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The name "Satan" means
"adversary," in other words he is your enemy. He cannot possess
you or own you but he will attempt to defeat you in your Christian walk.
Satan cannot do anything to you unless it is approved by God. (Job 2:5-6)
The Existence of Satan
It is doubted by the world:
A. Because of
all the silly cartoons which picture Satan as a two-horned, fork tailed
creature in red flannel underwear.
B. Liberal
preachers have been to silent about Satan
C. Conservative
preaching has been silent about him also.
D. A quotation
from the Baptist Bulletin, December 1971, Page 13:
"If I were the devil, the first thing
I would do is deny my own existence...this disciple of doubt seems to
thrive best when he is underestimated or ignored or denied...If I were
the devil I would deny my existence to the world and downplay it in the
local church, thus freeing me to go about my business unheeded,
unhindered, and unchecked."
There are groups today who completely deny
the existence of Satan because of following false teachings of others.
This happens when people do not study their Scriptures and allow a
central person do all their thinking for them. We have such a group close
to my home.
The Five-Fold Sin of Satan from Isaiah 14:12-14
1. I will ascend into heaven - he wanted
to rule in God's place as he desired equality with God.
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars
of God - A possible reference to Satan wanting to be worshipped by the
angels or the children of God.
3. I will sit upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north:
A. The mountain
where God agreed to meet His people and make himself known to them. This
was Sinai.
B. Satan wanted
control of the entire universe. In heathen writings, the north was the
home of the ancient gods, possibly the Babylonian gods since the Book of
Isaiah was written during the apostasy of the divided era of the nation
of Israel.
C. In Scripture,
a mountain is a synonym for a kingdom. Satan wanted to have authority not
only over his one kingdom, but also the kingdom of God. (Psa 121:1-2 KJV)
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
{2} My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
4. I will ascend above the heights of the
clouds; - He may be referring to the Shekinah glory of God. (Exodus
16:10)
5. I will be like the most high - Most
High is the Hebrew description of God which means the "strongest
strong one." He coveted the power of God.
Some of the Methods Satan uses to deceive
1. He sows tares among the wheat - Matthew
24:30 - This corresponds to unbelievers existing in the local church
assembly along with believers.
2. He sows false doctrine - 1 Timothy
4:1-3
3. He defiles the Word of God:
A. Taking it out
of context - Matthew 4:6 - In this passage he quoted Psalm 91:11 but
conveniently left out the part "To keep thee in all thy ways."
B.
Misinterpretation
C. Overstressing
one sided doctrine (biased interpretation)
D.
Understressing certain doctrines like the doctrine of Satan.
E. Eisegesis -
Causing people to put a meaning into Scripture that isn't there.
4. He hinders the work of God - 1
Thessalonians 2:18
5. He can hinder the prayers of God's
people - Daniel 10:12-13
6. He blinds people to the gospel - 2
Corinthians 4:4
7. He steals the truth - Matthew 13:19
8. He is the accuser of the brethren -
Revelation 12:9-10
9. He sets snares for people - 2 Timothy
2:26
10. He tempts people - Matthew 4:1;
Ephesians 6:11
11. He can afflict people - Job 2:7; 2
Corinthians 12:7
12. He deceives - Revelation 12:9; 20:10
13. He sabotages the home - 1 Corinthians
7:5
14. He induces the sinner and saint to sin
against God:
A. David - 1
Chronicles 21:1
B Judas - John
13:27
C. Peter's
rebuke of Jesus - Matthew 16:22-23
D. Ananias and
Sapphira - Acts 5:1-11
Satan is a defeated foe and a created
being. He has no power or authority over the Christian. His power is not
greater than God's power and on the last day, he will be cast into the
lake of fire along with all those who followed him and denied him.
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