STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

9/23/2008 ~ The Devil Revealed

Defiance and not resisting the Devil is an act against God. ... a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; ... ~ Job 1:1-22 Who is working behind the scenes and with what power? ... You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. ~ James 5:11 We need to clearly see how our great adversary the Devil operates. We need to know so as to arm ourselves against the Devil. The Devil makes his living where we live. └─> He is near.                            ● 1. Makes his living where we live. "... 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ...' " ~ Matthew 25:41 The Devil will eventually be cast out, but for now, he is near. ... And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. ~ Revelation 20:10 In the end, all things are subject to God. ... Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." ~ Job 1:7 Satan for now surrounds us. ... your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ~ 1st Peter 5:8 "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out." ~ John 12:31 Jesus calls him the ruler of this world and Paul calls him the god of this age. ... whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 ... you dwell, where Satan's throne is. ... ~ Revelation 2:13 He prowls and lurks among us all. The Devil was able to find the first man and woman, as well as being able to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, ~ and so he easily finds us all. ● 2. He knows what’s going on in your world.                                ⭨ BLESSED ⭩ The Devil knew Job and accused his circumstances in praising God. The Devil is always awake, watching and waiting: SATAN = ACCUSER The Devil is not all knowing as our God is, but he is a keen observer. What would make you turn your back on God? He will use what he will against us. Anger Pride Worldliness Fear Discouragement Pleasure ──┐       │       │       │ The Devil knows what makes us tick.       │       │ ──┘ ... My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? ... ~ Job 2:1-10 ● 3. His power is real. And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; ... ~ Job 1:12 "In your power" And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life." ~ Job 2:6 Do you see the irony? God gets all of the blame and Satan gets none of the credit. ~ Blame Satan, not God. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. ~ 1st John 5:19 ... Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ... ~ Ephesians 6:10-13 The word of God allows us to Withstand the schemes of the Devil. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ~ 2nd Corinthians 11:14 The Devil is always scheming, he is crafty, sneaky; a behind the scenes scoundrel. His power is set, limited, by God or he would kill us all. ... Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. ... ~ Luke 22:31-32 We are asked to overcome the snares of the Devil. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ~ 1st Corinthians 10:12 Be the rock you are called to be in the Kingdom of God. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 10:13 God knows you are strong enough to stand against Satan. The Lord takes no pleasure in the fall of a man. Do we abandon our faith in God? Why would God sacrifice His only begotten Son to save us if only to set a trap so that we would fall back into sin? God has faith in us to win for Him if we trust in His power to save. ... who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ~ 1st Timothy 2:4 Trust in God’s power to deliver you, save you. ● 4. The devil won’t quit until you do. Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. ~ Luke 4:13 The Devil does not care how or when he can get you, he is looking for you to turn your heart away from God. ... word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. ~ Matthew 13:19 Jesus wants all to come to His garden. "The seed is the word of God" ⭩     ↓     ⭨           ↓ Good     Thorny     Rocky     Wayside -       Soil         Soil         Soil     impenetrable ↓        ↓        ↓         ↓      Brought forth Life:          Dormant Germinated                      ↓          ⭨        ⭨      ↓   Fruitful                                 Unfruitful (Romans 6:22)                        (Romans 6:21) / | \                                             "... good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. ..." ~ Matthew 13:38-43 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ~ James 4:7 The Devil has nothing to loose but your soul. ● Hold fast to your integrity. ● Persevere all the way. ● Always worship God. ... "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." ~ Job 1:21 The Devil Revealed: 1. Makes his living where we live. 2. He knows what’s going on in your world. 3. His power is real. 4. The devil won’t quit until you do. ... does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. ... ~ John 8:44 "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, ..." ~ Revelation 17:14 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy ... ~ 2nd Thessalonians 2:8 Those who are with our Lord will share in His victory. God has not abandoned His creation to the rule of the Devil. Who are you fighting for ~ or who are you fighting against? "... whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." ~ Matthew 10:32-33 He who sins is of the devil, ... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy ... ~ 1st John 3:8 Are you with the lamb or the dragon?