The Invisible Enemy: Withstanding Satan – Ephesians 6:10-17 – Bible study

The Invisible Enemy

Withstanding Satan

Ephesians 6:10-17

Cooper P. Abrams III

Introduction:

          I have heard many people denying the existence of God, but I do not remember hearing anyone denying that there is a Devil.

          The Bible, Word’s holy and infallible word tells us of Satan, or the Devil and origin. But if we did not have the Bible to tell us of his existence when we look around us at the world we live in and we have to conclude there must be someone behind all the evil in the world.

          In this messages we will look at:

1st. Satan as the author of sin and evil and where he came from.

2nd At how we can resist him.

3nd We will look at how this effected man and explained why the world and man is in the mess he is in.

I. SATAN’S BEGINNING.

A. Ezekiel 28:12-17.
1. Satan was in the Garden of Eden.

2. V13, 17. Satan was created beautiful. He was covered with precious stones.

3. He was a Cherub: He was the highest of all the angels God created. He had a special place of prominence.

4. He was created perfect without sin. verse 15

5. Yet, Satan sinned against God and God cast him down from his high position.

B. Isaiah 14:12-14: Further describes Satan’s sin.

1. Called “Lucifer” meaning the bright one, “the son of the morning”.

2. He was cut down to the ground.

3. His sin: He said in his heart that he would be above God which means to be a god himself. It is interesting that when Lucifer tempted Eve he told her she could be a god.

          He would set up his own throne that men might worship him. Yet God said he would be brought down.

C. The work of Satan?

1 From the beginning he sought to raise himself up…by taking power over others.

2. From the beginning he was a destroyer.

3. Rev. 12:4, states that 1/3 of the Angels in Heaven rebelled with Satan. This is where demons came from.

4. 2 Peter 2:4 says “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.”

          Jude 6 says, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto thejudgment of the great day.”

5. Satan in Matt. 12:24 is called Beelzebub, is the leader of the fallen angels called demons.Other references: Matt. 12:26, 25:41, Eph. 6:11-12, Rev. 12:7, 9.

6. Satan is a created being and can not be in but one place of at any even time.

7. Demons however do the work of Satan, and there are great multitudes of them to do his bidding.

8. Demons not only tempt, but also can possess a human as well as animals.

          Jesus cast out many demons. When a man was possessed, he would control the man and cause him to act like an animal, caused physical disorders. (Matt. 9:32-33) Demons caused people not to be able to speak, to have fits, caused insanity, and deformities.(See Matt. 7:14-18, Mark 5:1-5, 15, Luke 13:10-17)

THIS IS NOT SAYING THAT DEMONS ARE THE CAUSE OF ALL PHYSICAL PROBLEMS! Epilepsy a disease can cause fits, other problems can cause physical disorders.

9. They can not possess saved people! Saved people are indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God. They cannot be demon possessed. They can tempt and deceive a believer who is not versed in the Word of God or is lead by the Holy Spirit.

10. They are greatly at work in false religion and false teachings.

          1 Tim. 4:1-3 states: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.Forbidding to marry, {and commanding} to abstain from meats, which God hathcreated to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know thetruth.”

The Preacher’s commission:

          1 Tim. 4:6 “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

          John warned Christians to be cautions of what they accepted as truth. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:10)

          Paul warned of false apostles, deceitful workers.

          2 Cor. 11:13 “For such {are} false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.”

Paul further warned that they would appear to be legitimate in. 2 Cor. 11:14-15 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformedinto an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers alsobe transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be accordingto their works.”

Jesus warned of false teachers calling them wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Matt. 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

          The Devil sends his demons, where the Gospel is preached to steal the word of God out of their hearts and o cause doubts.

Luke 8:12 “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”

II. THE WAY TO VICTORY OVER SATAN’S ATTACKS.

A. Ephesians 6:10-17. The certainty of attack.

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. “

B. Ephesians 6:13-18

1. Put on the whole amour of God that you may be able to stand.

2. Eph. 6: 14. “STAND, therefore”. Must take a stand, you must be interested enoughto stand.

Standing does not mean apathy towards the things of God.

Standing is not haphazardly attending church, or studying the Bible.

Standing is not making the Lord second, third or fourth place in ones life. Itis placing Him first. (Col. 1:180

Standing means you care, you are faithful.

3. “You stand with your loins girt about with the truth”.

False believe leads to false action.

False believe kills faith.

False believe stops God from acting and giving you the promises of God.

False believe will hurt your testimony.

False believe will cause you confusion, and rob you of the confidence in the Truth of the Bible itself. (2 Pet. 1:20)

To stand in the truth, is to know the Bible and to obey it. It impliesif you do not know the truth you will seek it and learn the truth.

1 John 4:1 instructs Christians to try the spirits!

4. Standing on the truth, obeying the truth, means you stand with the breastplate of righteousness. Note that this presents the Christian as a warrior. His weapons are described.

          Righteousness is being right! Doing right, living a pure and holy life. You can win victories over Satan, by getting into the cesspool with him. You can’t fight sin and be a traitor to the other side. That means you win the personal victory over sin in your life.

5. Verse 15 “Have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

Note: its says “preparation” It means being prepared.

          Remember Matt 5:9: “Blessed are the Peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God”

Gospel = good news, that peace comes from knowing and obeying the truth.

We must be partakes of this peace, and then be actively sparing it with those around you.

          Matt. 28:19-20, The Great Commission: Teaching them to observe all things what so ever I have commanded you….Can you quote the rest? …I will be with you alway, even to theend of the World.

          1 Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and beready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of thehope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

Christ is with those seeking to bring peace to others.

6. “Taking the shield of faith”. Verse 16

          Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossibleto please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and thathe is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

          FAITH = believing God! Without faith, and trust in God’s wisdom and applying this to our lives…we operate outside the realm of God’s power.

          James 1:6-8 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man {is} unstable in all his ways.”

7. “taking the helmet of salvation”.

          It is not talking about “being saved” or initial salvation. If you are saved you are in the Lord’s army already. It is talking about the security of the believer in Christ. People ask do you believe in “once saved always saved”. I reply “absolutely”.Paul explains further in 1 Thess 5:8

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

          So the helmet is a figurative designation of “hope”. The sure hope that those whose trust Christ as savior, have the promise of God, which is eternal life. It is the realization that victory will surely come. All hardship is but temporary. It always easier to fight when you know you will win the battle.

8. “The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Verse 17. This is the only offensive weapon mentioned. The sword is the of the Spirit. Its effectiveness comes from its source which is the Holy Spirit. The word “take” in verse 17, is different from the words in preceding verses. It means to “receive.”

          Alone we have no power, to resist sin or temptation let alone actively war against Satan. That power comes from God. Only the child of God can appropriate the power of God.

          You see the battle is really not ours but God’s. We are warriors in His army. He supplies us, gives us cause, directs us and empowers us to fight as He directs.

Conclusion:

1. Satan is very real and he is very powerful.

2. He seeks to deceive, side track us, disillusion, destroyand confuse us. He wants to keep us from the truth. He is ruthless, will use any means.

3. He will be destroyed, his end is set, and hell is hisdestination. To overcome Satan, and sin that he authored one must trust Christ as their savior. Receive forgiveness of sin.

         

Matt. 25:41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

4. Satan and his demons are at work here. They would have you doubt, they would have you to put it off.

          They will put stumbling blocks in the form of professing Christians who do not live for the Lord.

          You may fully believe that Christ died for you, and yet not trust Christ and receive salvation.

          Satan will shame you, deceive you, intimidate you, to try and keep your from the truth. He is the author of lies. He wants to see you in Hell.

          He will offer you every counterfeit, possible. Why not accept the truth, believe on Jesus Christ and be saved today.

1-23-08