We Have an Adversary
Part I
In the preface of his book, “Satan is No Myth”, J. Oswald Sanders wrote –
“The consistent theme of the Bible from beginning to end is the conflict between good and evil, between God and the devil. It begins with the serpent in Eden in Genesis 3, and concludes with the devil cast into the lake of fire in Revelation 20. The intervening chapters depict the swaying tides of battle in a conflict waged in the heavenly sphere as well as on earth.”
F.J. Huegel wrote: “That He (Jesus) believed in a personal devil whose dominion He came to shatter; that He commanded demons to come out of their victims, that He was convinced that if He were to save man, He must show up the Prince of Darkness in His true light, and break his power over human hearts; that He really believed these things, no student of Scripture would for a moment pretend to deny.”
Another writer whom I heartily respect is A.T. Pierson. “One if the grand proofs that Scriptures are God inspired is found in the air of absolute positiveness and infallible certainty with which these occult mysteries are treated. There is no timid feeling after truth, or hesitating utterance about it, but a consistent body of teaching concerning the unseen realm, that has at least this to commend it, for the first and only time, it gives man a simple and satisfactory solution of perhaps his greatest problem. Here is teaching that has about it finality; it is the utterance of One who speaks as confidently as about the most common facts or phenomena, and treats what is hidden from the senses as a familiar commonplace. He who after vain attempts to find in man’s hypotheses and philosophies any solid ground to rest upon, comes with open mind and heart to inquire at God’s living oracles, gets an answer to all his inquires and a sure basis for faith and hope.”
Wow! That is a pretty strong exposition by our LORD of the Devil or Satan.
Where did Satan originate?
Lucifer was a created cherub. Those recognized as cherubs were given a high rank with immense authority and privilege, but also great responsibilities. These created beings were assigned to protect God’s glory. Lucifer was perfect in his creation. The record indicates that he became full of pride and tried to steal God’s glory.
In Ezekiel 28:15 we read, “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you.”
He led a rebellion against the God of heaven but lost. In Isaiah 14:12 we read, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the Nations.” (There is no doubt in my mind that Satan and his cohorts are the instigators of the confusion and chaos that we see on so many fronts in our Nation and world today).
When he was cast out of heaven and down to the earth, we read in Revelation 12:3-4, “There was a great red dragon…his tail swept away a third of the stars (angels) in heaven and hurled them to the earth.”
You can see that he must have great ability to influence and sway people. He deceived a third of the angels. He deceived Eve. In Genesis 3:13, we read, “And the LORD GOD said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?” The woman said “The serpent deceived me and I ate”. Folks, he has been doing that ever since.
Listen to what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” In that same chapter, verse 14, Paul is talking about false apostles and he wrote,” And no wonder! For Satan himself, transformed himself into an angel of light.”
After Satan was cast out of heaven, he determined to make the earth and universe his domain. In Ephesians 2: 1-2, the Apostle Paul wrote – “And you He (Christ) made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world; according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now walks in the sons of disobedience.”
Satan cannot create anything but confusion, chaos and calamity in people’s lives and in nations, but he is determined to rule over creation as much as possible.
However, he knows his rule will not last, so he is doing his best to destroy man, God’s very special creation. In 1 John 3:8, we read, “Anyone who keeps on sinning (intentionally and habitually) belongs to the devil. He (the devil) has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done.”
Let me close this meditation with 1 John 4:4, “You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
Notice that last line – “the Holy Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” As we immerse our souls in God’s word and follow the prompting of God’s spirit, we can live victoriously to the glory of God.
Folks, there is victory in Christ.
Blessings,
Pastor Leonard
