Satan: That Ol' Dragon
"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."
Satan is our adversary. We do not talk much about him and as a result, I believe Christians are so comfortable participating in his system they don't stop to consider what they are doing. The Bible says that this world belongs to Satan. Christian people talk about television shows like Seinfeld, The Simpsons, and whatever else is on t.v. I'm sorry, but when I check out these shows to see what "we" are watching, I cannot watch more than three minutes without fornication, homosexuality, perversity, cursing, or other ungodliness. It is easy to see that those are not God's fruits. They belong to Satan.
There is no excuse for us to watch such shows. They desensitize us to sin and all manner of ungodliness. We should not be laughing at sin. Sin takes people to hell. It cost the Creator of this universe, Jesus Christ, 33 years in a human body, torture, crucifixion with His blood streaming down to the ground, His beard torn out of His face, the sins of the whole wicked world on His sinless body, mocking and a crown of thorns placed in His skull. Sin is NO LAUGHING MATTER.
I hear "Christians" say an abortion is a woman's right though they wouldn't do it. They've been desensitized by Satan's world. An abortion is a human sacrifice to the god of Self -- "A baby is not convenient for me" "I don't want it" "I'm too young" "I can't afford it" "It's a girl, I wanted a boy". Child sacrifice is nothing new. In Old Testament days, people were burning their children to gods like Molech.
Beloved, we are to forsake sin and every evil way. We've got to contend for the faith that was delivered to us, not chill out and be laughing with Satan's children.
Here are quite a few statements about our
adversary, Satan, along with scriptures to support each:
He is a defeated foe.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
He and his devils can't stand the name of Jesus.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
(devils talking to Jesus in Gergesenes) And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
(unclean devils in man at synagogue speaking) Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
He is a formidable adversary.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
He can quote scripture.
And [Satan] saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. (found in Psalm 91:11-12)
He can tempt us through the lusts resident within the human flesh and mind.
Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Defraud ye not one the other (sex in marriage), except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
(forgive others) Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
He is the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air.
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
He is NOT all-knowing. He didn't know that Jesus would rise from the dead and destroy all his [Satan's] works. Had he known, he wouldn't have crucified Him.
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he [Jesus] made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
If not watchful, he can provoke God's people.
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
He knows our basic nature.
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
He can smite with infirmity
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
(Jesus speaking of a woman he healed) And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
Master of ALL unbelievers
...to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins...
...I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
He that committeth sin is of the devil...
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil...
He's a strongman
(Jesus speaking of casting out devils) No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
He can take the word of God sown in the hearts of unbelievers
...the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
He savours the things that be of men, not of God.
...Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Blinds the eyes of them that believe not
...the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
He fell from heaven.
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Can possess or influence a person.
And after the sop Satan entered into him...
Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot...
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan...
...he [Jesus] appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Will be fatally bruised under the feet of believers
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Can appear holy (I think about the pope in his fancy outfit).
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Hinders God's servants.
Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
He has a throne, a dominion, a sphere of influence
...thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is...
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Jesus has a special place reserved just for the devil--the lake of fire!
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
He's the father of lies. This world is full of lies--physical beauty is exalted, fornication is alright, taking drugs is cool, living together is alright, etc.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
He has religious doctrine. This can come in all kinds of forms: buddism, catholicism, jehovah witness, etc.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Takes people captive.
2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
He sinned from the beginning
1st John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
He uses his people to persecute the saints. Consider how a Christian is considered "right-wing" though we follow no political group. Our liberties are being taken away at an alarming rate--Revelation already tells us it's going to get much worse.
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried...
Revelation 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
James 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Conclusion of the Matter
Strive against EVERY fruit of Satan...
Ephesians
Chapter 4
4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
For the non-Christian: You need to be saved or else you'll being joining your current master in the lake of fire.
