WHO IS SATAN?
1. He is evil:
The devil … was a murderer from the beginning.
John 8:44
There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44
The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8-9
[Satan] holds the power of death.
Hebrews 2:14
2. He is a very skillful deceiver:
Satan...deceives the whole world.
Revelation 12:9
(New American Standard Bible)
Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14
There are demons who spread Satan’s deceit:
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
1 Timothy 4:1
There are humans who spread Satan’s deceit:
[In] Christ...are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
Colossians 2:4
Caution:
Be careful where you turn for advice.
There are many persuasive opinions in the world coming from people with an impressive education, high status, and great reputation. What they say sounds very intelligent and convincing.
But if it goes against what Creator God says in the Bible, do not be deceived.
[Some] men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Caution:
Be alert, because there are those, even in some churches, who teach things that are opposed to the Bible.
So check everything you hear with the Bible!
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message [about Jesus] with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Acts 17:11
3. We are either in God’s kingdom or in Satan’s kingdom:
There is no middle alternative–
it is one or the other.
You don't have a third choice.
[Jesus said to Paul:] “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Acts 26:17-18
The Father…has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:12-14
4. God’s children are protected from Satan’s power by God:
Dear children … the one [Christ] who is in you is greater than the one [Satan] who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
5. Satan tries to attack God’s children, so we must resist him:
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8-9
Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God … In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one [Satan].
Ephesians 4:26-27
6. If we aren’t careful, we can give Satan a place in our lives:
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:26-27
7. Where did Satan come from?
[These passages in the Bible seem to refer to Satan]
• Satan was created by God in beauty and perfection:
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you…on the day you were created. …You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created.”
Ezekiel 28:12-13, 15
• Satan had a powerful position:
“You were anointed as a guardian cherub [angel], for so I [God] ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God.”
Ezekiel 28:14
8. How did Satan become evil?
[These passages in the Bible seem to refer to Satan]
“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.”
Ezekiel 28:14
You said in your heart… “I will sit enthroned on the…utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High [God].”
Isaiah 14:13-14
9. Then what happened to Satan?
[The next passage in the Bible seems to refer to Satan]
“I [God] drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub. …I threw you to the earth.”
Ezekiel 28:16-17
[Jesus said:] “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
Luke 10:14
10. What is Satan doing now?
• For now, he is the ruler of this world:
For forty days he [Jesus] was tempted by the devil [Satan]. …The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “ I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written [in the Old Testament]: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
Luke 4:2, 5-8
• He is at work in those who don’t believe in Christ:
The devil, or Satan, …leads the whole world astray.
Revelation 12:9
[Before believing in Christ] you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air [Satan], the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Ephesians 2:2
• [Satan is] the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night.
Revelation 12:10
But Christ is constantly interceding for us!
Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Hebrews 7:24-25
11. Does Satan work alone?
• There were angels who rebelled against God along with Satan, so the world is filled with demons and evil spirits:
The eternal fire [is] prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew 25:41
• Satan is the leader:
The teachers of the Law [who hated Jesus ]…said, “By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” So Jesus…spoke to them…, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. …If Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand.”
Mark 3:22-24, 26
12. Is Satan as strong as Christ?
[Jesus said that Satan] "the prince of this world now stands condemend."
John 16:11
Dear children … the one [Christ] who is in you is greater than the one [Satan] who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Since the children [of God] have flesh and blood, he [Christ] too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14
13. What will happen to Satan in the end?
Satan…will go out to deceive the nations. …And the devil [Satan], who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur… [and] will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 20:7-8, 10
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
Psalm 135:15-18
God's children will have total victory over Satan!
The God of peace will soon [in God's timeframe] crush Satan under your feet.
Romans 16:20
Now [at the end] have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For [Satan] the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:10-11
NOT EVERY EVIL IS CAUSED BY SATAN?
The people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ...Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons.
Mark 1:32, 34
Here we see that sickness and demon-possession are not necessarily the same thing.
CAN I TAKE PART IN OCCULT AND DEMONIC ACTIVITIES?
• Worshiping or praying to an idol is the same as worshiping or praying to a demon:
Do I mean that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.
1 Corinthians 10:19-20
• Occult practices are from Satan:
Let no one be found among you who…practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritist … should not people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Isaiah 8:20
But what if occult practices help me?
[God] has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him.
2 Peter 1:3
You don't need the help of the occult or of demonic powers.
Creator God gives his children everything that they need.
Will you trust him?
Jesus and Satan (and Satan's demons) are totally opposed to each other.
Then they brought him [Jesus] a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished. ...But...
Matthew 12:22-24
The teachers of the Law who came down from Jerusalem [to oppose Jesus] said, "He [Jesus] is possessed by Beelzebub [Satan]! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."
Mark 3:22-23
Jesus…said to them, "…If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."
Matthew 12:28
"...I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." He said this because they were saying, "He [Jesus] has an evil spirit."
Mark 3:28-30
"Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man [Jesus] will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven."
Matthew 12:32
If you equate the Holy Spirit of God and evil spirits – if you think, say and act as though there is no difference between them – how can you ever be saved?
[Jesus said that the Holy Spirit] "will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin."
John 16:8
[We are] saved through the sanctifying [purifying] work of the Spirit.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
Have you considered the high risk of involvement in the occult?
What is it that you want from demonic powers?
They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs ...
Revelation 16:14
We are all looking for guidance in making major decisions, power to face life's challenges, and help in life's trials. It is tempting to look for anything that will give us what we need.
And demons or evil spirits do have a certain amount of spiritual power.
Is getting what you want from demons worth the risk?
We can assume that if we get what we need, the source of the help is good.
Are you focusing only on what you want? Are you thinking that if you receive the help you want, it can only be positive.
But have you considered the risk?
What do demons want of you?
Have you considered what demonic powers may want of you? Have you considered what their goals are? Do you really think that their ultimate purpose is to help you?
Then they brought him [Jesus] a demon-possessed man..., and Jesus healed him.
Matthew 12:22
Manga Vol. 4, page
A man in the crowd answered [Jesus], "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. ...It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. ...[Jesus] rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out.
Mark 9:17-18, 22, 25-26
Manga Vol. 4, page
Don't be fooled!
[Jesus said:] "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
John 10:10
But what does Jesus promise us?
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10
Big Questions to Think About:
What are you trusting?
Are you trusting the Heavenly Father who is the living Creator God – who made you and loves you?
Or are you rejecting him and trusting a manmade good luck charm, a power spot, or a fortune teller?
Do you want to participate with any demons who are behind these good luck charms, fortune tellers and power spots?
Illustration:
As a parent, how would you feel if your son or daughter kept going over to the next door neighbor and saying:
“I’m hungry, please give me dinner.”
“I’m cold, please buy me a new coat.”
“My friends at school are teasing me. I feel so sad. I don’t know what to do.”
“I don’t understand this math problem. Can you help me?”
“I got 100% on my test, and I’m so excited”?
"I have to decide what to do for my future. What should do?"
Would you feel sad? Angry? Jealous? Hurt?
Imagine how the Heavenly Father, who loves us greatly, feels when we reject him for idols or demons or lesser gods than he.
Do you want to be shamed and disgraced?
偶像を細工する者どもはみな恥を見、辱めを受ける。彼らはともに、辱めのうちに去る。
イザヤ 45:16（新改訳 2017）
彫像に頼る者、彫像に「あなたがたが私たちの神々だ」と言う者は、退けられて、恥をかく。
イザヤ 42:17（聖書協会共同訳）
On the other hand:
（イエス）に信頼する者は、たれも恥じを見ることがない*。
ローマ 10:11（新改訳 2017）
* 新改訳 2017 Footnote
A Final Question:
Do you want to align yourself, your children, and your descendants with the one who will go down to eternal destruction?
FOCUS ON JESUS!
Actually, the Bible spends little time talking about Satan.
His power is limited.
He is already doomed to eternal destruction.
Christ is infinitely more powerful than Satan is.
So . . .
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Hebrews 12:2