Bible Class: Lesson 38

Why do we study the devil?

• We study the devil because his is our chief enemy. Some deny his existence and work. Churches and leaders do not teach and educate people about this dangerous enemy. Some do not want to study and know of his existence and work. The bible encourages us to know this dangerous enemy and his evil schemes. We should not be ignorant of his tricks, plans and devices? 
• 2 Corinthians 2:11
  Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

False concepts and knowledge of the devil

• Some persons deny the existence of a real devil, evil, a wicked being and wickedness in the world. The bible clearly teaches that there are tw forces and systems in the world. Some also think that the is a mythical being with two horns, a red suit and a tail.
• Romans 12:9
  Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
• Amos 5:15
  Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

Who is the devil?

• The Devil is a spiritual being. He is called different names. He is not flesh and blood. He was created. He has a system of government that the bible describes as principalities, thrones and dominions.
• Colossians 1:15-17
  The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
• Ephesians 6:12
  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The devil is the leader of sin and wickedness

• The devil is the chief of the angels who rebelled against God. He is called Satan, Tempter and Old Dragon. These descriptions show that he is dangerous, evil and has no good in him.
• Revelation 12:7-9
  Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

When did he become the devil?

• God created all things good. Somewhere after the creation, the devil was lifted with pride, fell from grace and became evil. He was cast out of heaven. He is on the earth. He tempted and deceived Adam and Eve.
• Colossians 1:15-17
  The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
• Genesis 1:31
  God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning the sixth day.
• 1 Timothy 3:6
  Not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he falls into the same condemnation as the devil.

The devil is called our enemy

• He means no good to us. He does not seek and have our best interest. He seeks to do us harm. There is no good in him.
• Matthew 13:25
  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

The devil is called the father of lies

• There is no truth in him. Lies originated with him when he lied to Adam and Eve.
• Genesis 3:1-5
  Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
• John 8:44
  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The child of God and the devil

• The Devil is alive. He thinks daily of things he can do to get us in his camp. The devil is our enemy. He is wise and very cunning. Daily he seeks people to influence them to do things that are wrong and sinful. Christians should be wise to avoid him. People everywhere in the world face the same devil, problems and trials. Since the devil moves everywhere, no country, people or individuals are immune. We are to resist him.
• 1 Peter 5:8-9
  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

The devil is out to get us

• He is moving up and down seeking people to destroy. He was after Job.
• Job 2:1-2
  On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from? Satan answered the LORD, from roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.

The devil and deception

• The devil will enter our lives, to deceive, manipulate and use us to do his work. He entered the lives of Peter, Judas and Annanias. No one is speared.
• Luke 22:3-4
  Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
• Luke 22:31
  And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
  Acts 5:3
  Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

The devil and opposition

• When Christians set out to do things, the devil will accuse, frustrate and oppose them to do and accomplish. He may come in the form people to sow discouragement and negative thoughts. He opposed Nehemiah in building the walls of Jerusalem. He used Tobiah and Sanballat to do his work. He also frustrated Zerubbabel in rebuilding the temple.
• Nehemiah 2:10
  When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.
• Nehemiah 4:1-5
  When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
• Zechariah 3:1-2
  Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”
• Zechariah 4:6-7
  So, he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

The devil and accusation

• The devil will seek to get us through accusation. He will tell lies and sow doubts. He accused and sought faults in the faithfulness of Job.
• Revelation 12:9-10
  The great dragon was hurled down that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God, day and night, has been hurled down.
• Job 1:7-9
  The LORD
  said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
• Job 2:3-5
  Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The devil and relentless strategies

• The devil attacks us when we are vulnerable. If he fails, he will leave and return at an opportune time.
• Luke 4:13
  When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

The devil and hindrances

• The devil will set road blocks, discouragement and fail plans that believers have.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:18
  For we wanted to come to you certainly I, Paul, did, again and again but Satan blocked our way.