Is There Really A Devil?

IS THERE REALLY A DEVIL?

Introduction:

During one of my hospital visits the subject of - is there really a devil came up. My answer to one of the visitors was, he not only exists but God gave us various weapons for spiritual warfare. This was also my opportunity to invite the woman to the Sunday service at the church building. The following is the sermon I preached that Sunday:

I. Temptation of Christ:

A. The 40 day period in the wilderness when Jesus was tempted by the devil (Luke 4:1 - 13). Jesus first temptation ( to turn stones to bread ) was to use his divine power to satisfy his own physical needs. The second ( to jump off the temple ) was to perform a spectacular feat so the people would follow him. The third was to gain possession of the world by worshiping Satan.

B. One motive lay behind all these temptations ; Satan wanted to destroy Jesus’s mission. Because Jesus’s death would destroy Satan’s power, Satan wanted Jesus to pollute His life and ministry. The ultimate issue behind these temptations was idolatry. The real purpose of Satan’s temptation was that he might be worshiped instead of God.

II. Temptation the devil’s number one weapon!

A. An enticement or invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience. In this sense, God does not tempt people, nor can He himself as the holy God be tempted ( James 1:13 ). God cannot be induced to deny Himself ( 2 Timothy 2:13 ). The supreme tempter is Satan ( Matthew 4:3, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 1 Thess. 3:5 ), who is able to play upon the weakness of corrupted human nature ( James 1:14 ) and so to lead people to destruction.

B. The gospel of Jesus Christ directs us to resist temptation, promising blessedness to those who do ( James 1:12 ). The gospel also directs us to pray for deliverance from exposure to temptation and from surrender to it ( Matthew 16:13, Luke 11:14 ). The Lord will not allow His people to encounter temptation beyond their Spirit - given ability to resist ( 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2Peter 2:9 ).

III. Some titles for the Devil:

A. Devil ( accuser, slanderer ) - Satan is his common name, and devil is what he is - the accuser or deceiver. The title “devil” appears 35 times in the New Testament of the NKJV.

B. The wicked or evil one ( Matthew 6:13, 13:19, 38, 1John 2:13 ). This phrase depicts the devil’s fundamental nature. He is in direct opposition to everything God is or all He wishes to do. He is the source of all evil and wickedness. For the devil “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” ( 1Peter 5:8).

C. The enemy ( Matthew 13:25, 28, 39). The devil is our worse enemy. This is one enemy Jesus does not want us to love. He is an enemy of Christ, the Church and the gospel, and he is tireless in his efforts to uproot good and sow evil.

IV. The ruler of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11) .

A. Three times Jesus called the devil the “ruler of this world”. The devil offered the world to Jesus if he would worship him (Luke 4:5-7). But the Lord refused with these words, “Get behind me, Satan” (Luke 4:8). At Calvary God dealt a death blow to this world ruler. It is only a matter of time before God will win the final victory at the end of time (1John 3:8, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 12:7).

Conclusion:

The final victory! Read (Revelation 20:1-15) God also gave us various weapons for spiritual warfare read (Ephesians 6:13- 18, & verses 23,24).

*Reference work Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

July 7,2001

By Norman Mc Leod