## Article IV: Of the Devil, or Satan

## John 8:44

Many people would snicker and laugh at us tonight. Some would openly ridicule us as being ignorant and foolish for believing in a personal devil. Many people believe that he is simply a figment of the imagination. He is called by many names: Satan, Beelzebub, the evil one, the wicked one, the serpent, the dragon, the god of this world, and the prince of this world. It doesn't matter what name you use, he is still the devil! If we say that there is no devil, then we are calling Jesus Christ a liar! Of course Jesus is not the only one in the Bible who speaks of his existence. But if He was the only one it would be sufficient to settle the fact that the devil does indeed exist!

Note: John 8:44 To deny the existence of the devil is to deny the truthfulness and trustworthiness of Christ!

I. The Nature of the Devil.

A. He is a person

1. Not just some abstract evil force that exists.

2. He knows, he feels, he wills, and he sins. cf. 1 John 3:8

3. The fact that he is a person doesn't mean that he has a body like ours.

4. He is a spiritual being; not flesh and blood. cf Ep.6:11-12

B. He is a being of great power and authority.

1. Do not underestimate the devil. cf Jude 9

2. We cannot fight him alone, we need all the help of heaven in our battle with this enemy.

3. We cannot laugh him off...Paul never led us to believe that the battle wasn't serious! I know of no wars where there isn't casualties.

C. He is the prince of this world.

1. This is where we come in contact with him.

2. If he were like some enemy who lives in a far off land it might be different.

3. Look around you and see that he is ruling this world today.

4. Wickedness that leaves an emptiness in the pit of your stomach when you read or hear about it.

5. He rules in the hearts of men today all over this world.

6. He even influences those who name the name of Christ, causing them to do things which brings reproach upon Christ and their local church.

D. He is wicked.

1. God is the Holy One, the embodiment of perfect holiness.

2. Satan is just the opposite; he is the embodiment of consummate wickedness.

3. He is the original sinner. "...the devil sinneth from the beginning..." 1 Jn. 3:8

II. The Origin of the Devil.

A. He was created by God.

1. He had a high and exalted position in heaven.

2. cf. Ez. 28:13-15

B. He fell from this position because of pride.

1. Note: Isaiah 4:12-14

2. "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness..." Ez. 28:17a

C. His work still reflects that pride and contempt for God.

1. He lies to men today.

a. He tells them to follow him into the pathway of sin and he will give you the sweetness of life.

b. But he cannot deliver what he promises.

c. He gives only the temporary pleasures of sin, but in the end those who follow him will drink the bitter cup of disappointment and despair.

2. He tempts men to sin.

a. He is the original tempter.

b. He tempted Christ.

c. He arranges things in a beautiful manner; he captivates us and fascinates us.

d. He gets us to focus on what we don't have rather than what we have.

e. The only way that we can overcome the tempter is in the power of Christ using the Word of God!

3. He is the author of false views.

a. Note: 2 Corinthians 4:4

b. He is a deceiver and a counterfeiter.

c. He does all sorts of signs and wonders to convince people to follow him.

d. People are still blinded to the truth today!

e. One of the most effective methods he is using today is to convince people that the Word of God is not sufficient!

f. Note: Acts 8:5-25

1) Simon had bewitched the people from the least to the greatest that he had the power of God.

2) Note: v21 Peter declared that Simon's heart was not right with God!

3) Yet the people were convinced that he was "the great power of God".

4) There are many "Simons" around today who have bewitched people into believing that they are the power of God.

5) Anyone who tells you that you need more than the Word of God is not of God!

III. The Destiny of the Devil.

A. He is now a conquered enemy.

1. Jesus Christ has won the victory.

2. He did that when on the third day He arose from the grave!

3. Note: Hebrews 2:14

4. We share in that victory when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.

5. "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." cf. 1 Jn. 4:4

B. He will be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. cf. Revelation 20:1-3

C. Finally, he will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. cf. Rev. 20:10

Conclusion: The final thought I want to consider tonight is how to get victory over the devil.

Surrender to God and resist the devil. cf James 4:7

- When we resist the devil in our own strength we will always fail.
- But when we surrender to God, we will have all His power on our side.
- The problem is that most of us do not actively resist Satan.

Store up God's Word and God's Promises in our hearts.

- Jesus used the Word of God to fight off the temptation of Satan.
- The only offensive piece of armor in Ephesians 6 is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God!
- "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee." cf. Ps. 119:11

Put on the whole armor of God.