Satan: September 25, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

SATAN

Defined by Webster:

The chief evil spirit; the great adversary of God and humanity; the devil.

GODS WORD

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9.

WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE

Satan is a person. Yes, there is a personal devil. We read in the scriptures that he appeared before God, he talked with God, and he reasoned with Eve in the Garden of Eden, he tempted Jesus, he performed miracles and signs and he tempts both the saved and unsaved to commit sin. Only a person can take part in an intelligent dialogue and reason, so Satan is a person.

He has been given many names and titles in the scriptures. Some of them are:

• Satan --- “adversary” He does not have the capacity to love or to show mercy. He is called Satan 50 times in the Bible.
• Devil --- “slanderer” this title is used over 100 times in the New Testament
• Abaddon --- “destruction”
• Apollyon --- “destroyer” Found in Revelation 9:11.
• Lucifer --- “day star” or “morning star” he can transform himself into an angel of light. Isaiah 14:12

He is called “the god of this age” in II Corinthians 4:4, the “prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2, the “great dragon” in Revelation 12:9 and the “serpent of old” in Revelation 20:2. Jesus called him the ruler of this world in John 12:31. Remember he is not the ruler of creation but the ruler of the world system. God warns us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” I John 2:15. Satan desires that we all be caught up in his system and be lost. God desires that all accept Jesus Christ and be saved.

Two things you must be aware of concerning the devil. First of all, we are warned to be alert because the devil is our enemy and always looking to tempt us. I Peter 5:7 tells us to “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Second, we have a defense against the deceitful ways of the devil. James tells us to: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. Satan does have power in this world, but God has power over Satan.

On another day we will discuss Satan and his origin, his fall, his work and his present and eternal abodes. We do this study to warn everyone of the power of Satan in this world.

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Give me the strength today to stand up for all that I believe and not to weaken when Satan does his best to tempt me. May the joy of Jesus shine through me to my family, my friends and those that I touch in some way each day. Help me to be an example to others, showing strength in resisting the temptations of the devil.