depends on what we do now-before the wars begin. The bull-moose

principle: Enduring faith, strength, and wisdom for trials are best

developed before they're needed.

(Devotional life, Trials)

Lawso, 221

Nature provides a fitting illustration of Satan's tactics.

Observers tell us that in the spring of the year the cuckoo bird can

be seen mimicking the flight of the sparrow hawk. Flapping, gliding,

and soaring like a natural predator, this impostor frightens songbirds

and distracts them to the point that they leave their nests

unattended. She then moves in and devours an unguarded egg, leaving

one of her own in its place.

I found when I was studying law that there was a law of reserved

right. For instance, suppose I should sell ten thousand acres of land

and should retain one acre in the center. I would have a right to go

over those 9000 acres to get to mine. One trouble with us is that we

reserve a room in our hearts which belongs to Satan, and he knows it

and uses his right of way. --Record Of Christian Work

I was in an emergency room late one night last week.

Victims of Satan filled the halls. A child - puffy, swollen eyes. Beaten by her father. A woman - bruised cheeks, bloody nose. “My boyfriend got drunk and hit me,” she said, weeping. An old man - unconscious and drunk on a stretcher. He drooled blood in his sleep. Jesus saw the victims of Satan, too.

He saw a leper one day ... fingers gnarled ... skin ulcerated ... face disfigured. And he got indignant ... angry.

Not a selfish, violent anger. A holy anger ... a controlled frustration ... a compassionate disgust. And it moved him. It moved him to action.

I'm convinced that the same Satan stalks today, causing the hunger in Somalia ... the confusion in the Mideast ... the egotism on the movie screen ... the apathy in Christ's church. And Satan giggles among the dying.

-- Max Lucado

*

There's the story of the man who went to a fancy dress ball dressed

as the devil. He parked his car and as he ran to the ball venue there

was a sudden cloud burst. He ran into a nearby church for shelter and

caused instant pandemonium amongst the evening worshipers. In the

stampede for the exits hand-bags, rosary beads, and personal

belongings were left behind. The hasty departure of one lady came to

a sudden halt when her coat got caught in one of the pews. She

blurted out in a terrified voice, "Look Satan, I know I've been to

Mass every morning for the past twenty years but I want you to know

that during all that time I was really on your side!"

- James A. Feehan, {Story Power!, }(San Jose, CA: Resource

Publications, Inc, 1994) 50

Aesop wrote a fable about four bulls who were great friends. They

always kept close to each other so that if any danger was near they

faced it together. They grazed together, moved together, and lay down

to rest together.

A lion who lived nearby was determined to eat one of the bulls but

he could never find one alone. He would be able to kill them one at a

time but he was no match for all four of them at once. The lion did

not give up easily. He followed the bulls, watching them carefully.

When he saw one lagging the least bit behind, he would slink up and

whisper to him that the other bulls had been saying unkind things

about him. This he did to each bull until all four finally felt

uneasy around one another. Each of them thought the other three were

plotting against him.

Finally there was no trust at all among them, and each bull went

its separate way. Of course that was exactly what the lion wanted.

One by one he killed them, and they made him four good meals.

- from sermon "The Unity of the Body of Christ" ######{Preaching,

}Nov.- Dec. 1994 p. 76

The last time an agent of temptation came to the sleepy hamlet of Inglis, Florida, near the Gulf Coast, throngs of screaming girls followed his every move. Forty-years later, a more pernicious force than Elvis Presley was apparently stalking the town - Satan.

Or so the mayor believed. Mayor Carolyn Risher began seeing growing examples of what she deemed Satan's work: instances of fathers abusing their children, increased drug use and children wearing devil costumes for Halloween. So Risher did what she thought any good public servant would do for the town's 1,400 residents. She wrote a proclamation banning Satan from the town's three square miles.

"We exercise our authority over the devil in Jesus' name," the November 5-dated proclamation read. "By that authority ... we command all satanic and demonic forces to cease their activities and depart the town of Inglis."

The mayor ended the proclamation by saying she was taking this action "in accordance with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

What followed was an international uproar that has raised questions about the appropriateness of religion in government. Risher has received hundreds of letters, from as far away as Australia and Spain, praising her for taking a stand against evil. She also has been condemned by advocates of church and state separation.

The town hall now frequently receives phone calls from pranksters claiming to be Satan. Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" sent a correspondent who put a person in a red-devil's costume and had residents chase him out of town for the camera.

Some residents talked about getting a petition to remove the mayor from office but that effort has been put on hold. "She used this for self-glorification, trying to make a name for herself and I can't condone it," said town commissioner Floyd Craig, who plans to run against Risher next year.

The American Civil Liberties Union considered filing a lawsuit but backed off after town commissioners said the proclamation was not an official town act because it wasn't approved by the commission. Risher reimbursed the town more than $13 for the costs of stationery, copying and telephone calls related to the proclamation. "It's not like we're on a witch hunt for the mayor, we just want to make sure she's following the Constitution," said Gary Edinger, an ACLU attorney in Gainesville.

Risher, a 61-year-old Pentecostal who has been mayor for 10 years, said she had no intention of offending anyone and doesn't believe she was violating the Constitution because she wasn't establishing a religion.

Inglis, located 75 miles north of Tampa, has a handful of churches and just a scattering of businesses. Many residents work at nearby power plants. It is a community where the mayor has a painting of "The Last Supper" in her office. A sign behind the receptionist's desk in the police department reads, "Good morning. This is God. I will be handling all your problems today. I will not need your help, so relax and have a good day."

Some town residents said Risher is a good mayor and a well-meaning, friendly, no-nonsense leader. But many worry that her actions have made the town - where Presley filmed "Follow That Dream" - a laughingstock. "People think it's kind of a joke in the area," said Sunny Price, owner of River Coast Realty. "She's entitled to believe whatever she believes in but don't do it in the name of the town."

There has been no decrease in crime since the proclamation, although there wasn't a lot of crime in the first place, said Inglis Police Chief Mitchell Billups. The last murder happened about 20 years ago. One crime has even involved the proclamation. Risher ordered rolled-up copies of it inserted into four hollowed-out wooden posts on which were painted "repent, request, resist." The posts were placed at the entrance to the town - only to be removed by vandals. The posts were replaced with reinforced concrete and after the ACLU stepped in, they were moved off a state road to private property.

Some residents said they wholeheartedly support the mayor and believe that too much of public life is devoid of religion. "It's kind of quaint and unique and it kind of harkens back to the 16th century," joked pawn shop owner Steve Baughn, who hung the proclamation in his shop.

AP-NY-04-15-02 0315EDT

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.

*

In 1971, Gerald Mayo filed suit against Satan in the U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania, alleging that "Satan has on numerous occasions caused plaintiff misery against the will of plaintiff, and that Satan has placed deliberate obstacles in his path and has caused plaintiff's downfall. Plaintiff alleges that by reason of these acts, Satan has deprived him of his constitutional rights."

"Gerald Mayo v. Satan and His Staff" was thrown out of court after Mayo failed to provide the U.S. Marshall with instructions on how to serve Satan's subpoena, and could not prove that Satan lived within the jurisdiction of the District Court.

Before the services started, the townspeople were sitting in their pews and talking with one another when suddenly the Devil himself appeared at the front of the congregation. Everyone started screaming and running for the back door, trampling each other in an effort to get away from evil incarnate. Soon everyone had evacuated except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew, seemingly oblivious to the enemy in front of him. The devil walked up to the man and said, "Don't you know who I am?"

The man quietly replied, "Yep, sure do." Satan asked, "Aren't you afraid of me?"

"Nope, sure ain't," said the man. A perturbed Satan, asked, "Why aren't you afraid of me?"

The man calmly replied, "Been married to your sister for over 46 years."

TS-"Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world.

Satan or Temptation or Discernment

The Pentagon recently lost a Global Hawk, the most sophisticated unmanned

aircraft in its fleet. The $45 million airplane, with a wingspan of 116 feet,

can fly for more than a day, scouring terrain and relaying video to a ground

station 3000 miles away. Last March ['99], a Hawk on a simulated mission

surprised its manned F-16 chaser plane by rolling onto its back at 400 mph,

diving, and smashing into the California desert.

The plane even prepared to die: an investigation found that it shut its engines

down, erased classified computer data and set its flaps in a death spiral just

before going down for the last time.

The investigation also found that at the same time, more than 100 miles

away, a second team of Air Force personnel were preparing to test a second

Global Hawk aircraft. Team number two implemented the system's

"flight-termination" command, and plane number one, 100 miles away, responded

obediently. It was incapable of distinguishing between the signals. That

failure to discern appropriate behavior led to disaster. [TIME Magazine,

1-24-2000, p. 18]

TS--Sometimes the enemy speaks our language and uses our frequency. We need

God's wisdom to carefully scrutinize any advice we're offered, commands we're

given, or temptations which confront us. Rather than flying on auto-pilot, we

must constantly stay alert to the devil's schemes. Submitted by Mark Jones,

Columbus IN

SATAN

(DEFEATING HIM)

The waters off Natal province in South Africa are shark-infested, writes Hugh Dellios in the Chicago Tribune. To maintain the tourist trade in the area, the Natal Shark Board has tried many different solutions. They have attempted using various odors as shark repellents, without success. They tried piping in sounds, such as that of the shark's archenemy the killer whale, without success. In earlier days they encircled bathing beaches with steel cages, or called in the navy to drop depth charges. Finally in the 1950s they stretched long nets around the circumference of the beach. That kept the sharks out but also accidentally caught and killed a large number of other marine life.

Now it appears the Natal Shark Board has a better solution. They have developed and patented what they call the Protective Ocean Device (POD). The POD puts out electrical impulses that irritate the shark's nose, which is sensitive to muscle movements in nearby fish and ultrasensitive to electrical currents. The new device, says writer Hugh Dellios, "will surround its owner with a low-level electric pulse that annoys the shark and persuades it that it isn't bearing down on a seal or other favorite taste-treat."

And so it is now possible with technology to drive away sharks.

Far more dangerous than a shark is our enemy Satan. But God has given us sure ways to repel his attacks: the Lord's name and Word, our righteousness and faith.

Choice Contemporary Stories & Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers, & Writers

Craig Brian Larson, Baker Books, p. 260.

When I was a kid, I used to like to put on shows for the other kids in the neighborhood - wait a minute, am I still doing shows for the kids in the neighborhood? Well, anyway, I bought a couple of cheap books on magic back then and a little kit of magic tricks. Even at my juvenile level, I soon learned that magic wasn't really magic - it was illusions. My beginner magic book talked about this basic magician skill called "misdirection." The idea is that while you're doing the trick over here you do something that will get everybody looking over there. They said it helped to talk a lot. I knew I'd at least be good at that part.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "Deadly Magic."

So one of the secrets of fooling people is to get them looking at something other than what's really going on. It's a tactic employed by someone with far more sinister intentions than some magician or illusionist - this misdirection ploy is being used to keep a lot of people from going to heaven. Maybe you, or someone you love.

This deadly strategy is revealed, actually, in our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Corinthians 4:4. The devil is called here "the god of this age." And it says, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." Satan really doesn't want you, or anyone, to see who Jesus really is and what Jesus could really do to light up your life. So he blinds you. He keeps you from seeing Jesus - because if you ever really give yourself to Jesus, the devil has lost you forever.

Of course, few people are going to knowingly follow the devil or cooperate with his plans to have them in hell forever. So Satan works his deadly magic - of getting us to look at something other than Jesus - anything other than Jesus.

He may be trying that blinding, misdirecting strategy on you. Again, he doesn't care what you focus on, as long as it isn't Jesus. So maybe the deceiver's got you focused on Christians, instead of Christ - the hypocrites, the professed Christians who've hurt you, the inconsistencies of the Church. But that isn't Jesus ... and Jesus is the issue. Or maybe the devil's got you all wrapped up in your religion, even a religion that's very much about Jesus. He doesn't care - as long as your depending on your religion makes you miss Jesus.

Maybe the deceiver's blinding you by getting you focused on personal spirituality ... or a career that's keeping you too busy for God. Maybe he's got you looking at your pain ... your past ... your family ... a love relationship ... the fine points of theology ... a sin you can't let go of. Satan will use anything to keep your eyes off Jesus ... to keep you from getting to that cross where God's only Son paid the awful price for your sin ... where you can finally face your sin, be forgiven of your sin, and receive the guarantee of heaven forever.

But today - right now - Jesus is coming to you where you are, reaching out His hand, offering you His awesome love. The moment you die, you will know that the only thing that really mattered was what you did with Jesus. But then it will be too late to change it. Today, you can still open your heart to Him - today you can finally turn your eyes to Jesus.

If you want to begin your personal relationship with Jesus, would you tell Him that right now? And I hope you'll let me know - I want to send you the booklet, "Yours For Life," that I wrote about beginning this relationship. Just let me know you want it.

Satan has desperately been trying to get you to look at anything but Jesus - so he can have you forever. But today you can finally see the Light he's been trying to keep you from for so long. This is your Jesus Day!

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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Israeli intelligence had indicated that the ship was carrying dangerous weapons, and Israel assumed they were to be their ultimate target. Well, a daring mission executed with assault helicopters and naval commandos surprised the ship's crew and led to the ship's seizure in the middle of the Red Sea. What they found was shocking - fifty tons of missiles, rockets, machine guns, along with other weapons and munitions. You can't help but ask, "What if they hadn't intercepted the weapons that might have been used against them?"

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Intercepting The Weapons."

Those weapons could have done terrible damage - but they won't. They were kept out of the hands of those who would use them to do that damage. That's actually the best way to win any battle - just don't let your enemy get the weapons to attack you with! It is a powerful way to keep your enemy - your spiritual enemy, the devil, from doing serious damage. Don't let him have his weapons.

Satan is anxious to make you afraid ... to make you discouraged or depressed. He wants to make you a slave to lust or addiction. He wants to make you negative, critical, defeated, deceitful. He needs weapons to get you to do or think things that you know are wrong - that you know come between you and God. But you can intercept some of the weapons he'd like to use - if you'll carefully obey God's simple directive in our word for today from the Word of God.

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else (OK, God wants this to be top priority!), guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Be careful what you allow into your heart because everything originates there. The picture that comes to mind is a reservoir from which the water supply for many people comes. That is one place where you don't want any poison getting in. Authorities put up high fences and arrange elaborate security to make sure no one can put anything harmful in the area's water supply. Guard the source. Be very careful about what gets into the source - and for you, as a follower of Jesus Christ, the reservoir is your heart.

You actually give your enemy weapons to destroy you with when you allow poison into your heart - when you watch things, listen to things, read about things, laugh at things, flirt with things that feed the old you. TV ... music ... movies ... . books ... websites ... certain friends ... certain conversations ... humor. Too many times - usually in unguarded, casual moments, we allow Satan to smuggle in weapons he can use later to get us to think or act sinfully - input that gets you thinking lustfully about the opposite sex ... that fuels your fears ... that makes you more negative, more cynical, more critical ... things that make you more lonely, more depressed, more discouraged.

Maybe one reason parts of the old you are still so strong is because you've been feeding the old you too much. What you feed will grow. Our mission is to starve our sinful side, not feed it more! It's already got all the fuel it needs for the rest of our life! But you help insure this promise from Isaiah 54:17 will happen to you - "No weapons forged against you will prevail!"

Just don't let Satan get the weapons that he wants to use against you -images, thoughts, songs, friends that make it harder for you to win spiritually - and more likely to lose. When you walk away from the conversations, the shows, the songs, the people, the places that feed your dark side, you pre-empt temptations now that would otherwise bombard you later. And that's the easiest way to win the battle - to never let your enemy get his weapons. "Guard your heart!"

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. 'Practical Answers to Real Life Issues'

*

A young man, under the influence of drink, stood on the outside of a crowd and boasted that he would make the open-air preacher stop preaching. He shouted: "Hi, Mister, you can go home; you don't need to preach any more-the devil's dead!" The preacher looked at the young man sternly and replied, "The devil's dead? Then you are an orphan!"

Have you heard about the fellow who was seriously ill? A visitor asked him if he was willing to turn his life over to God and renounce the devil. "I am willing to give my life to God," he said, "But a man in my condition should not be making any enemies."

We may laugh, but we must not forget that the strength and influence of the devil is real. In fact, the number of his followers is increasing. Satan's church is growing and new groups are beginning.

Satan's Bible is available in many bookstores. More and more signs of devil worship are now appearing in graffiti.

Never forget that the devil has one goal. He wants your soul. His desire is for all men to be in hell for eternity. He is the embodiment of evil. Twelve times the New Testament calls him "the evil one." He has the power to enter a person (Luke 22:3).

With his craftiness, he can use even the best of people to achieve his ends (Matthew 16:23). He can trap man and take him captive (2 Timothy 2:26). He can fill the heart of man and lead him to death (Acts 5:3).

It is not old-fashioned or anti-intellectual to believe in a living, powerful person of evil. Perhaps we need to see more vividly the contest in which we are participants. "I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me" (Acts 26:17-18).

Instead of joking about him, perhaps we need to restore a custom of the early church. Tertullian, (A.D. 155-222) recounted how converts not only confessed the Christ, but also said, "I renounce you Satan and all your service and all your works."

We may not be a member of Satan's church but we can still be his follower (1 Timothy 5:15). This is because we serve him by default. If we do not totally and wholeheartedly serve the Lord, we automatically become servants of Satan. "Do not you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

(Romans 6:16).

The old dragon, the serpent, is not all-powerful. In fact, we can fight against him and win if we will seek divine assistance (Romans 8:13, Romans 8:26). We can resist him and flee his influence (James 4:7). Our weapons and strength are mighty, and we can fight against him and triumph (Ephesians 6:13-18).

With such strength, we need not fear the devil. Yet we must constantly be alert to his schemes and devices. He wants us, he is powerful, but he can only win if we let him. "For we are not unaware of his schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11).

That is a pretty unusual title for an article that is designed to uphold the Christian faith. Why would we ever want to know the devil?

Because we will never overcome him unless we know something of his sinister purposes, his devious tactics and his universal influence.

George C. Scott portrayed George Patton in the film biography of the World War II general's career. There is a scene in which Scott as Patton reflects on the defeat of the German field Marshall, Erwin Rommel. He said something like, "Rommel, I read your book."

We have to read the book on our enemy, the devil. Among the things we need to know about him are the following:

1. He controls people. He has even been able to control people who walked in the physical presence of Jesus. Near the end of our Lord's earthly ministry, he predicted His own death. Peter resisted the thought that such a thing could happen. Even with the passing of nearly 20 centuries, Jesus' reaction to Peter is a shock. "Out of my sight, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Matthew 16:23).

2. He lies. He is the father of lies (John 8:44) and he "masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). He can start with a premise or a practice that is clearly the opposite of what God wants and put a spin on it that makes it sound like you have God's backing for the most evil deeds imaginable.

3. He has universal influence. In Job 1, God asked Satan where he had been. In arrogance Satan shot back, "Ranging over the earth from end to end" (NEB). You cannot go anywhere on this planet where Satan does not go.

This is not said to make you paranoid about Satan, but so that you might be better prepared to resist the devil and force him to flee from you.

“...the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:8).

Understand, Satan is a created being. He shares none of the attributes of Almighty God -- not omniscience, omnipresence, nor omnipotence, meaning that he is limited in knowledge and space and power.

When it comes to predicting what God is going to do next, Satan has to rely on what he can figure out, what he remembers from the timeless past when he resided in heaven as a favorite angel, and what he reads in Holy Scripture. Since the Holy Spirit does not enlighten his understanding, Satan sees as the world sees, not with the mind of Christ. Once we understand this, a hundred puzzles fall into place.

The Apostle Paul pointed out that had Satan known what God was up to, he would never have crucified Jesus. One might say that God pulled the wool over the devil's eyes and fooled him. On that first Easter Sunday morning, an imp rushed into the presence of his satanic majesty, interrupting the two-day celebration over the death of Jesus. The demon breathlessly announced that the tomb was empty, the body gone, and the soldiers looked like they had seen a ghost. Satan spewed out his champagne and cursed. He had been had and he knew it. He had played right into God's hands and was defeated.

Sometimes in biblical history, we see that the Lord manipulated Satan, as in the cases of Job and Joseph. Sometimes, God gave him a good comeuppance as at Mount Carmel when Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal in a fire-calling contest. At other times, the Lord used subterfuge to fool His enemy. Christmas is one of those times.

Satan can read. He knew from Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. What he did not know was the timing of the Savior's birth. So, in another of his endless efforts to thwart the purposes of God, Satan pulled in demons from around the world to concentrate on the Holy Land, specifically the region around Bethlehem. That's one reason for the ubiquitous demon-possession in the New Testament. The devils practically outnumbered the citizens. They served as Satan's spies and were charged with keeping an eye out for godly young couples about to have babies.

Satan was lying in wait for the Messiah.

The first thing God did was to choose a man and woman not from Bethlehem, but from Nazareth, far to the north. Secondly, He saw to it that the woman's purity and morality would be doubted. The devil can count; he knows it takes nine months to make a baby. He had no way of knowing of Gabriel's visits to Mary and Joseph or of the miraculous conception of this Baby. If he heard at all of this young Nazarene couple, he quickly discounted them, certain that the God he remembered from heaven would never deign to use obvious sinners for so holy a role.

The third thing God did was to arrange to move Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in time for the birth, but not so as to draw attention to themselves. When Caesar Augustus put out a call for a census of the empire, God had put it in his heart. “The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes,” as the Bible says in Proverbs 21:1.

Mary and Joseph were among thousands returning to their ancestral homes for the census. Perhaps the roads experienced a primitive form of gridlock. With Bethlehem's inns and available homes filled, the young couple took the only thing offered, a stable. “She brought forth her firstborn son and laid him in a manger, for there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). If the devil's imps were vigilant, they would have dismissed the young family camping out in a barn for good reason.

The God whom Satan remembered from heaven resided in a level of glory unimagined on earth. Satan was unsure of a lot of things, but one thing he knew -- God in heaven would not allow His Son to be born in a barn. Doubtless he had told his demons to check the finest homes for the most illustrious surroundings and outstanding parents. But the Lord fooled him. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27). This is a basic lesson of spiritual warfare which historically Satan seems incapable of grasping. To this day, no carnal mind believes it.

When Jesus was born, God prepared a welcoming committee of the lowliest people on the planet -- shepherds -- primarily to reassure the young parents that all was well. Satan had no way of seeing the angels that appeared to these sheepherders that night or hearing their clues on how to identify the Baby. “And this will be a sign unto you: you will find a Baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). No one noticed or cared when a small company of ragtag shepherds ran breathlessly through the village looking for -- what else? -- a stable.

Later, after Joseph had moved his little family into a house in Bethlehem, a delegation of foreign visitors arrived. These “magi from the east” had created no small stir in Jerusalem as they naively announced their search for the one “born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2). From the gifts they presented, Joseph was able to finance a sudden trip to Egypt made necessary when murderous King Herod sent soldiers on a search-and-destroy mission for the babies of Bethlehem. Satan would have fumed to learn that the objects of his wrath were already out of town, slowly making their way toward Egypt where they would remain until Herod's death. Eventually, when the holy family re-entered the country, they moved to Nazareth where Joseph opened his carpentry shop.

Satan had lost Jesus.

Jesus grew up with a normal Jewish childhood in Nazareth. He was not a “Superboy in Smallville,” amazing the hometown folks with His miracles and inspired teaching. Had he done that, Satan would have heard the talk about the boy wonder and come calling. The first the devil learned of Jesus' identity was the day the Lord stepped into the waters of the Jordan and waded to John the Baptist. Nudged by the Holy Spirit, John called out, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” And that's how everyone learned that the Messiah was Jesus from Nazareth.

Jesus' baptism was His coming out. The gloves were off. God in heaven was saying, “There He is, devil! Do your worst. We're ready.” The game was afoot; the battle was joined. It came to a head one day three years later on a hill outside Jerusalem. For a couple of days, Satan reveled in his victory. Then, on that first Easter Sunday morning, an imp came running in, all out of breath....

__________

Joe McKeever is pastor of First Baptist Church in Kenner, Louisiana

*

Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong preaching on the devil. One said to the other, "What do you think about all this Satan stuff?"

The other boy replied, "Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out. It's probably just your dad."

*

Luke 11:14–26 – “The Spiritual Battle” « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. Matthew’s recording of similar incidents

1. many think that this incident is identical to that which is recorded in Matthew 12:22–37 and Mark 3:19–30; this may well be the case because there is no rule that says Luke’s account is always in chronological order; this view would also suggest that some of the material in Luke 9, the woes on cities of Galilee, is also from that earlier period, corresponding to Matthew 11; also, following this, in both cases there is the reference to them asking for a sign, and His giving them the sign of Noah and example of the Queen of Sheba

2. however, there are a number of reasons to suggest that this took place on a different occasion

a. the accusation in itself was not unique; it had also occurred in Matthew 9:32–34, clearly a different incident

b. here Jesus seems to be in the vicinity north of Jerusalem in Judaea (having recently been in Bethany with Mary and Martha), while in Matthew 12 he was in Galilee (see 12:46)

c. the man here is said to be mute, while in Matthew he is both mute and blind

d. here there is no solemn warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as is found in Matthew

3. if these are the same incident, there is really no conflict between the two accounts; and if not, then two similar ones are credible

B. The Deed, the Accusations, the Demand; Luke 11:14–16 (NKJV): 14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marvelled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” 16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.

1. We have here a deed, the casting out of a demon — in this case, one who rendered mute its host — which was a frequent work of Jesus in His itinerant ministry; some notes about this

a. prevalence « – the prevalence of demon possession in the days of Christ’s earthly ministry is remarkable when compared with the Old Testament record and with the later apostolic age (there are just two recorded in the book of Acts) »

b. evidence « — as well as demons being cast out by Jesus, they were cast out by the twelve, the seventy, an independent in the name of Jesus, as well as by other Jews including the sons of Sceva, Acts 19, “in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches” without having a personal knowledge themselves »

c. reason « — the entrance of the Son of God into the world to effect the work of salvation, brought the arena of conflict between God and Satan into Palestine; it is not surprising that Satan would marshal his forces to that location in an unprecedented way; Satan’s forces thereafter were not less but spread out around the world »

2. Who is Beelzebub (also called Beelzebul)?

a. 2 Kings 1:2, 3, 6, 16 « — Ba’al Zebub a Philistine god »

b. Ras Shamra tablets « — a Canaanite deity, whose name meant “lord of the dwelling” or “lord of the high place” »

c. Ba’al Zebub in Hebrew « — lord of flies »

d. Ba’al Zebul in Hebrew « – lord of garbage »

e. in the context as understood by the Jews and as Christ took its meeting in the following discussion « — by the Jews, a ruling demon , and here it means even Satan himself »

3. So what is the blasphemy — evil speaking — in which these people were engaged?

a. « they were saying that the works of Jesus Christ were the works of Satan »

b. John 7:20, 8:48, 8:52 « — they were saying that Jesus Himself was possessed; or even worse, that He was Satan’s servant »

4. What about those who sought a sign — was their attitude at all different?

a. attitude about the exorcism « — it was not a sign »

b. they wanted « — sign from heaven; this could have been a sign from Satan … so, attitude was the same »

C. Jesus Answers the Opposition

1. Jesus perceives the purpose and the import of their words and their seeking a sign and answers the opposition in various ways

2. Satan’s Singleness of Purpose; Luke 11:17–18 (NKJV): 17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.”

a. the question raised is « — would Satan fight against himself »

b. the answer is “No” because « — that would weaken Satan’s power, it would be self-defeating »

c. the conclusion is, therefore « — this was done by God’s power, not Satan’s and hence is a valid sign from heaven »

3. Their Accusation is Self-incriminating; Luke 11:19 (NKJV): “And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.”

a. “your sons” may be literal, may refer to Jews in general, or may refer to disciples of these religious leaders

b. this refutes the oppositions arguments because « — it puts those of their own number who were engaged in exorcism as also in league with Satan »

4. Jesus’ Success is an Evidence; Luke 11:20 (NKJV): 20 “But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armour in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.”

a. so, it this is not Satan’s work, then

(A) « it is the work (”finger”) of God »

(B) « God’s kingdom is now present »

b. if Jesus casts out demons with the finger of God, then Jesus’ next words tell us

(A) « Jesus is stronger than Satan »

(B) « and leads to the implication that as Satan is the most powerful created being (consider Jude 1:9), then Jesus must be God, wielding the finger of God »

5. This Classifies Christ’s Opponents; Luke 11:23 (NKJV): “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

a. if Jesus is the finger of God, doing God’s work, then who are His opponents, who are those testing Him here? « — they are part of God’s opponents, they are servants of Satan, not He »

6. Satan’s Modus Operandi; Luke 11:24–26 (NKJV): 24 “”When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

a. with these words Jesus says that unlike His casting out of a demon effecting permanent deliverance, other deliverance from demons may not have the same result

b. what is the danger of deliverance which is not God’s work?

(A) « it may be non-permanent (the man is still his house) »

(B) « it may be a prelude to a much worse situation »

(C) « Satan does not weaken his kingdom by willingly laying aside his control over his subjects »

c. what practical lessons in evangelism are found here?

(A) « mere reformation does not bring salvation, deliverance »

(B) « only the gospel can truly deliver from Satan’s power »

(C) the new believer needs engagements to replace the old service to sin: these include

(1) « feeding on God’s Word »

(2) « time in prayer »

(3) « time with God’s people »

(4) « service to God »

Power. That's what mattered most to Napoleon. He wanted power. And he got it. Under his leadership, the armies of France won some stunning victories and extended control well beyond their borders. But it wasn't enough for Napoleon. He knew there was one thing, one force that stood in his way. It is said that one day he gathered all his top officers together around this large table. Laid across that table was a map of Europe - with a big red spot on it. That spot was England. And pounding his fist on the table, Napoleon raged: “If it weren't for that red spot, I could have it all!”

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “That One Red Spot.”

I can almost picture it. Satan gathers his demonic lieutenants around a large table in hell, looking at a map of the world - a map with a big red spot on it. The spot marks a hill in Israel, just outside the city of Jerusalem. On that hill stands a cross, stained with the blood of Jesus Christ. And Satan knows he's gone as far as he can. With almost uncontrolled rage, he shouts, “If it weren't for that red spot, I could have them all!”

But that red spot is the devil's graveyard, and it can be the graveyard for his hellish plans for you if you make what happened there yours. To historians, what happened there was the brutal crucifixion of an innocent man. But you need the view from God's side to understand “the rest of the story.” And He gives it to us in Colossians 2, beginning with verse 13, our word for today from the Word of God. It says: “He forgave us all our sins.” That's huge! Every lie, every selfish action, every immoral act or thought, every time we've used somebody, hurt somebody, every proud thing, every dirty thing - all those acts of rebellion against our Creator. They are an eternal indictment, and they carry an eternal death penalty.

But at that “red spot,” here's what God did so you could be forgiven. “He took it away,” the Bible says, “nailing it to the cross.” When Jesus was nailed to that cross, so was every wrong thing you've ever done. Satan thought he could have you with him in hell forever. But listen to what these verses reveal: “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Jesus didn't lose when He died. He won! He shattered sin's power. He made it possible to cancel the hell of anyone who puts their life in His hands. That day on Skull Hill, the devil lost you - if you give yourself to the only One who can save you.

Has there ever been a time when you did that? It's a conscious commitment to Christ, so if you have, you know you have. If you haven't, be thankful God has given you an opportunity to change that. This can be the day you say to Jesus, “I'm yours, Lord. You died for me, you came back from death for me, and today I trust you as my only hope - for now - forever.”

Hell's only hope of keeping you is to make you ignore Jesus, or postpone Jesus, or put your hope in something other than Jesus until your last breath. Then hell can have you forever, but not if you belong to Jesus.

It's time to make your way to that “red spot” - that cross where God's Son paid the price for your sin. It's time to take what He died to give you. Jesus - and what He did on that cross - really is your only hope. Tell Him that today and trade hell for heaven.

________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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2 Peter 2:18–22 — Deceptions of False Teachers « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. The Deceivers – their Methods 2 Peter 2:18a

1. AV: 18a For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, …

2. NAS: 18a For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, …

3. NIV: 18a For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice …

4. J. B. Philips: 18a With their high-sounding nonsense they use the sensual pull of the lower passions to attract …

5. NLT: 18a They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With lustful desire as their bait, they lure back into sin …

6. RGH: 18a For “trumpeting” (sounding) a clear, insolent blast of “wind” (emptiness), they “bait the hook” (allure) with carnal, dissolute lust …

7. what two methods do these deceivers employ?

a. words that « – sound good, perhaps that make the hearer feel great (important, elated, flattered), but which are really empty of meaning; this is said to describe Hitler’s speeches »

b. ideas that « – appeal to their audiences desires; not their finer goals, but their basest and most vulgar fancies »

B. The Deceived – their State 2 Peter 2:18b

1. AV: 18b … those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

2. NAS: 18b … those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,

3. NIV: 18b … people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

4. J. B. Philips: 18b … those who were just on the point of cutting loose from their companions in evil.

5. NLT: 18b … those who have just escaped from such wicked living.

6. RGH: 18b … those scarcely begun to take flight who live in delusion,

7. Who is the target for their deception?

a. those who « – are in the process of repentance, or perhaps those who are seeking to reform their lives; it is the present participle in the best texts, others having dropped an epsilon, giving an aorist »

b. back to those who « – have no idea or inclination to the truth »

8. in the parable of the soils, found in Matthew 13:3–9, Mark 4:3–9, Luke 8:5–8 (explained in Matthew 13:18–23, Mark 4:13–20, Luke 8:11–15), which soil is represented by those who succumb to this deception? « – this could be the roadway or the rocks … discuss »

C. Deceivers – Character of their Promise, 2 Peter 2:19

1. AV: 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

2. NAS: 19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

3. NIV: 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity — for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

4. J. B. Philips: 19 They promise them liberty. Liberty! — when they themselves are bound hand and foot to utter depravity. For a man is the slave of whatever masters him.

5. NLT: 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

6. RGH: 19 They announce themselves as giving freedom, but they themselves continue to be slaves of depravity; for that which defeats a person thereby enslaves him.

7. their promise

a. what feature of their methods permeates their promise? « – the emptiness of their speech is found in the emptiness of their promises »

b. what proves this fact? « – that they themselves are not free »

8. proclaiming freedom

a. what do you think of these deceivers’ qualifications for doing so? « — a slave has no power to free another slave, even his own »

b. what do you think of Jesus’ qualifications (John 8:36, Hebrews 1:2)? « – the Son is free, has authority, and can give real freedom »

D. The Deceived – their Sad Condition, 2 Peter 2:20–22

1. AV: 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

2. NAS: 20 For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “a dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

3. NIV: 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

4. J. B. Philips: 20 If men have escaped from the world’s contaminations through knowing our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, and then become entangled and defeated by them all over again, their last position is worse than their first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of goodness at all, than after knowing it to turn their backs on the sacred commandments given to them. 22 For them, the old proverbs have come true about the “dog returning to his vomit,” and “the sow that had been washed going back to wallow in the muck”.

5. NLT: 20 And when people escape from the wicked ways of the world by learning about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up with sin and become its slave again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the right way to live than to know it and then reject the holy commandments that were given to them. 22 They make these proverbs come true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

6. RGH: 20 For if, having fled the defilements of the world in coming to a full knowledge (or consciousness) of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, yet, once again being entangled in those defilements they are defeated: for these the end is worse than the beginning. 21 For it were better for them not to have fully known (or been conscious) of the road of righteousness than fully knowing it yet to turn back from the holy injunctions (instructions) given to them. 22 The proverb has become true for them, “A dog will return to its own vomit,” and, “The washed pig will return to its filthy rolling place.”

7. With what aim do deceivers target their victims (Compare what Jesus had to say in Matthew 23:15)? – to bring possible escapees into the same sorry state as themselves

8. What things in themselves are insufficient to bring deliverance from sin?

a. human « – efforts of reformation »

b. a full « – understanding of the way of salvation »

c. why? « – because the first can lack faith, the second, obedience »

9. What is the point of the proverbs cited (first being from Proverbs 26:11, the other non-Biblical)? « – The nature of dogs and pigs does not change, so they repeat their natural actions; a fool (one who does not fear or believe in God) repeats his folly unless he should be transformed by the grace of God »

10. A parable of Jesus graphically illustrates these verses as found in Matthew 12:43–45 and also Luke 13:24-26. What lesson does this teach us about New Year’s resolutions and human reformation? « – unless a new life is initiated by God, things will not change »

11. what do we learn about our adversary

a. in this passage « – he has all kinds of assistants, some wearing the guise of teachers, who are working to prevent men and women being saved »

b. in 1 Peter 5:8 « – he is extremely active in this endeavour »

c. in 2 Corinthians 11:14 « – he is the ultimate false teacher, the Deceiver, from the first he is a liar »

d. and we should therefore …

A minister asked a little converted boy, "Doesn't the devil tell you that you are not a Christian?"

"Yes, sometimes."

"Well, what do you say?"

"I tell him," replied the boy, "whether I am a Christian or not is none of his business."

D. W. Whittle tells of a man who came to Mr. Finney and said: "I don't believe in the existence of a devil." "Don't you?" said the old man. "Well, you resist him for a while, and you will believe in it."

Peter Writes to Pilgrims — 1 Peter 5:8–9 — The Adversary — « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. Review

1. Outline, thus far (abridged):

a. 1:1–2:12 – The Blessings of Spiritual Pilgrims

b. 2:13–4:11 – The Duties of Spiritual Pilgrims

c. 4:12–5:14 – The Trials of Christian Pilgrims

i. 4:12–19 – Suffering to God’s Glory

ii. 5:1–5 – The Place of Elders

iii. 5:6–7 – Humility of Spirit

2. … a review …

6 Therefore bow yourselves in humility under the mighty hand of God in order that he may raise you up at the fitting moment, 7 casting every one of your distractions upon Him, because your concerns belong to Him.

3. Consider the expression ‘the mighty hand of God’

a. What does it emphasize? « – God’s power »

b. How is this evidenced in Scripture?

i. In God’s exercising « – judgement and punishment »

ii. In His controlling both « – life and death »

iii. In His delivering « – the children of Israel out of Egypt »

iv. In His accomplishing « – His plans and purposes »

4. Consider the command ‘bow yourselves in humility’

a. How does God treat those who obey this? « – He lifts them up from their humble position (He bids them arise from their prostration and stand before Him). »

b. What is the ultimate privilege He grants? « – that He will dwell with and in His people »

5. When we hang onto our cares, what happens? « – we are kept or distracted from accomplishing what we ought »

6. How does God deal with our cares? « – he takes ownership of them and grants relief through prayer and peace »

B. The Adversary 5:8–9

1. 8 Be circumspect! Keep watch! Your adversary, the Slanderer, as a lion roaring, walks around seeking whom to swallow up whole. 9 Stand solidly against him in the faith, knowing that the same evil afflictions are being endured by your brothers throughout the world.

2. The first command (‘Be circumspect’) could be translated as ‘be sober, temperate, abstinent’ and is used figuratively in the New Testament with the sense ‘be sober-minded, watchful, circumspect’. What are the practical implications of this command in this context? « – ‘Abstain from all appearance of evil.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:22 AV) may not be the best translation but from a practical standpoint rightly teach avoiding even anything questionable »

3. The word translated ‘keep watch’ has a root meaning ‘arise, get up, awake, get out of bed!’ and can be translated ‘be watchful, vigilant, attentive’.

a. What kind of language is this? « – military »

b. What dangers are implied by this? « – dire consequences of disobeying the order; presence of an attacking enemy »

4. The word ‘adversary’ was used to describe the opponent or adverse party in a suit of law.

a. How is that shown in Zechariah 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 accuse him.’ (NAS) and in Revelation 12:10: ‘And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.”’ (NAS) « – he is looking incessantly for opportunities to condemn God’s people, to find some sin and failure to attempt to get God to condemn them »

b. What are his tactics?

i. In Genesis 3:1–6? « – makes disobedience to God seem appealing; contradicts God; suggests that God’s ways and commands are harsh. »

ii. In Job 1 and 2? « – questions the motives of the faithful to God and brings tribulation to them that they may turn from God (but only as far as God allows) »

c. 1 John 2:1-2 : ‘1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.’ (NAS)

i. What is our defence in this? « – Jesus Christ our Counsel »

ii. How is it accomplished? « – He took upon Himself and was punished for every sin (past, present, future) that Satan accuses us of doing and so He claims immunity from prosecution for us – that is propitiation »

5. The word, devil (‘diabolos’) means a person who ‘casts things through another’, that is, an accuser, slanderer. Jesus had this to say about him to the religious rulers, John 8:44: ‘You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.’ (NAS). What can we say regarding his attacks and accusations …

a. … respecting our lives? « – he hates life and seeks to bring death to Christ’s followers »

b. … respecting his targets? « – not limited to sinning Christian for he is not limited in his accusations to the truth, twisting it to suit his purposes »

6. What further things does Peter say about Satan that are illustrated by the story of Job?

a. He spends his time « – looking for prey »

b. His field « – is the whole world; he wanders through it »

7. What are we to do in the face of his attacks?

a. … from verse 9? « – take a solid stand? »

b. … what encouragement have we that this will work, James 4: 7, ‘Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’ (NAS)? « – that by placing our case in God’s hands we can have victory over his attacks »

c. … what will enable us to do this? … in particular? Ephesians 6:11 and following? « – the whole armour of God and the shield of faith against Satan’s darts (of doubt, temptation) so that here in 1 Peter we are told to resist him in the faith »

8. The language of two O. T. Passages against enemies of Israel, Isaiah 14 (king of Babylon) and Ezekiel 28 (prince of Tyre), goes beyond those rulers and describes the evil power lying behind them, Satan. What caused Satan’s being cast out, 1 Timothy 3:6: ‘and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.’ (NAS) « – pride; this seems substantiated by Isaiah 14:13 and Ezekiel 28:17 »

9. What should be our attitude towards the devil?

a. Jude 1:8-9: ‘Yet in the same manner these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”’ (NAS)? « – a recognition of his power against us »

b. Luke 10:18, ‘And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”’ (NAS) and Hebrews 2:14 ‘Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.’ (NAS)? « – know that he is a defeated foe »

c. 1 John 3:8, ‘the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.’ (NAS)

i. Jesus Christ « – came into the world to defeat Satan and the works that he does »

ii. What, according to this verse, are Satan’s work « – sin, his own and those that he does through ‘his children’, those who practice sin »