Scripture Reading: Revelation 12:7-12

How Real is Satan to You?

Intro.

1. How real is Satan to you? He is a real enemy – 1 Pet. 5:8.

a. Satan: Adversary (to lie in wait).

b. Devil: Slanderer, accuser (deceiver) – Rev. 12:9-10.

2. Many names: Accuser (Rev. 12:10); Beelzebub (Matt. 12:24); the Enemy (Matt. 13:39); Evil One (Matt. 13:19); Belial (2 Cor. 6:15); Father of lies (Jno. 8:44); God of this world (2 Cor. 4:4); Prince of the powers of the air (Eph. 2:2).

3. Point: Satan is real to God, Jesus, apostles, Xians; must be real to us.

4. Until he is real to us, he will continue to deceive & devour souls.

I. SATAN HATES GOD AND MAN.

A. He Accuses God Before Man – Gen. 3:4-5.

1. His hatred of God’s efforts to bless man is seen in two ways:

a. By trying to stop God’s work – Matt. 4:1-10 (Rev. 12:4).

b. By tempting man to sin against God’s goodness (1 Ths. 3:5).

2. He will always accuse God to man.

B. He Accuses Man before God – Job 1:6-12; Zech. 3:1; Lk. 22:31-32.

1. He lies about our faith and lives.

2. He wants you out of God’s favor.

C. He Accuses Men to Each Other – Col. 3:8-9.

D. He Works on Christians – 1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 2:2.

1. He has the world – cf. Mk. 3:22-26 (Controls his domain of sin).

2. He wants the kingdom of Christ – Eph. 6:12; 1 Pet. 5:8 (“your adversary”).

3. Satan failed to defeat Christ, so he tries to destroy the church – Rev. 12:17.

II. HOW SATAN WORKS – 2 Cor. 2:11.

A. Satan Operates through Enticements – Jas. 1:14 (“lure by bait”).

1. By twisting evil into “good” – To obtain a good thing at the cost of doing wrong (Isa. 5:20).

a. Matt. 4:1ff – Bread, God’s care, Christ’s power – Tempted to acquire good things by evil means (same today, 1 Jno. 2:16). (Pride of life: preoccupation with one’s own cravings)

b. Jno. 8:44 – When his lusts become our objective – We sin against God (Jas. 1:15)

2. Remedy: We must control our desires to avoid his enticements.

B. Satan Operates on our Minds –Jno. 13:2, 27; Acts 5:3 (Mk. 7:20-23).

C. Satan Operates through Human Agents – Matt. 16:23; Jno. 6:70.

1. Acts 13:10 – Perversion of God’s ways.

2. 1 Cor. 15:33-34 – Those without knowledge.

D. Satan Operates through things that Appear Right – 2 Cor. 11:13-15 (crafty, 11:3).

1. Institutions, movements, religious teachers, friends, feelings, etc. – cf. Rev. 2:9 (3:9).

2. This is why we must try the spirits – 1 Jno. 4:1.

3. Satan appears appealing (deception).

III. HOW WE CAN BE VICTORIOUS OVER SATAN – Rev. 12:10-12.

A. Remember that Satan is (fundamentally) a Liar – Jno. 8:44.

1. His kingdom is founded upon liars & deception (“…there is no truth in him…”)

2. He counterfeits truth (makes evil look good, cf. Heb. 11:25).

B. The Truth of the Gospel of Christ Delivers Us from the Lies of Satan – Jno. 8:32.

1. He is a liar & is defeated by truth.

a. Truth overcomes Satan – 2 Ths. 2:8-12.

b. Be subject to God (truth) – Jas. 4:7-10.

2. God’s word in our hearts – Psa. 119:11.

C. Practical Ways to Resist Satan (Jas. 4:7):

1. Be alert; be armed; self-control; know escape routes; obey God; pray – Eph. 4:27; 6:10-17; 1 Pet. 5:9.

2. Faith: Victory in Christ – 1 Jno. 3:8; Rev. 12:10-12 (v. 11)…

a. Blood of Christ (Jno. 12:31; Heb. 2:14-18).

b. Word of God (Rom. 1:16).

c. Self-denial (Rev. 2:10).

Conclusion

1. 1 Jno. 4:4 – Christ is greater than Satan.

2. Satan is a real enemy. We must never forget he is ceaselessly working to ruin our souls & our salvation in Christ.