Great Doctrines of the Bible
Lesson 5
Satan
Introduction
Next to Almighty God, Satan is considered in Scripture to be the greatest
power in this universe. For many today, Satan is a subject for laughter
and the butt of a thousand jokes. But Satan is not a joke. He is real,
and in one way or another he influences every human life. This major
study will teach you to recognize him to be what he is and how to overcome
him.
Importance of this Lesson
- In
any conflict it is important to know your enemy and his method of
operation.
- Satan is the greatest enemy of God and man; therefore, it is of the
utmost importance that we learn of him and how to defeat him.
- Satan stands in
the way of our coming to Christ. If he fails in this, he seeks to
negate or nullify our Christian life and witness. It is
important that we learn what methods he uses to accomplish these
things so that we
might be saved and live triumphantly.
- The defeat of Satan by the
death and shed blood of Christ and our personal deliverance from
his kingdom and power is a vital part of
God’s
great salvation. It is important that we grasp this truth so
that we might fully
partake of this glorious victory.
The Lesson
I. THE REALITY OF SATAN
Question – Is Satan merely an evil influence in this world or does
he actually exist as a created being or person with enormous worldwide
power?
- In both the Old and New Testaments his existence and power are fully
recognized.
- In the Old Testament:
- He seduced Eve (Genesis 3:1-6).
- He accused and attacked Job
(Job 1:6 - 2:13).
- He provoked David to number the people (1
Chronicles 21:1).
- The word SATAN means “adversary” and
is used at least 17 times in the Old Testament.
- Read and
study also Ezekiel 28:12-16 and Isaiah 14:12-17.
- In the New
Testament:
- He tempted Christ in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11;
Luke 4:1-13). Since Christ had no sin in
Him (1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21), He could not
have been tempted by a mere “evil
influence.”
- He
sifted Peter (Luke 22:31).
- He caused Judas
to betray Christ (John 13:2).
- He provoked Annanias and Saphira
to lie to the Holy Ghost (Acts 5:1-11).
- He buffeted Paul
(2 Corinthians 12:7).
- Every New Testament writer is
fully aware of his existence and reality.
- Matthew – sees
him as the tempter, the seed snatcher and the sower of confusion
(Matthew 4:1-11; 13:19,39).
- Mark – sees him as Beelzebub, prince
of demons (Mark 3:22-26).
- Luke – sees him as being able to
torment (Luke 9:42), afflict with diseases
(Luke 13:16)
and sift
believers (Luke
22:31).
- John – sees him as the father
of lies and a murderer (John 8:44), as
the prince of this world’s system
(John 12:31), as the father of unbelievers
(1 John 3:10) and as the world’s
deceiver (Revelation 12:9).
- Paul – sees
him as the prince of the power of the
air (Ephesians 2:2) and the god of this
age (2 Corinthians 4:4).
- Peter – sees
him as a roaring lion, the adversary
who seeks to devour the believer (1 Peter
5:8).
- James – urges us to resist
him (James 4:7).
- Jude – says he
left his first estate but is still such
a power that even Michael, the archangel, did not dare rebuke him
(Jude verses
6,9).
- Characteristics ascribed to him that could only be true of a PERSON
AND NOT A MERE INFLUENCE:
- Tempts (Genesis 3:1-6; Matthew 4:1-11).
- Lies (John 8:44).
- Murders (John 8:44).
- Is the father of sinners (1 John 3:10).
- Deceives (Revelation
12:9).
- Blinds (2 Corinthians 4:4).
- Uses clever devices (2 Corinthians
2:11).
- Accuses (Revelation 12:10).
- Attacks (Job 1 and 2).
- Binds with disease (Luke 13:16).
- Sifts (Luke 22:31).
- To deny Satan’s existence is to:
- Negate the testimony and deny
the deity of Christ (Matthew 13:39).
- Question the integrity and
authority of the Bible – numerous
references in both the Old and New
Testaments.
II. SATAN’S ORIGIN
- Did God create the devil? If not, where did he
originate? Two portions of scripture seem best to teach this
matter.
- Ezekiel 28:12-17 (
This is one of those unique scriptures where one person is addressed, but
someone else is in mind. Here the king of Tyre merely typifies
Satan who is really the one addressed. This is clear from the context. (Matthew
16:23
and Genesis 3:14-15). In Ezekiel 28:12-17, we learn the following
about Satan:
- He was and is a created
being (verses 13, 15).
- He was created a cherubim. These were celestial
or angelic beings who symbolized the holy presence of
God, and whose purpose
was to protect and
support the righteousness of God (Genesis 3:24), the
mercy of God (Exodus 25:22) and the government of God (Psalm
99:1).
- He was “the anointed cherubim” (verse
14). That is, he was set apart by God with special power
and authority. Notice the “I
have set thee so” ( verse 14). God gave him this
authority.
- He dwelt in the past in the “garden
of God” (verse
13) in God’s presence.
- He was given great wisdom
and beauty (verse 12).
- He was covered with 10 precious
stones – the number
of human government.
- He was related to music (verse 13).
(In his fallen state, he still is.)
- Perfect at the beginning,
he was lifted up with pride, rebelled against God, and
was cast out of his first estate
(verses 15-17.
Note Jude 6).
- Isaiah 14:12-17 - In this passage we learn the following:
- His
original name was not Satan, but Lucifer, which means “DAY
STAR” (verse 12). Stars in prophetic
usage refer to angels. Satan was at one time
Lucifer,
God’s chosen, anointed
and highest angel.
- Here, we see Lucifer, filled
with pride (cf. Ezekiel 28:17), declaring five “I
wills,” concluding with “I will
be like the Most High” (verse 14).
- Lucifer
desired worship which belonged to God. He
still craves it. He sought Christ’s worship
(Matthew 4:9-10). His last act before the
return of Christ will be to claim the worship of the entire
world through the
worship of the Beast (Revelation 13:8,14,15).
- Here we see that Satan,
as Lucifer, had a throne (verse 13). He still reigns from
his throne as prince of this world (Revelation 2:13; 13:2).
- Satan
fell and his final doom is prophesied (Isaiah 14:15-17; Revelation
20:10).
III. SATAN’S SPHERE OF OPERATION -
Since Lucifer failed and fell, where is he now?
- Satan’s sphere
of operation is this entire world. Job 1:7 – God
asked Satan, “Whence comest thou?” and Satan replied, “From
going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
- I
Peter 5:8 – Satan “…walketh about, seeking whom
he may devour.”
- Satan’s sphere of operation is in the hearts
and lives of unbelievers (Ephesians 2:2) – He is the spirit that
now works “in the
children of disobedience.”
- Satan operates also in the spiritual,
unseen realm. This is the very realm in which we live and fellowship
with Christ (Ephesians 6:12).
We
wrestle
against “spiritual
wickedness in high places” – or heavenlies (Ephesians 1:3;
2:6).
IV. THE SCOPE OF SATAN’S POWER
His vast power today can best be understood from the titles given to
him.
- Prince of this World (John 12:31 and 14:30)
- Note that he is never called
KING. God has but one KING for this world, and that is the Lord
Jesus Christ (Psalms 2:6; 24:10).
- As prince, Satan is the head of
this present organized world system: political, religious, social,
educational and military. Proof of this fact is seen in:
- The hatred
of this world for Christ (John 15:18-25).
- The claim Satan made
of his power while tempting Christ (Luke 4:5-7). He claimed
to have authority over all the kingdoms
of the world, and that authority had been given to him.
- The
satanic principles by which this world is controlled and held
together, like pride, greed, force, military might,
materialism,
secular humanism,
sinful pleasure, selfish ambition, etc.
- Prince
of the Power of the Air (Ephesians 2:2).
As such Satan is:
- The head of all invisible, evil powers
(Ephesians 6:12-13; Colossians 2:15).
- The
unseen spirit that “worketh in the children of disobedience
(unbelievers)” (Ephesians
2:2).
- The ruler of the kingdom of darkness
out of which the believer has been rescued
(Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18; Ephesians
5:8).
- Our Adversary (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Actually, the word SATAN means “ADVERSARY”, and indeed,
this is what Satan has been since his rebellion and is today – the
powerful and evil adversary of all
that pertains to God and righteousness.
He
is:
- The adversary of Christ and God
(Matthew 4:1-11; John 13:27; 2
Thessalonians 2:4).
(In the “man of sin,” the
Antichrist, Satan opposes “all
that is called God.” So he
does today.)
- The adversary of Christians
(Luke 22:31; 2 Corinthians 2:11;
12:7).
- The adversary of all human
beings (Revelation 12:9; 2
Thessalonians 2:9-10; and Acts 26:18).
- The Deceiver (Revelation
12:9-10)
- He deceives the
entire world (Revelation 12:9).
- He is a liar (John 8:44).
- He transforms himself
into an angel
of light and minister
of righteousness
(2 Corinthians 11:13-14).
- He raises up false teachers and lying
prophets (1 Kings 22:22; 2 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Corinthians 11:15).
- He
seeks to destroy faith in the authority of God’s
word and the integrity of God’s character (Genesis
3:1-6).
- The Wicked One (1 John 5:19) - The word “wickedness” here
should be translated “the
wicked one.”
- As such, the entire world is in his grasp (1 John
5:19).
- As such, he is the “enemy” who sows tares among
the wheat and creates the massive confusion that exists in Christendom
(Matthew
13:38-39).
- As such, he snatches away the seed of the Word from
the mind and heart of a sinner
(Matthew 13:19).
- As such, he attacks the Christian with “fiery
darts” (Ephesians
6:16).
- The God of this World, or Age (2 Corinthians 4:4)
•
While Satan is surely not the true and living God, he is here called
by the apostle, “The god of this world.”
• While God cherishes and merits our worship, Satan has craved it from
the beginning when he said, “I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah
14:14).
- He tempted Christ to worship him (Luke 4:7).
- The Antichrist, acting
as and for Satan, will be worshipped by the entire world
(Revelation 13:12).
- In this text (2 Corinthians 4:4) Satan blinds
sinners to the nature of the true Gospel, lest they should come
to
know and worship
Christ.
- When he succeeds in getting the world to love sin
and its pleasures, he robs God of the worship that should be
rendered
to Him (John
3:19; 2 Timothy
3:4).
- Millions today are openly worshipping Satan.
- A summary of
Satan’s power as it relates to:
- The sinner:
- Blinds (2 Corinthians 4:4).
- Holds captive (2 Timothy
2:26).
- Has you in his power (1 John 5:19; Acts 26:18).
- Works in
you and controls your life (Ephesians 2:2).
- Opposes you (2
Thessalonians 2:4).
- Deceives you (Revelation 12:9).
- Keeps you out of heaven
(Psalm 9:17; Matthew 25:41).
- The saint:
- Entices you (Genesis 3:1-6; 2 Corinthians 11:3).
- Tries you
(Job 1 and 2).
- Seeks to devour you (1 Peter 5:8).
- Takes advantage of you
(2 Corinthians 2:11).
- Attacks you (Ephesians 6:10-17).
- Causes you to lie (Acts
5:1-4).
- Accuses you (Revelation 12:10).
- Buffets you (2 Corinthians
12:7).
- Sifts you (Luke 22:31).
V. HOW TO COPE WITH AND DEFEAT SATAN
- Remind yourself that as a believer,
you have someone within you who is greater than Satan,
(1 John 4:4).
- Keep before you that for the believer, Satan’s power
was crushed at the cross (Hebrews 2:14;
1 John 3:8; Colossians 2:15). We can by faith enter into and claim
this victory for ourselves.
- Remember that we can defeat Satan through
the blood of Christ and “the
word of our testimony.” Plead the power of that shed blood. Speak
boldly and faithfully for your Lord (Revelation 12:11).
- Satan is a coward
when he is resisted. Learn to fight back. James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:9.
- Use
the sword, the shield, and prayer (Ephesians 6:16-18). The Bible is
the sword of the Spirit. Study it so that you can wield it at the Devil!
Make use of the shield of genuine faith and resort to earnest prayer.
- Put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17. Note 2 Corinthians
10:4). “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”
- If you are an
unbeliever, remember that all who believe the Gospel of Christ are
delivered from the power of darkness and from Satan’s
control (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Acts 26:18 and
Colossians 1:13).
VI. SATAN’S FINAL DOOM AND DESTINY
- Satan will fight hard to the
very end and during the final Battle of Armageddon he will make a last
ditch stand against Christ (Revelation
19:19).
- At the conclusion of this battle, a powerful angel will cast
him into the bottomless pit for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-2; Isaiah
14:15).
- After the peaceful and millennial reign of Christ, Satan
is loosed briefly (Revelation 20:7), and seeks again to war against
Christ. His armies are
destroyed, and he is cast into “gehenna,” the lake of
fire, where he’ll remain “forever and ever” (Revelation
20:10).
Conclusion
While Satan remains a fierce and mighty foe, God remains a faithful and almighty
friend. Man has a choice between life and death, blessing and cursing, light
and darkness, heaven and hell or Satan and Christ! “…therefore
choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Rejoice in Satan’s ultimate defeat! Rejoice that He who is in you is
greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Rejoice that you have been
emancipated and live in the power of a risen Lord.
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