KNOWING OUR ADVERSARY

ORIGIN OF SATAN

God’s Word reveals the origin of our adversary. (See Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19; John 8:44; Luke 10:17-20; I John 3:8). Lucifer, the son of the morning, was a beautiful angel whom God created in the beginning to love and worship Him (Colossians 1:15- 18). Pride caused him to rebel against God. He then deceived other angels into follow- ing him in his rebellion, bringing about their downfall. Cast out of heaven into the earth, Satan has become the enemy of every facet of the work of God. As a fallen creature, he worked through the serpent to beguile Eve in the Garden of Eden (II Corinthians 11:3).

To see his sin, let us note the five “I will’s” of Satan (Isaiah 14:12-14):

Isaiah 14:12–14 NASB95

12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!

13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.

14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

1. “I will ascend into heaven.”

2. “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.”

3. “I will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.”

4. “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.”

5. “I will be like the most High.”

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SATAN’S ACCESS INTO HEAVEN

Although Satan is cast out of his place and position in heaven, he still has access to God’s presence (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Revelation 12:3-9). As a result, he takes on the role of accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). During the Tribulation, God will totally cast Satan out of heaven into the earth, ending his access to heaven (Revelation 12:3- 9). Satan will continue his deception, turning his worst fury upon humanity because he will know his time is short.

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WHAT SATAN IS

Satan fills numerous roles in his effort to destroy anyone and everyone he can. Knowing what he is and how he operates helps to forewarn and forearm us.

1.   —David knew how he had been kept from the paths of this destroyer—by the Word of God (Psalm 17:4). God’s Word provides the same safety to us; we do not have to be destroyed by the destroyer (I Corinthians 10:10; Mark 9:22).

2.   —Satan tempts us to do evil (Matthew 4:3; I Thessalonians 3:5). God does not tempt anyone to do evil; temptation comes about when we are drawn away of our own lust (James 1:12-15).

When the Bible says God tempted Abraham (Genesis 22:1), it means that God tried or tested him, not that He enticed him to sin (Hebrews 11:17). Temptation has a twofold meaning in the Bible: (1) an enticement to evil or sin; (2) a test or trial that God sends or allows to come for our development.

3.   —Jesus declared that there is no truth in the devil (John 8:44); he is a liar and the father of lies (Genesis 3:1-5). Satan will lie to us and about us.

4.   —Paul desired to return to Thessalonica to visit the saints there, but Satan hindered him from doing so (I Thessalonians 2:18). Hindrances of every conceivable nature come against us through our adversary.

5.   —Jesus said the devil was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). He was not referring to Cain’s murder of Abel but to the spiritual and physical death Satan plunged Adam and Even into by tempting them to sin (Romans 5:12-21; Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus Christ came to destroy the one who had the power of death. Christ now has the keys of death and hell and has brought life and immortality through the gospel (II Timothy 1:10). We have a life giver who has saved us from Satan’s murderous tactics!

6. The    of this world—People’s submission to sin and Satan clearly demonstrate the reality of this title (II Corinthians 4:4). Jesus Christ also called Satan the prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Paul referred to him as the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). He was the prince of Persia and Greece in Daniel 10:1-21.

7.   —From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible unfolds the drama of Satan’s deceptive acts (I Timothy 2:14; Revelation 12:9; 20:3-10). Our present age witnesses every conceivable form of the devil’s deceitfulness.

8.   —Satan accused Job to God as serving Him for gain and physical benefits (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). Through his access into heaven, he still accuses the brethren to God (Revelation 12:10).

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TITLES FOR OUR ADVERSARY

1.    (Isaiah 14:12-14).

2.    (Revelation 12:3, 17).

3.    (Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:9).

4.    (II Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9).

5.    (I Peter 5:8; I Timothy 5:14).

6.    (Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 6:11; Revelation 12:9).

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THINGS SATAN CAN BE LIKE

1.   —He roars against the saints, seeking to devour them (I Peter 5:8).

2.    of Righteousness—Any person who poses as a preacher of righteousness but does not preach the full truth is an instrument of the adversary to lead people astray (II Corinthians 11:14-15). Paul warned us not to accept any other gospel, either from him, from someone else, or from an angel (Galatians 1:8-9).

3.    of Light—Satan has his angels (Matthew 25:41) and can transform himself as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:13-15; Galatians 1:8-9).

4.    of the Air—Like a fowl, the devil comes and catches away the seed (Word of God) that is sown in a person’s life (Matthew 13:4-19).

5.   —Hiding his true identity in sheep’s clothing, he invades the flock of God, causing havoc and trouble (Matthew 10:16; John 10:12).

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THINGS SATAN CAN CAUSE

Satan caused the following things in those he controlled before Christ came and set them free:

1.    (Matthew 9:32-35)

2.    (Mark 9:14-25)

3.    derangement (Mark 5:1-19)

4.    (Matthew 4:24; 17:14-21)

5. (Matthew 12:22)

6.    (Matthew 15:21-31)

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GIVING PLACE TO THE DEVIL

Ephesians 4:27 NKJV

27 nor give place to the devil.

Place in this verse comes from the Greek word topos, meaning any portion of space marked off from the surrounding territory. It is used in the sense of opportunity, power, or occasion for acting.

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OUR WEAPONS AGAINST SATAN

Defeating Satan should be the desire of every saint of God. Only by spiritual means and methods can we overcome the enemy of our soul. God has given us every weapon we need to succeed in our conquest.

Satan has doctrines, fiery darts, wiles, and devices, and he tries to use all of them against us (1 Timothy 4:1 “1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,”)

2 Corinthians 2:11 NASB95

11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Ephesians 6:10–18 NASB95

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Fasting coupled with prayer can defeat and cast out the most ferocious of demonic powers (Matthew 17:21 “21 “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”” ).

Let us examine our weapons closely, acquaint ourselves with them, learn to use them effectively, and with victory we shall soon bruise Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20 “20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” ).

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SATAN’S DESTINY

Satan’s doom has been sealed for a long time. He knows that (Matthew 8:28-29), and now we know it from God’s Word. God made a promise in Genesis 3:15 that He will ultimately fulfill in Revelation 20:1-10. From this day forward this scenario will unfold for Satan.

Satan and his followers have a terrible fate awaiting them. Hell was not prepared for humans, but for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

Matthew 25:41 NASB95

41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

Humans will go to the lake of fire for refusing to obey God’s Word, but this does not have to be our fate! God has given us everything we need to defeat our foe. Let us arise and defeat Satan in Jesus’ name!