Our Enemy - Satan, the devil, the tempter, the evil one March 14, 2007 – Mickey Burleson, minister – St. Andrews Road Church of Christ Satan’s defeat came at the cross. Satan has only persuasive power with no other coercive power at all. 1.        Satan is a created being – Colossians 1:16 2.        Satan was good before his sin – Genesis 1:31 3.        Satan was cast out of heaven with his messengers (angels) – Revelation 12:7-12 Jesus said that He saw this happen – Luke 10:18 4.        When Jesus died on the cross He disarmed Satan of his power – Colossians 2:15 5.        Satan was truly destroyed in Christ’s death – Hebrews 2:14-15 6.        Satan’s final end will be in hell with his angels and those who are lost. – Matthew 25:11 7.        Until that the second coming of Christ Satan’s power is only persuasive, not coercive. a.        God controls Satan at all times – 1 Corinthians 10:13 b.        He uses “wiles” or tricks – Ephesians 6:11 c.        He walks about as a roaring lion seeking someone to devour – 1 Peter 5:8 d.        He uses our weaknesses to tempt us to sin – Matthew 4:11, James 1 e.        We give him a chance when we lose control of our anger – Ephesians 4:27 f.        We must wrestle against him – Ephesians 6:12 g.        We must resist him and he’ll run – Ephesians 6:10f and James 4:7-8 Other answers to our questions: Isaiah 14:12-15 speaks of Lucifer and “daystar.”  Some think this is a reference to Satan.  I do not believe that this is a reference to Satan!  Lucifer may refer to the king of Babylon.  The king of Babylon is the context of chapters 13 and 14 of Isaiah. Ezekiel 28:19f gives us a vision of Tyre, not Satan. Jesus spoke of the “ruler of this world” being cast out and judged - John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11 Consider the PERSONALITY, POSITION, POWER, and PURPOSES of our enemy, Satan. PERSONALITY - tricky, calculating, bullying, mean, bad, evil, cruel, lying, deceitful 2 Cor. 2:11        We are not ignorant of his devices (tricks, wiles, deceit). 2 Tim. 2:26        The devil tries to use a “snare” to entrap us. James 2:19        Even the demons believe in Jesus, and they tremble. James 2:7        What does the devil do when you “resist him?”  He runs.  He’s a bully! John 8:44        He is a liar, and the father of lies. John 8:4        He is a murderer.  There is no truth in him. John 10:9        He is a thief, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as a roaring lion. POSITION - He can have a position only when you and I give him a one! Eph. 4:27        “Neither give place to the devil.”  Like Cain did in Gen. 4:7. 2 Cor. 11:15        He can transform himself into an angel of light.  So can his followers. 1 John. 3:8        He is a sinner from the beginning. 1 Pet. 5:8        He is the enemy, the adversary, seeking to devour us. Eph. 2:2        He is the “prince of the power of the air.” POWER - His power only afflict us, but can never defeat us. 2 Cor. 11:14        Disguised as an angel of light. Jn. 12:31, 14:30        Ruler of this world (Remember that we are not of this world.) Heb. 2:14        He had the power of death until Christ destroyed him through death. Acts 26:18        He has the power to darken our eyes and blind our hearts. 2 Cor. 4:4        He is the god of this age, blinding people’s eyes to the truth. PURPOSE - Satan has a purpose, to take away everything that is good and right. Jn. 10:10        To steal, kill, and destroy. Luke 8:12        As a bird who takes away the word of God from our minds. Acts 5:3        He wants to fill our hearts so that we will doubt and then sin. 2 Cor. 2:11        He wants to get the advantage through his devices. Eph. 6:12        He wrestles with us night and day. 1 Thes. 2:18        He hinders us from working and serving God. 1 Pet. 5:8        As a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour SATAN DECEIVES.  HOW? 1. He mixes just enough wrong with right, error with truth to confuse us – Genesis 1, Mat. 1, James 1, Adam and Eve, Jesus on the mountain, YOU and ME. 2. He misquotes the Bible, takes it out of context, and uses it wickedly. 3. He makes people think that evil doesn’t exist.  He dresses evil up. SATAN DIVIDES.  HOW? 1. He poisons us; our minds, our bodies, our souls. Gossip, suspicion, prejudice, jealousy, criticism, judgmental thinking, hate, etc. SATAN DESTROYS. HOW? Through hindrances he tries to destroy our confidence and our strength. But we remain confident in the promises of God and in the strength of Christ. Through constant temptation he tries to destroy our righteousness. But we remain righteous, not in our own, but in the righteousness of Christ. Through doubt he tries to destroy our hope. But we remain in Christ.  Christ removes our doubts as we believe and trust. Through fear he tries to destroy our peace. But we remain strong with our hand in the hand of Christ. Through lies and deceit he tries to destroy the truth. But we hold the truth and believe and receive only the truth of the Bible. Ephesians 6:10 “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God…”