Do You Know Your Enemy - Week 2
Do You Know Your Enemy
Week 2:The Enemy
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”
C.S. Lewis
Ephesians 6:10-12
10 “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Who is Satan and what are demons?
He is referred to as the prince of demons - Mark 3:22-27
22 “But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.” 23 Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. 24 “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. 25 Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. 27 Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.”
He has authority over fallen angels- Revelation 12:9
9 “This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.”
Satan is not a rival or a equal to God
God is Omnipresent- Satan is not
Psalms 139:7-8
7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
God is all Omniscient- Satan is not
1 John 3:20
20 “Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.”
God is Omnipotent- Satan is not
What are angels?
1) Spiritual beings created by God.
Psalm 148:2,5
2 “Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all the armies of heaven!...5 Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being.”
Hebrews 1:14
14 “Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.”
2) Higher (power) than humans.
Hebrews 2:7
7 “Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.”
3) Angels are assigned to the service of saints and Churches.
Hebrews 1:14
14 “Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.”
Matthew 18:10 (Some serve individuals)
10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.”
Revelation 1:20 (Some serve Churches)
20 This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
Can believers be possessed by the demonic?
Colossians 2:15
15 “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”
1 John 4:4
4 “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
John 8:36
36 “I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
Taking authority over the demonic
Revelation 12:10-12
10 “Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”
How?
1) Let the blood speak. (V.11a)
11 “And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb...”
Genesis 4:10
10 “But the LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!”
Hebrews 12:24
24 “You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.”
2) Let your testimony speak (v.11b)
11 “And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.”
1 Timothy 4:16
16 “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.”
Should we seek the demonic?
James 4:7
7 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”