Last Thursday, I had the privilege of teaching on the subject of “Confronting Satan” to 40 or so hungry Hope College students at Hope For the Nations.

May it be used to knock out a few more teeth from the enemy in all of our lives!

-Brian

Introduction

There are only 2 kingdoms in the universe: Satan’s and God’s (Col. 1:13).  Similarly, all people are either sons of Satan or sons of God (1 John 3:8-10).  In the beginning of creation, Adam and Eve had fellowship and life with God.  Then, they turned away from God and took on the form of the accuser (Gen. 3:12-13: “she made me do it,” “the serpent made me do it”).  Satan means “Accuser”.  This shows that at the point that sin entered, Adam and Eve took on a new nature in pointing the finger at someone else.  They became children of Satan, and all of their descendants (i.e. every human being that has ever lived), also are born children of Satan (see 1 John 3:8).

How did this happen?  

  • It started with questioning God’s Word – “Did God really say?…” (Gen. 3:1).  Getting people to doubt God’s word is the #1 goal of the enemy, because if you doubt God’s word, then you doubt God and His work on the cross.  
  • Furthermore, the questioning of God’s word was based on a twisting of God’s word.  Satan said: “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat of ANY tree…’?” (Gen. 3:1). In comparison, what God really said was, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, except one tree” (Gen. 2:16-17).
  • He then lied to them: “You will not die,” (Gen. 3:4).  
  • Next, sight was chosen over faith in God’s word: “when the woman saw that the tree was good…” (Gen. 3:6).  
  • After that, experience took precedence over God’s word.  God said: “when you eat it you’ll die,” (Gen. 2:17), however, Eve saw that she ate it and thought she was alive and God was wrong.  Her experience seemed in contradiction with God’s word, and so she entreated Adam to sin, too.  But if she would’ve trusted God’s word over her experience, she would’ve realized that she died in a very real way the moment she ate…first spiritual death and separation from God who is Life (Gen. 3:9- “Where are you?”), then a separation from the tree of life (Gen. 3:24), and later a physical death (Gen. 5:5).  
  • And finally, SIN: “She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate,” (Gen. 3:6).  
  • Satan used the following progression: questioning God’s word –> twisting God’s word –> speaking lies –> getting people to choose sight over faith –> trusting in experience over God’s word → sin and disobedience to God.  His tactics have not changed, and all should be aware of this.

However, there was a different kind of Man who came.  He was fully God and fully Man, and came “to destroy the works of the devil,” (1 John 3:8).  That Man, of course, was and is Jesus.

Now compare the events of Satan’s interaction with Jesus and his interaction with Adam/Eve:

  • Satan questioned God’s word (in Matt. 3:17, God said that Jesus was His Son, but in Matt. 4:3, Satan says, “If you are the Son of God…”)
  • He twisted God’s word and lied (in Matt. 4:6 he quotes Psalm 91:11-12 out of context, purposefully neglecting Psalm 91:1-2)
  • He tried tempting Jesus with sight: “the devil…showed Him all the kingdoms,” (Matt. 4:8)
  • He appealed to Jesus’ experience of hunger to make him disobey (Matt. 4:2-3)

Similar tactics were used in both situations, but there were completely different responses and outcomes.  See, Jesus answered every accusation  by resting his position solely on the written word of God.  He said, “It is written” 3 times (Matt. 4:4,7,11), and Satan could not gain any ground with Christ’s appeal to the written word of God.  To Christ, the word of God is the final authority over everything (including sight and experience).  

Today, by repenting and believing in our heart that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected as the Scriptures say, we can leave the enemy’s domain, and have a brand new life as God’s children, entering God’s domain!  When that happens, we can still expect Satan to attack us (as he did Jesus), and oftentimes try to get us to doubt God and His word, but we now have the Life of God (i.e. the Holy Spirit) in us to overcome him, and have the authority of the Scriptures to use as a sword that is unbreakable: “I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:14).  

Here are further principles that should help believers stand their ground and walk triumphantly against Satan…

Do not be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11).

  • Satan is a “murderer” and “the father of lies,” (John 8:44).
  • In contrast, God is “the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).  He is the “Life-giver” (1 Cor. 15:45) and the “Truth-teller,” and He reveals His truth through His word (John 17:17) and His Spirit (1 John 5:6)  Therefore…
  • Satan’s sole aim is to separate people from the Living God and bring them to doubt God’s word (Gen. 3; Matt. 4).  He doesn’t care how this happens.
  • Satan and his minions are on a sinking ship and they know it (Mark 1:24).  Their only joy is getting people (who are made in God’s image) to sink with them.

God’s strength is shown in the midst of fears.

  • Psalm 34:4; 2 Cor. 7:5 – David and Paul feared, and God still responded
  • Exod. 4:3 – Moses feared when initially confronted with the serpent, and God responded
  • 2 Cor. 1:8-9; 4:7; 2 Tim. 1:7 – Your earthen vessel may fear and despair.  But God’s Spirit in you does not fear.  This power is displayed in the presence of the earthen vessel. 

Satan is stronger than humans, but God is stronger than Satan.

  • Consider the demoniac stories in the gospels, as well as James 2:19, and similar passages.  Conclusion: Demons tremble before God!
  • Gen. 3:14-15 — dust < Serpent < woman’s offspring | thus, Adam and all human life (made of dust) are not as strong or powerful as Satan (the serpent of old, see Rev. 20:2).  However, Satan is overcome by the life that came out of the side of the man put to sleep (a symbol of Christ being put to death and His Spirit forming us into a bride)
  • 1 John 4:4 – he in the world < He in you (believers)
  • Acts 19:13-16 – the demon feared Jesus, respected Paul (who had God’s life in him), but overpowered 7 men (who did not have God’s life in them) at one time
  • Picture: 2 Chronicles 20; Psalm 18:17 – In strength: Jehoshaphat & David < Enemy < God
  • Picture: Gen. 1:16 – We are the moon.  No light on our own, but through Sun’s light (a picture for God), we rule over darkness!

Q: How do you overcome the enemy?  A: Recognize that he has been overcome!–

  • Revelation 12:10-11–
    • Satan accuses.  His accusations would be correct if not for the blood of Jesus.
    • We overcome by: (1) faith in Christ’s blood, (2) our words of testimony, (3) no fear in death (cf. Heb. 2:14-15)
  • Ephesians 6:10-18 (cf. 1 Kings 22:34-35; Isaiah 59:17; Rom. 13:12)–
    • “finally” (v. 10) – Eph. 1-2 declares your position in the finished work of Christ, Eph. 3-5 shows how Christ accomplishes this same work in our walk on earth
    • “stand” (vv. 11,13,14) – see Exod. 14:13-14.  There is no ground to gain (it’s all been gained in Christ).  You only have to stand in that finished work.  Here’s how:
      1. belt of truth – make sure what you do accords with the principles of the Word.  If it does not, your armor becomes clunky and not helpful.
      2. breastplate of righteousness – faith in the blood of Christ (see 1 Thes. 5:8; Rev. 12:11)
      3. readiness of gospel of peace – are you prepared and willing to share the gospel wherever you travel? (Luke 2:14; 10:5-6; Rom. 10:15)
      4. shield of faith in all circumstances – faith that God is in control and working all things for your good, even when sight disagrees
      5. helmet of salvation – (Is. 59:17; 1 Cor. 2:16; 1 Thes. 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:13) renewing your mind by the knowledge of your salvation.  The more you know the power of what Christ has done, the more secure your mind is.
      6. sword of the Spirit – (Heb. 4:12; Rev. 19:15) See Jesus using this in Matt. 4:1-11
      7. praying (in Spirit and understanding) – brings deliverance (2 Cor. 1:10-11); picture a soldier communicating with His commander (God the Father) through the liaison of the Holy Spirit and the blood of Christ

Satan is God’s Tool! 🙂

  • Luke 4:1-14 – Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil immediately before his public ministry began
  • Luke 22:3 – Satan entered Judas to betray and lead to Christ’s death, which ended up being the greatest gift God gave to mankind
  • Luke 22:31-32 – Satan’s sifting of Peter prepared him to strengthen the brethren
  • 2 Cor. 12:7-10 – Satan’s messenger was used by God to refine Paul
  • Ex. 23:27-33; Judges 2:20-3:4 – God did not instantly destroy Israel’s enemies for the purpose of strengthening Israel through them.
  • Book of Job – Satan’s attack on Job resulted in double blessing in the end
  • Exodus 4:1-5 – Moses was equipped to speak God’s message as a result of him confronting the serpent
  • 1 Cor. 5:5 – Satan’s buffeting can serve to save our spirit
    • Gen. 2:7; 3:14; 2 Cor. 4:7 – Adam was made of dust.  Satan eats dust.  Christians are made of dust (earthen vessels) and God’s life (treasure).  When Satan is allowed to sift us, he actually helps us remove the life of Adam so that the life of God in us can be displayed greater. 
  • Anecdotal Examples – 
    • Martin Luther: Spent years tormented, afraid of death and judgment, and feeling directly attacked from Satan.  This struggle led him to receive and promote the revelation that we can be saved by grace through faith in Christ.  The struggle birthed the revelation.
    • Chickens were being transported on a truck in cages.  One of the chickens realized the cage was unlocked, and opened the door and “escaped”.  Others followed.  The “freed” ones instantly were confronted with the wind and pavement and died.  Their temporary “bondage” was providing safe transportation for them.
    • When cod fish were first being shipped in the U.S., the fish ended up being mushy and flavorless by the time they arrived.  Then, they put some catfish in the tanks (their natural predators).  This opposition kept them healthy and gave them a strong texture and taste by the time they arrived.