1 Peter 5:8 – Satan’s Tactics: The Master Illusionist – Bible study

1 Peter 5:8 Satans Tactics: Master Illusionist The Bible warns us of Satan, our adversary. Satan is a deadly, not only for the lost but for the saved too. He can steal souls and ruin lives. He is clever and powerful but not invincibleat least not for a Christian. Jesus defeated the devil and through Him, we can as well. It will take salivation butand it is difficult for me to say thisit takes more than salvation alone. It will also take a knowledge of how Satan works. 2Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. The point of Pauls statement is that ignorance breeds defeat. If we are saved AND understand the devil, we can overcome him. If not, he will wreak havoc upon both the souls and the lives of mankind. What do we need to know about the devil? II. Satan is the Master Illusionist A. Satan is a spiritual being. 1. There is only a little comfort to be taken in that fact. a. God comparing mankind to the angels He made said: Hebrews 2:7 Thou madest him (man) a little lower than the angels (the devil was created as an angel); thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: b. So mankind is "lower" than the spiritual beings. (1) Angels are stronger in power than we are. (2) Angels are greater in knowledge than we are. (3) Angels are wiser in understanding than we are. (4) Angels are swifter in mobility than we are. (5) And on many other points, angels are our superiors. 2. Our comfort comes in the fact that without a physical body, angels cannot directly attack us. a. In the Scriptures, the Bible demonstrates over and over again, that demons desire to have a physical body. b. They prefer a human body but will take an animal body if they can. c. They are so desperate for a host that hundreds, even thousands, of demons will inhabit the same body. (1) Jesus came upon a man not possessed by a demon, but by demons. Mark 5:9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. (2) One source said a legion comprised 6,000 troops in Jesus day. https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/legion/ 3. All of this means that for the devil to physically engage a human being, he must possessor at the least influence a body. a. This is why hypnotism, Ouija board, sances, voodoo, and all other occult practices are so dangerous. b. It is also why alcohol and drug use are so dangerous. c. All of these weaken the control that the human spirit has over his own body, making it easier for the devil to gain a foothold inside their bodies. d. Remember, we HAVE a body, but we ARE a soul. Other spiritual beings can take control of our bodies. Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil. e. The devil is looking for a way to get into your mind first and ultimately into your body to possess it, and he is doing an excellent job. August 30, 2019, Baltimore, Maryland – A woman was killed and three others were injured in a possible retaliation to a previous stabbing. August 30, 2019, Mobile, Alabama – Ten people, ranging in age from 15-18, were injured at a high school football game after a fight escalated. August 31, 2019, Frederick, Maryland – Four people were injured after an argument escalated. August 31, 2019, Charlotte, North Carolina – A man was killed and three others were injured at a University of North Carolina at Charlotte off-campus apartment complex. August 31, 2019, Odessa and Midland, Texas – At least five people were killed and twenty-one were wounded in a series of mass shootings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_the_United_ States_in_2019 B. Satan tricks people into hurting themselves. 1. Satan is the master illusionist. 2. Genesis 3 tells us the story of how the devil works: Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? a. To communicate with Eve, Satan had to first take a physical body. There were only two human beings so he took the body of a serpent. b. Satan wanted to mess with Eves mind. How did he do that? (1) \#1\ He questioned what God said. "Did God say do not eat of every tree of the garden?" (2) By doing so, Satan questioned what God meant. "Are you sure that is what God meant?" Genesis 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (3) \#4\ He questioned what God would do. "You will not die." c. With these three seeds of doubt (1) Did God really say that? (2) Did God really mean that? (3) Will God really do that? Satan caused Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and to sin against God. d. Note that: (1) Satans hands never touched the tree, the fruit, or Eve. (2) Satan deceived Eve into doing everything to herself. (3) Isnt that how Satan got you to drink liquor for the first time? use drugs? commit adultery or fornication? curse? steal? (a) "It is not as bad as they say." (b) "You will be all right." (c) "I have done it a hundred times, and Im fine." (4) That is the devil messing with your mind. (5) He is tricking you into hurting yourself. C. Satan can use about anyone. 1. For Eve, Satan used a serpent. 2. For first Adam, Satan used Eve, his wife. Ge 3:6 she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 3. For the last Adam, Satan used Peter, His disciple. Matt 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 4. Satan can use anyone to deceive and seduce you into doing his will. 2Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. a. Stop and think: (1) Who tempted you into doubting the Bible? (a) A friend? (b) A teacher? (c) A book written by a respected author? (d) A preacher? (2) Friend, there are men standing in pulpits today who may glisten like an angel, but the bile of hell flows out of their mouths. b. You say, "But it was my friend. They were trying to help me." (1) A common misunderstanding today is that a wolf in sheeps clothing must come growling, snarling, and biting. (2) No! That is the wolf without the sheeps clothing. (3) In the sheeps clothing is friendly, caring, helpful, and seeming a friend; but he is still a wolf! D. Satan can be defeated. 1. It depends on who you are. a. A lost person cannot defeat Satan. b. For a saved person, the answer is yes and no. 2. Lost person, you cannot defeat the devil. You are already his – lot, stock, and barrel. a. The only thing that keeps you from being filled with the devil is the mercy of God. b. The devil cannot only get into your head but he can also possess you. c. All he needs is Gods permission and the only reason God has not given you to him is that God is merciful and wants to see you saved. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. d. Get this. (1) Every time you go on a drunken binge, a drug high, an enraged tantrum, or entertain yourself with filthy and occultic material, you are asking the devil to come take control of your body. (2) Godand maybe the prayers of a parentare the only ones who has kept him out of you. (3) But the closer to the end times we get, the less Gods mercy is going to do that. (4) That is why stupidity and violence is running rampant through the streets and even the halls of Congress. (5) And it is going to get worse. e. Your only help is in the Savior. 3. Saved person, can we defeat Satan? Yes and no. a. you and I can defeat him in our lives, but we cannot stop his attacks. b. We cannot stop him from attacking us, and we cannot stop him from attacking our friends, family, and world. c. Only God can do that. d. How do we win? There are several truths that I would like to give to you, but I do not have time this morning. e. Let me sum it up in three statements: (1) Be saved. (2) Be surrendered. (a) Not just in church occasionally, but totally surrendered. (b) Studying, listening, learning, and practicing the Word of God.