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Know Your Enemy the Devil

John 10: 10 (False teachers and prophets – manipulated by Satan)

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.

A thief takes or attempts to take what does not belong to him

2 Corinthians 2: 11

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.

  • Advantage means – defraud, make a gain or to outsmart.
  • Ignorant means – not to know through a lack of information or intelligence.
  • Devices means – mind, thought or intentions

We fight the good fight of faith.

  • We are not fighting for a place of Victory
  • We are fighting from a place of Victory
  • We now have the authority to enforce his defeat in the spiritual & natural realm, just as Jesus did. We have absolute mastery over our enemy.
  • Colossians 2: 14 - 15 (NLT) “He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.  In this way, he disarmed (spoiled, stripped off) the spiritual rulers and authority.  He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross”.
  • God’s plan was a mystery to the rulers of this world.  Had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2: 8).

Note: Remember the wisdom of Philippians 4: 8 – what we should spend our time thinking on (true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue and praise).

Who is the Devil (Satan)?

The word Satan comes from the Hebrew which literally means “adversary” or one who opposes God (enemy of good). Devil (Diabolos) means - accuser.

Satan is a fallen angel (Luke 10: 18).  He was created by God and held a privileged position in Heaven (angelic guardian).  His name was Lucifer which means ‘Daystar’ or ‘son of the morning’.  Literally means ‘light-bearer”. He was characterized by beauty, wisdom, and truth.  He was created perfect. The only problem was, he wanted more.

Was Satan an archangel?

  • He was created angelic but never referred to as an Archangel.
  • Only one Archangel named in the Bible – Michael (1 Thess 4: 16 & Jude 9)
  • Gabriel only referred to as an angel twice (named 4 times in Scripture)
  • Archangel means – Chief angel – Michael is an angel of war.

Ezekiel 28: 12 – 19 (Created perfect)

  • He was in the Eden of God
  • Cherub that covers – Protect, defend – angelic guardian.
  • Anointed – means expansion or outspread. Only used once in Scripture.
  • He was created
  • Perfect in his ways
  • Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty

Isaiah 14: 12 – 17 (Filled with pride)

  • Lucifer wanted to be like God. “I will” spoken five times because of pride.
  • 1 Timothy 3: 6 – warns against choosing novices in the faith.  Fall means - to be entrapped by or overwhelmed with.  Fall into one’s power.
  • Fell from heaven, never to return. (Luke 10: 17-18 & Revelation 12: 7–9). Fall here means - To descent from a higher place to a lower.
  • Matthew 4: 9 – All these things I will give if you fall down and worship me.
  • Luke 22: 24 – Strife among them as to who would be the greatest.
  • If devils were subject to the disciples who were not born again in spirit, they will be subject to you. We have absolute mastery over our enemy.
  • If we are not living in the supernatural, we are living in the superficial.
  • Took a third of the angels with him (Revelation 12: 4).

The god of this world (age or system)

  • 2 Corinthians 4: 3 – 4

Hid – To cover, veil or hinder the knowledge of a thing

  • John 12: 31 (prince or ruler of this world)
  • Prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2: 1 – 2)
  • He is the leader of all evil forces (Matthew 25.41 & Mark 3: 22)
  • Adams fall in the garden of Eden transferred his blessing and authority to Satan (Genesis 1: 28)
  • Luke 4: 6 – “All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomever I will I give it”.
  • Note: He does not own planet earth. He only has a lease on it until his time is finished and he is judged (Psalm 24:1 - Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof & Psalm 50: 10 – cattle on a thousand hills is mine).

His nature

John 8: 44

  • He is a murderer and a liar and the father of it.  There is no truth in him.

1 John 3: 8

  • He sinned from the beginning

1 John 5: 18

  • He is known as the wicked one (degeneracy from original virtue)

Hebrews 2: 14

His subtle character

2 Corinthians 11: 14 – (Paul and false Apostles) Transform means to disguise.

2 Corinthians 2: 11- Wants to take advantage of us.  But we are not ignorant.

Ephesians 6: 11 (wiles of Satan – means trickery or deceit).

Caution: Don’t be seeking after signs and wonders and the miraculous.  Seek Jesus (particularly through His word).  Many are seeking to establish their faith on the natural (seen) realm.  Remember, signs and wonders follow the Word.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

His first contact with Humanity

The power of suggestion

Genesis 3: 1 – 7 (NLT)

  • Did God really say?
  • Challenged the word of God
  • Deceived man out of his blessing.  Mankind became subordinate to the god of this world system.
  • As a consequence of the fall of man sin, sickness, poverty and spiritual death entered the world (Romans 5:12). Romans 5: 17 is our victory.
  • Fear entered in causing guilt, shame and condemnation.
  • We must have confidence in our identity and God’s eternal love for us

His Strategies (plan of action to achieve a long-term or overall aim)

Deny the existence of God.

  • It is a fool that says there is no God

(Psalm 53: 1 & Psalm 10: 4)

  • Creation reveals God. Man is without excuse.

(Romans 1: 20)

  • Devils believe there is only one God and tremble

(James 2: 19)

Deny his own existence

  • Will deceive man into believing that the devil is symbolic (evil force).

2 Corinthians 11: 14 – 15

Galatians 1: 8 – If an ‘angel’ brings a false gospel, reject it. (Book of Mormon.  Author Joseph Smith claimed visitation by an angel Moroni)

Presents many ways to God

  • Jesus is the only way

(John 14: 6). Whoever calls upon the Lord will be saved (Romans 10: 13)

  • Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4: 12)
  • For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph 2: 8 – 9)
  • It’s the ‘Grace Way’ – there is no other.

Knows and twists Scripture

  • Quoted scripture to Jesus in order for him to test God.

(Matthew 4: 5 – 7). Psalm 91 was about guarding and protecting (hedge).

Deuteronomy 6: 16 (We are warned not to tempt God)

  • The Bible warns us to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2: 15).

Stop the spread of the Gospel

  • Paul’s ministry was continually attacked and resisted by ‘the messenger of Satan’ sent to buffet me (strike with the fist or treat with violence).

(2 Timothy 3: 10 – 12 & 2 Corinthians 12:  7 – 10)

  • Romans 1: 16 – The Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation

Promote business & performance

  • Keep you busy and out of the word of God (only one thing is needful).

(Luke 10: 38 – 42).  We must enter into the rest of God (Hebrews 4).

Promote religious tradition (the law)

  • Wants to keep people under the bondage of the law

(Romans 3: 20 (NLT) & Hebrews 7: 18 – 19 NLT)

  • The law was a school master to bring us to Christ.  We no longer need a guardian or be in protective custody.

Attacks the key human institutions

(There are ways that seem right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death)

  • Marriage (the means by which the blessing of God in Genesis is fulfilled)
    • Advocate the equality of same sex unions – (Genesis 2: 24, Matthew 19: 5 & Ephesians 5: 31)
    • Advocate abortion – pro death not life (Psalm 139: 13 – 16 NLT).
    • Introduce detailed sex and gender education for young children
  • Government (all authority is ordained by God – Romans 13)
    • Dishonour authority – chief apostle of ‘anarchy’.
    • Call that which is evil good and that which is good evil.
    • Advocate ‘human rights’ but not ‘human responsibilities’
    • Rather than ‘we shall overcome’, the cry is ‘we shall overthrow.’
  • Church (His body in the earth – promoted as dead and irrelevant)
    • Discourage attendance through distraction and other priorities
    • Sows strife and discord – who of us is more important.
    • Forsake the gathering together.  It doesn’t matter (Heb 10: 25)
    • Limit the preaching of the word to a target audience.
    • Remove children from where the word is preached.  After all, they are too young to understand. Don’t ‘future proof’ them against evil.

His activities (tactics) – an action carefully planned to achieve a specific end

Temptation

He acts to lure people into sin. He was the one who tempted Jesus and continues to tempt believers and non-believers alike.

  • James 1: 12 – 15 (the enemy looks for weak areas in your live)
  • Hebrews 4: 15 (temptation itself is not sin)
  • 1 Corinthians 10: 13 (NLT) - never tempted above that which you are able
  • 1 Peter 5: 8 (roaming as a lion seeking whom he may devour)
  • 1 John 2: 15 – 16 (love not the world)

Thief

He was a thief from the beginning (stole Adams blessing in the garden)

  • Mark 4: 20 – Satan comes to take away the word that is sown in the hearts of men (means to make to doubt, carry or remove).
  • 1 Peter 1: 23 – the word is incorruptible seed (lives & abides forever)

Sin

He is the author of sin (rebellion against God’s authority)

  • 1 John 3: 8
  • Ephesians 2: 2 – 3 (NLT)

Deception

This is his greatest power and his first weapon in the Garden of Eden.  Deception is all about causing someone to believe a lie.  The Bible teaches that in the last days, Satan will deceive the nations of the earth.

  • Genesis 3: 1 – 4 (did god really say)
  • Matthew 24: 1 - 13 (take heed that no man deceives you.)
  • 2 Corinthians 11: 14 (angel of light)
  • Revelation 12: 9 (deceives the whole world)

Accusation

The devil brings condemnation upon people and makes them feel unworthy. His intention is to cause discouragement and despair. He always wants you to feel guild and shame.  Never good enough (He took our guilt and shame).

  • Revelation 12: 10 - 11
  • Romans 8: 1 -2 (Condemnation means – no adverse sentence).


Affliction

Physical and mental.  He knows that when we are unwell, we are vulnerable to further attack and we operate with reduced effectiveness for the kingdom of God. He does not want the church to believe that Jesus heals today.  We are redeemed from the curse of sickness and disease and have the right to walk in the fullness of God’s grace and favour through the new covenant.

  • Luke 13: 11 – 16 (Infirmity means – weakness, disease or sickness)
  • Acts 10: 38 (Healing – To cure or to make whole)
  • Mark 9: 25 (Deaf and dumb spirit – Foul means unclean)
  • Mark 5: 15 (Clothed and in his ‘right mind’ – sane or sober minded).

Opposition

The devil and his kingdom are involved in spiritual war against God.  He opposes anything done in the name of God.

  • Daniel 10: 2 - 13
  • 1 Thessalonians 2: 18 (Satan hindered Paul)
  • 2 Corinthians 12: 7 (Paul was delivered from a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan sent to buffet him in ministry - 2 Timothy 3: 10 – 12)
  • Acts 16: 16 – 18 (Paul was grieved by a spirit of divination)
  • 1 Peter 5: 8 (Devour means – to swallow up or drown)
  • Revelation 2: 10

Death

Death is the greatest power of Satan manifested, but Jesus conquered death by His resurrection. The Bible says that the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

  • 1 Corinthians 15: 26 & 55 - 56
  • Hebrews 2: 14

How to resist and overcome the Devil

Firstly, you must be saved – A believer in Christ (1 John 1: 5).

The greatest weapon against Satan is LOVE

  • Know where your authority comes from (Matthew 28: 18 – 20).
  • Put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6: 10 – 18).  “Wrestle” is used only once in the New Testament.  It implies a contest between two.
  • Use supernatural weapons (2 Corinthians 10: 3 – 5)- Mighty through God.
  • Keep the word in your heart (Psalms 119: 11 & Proverbs 4: 23).  Of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12: 34)
  • The word is a lamp to your feet and alight to your path (Psalms 119: 105 & 130).
  • Use the name of Jesus (Mark 16: 17 – 18 & Luke 10: 17)
  • Speak the word to Satan when he attacks – “It is Written” (Matthew 4: 4)
  • Bind the devil and loose the blessing of God from Satan’s grip (Matthew 18: 18 – 20 & 16: 18 - 19) – Keys have been given to us (Revelation 1: 18)
  • Walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5: 7 & 1 John 5: 4)
  • Submit yourself to God and resist the devil (James 4: 6 - 8)
    • Oppose and withstand – the greater one is in us
    • All power and authority has been given to the church
    • At the name of Jesus, ever knee shall bow.
  • Don’t be a friend of the ‘world” (1 John 2: 15 – 16 & Romans 12: 2).
  • Don’t be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6: 14 – 18). To have fellowship with one who is not an equal. God warned Israel through Moses – (Deuteronomy 7: 1 – 6)
  • Stay out of strife (James 3: 16)
  • Walk in love (Galatians 5: 6 and 1 Corinthians 13)
  • Blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony (Revelation 12: 11)
  • Stay out of offence and in forgiveness (Mark 6: 1- 5 & Mark 11:25 - 26)
  • Don’t seek leadership to early (1 Timothy 3: 6)
  • Learn to discern good and evil through training (Hebrews 5: 13 – 14)

Names of Satan

  • Abaddon (“Destruction”) (Revelation 9:11)
  • Accuser (Revelation 12:10)
  • Adversary (1 Peter 5:8)
  • Angel of the abyss (bottomless pit) (Revelation 9:11)
  • Antichrist (1 John 4:3)
  • Apollyon (Revelation 9:11)
  • Beast (Revelation 14:9-10)
  • Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24)
  • Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15)
  • Deceiver (Revelation 12:9)
  • Devil (1 John 3:8)
  • Dragon (Revelation 12:9)
  • Evil one (John 17:15)
  • Father of lies (John 8:44)
  • God of this world (age) (2 Corinthians 4:4)
  • King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:4)
  • King of the abyss (bottomless pit) (Revelation 9:11)
  • King of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:12)
  • Lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10)
  • Leviathan (Isaiah 27:1)
  • Liar (John 8:44)
  • Little horn (Daniel 8:9-11)
  • Lucifer (star of the morning) (Isaiah 14:12-14)
  • Man of sin (lawlessness) (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
  • Murderer (John 8:44)
  • Prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:1-2)
  • Roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8)
  • Rulers of the darkness (Ephesians 6:12)
  • Ruler of the demons (Luke 11:15)
  • Ruler of this world (John 12:31-32)
  • Satan (Mark 1:13)
  • Serpent of old (Revelation 12:9)
  • Son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
  • Star from heaven, fallen to the earth (Revelation 9:1)
  • Tempter (Matthew 4:3)
  • Wicked (evil) one (Ephesians 6:16)