"We are not ignorant of his devices."(2Cor.2:11)
A. God created the devil:
Pro.16:4 - The Lord hath made all things...even the wicked
Isa.45:7 - I form the light, & darkness...& create evil: I the Lord do all these things
Ezk.28:14,15 - Anointed cherub...from the day thou wast created
Jn.1:3 - All things were made by Him (Jesus)
Col.1:16 - By Him (Jesus) were all things created
B. The devil's fall through pride:
Isa.14:12-15 - Thou hast said...I will be like the most High
Ezk.28:13-17 - Thine heart wast lifted up because of thy beauty
1Tim.3:6 - Lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the (same) condemnation of (judgement as) the devil
A. Satan could only afflict Job as God permitted:
Job 1:6-12 - All he hath is in thy power; only on him put not...hand
Job 2:1-7 - He is in thine hand; but save his life
B. God rules over the entire world:
Dan.4:17 - The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, & giveth it to whomsoever He will
Dan.4:34,35 - He doeth according to His will...& none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?
Psa.24:1 - The earth is the Lord's (See also Acts 17:24)
Psa.89:11 - The heavens are Thine, the earth also is Thine
Job 41:11 - Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is Mine
C. But, within limitations, He allows the devil to rule it:
Jer.27:5 - I (God) have made the earth...& have given it to whom it seemed meet (appropriate) unto Me
Lk.4:5,6 - All the kingdoms of the world...all this power & the glory of them...is delivered unto me (Satan)
Jn.12:31 - The prince of this world (See also Jn.14:30; 16:11.)
2Cor.4:4 - The god of this world
Eph.2:2 - Prince of the power of the air
D. The devil rules over the fallen angels:
(See Mat.12:24; Lk.11:15; Rev.12:3,4,7-9.)
A. God's power is much greater than the devil's:
1Jn.4:4 - Greater is He(Jesus) that is in you than he (the devil) that is in the world
Lk.10:17 - The devils are subject unto us through Thy name
Lk.10:19 - I give unto you power..over all the power of the enemy: & nothing shall...hurt you
Phi.2:9-11 - At the name of Jesus every knee should bow
Jam.2:19 - Thou believest that there is one God; the devils also believe, & tremble
(See also Zech.3:2; Jude 9.)
B. Jesus defeated the devil:
1Jn.3:8 - The Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil
Heb.2:14 - Through death He (destroyed) him that had the power of death, that is, the devil
Col.2:15 - Spoiling principalities & powers...triumphing over them
Lk.10:18 - I saw Satan fall as lightning from Heaven
C. Jesus ' power to exorcise (cast out) demons:
Mat.8:16 - He cast out the (devils) with His Word
Mat.9:32,33 - When the devil was cast out, the dumb spake
Mat.12:22 - One possessed with a devil...& (Jesus) healed him
Mat.12:28 - I cast out devils by the Spirit of God
Mk.1:34,39 - He cast out many devils; & suffered not (did not allow) the devils to speak
Lk.4:33-36 - With authority & power He commandeth unclean spirits
Lk.9:42 - Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, & healed the child
Lk.8:27-33 - [Jesus rebuked Legion; the devils went into the herd of swine] (See also Mk.5:1-15)
Acts 10:38 - Jesus...(healed) all that were oppressed of the devil
(See also Mk.1:23-17; 7:25-30; 9:17-27.)
D. Jesus gave His disciples power over the devil:
Mat.10:1 - He gave them (His disciples) power against unclean spirits, to cast them out
Lk.9:1 - He...gave them power & authority over all devils
Acts 5:16 - There came [to the disciples] them which were vexed with unclean spirits: & they were healed every one
Rom.16:20 - The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet
(See also Acts 8:6,7; 19:11,12; 26:17,18.)
E. Jesus gives all believers power over the devil including you:
Mk.16:17 - These signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils
Lk.9:49,50 - We saw one casting out devils in Thy name [It wasn't only the apostles who had this power]
Jn.14:12 - He that believeth on Me, the works I do shall he do also
1Jn.2:14b - The Word of God abideth in you & ye have overcome the wicked one
A. Our war against the devil:
2Cor.10:3-5 - The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
Eph.6:10,11 - Be strong...put on armour...stand against the devil
Eph.6:12,13 - We wrestle...against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness...withstand
(See also 1Sam.16:23; Rev.12:7,17.)
B. Be on guard against & resist & defy the devil:
1Pet.5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
1Pet.5:9 - Resist (the devil) stedfast in the faith
Eph.4:27 - Neither give place to the devil
Mat.4:10 - Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only
Mk.8:33 - Get thee behind [away from] me, Satan
C. Promises to claim when fighting & overcoming the devil:
Isa.59:19b - When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him
Mat.16:19 - Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound
Lk.10:19 - I give unto you power...over all the power of enemy
Rom.16:20 - The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet
Jam.4:7 - Resist the devil, & he will flee from you
1Jn.2:14 - Ye are strong, & the Word of God abideth in you, & ye have overcome the wicked one
1Jn.4:4 - Greater is He (Jesus) that is in you, than he (the devil) that is in the world
D. Be prepared for battle when confronting the devil:
Mat.12:29 - How can one enter into a strong man's house...except he first bind the strong man?
Mk.9:29 - This kind can come forth (only) by prayer & fasting
Acts 19:13-17 - [Seven sons of Sceva attempted exorcism without being full of Jesus themselves, & met disastrous results]
E. United prayer for deliverance of the oppressed:
Mat.18:19,20 - If two of you shall agree...ask, it shall be done
Eccl.4:9-12 - Two are better than one
F. They must get filled up with Jesus & Word once they're delivered; or they may end up worse than they were at first:
Lk.11:24-26 - Unclean spirit, gone out of a man [returns to him, finds him empty, & re-enters with 7 other spirits]
(See also Mat.12:43-45a)
A. Don't be ignorant of the devil's devices:
Gen.3:1a - The serpent was more subtil than any beast
2Cor.2:11 - Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices
Eph.6:11 - Stand against the wiles of the devil
B. The devil is a liar & deceiver:
Gen.3:1b - [Creates doubt of Word:] Yea, hath God said?
Jn.8:44b - For he is a liar, and the father of it
Acts 5:1-4 - Satan filled...heart to lie to the Holy Ghost
2Cor.11:3 - As serpent beguiled Eve...so your minds be corrupted
2Cor.11:13,14 - Satan...transformed into an angel of light (See also 2Thes.2:9-11)
1Jn.4:1,3 - Beloved, believe not every spirit (See also 1Tim.4:1.)
Rev.12:9 - The devil, Satan, which deceiveth the whole world
C. The devil tries to turn men from salvation:
Mk.4:15 - When they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, & taketh away the Word (See Mat.13:19; Lk.8:12.)
Acts 13:8,10 - Elymas...child of the devil (sought) to turn away the deputy from the faith
2Cor.4:4 - The (devil) hath blinded the minds of (unbelievers) lest light of the gospel...should shine unto them
D. "The hinderer":
Zech.3:1 - Satan standing at his right hand to resist him
1Thes.2:18 - We would have come...but Satan hindered us
E. Specific "devices" to be on guard against:
Mat.16:21-23 - [Leads men to contradict & doubt truth. Ex. of Peter]
Jn.13:2 - Devil, having put into the heart of Judas...to betray
Acts 13:10 - Child of devil...not (ceasing) to pervert right ways
1Cor.14:33 - For God is not the author of confusion
Col.1:13 - Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness
2Tim.1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear
1Jn.3:10 - [Hatred:] Children of devil...loveth not his brother
A. Satan tempts men to sin:
(See Gen.3:1-6; 1Chr.21:1-3,7,8; Mat.4:3-9; 1Cor.7:5; Lk.4:1-13)
B. The devil is the accuser, like a prosecuting attorney:
Rev.12:10 - The accuser of our brethren...which accused them before our God day & night
Job 1:6 - The sons of God came....before the Lord, & Satan came also [Note: "Satan" means "accuser"]
C. Jesus is our advocate, like a defense attorney:
1Jn.2:1 - If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
Rom.8:34 - Who is he that condemneth? Christ...at the right hand of God, maketh intercession for us
Heb.9:24 - Christ is...entered...into Heaven, to appear in the presence of God for us (See also 1Tim.2:5)
A. He causes bondage, snares & oppression:
(See Lk.8:29b; Acts 10:38; Rom.8:15; 1Tim.3:7; 2Tim.2:26.)
B. Disease:
(See Job 2:7; Lk.13:11,12,16; 2Cor.12:7.)
C. And destruction:
(See Jn.8:44a; Heb.2:14; 1Pet.5:8,9.)
D. God sometimes uses the devil to punish the disobedient:
(See 1Sam.16:14; 1Cor.5:5; 1Tim.1:20.)
E. Satan seeks to subvert the saints:
Job 1:8-11 - Doth Job fear God for nought? Put forth Thine hand
Job 2:3-5 - Put forth Thine hand...& he will curse Thee
Lk.22:31 - Satan hath desired to...sift thee as wheat
A. Some are bound, awaiting judgement:
2Pet.2:4 - Angels that sinned...into chains of darkness
Jude 6 - Reserved in everlasting chains unto judgment
B. Apparently most are still loose, their time not yet come:
Mat.8:28,29 - Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?
C. Devil not yet cast out of Heaven; has access to throne:
Job 1:6; 2:1 - Sons of God...before God, & Satan among them
Rev.12:10 - Which accused them before God day & night
Rev.12:7-9, 13,14 - [The devil completely cast out of Heaven at the beginning of the last 3-1/2 years, in the time of the end]
D. Devil will be bound 1,000 years in God's prison:
Rev.20:1-3,7, 10 - [Satan bound 1,000 years, afterward released for a short time before being thrown into lake of fire]
E. Devil & his demons finally thrown into lake of fire:
Mat.25:41 - Everlasting fire prepared for devil & his angels
Rev.20:10 - The devil was cast into the lake of fire & brimstone
A. Your spiritual armour:
Eph.6:11,13 - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil
Rom.13:12 - Let us cast off the works of darkness, & let us put on the armour of light
2Cor.6:7 - The armour of righteousness on the right hand & on the left
B. Your mighty shield:
Eph.6:16 - Take the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
Psa.91:4 - His truth shall be thy shield & buckler
Psa.3:3 - Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me (See also Psa.28:7; 33:20; 115:9; 144:2; Pro.30:5.)
C. Your invincible sword of the Spirit:
Eph.6:17 - Take...the sword of the Spirit...the Word of God
Heb.4:12 - The Word of God is...quick(alive) & powerful, & sharper than any two-edged sword
D. Your breastplate:
Eph.6:14 - Stand...having on the breastplate of righteousness (See also Isa.59:17)
1Thes.5:8 - Let us...put on the breastplate of faith & love
E. Your impenetrable helmet:
Eph.6:17 - Take the helmet of salvation
1Thes.5:8 - Let us...put on for an helmet, the hope of salvation
A. God gives us overcoming power:
Lk.10:19 - I give you power over all the power of the enemy
Eph.3:16 - That He would grant you...to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man
2Tim.1:7 - God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, & of love, & of a sound mind
B. Freedom from the devil's snares & bondage:
Psa.91:3 - He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler
Psa.124:7 - Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, & we are escaped
Pro.14:27 - Fear of the Lord [helps] depart from snares of death
2Cor.3:17 - Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
2Tim.2:25,26 - Acknowledging of the truth...that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil
C. Delivered into God's glorious Kingdom of light:
Acts 26:18 - Open their eyes...turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God
Col.1:12,13 - Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness... partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light
D. The devil cannot separate us from God:
Rom.8:38,39 - Neither angels, nor powers...nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from...Christ Jesus
1Pet.1:5 - Who are kept by the power of God...unto salvation
A. They outnumber the devil's forces two to one:
2Ki.6:16,17 - They that be with us are more than they that be with them...mountain was full of...chariots of fire
Rev.12:3,4 - (Satan's) tail drew the third part of the stars (angels)
(See also Rev.5:11)
B. Their fantastic flaming weapons:
Gen.3:24 - Cherubims & a flaming sword, which turned every way
2Ki.6:17 - The mountain was full of horses & chariots of fire round about Elisha
(See also Num.22:23; 1Chr.21:16.)
C. They battle against & defeat the devil:
Rev.12:7-9 - Michael & his angels fought against...the (devil) & his angels [& the devil's forces were defeated]