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Your Adversary The Devil

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• There is a lot of misunderstanding about Satan

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•I. Names of Satan

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Satan – this name literally means adversary

• Acts 5:3• [3] But Peter said, Ananias, why

hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

5The Devil – means one who engages in slander

• Mt. 4:1 – here he is called “the devil”• The main object of his slander is

God - he used this in the Garden of Eden and still uses it today

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He is the tempter

• Mt. 4:3 “and when the tempter came to him”• He cannot make one sin, but he

can and does tempt• Js. 1:13-15

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He is the serpent – he is very crafty

• Rev. 12:9• [9] And the great dragon was cast

out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

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He is the dragon

• Re. 12:9• Intimidating and frightening

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He is the murderer – He wants to destroy

• Jn. 8:44• [44] Ye are of your father the devil, and

the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

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He is the liar

• Jn. 8:44• He is dishonest and corrupt of

speech• False teachers, the morally

corrupt etc., are his children

11He is the roaring lion – frightening, fierce, causing fear & dread

• 1 Pet. 5:8• [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because

your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

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He is Beelzebul or Beelzebub

• Mt. 12:24• [24] But when the Pharisees

heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

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• The name means “lord of the flies” – refers to his corrupting nature• He is “ruler of the demons”

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He is the evil one or wicked one

• 1 John 3:12 • “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked

one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”• He is morally and socially worthless –

wicked – evil – bad

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The accuser of the brethren• Rev. 12:10• [10] And I heard a loud voice saying in

heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

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The prince of this world

• Eph. 2:2• 2 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 works in the sons of disobedience,

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• He has power in the earthly realm until the final overthrow at the second coming of Christ and the judgment• He has limited power to fight

against Christ and His church

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• Ultimately he will fail• 1 Jn. 5:4• [4] For whatsoever is born of God

overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

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•III. Lessons for us

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1. Satan, our enemy, is very clever

• 2 Cor. 11:13-14• [13] For such are false apostles,

deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.• [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself

is transformed into an angel of light.

212 Cor. 11:3 – he is beguiling (misleading, full of tricks)

• 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived (beguiled) Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity[a] that is in Christ.

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1 Jn. 5:19 – he is very deceptive

• [19] And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

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2. The devil is strong

• Satan’s power has been limited by Christ’s death and resurrection – but he is still a powerful enemy• He opposes God’s people and the

work they do• We must depend upon God for

strength

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1 Pet. 5:9

• [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

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James 4:7-8

• [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.• [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will

draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

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3. This great enemy can be overcome

• Eph. 6:10-18• [10] Finally, my brethren, be

strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.[11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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• [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

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• [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

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• [14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;[15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

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• [16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.[17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

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• [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

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• We must be obedient to Christ and build a spiritual relationship with Him

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1 Jn. 3:8 - Christ came to destroy the works of the devil

• [8] He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

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Heb. 2:14 – Christ succeeded

• [14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

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• Before you can put on the Christian armor, you must put on Christ• Gal. 3:26-28

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• Some points gleaned from “Your Adversary the Devil”, by Neal Pollard, Meeting Christ – Called unto heaven. 31st Annual Southwest Lectures, 2012