38 - THE WORKS OF SATAN
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
INTRODUCTION
Years ago, an artist painted a portrait of the devil playing chess. The devil had challenged a young chess player. If he could win, the young man would be eternally free from the influence of evil. If he lost, the devil would possess his soul. The picture showed the determination of the devil to win. Chess experts who saw the picture realized in just four short moves the young man was in trouble. The picture visualizes torment in the face of the man as the devil is moving his queen to announce checkmate. The young man has his hand over his rook, amazed and disheartened at what appears to be his ultimate loss. For years the picture hung in a Cincinnati art gallery, illustrating the power of the devil over the affairs of men. As the viewers passed the portrait, they saw the hopelessness of the young man’s situation. Some of the world’s finest chess players stood amazed at the artist’s brilliance at chess and the application to life.
Finally, one person who studied the picture was convinced someone could beat the devil in a chess game. An aging chess master, Paul Murphy, was brought from New Orleans to view the picture. A crowd gathered to see if he could solve the dilemma in the portrait. He sat attempting various moves, only to see the futility of those attempts. Then suddenly his eyes lit up as he realized there was an unthought-of combination, which not only saved the young man’s king, but placed the devil in checkmate. The people shouted, "Young man, make that move. That’s the move!"
Many Christians feel they must give up in defeat when it comes to doing battle with the devil. The Bible, on the other hand, claims, "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
All of Satan’s works are against God. At times he actively opposes the work or plan of God. On other occasions, he simply imitates God so as to draw Christians away from the simple plan of God.
OPPOSITION TO GOD
Jesus portrayed the devil in one of his parables as the enemy of God (Matthew 13:39). As such, the devil is constantly opposing God and all God does. That opposition portrayed itself in his attempt to destroy the messianic line. Then he sought to destroy the race God sought to redeem. When God chose a people of his own, the nation Israel, Satan unreservedly sought their destruction. Throughout the life of Christ, Satan sought to distract the Savior from his mission. As God works through the church today, so Satan is opposed to the work of God there.
Messianic line. As soon as God in his righteousness began to judge sin, God also in his mercy promised a Redeemer. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15). With the birth of Abel, the devil began his opposition. Satan worked in Cain to kill his brother Abel. With Abel dead, the line would be broken and the Messiah could never be born. He did not realize that God would replace Abel with Seth (Genesis 4:25). Every attempt to destroy the godly line by extinction or by sexual contamination was an attempt by Satan to destroy the coming Messiah. Even in a small way, the dangers to David the shepherd boy carried out Satan’s plot. David was twice attacked by wild beasts. Satan may have felt David’s great sin with Bathsheba would prevent God from using him to be the father of the Messiah. but in contrast, it was that very relationship God chose to us, (Matthew 1:6).
Human race. God created man in his image and likeness to have fellowship with God and have dominion over the earth When Satan approached Eve in the garden, he promised Eve not only that she would not die (Genesis 3:4) but that eating the fruit would lead to her experiencing life on a higher plane (Genesis 3:5). With the entrance of sin into the race, Satan knee God would have to judge them as he had been previously judged. When Satan saw that God was offering to redeem the world, he sought to contaminate the human race by leading them into grievous sins (Genesis 6:5). God did judge most of them for their sin, but eight, Noah and his family, were kept safe in the ark (Genesis 7:13).
Israel. From the time of the call of Abraham, the devil has been the enemy of the Jew. God had told Abraham, "Look now toward heaven, and tell [count] the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be" (Genesis 15:5). After the nation went to Egypt and began to grow as God had promised, Satan moved Pharaoh to command the destruction of all male children (Exodus 1:16). Later, Satan used the personal animosity of Haman toward Mordecai to plan the first systematic genocide of the Jews. The Book of Esther records this attempt and Haman’s ultimate defeat (Esther 3:6; Esther 7:9-10). Satan has continued to raise up anti-Semitic leaders who have unsuccessfully attempted to exterminate the Jews.
Christ. With the birth of Christ, Satan used Herod to plan the murder of all children of Jesus’ age (Matthew 2:16). After forty days in the wilderness, Satan himself tempted Jesus in an attempt to destroy the ministry of Christ before it began (Matthew 4:1-11). He used the forces of nature to try to destroy Christ before he could redeem the world (Mark 4:35-41). On occasion, Satan used both Peter (Matthew 16:23) and Judas (John 13:27) to attempt to thwart Christ from his purpose. Even in the final hours before his death, Satan attempted to convince Christ to bypass the cross. Even after Christ died and was buried, Satan inspired the Jewish leaders to appoint a guard and seal the tomb in a feeble effort to prevent the resurrection.
Church. Jesus said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). From the first mention of the church in Scripture, Jesus taught that it would be in opposition to Satan. The picture of gates is not that of a church struggling to hold out against the incredible opposition of the near-overwhelming forces of hell, but rather that of an aggressive church smashing down the strongholds of the devil as he attempts feebly to keep the dynamic church from winning people to Christ. As we read the Book of Acts, we see this principle at work. Opposition toward the church stimulated the church to more aggressive outreach. Throughout history, Satan has actively opposed the work of the church. But the lesson of history is clear. The blood of the martyrs has ever been the seed of the church. Under the most severe opposition of the devil, God has worked best to glorify himself. His church has not only survived the opposition of the devil, it has survived it victoriously. THE IMITATOR The old adage goes, "If you can’t beat them, join them." In one respect, this also reflects one aspect of the work of Satan, that of imitation. The devil is the master counterfeiter of all that pertains to evil. The following chart contrasts the works of God and the devil’s attempts to reproduce them.
Imitation. From the very beginning, it has been Satan’s desire to be like God (Isaiah 14:14). In his present work, Satan is attempting to duplicate the works of God. Almost everything God has established, Satan has duplicated. There even exists today a satanic "bible" and church of Satan. THE COUNTERFEITS OF SATAN
1. Jesus is the Son of 1. Satan is the God of this
God- Psalms 2:1 world- Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 2:1-22. Trinity- Matthew 28:20 2 Thessalonians 2:3 3. Mystery of godliness- 2. Tri-unity- Revelation 20:10
1 Timothy 3:16 3. Mystery of iniquity
4. Children of God- John 1:12 2 Thessalonians 2:7 5. God’s mark on his 4. Children of Satan- servants- Revelation 7:3 John 8:44 6. Miracles of Christ-5. Satan’s mark of the
Matthew 4:23 beast- Revelation 13:16 7. Christ the true Light- 6. Miracles of Satan
John 1:7 2 Thessalonians 2:9 8. Christ appoints 7. Angel of light- 2 Corinthians 11:14 apostles- Matthew 10:1 8. Satan appoints apostles 2 Corinthians 11:13
Infiltration. "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14) so he can infiltrate the people of Christ and affect the work of God. Jesus claimed that some who called themselves Christians would not be permitted entrance into heaven because they do not possess a personal relationship with Christ (Matthew 7:23). By the end of the first century, Satan was clearly trying to control the church of Jesus Christ from both the outside (Revelation 2:13) and the inside (Jude 1:4). The apostle Paul had warned the Ephesian pastors that Satan would attempt to destroy the church by sending into the church evil men who would attempt to corrupt good men (Acts 20:29-30).
DESTRUCTION A third aspect of the works of Satan is to corrupt all that God has created, thereby destroying it. But Satan’s work is in contrast to the work of Christ. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Jesus helps, while Satan hinders our efforts to live for God.
Deceiving the nations. Some of Satan’s destructive energies are directed against the nations of this world. When Jesus returns, Satan will be sealed in a pit "that he should deceive the nations no more" (Revelation 20:3). This happens during the millennial rule of Christ. Currently, though, Satan has freedom to perform his deceptive work among the nations. In the future, Satan will convince the nations to support his cause in the battle of Armageddon, where he will lead the nations to their ultimate destruction.
Deceiving the unsaved. Satan is aggressively keeping the unsaved from understanding the gospel. Paul explained to the Corinthians, "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" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Not content with blinding the unsaved so that they cannot understand the gospel, he also has another strategy. "Then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved" (Luke 8:12). The Book of Acts records one account after another where the devil used men to oppose the progress of the gospel. Satan’s strategy is simple. If he can prevent men from hearing the gospel and understanding what Christ offers them, then men will be content to go their own way. The Bible warns, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 16:25).
Defeating the saved. Merely to defeat a Christian must be the most frustrating aspect of Satan’s work, for he cannot destroy the child of God. Satan will use the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride. of life to attack Christians (1 John 2:15-16). Satan will attack them directly or indirectly. If Satan cannot get a Christian to fall into the pollution of sin, he will push the believer beyond the will of God into legalism or fanaticism. On occasion a Christian may stumble, but the Bible teaches that "a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again" (Proverbs 24:16). The Christian is not able to defeat the devil in himself but is victorious only as he allows the power of Christ to live in him. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). But remember, the fact that Satan cannot ultimately destroy us does not mean he will not tempt us.
Satan has successfully tempted Christians to lie to God in the past (Acts 5:3). He is called the "accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). He seeks to hinder Christians in their work ft, God (1 Thessalonians 2:18) and to defeat them in their Christian wall (Ephesians 6:12). Satan tempted one Christian to engage in immorality in Corinth (1 Corinthians 5:1). He attempted to destroy the Corinthian church, first by sowing tares of dissension (Matthew 13:38-39) among the believers (1 Corinthians 3:1-7). Also, Satan will attempt to destroy a church by sending in unsaved members and leaders (2 Corinthians 11:5, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). If internal opposition fails, Satan will attack the church through external persecution against Christians (Revelation 2:10). However, none of Satan’s at tempts to destroy the Christian need be successful; we have been promised the victory over Satan (2 Corinthians 2:14).
HOW TO OVERCOME SATAN
It should be more natural for us to defeat Satan than the reverse. God has revealed certain principles in his Word that can protect the Christian against defeat. But more than insulating against evil, these principles should make the Christian victorious. The Bible clearly states, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). That "way to escape" is found by applying biblical principles to each temptation. The principle of respect. Too often Christians rely on fleshly strength to deliver them from Satan. Though Jesus is greater than the devil (1 John 4:4), we must still have a healthy respect for our enemy. A good football team, if they become overconfident, may lose to a lesser team. Overconfidence will cause a team to play carelessly, allowing the opposition to do things they could not otherwise accomplish. So if a Christian does not realize that Satan possesses the attributes and abilities of angelic beings, he will allow Satan to gain victories where he could not otherwise do so. Even Michael, the archangel, was not prepared to confront Satan except in the name of the Lord (Jude 1:9). How much more should we be afraid of the power of Satan! The principle of removal. It has often been said that one bad apple will spoil the whole barrel. This principle also applies to a confrontation with the devil. A wise Christian should evaluate his life and avoid those areas where he is most likely to be tempted. Paul reminds us to "abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22). When Joseph found himself tempted by Potiphar’s wife, "he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out" (Genesis 39:12). Paul also applied this principle in reverse to false teachers, meaning that not only should we remove ourselves from evil, we should remove its influence from our lives. "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject" (Titus 3:10). By separating ourselves from the source of the temptation both morally and geographically, we can gain a temporary victory over the devil. The word "temporary" is used because no one is ever immune from temptation till death. But in this life, remember, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The principle of resistance. A Christian is disobedient to God if he passively entertains Satan or his influence. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). It is possible for the Christian to send the devil running in defeat by taking definite action. The apostle Peter advised the believer that he should not give in to Satan, but "resist steadfastly in the faith" (1 Peter 5:9). We would not be defeated if we would quote the name of Jesus Christ and refuse to listen to Satan’s temptation. When Jesus was tempted, he gained the victory by using the Scriptures to resist the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). The principle of readiness. The Boy Scouts have a motto, "Be prepared." That principle is the watchword of the tempted Christian. "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation" (Mark 14:38). Paul advised the Ephesians, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wile, of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). The prepared Christian will recognize his weak areas and strengthen them. David assured n, that memorizing Scripture will help keep us from sin (Psalms 119:1, Psalms 119:11). One who is serious about gaining victory over some besetting sin should concentrate on memorizing several verses of Scripture that deal with the particular area of weakness in his life. Also, he should be certain he is fully equipped to meet the devil in battle.
PROTECTION AGAINST THE DEVIL (Ephesians 6:13-17) 1. Girdle (belt) of truth 2. Breastplate of righteousness 3. Shoes of the preparation of the gospel 4. Shield of faith 5. Helmet of salvation 6. Sword of the Spirit
CONCLUSION
There is a personal devil actively working to defeat every Christian in the world today. His influence is certain to affect our lives. The works of the devil need not overcome the saint. By exercising our faith in God and obeying his Word, we can gain the victory over the devil.
DAILY READINGS Monday: Genesis 3:1-19 Tuesday: Genesis 6:1-8 Wednesday: Revelation 12:1-17 Thursday: Matthew 4:1-11 Friday: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 Saturday: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 Sunday: Ephesians 6:10-20