We learned last week that the definition for devil is accuser.
We also learned what the definition for Satan was.
What was the definition for Satan? Enemy
This is certainly true of the devil, he works against God.
If anything be of God, we should be aware the devil is working against it.
Today we are going to look at the devil’s work against the things of God.
Did you know that if it is from God, if it is of God it is being attacked by the enemy of God?
We as a people and we as a church would be much better off to know this.
Not knowing who the enemy is and how he works, we ourselves will be led away by his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
We are to know he is the enemy of God and the things of God, lest Satan should get advantage of us.
1. An Enemy of God’s Words
Having talked to many outside of Christianity I have been asked the following questions many times.
How do you your bible is right?
Why are there are so many different kinds of bibles?
How do you know that the bible has not been changed?
What makes your bible better than all other religious writings?
I like these kinds of questions, because I have asked these kinds of questions myself.
So why do we have all of this confusion surrounding the bible, because there is a great enemy of the words of God?
1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace,
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace,
The devil’s first communication with man was the manipulation of the words of God.
In Genesis 2.16-17 this is what God said to Adam.
Genesis 2:16-17 (KJV)
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Ø In Genesis 3 we will see what that old serpent does to God’s words.
Genesis 3:1-5 (KJV)
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? 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: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
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? 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: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Notice the character of the devil, subtil.
That is how he works, subtly.
He begins by questioning God’s very words.
Any portion of Scripture that is doubted had begun with a question.
The devil asks, “Yea, hath God said”, did God really say that, is that what God really means?
After placing doubt in the mind of Eve the devil then proceeds to add to, take away and twist the words of God.
The devil strings Eve along, deceiving her and leading her to sin.
The devil attacks the word of God by subtil additions, subtil subtractions, or by subtly twisting its content.
This is taking place today and it is not new.
Why all the confusion over the words of God?
Why all the different English translations and why such differences between them.
I am convinced that one translation stands alone and it is the KJV.
I am further convinced that it is not only a translation but the KJV is the INSPIRED WORDS OF GOD for the English speaking people.
Why such differences between the translations, because the devil is still asking the question today “Yea, hath God said”.
This confusion is of the devil!!!
Here are some comforting words.
Psalm 12:6-7 (KJV)
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Psalm 33:11 (KJV)
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Psalm 100:5 (KJV)
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 119:160 (KJV)
160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Isaiah 40:8 (KJV)
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Matthew 5:18 (KJV)
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 24:35 (KJV)
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
God said he would preserve His Word and He has.
The devil has done a great work to destroy God’s Word.
The work of the devil is exactly why we have all the confusion concerning the words of God.
2. An Enemy of God’s People
The devil hates the nation of Israel.
The devil has worked against Israel from the very beginning.
After Eve ate of the fruit she gave to her husband and he also ate of the fruit.
This is exactly what God had told Adam not to do.
God responded to this by judging all those involved Adam, Eve and the serpent.
A part of God’s judgment on the serpent was this…
Genesis 3:15 (KJV)
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
By studying this scripture out you will find that this is talking about an enmity between the devil and the woman (which is Israel).
Enmity means:
The quality of being an enemy; oppositeof freindship; ill will; haterd; unfriendly dispositions.
Through the OT, there has been an attempt to completely destroy the Jewish people.
Satan has repeatedly moved men’s hearts against the nation of Israel.
All the devils attempts have failed.
We no longer live among the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Gergisites, the Ammorites, and the Moabites.
But the Israelites, God has preserved them even until this day.
Why would the devil want to destroy this nation?
Genesis 12.3 gives us one reason why the devil is an enemy to these people.
Genesis 12:3 (KJV)
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
In thee is speaking of the nation of Israel, what would come from Israel that would bless all peoples from all nations?
The answer is Jesus Christ and the salvation that is in Him.
The devil hates all people and he especially hates this nation, from which Jesus Christ would come.
Another reason why the devil hates God’s chosen people Israel is that they are promised an eternal kingdom.
2 Samuel 7:13 (KJV)
13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
1 Kings 9:5 (KJV)
5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
1 Chronicles 22:10 (KJV)
10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
The devil will be an enemy to this nation until he is cast into the lake of fire.
The devil is continually working against the plans of God.
This will even take place during the seven year tribulation period.
Revelation 12:13 (KJV)
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
The woman is Israel and the man child is Jesus Christ.
3. An Enemy of God’s Son
As we read earlier we know why the devil is against Christ, because in Christ all families of the earth shall be blessed.
Genesis 3:15 (KJV)
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
We talked about the enmity between the devil and Israel but the bible also says that there will be enmity between the seed of the devil and the seed of Israel.
Who is the seed of the devil? We are!!!
Who is the seed of the woman? Jesus Christ.
We are all born into this world sinners, anti-Christ, and without Christ we are of our father the devil.
John 8:44 (KJV)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
There is no neutrality with God; you are either with Him or against Him.
This is a hard truth, yes the devil worked through lost people to destroy Christ.
Just as it is today the devil works through lost people to destroy the word of God, God’s chosen people and the church of God.
Let us look at some of the failed attempts of the devil to destroy the Son of God Jesus Christ.
An angel of the Lord is sent to a virgin girl.
Luke 1:31-33 (KJV)
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
God’s plan was still intact and there is going to be born to this virgin, the God man Christ Jesus.
Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV)
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
This is how Herod founds out about this baby.
Herod is the Roman King and these wise men are not coming to worship him but this child that was born who is the King of the Jews.
Matthew 2:3 (KJV)
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
What troubled this King?
The idea that there was another King!!!
Who do you suppose worked in the heart of this King, in that this King was threatened at the thought of this child? The devil!!!
The King tells the wise men to report back with the location of the child.
The wise men never came back to the King.
Matthew 2:16 (KJV)
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Who moved in the heart of this King to destroy every child aged two years and younger? The devil!!!
This is how stupid the devil is, he thinks he can out maneuver God.
The devil is stupid, the attempt on the Lord’s life failed.
The devil tries again.
Matthew 4:3 (KJV)
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matthew 4:5-6 (KJV)
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Matthew 4:8-9 (KJV)
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
If only the seed of the woman of Jesus Christ would sin, the salvation of those who would believe would not be.
Again, the devil was a failure.
Next, we see the devil even had one of his own followers numbered with the Lord’s disciples.
Luke 22:3-6 (KJV)
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
Most all of us know about this Judas, but what motivated Judas to work against Christ? The devil!!!
The devil apparently had no idea how the plan of God was to work.
The devil was used of God to put Jesus Christ on the cross.
Oh, what a fool that devil was.
In his pride and arrogance he thinks he has something on God, yet over and over again the devil is used by God to fulfill God’s plan.
I am sure of it the devil was there when Jesus was falsely accused, beaten, whipped, spat upon.
The devil was there when the disciples all forsook Jesus, when Jesus was mocked with thorns being platted down on His head, when the criminals mocked him, when a spear was plunged into His side and when Jesus was offered vinegar to drink.
John 19:30 (KJV)
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
It is finished, what was finished?
The payment for the sins of the world was paid, that is what was finished.
That stupid devil was used by God, to put my Savior on the cross to die for me.
What happened to Judas after the devil was done with him?
Matthew 27:3-5 (KJV)
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
The devil is a loser and all those who follow him will lose too.
We are not just talking about devil worshippers we talking all those who have never been saved.
Matthew 12:30 (KJV)
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
You are either with Christ or you are against Christ.
John 8:44 (KJV)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
You are either a child of God or you are a child of the devil.
Where do you stand today?
Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
Does the devil have place in your life?
If you’re not saved, you are following him.
If you have no interest in God’s Word, the devil has place in your life.
Do you work against others getting saved?
Then the devil has place in your life.
Do you work against the church of God?
Then the devil has place in your life.
Our Lord Jesus Christ had, has, and will have victory over the devil and his works.
Whose side are you on?
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