Our Adversary Series

The Battle is the Lord’s

Your Adversary

Trans: Two weeks ago we began a study on the topic of spiritual warfare by investigating the reality of this spiritual war b/w the Devil and God.

Text: Ephesians 6:10-17

Note: This Scripture helps us to understand the basic problem – there is a war b/w the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan, and man is the battlefield.

Trans: To help us gain a better perspective of this cosmic battle, we need to move from our Awareness of the war to our Adversary in the war – Satan.

Insert: He goes by many notable names – Satan; Devil; Apollyon; Lucifer – he is an angel of light, Beelzubub, the father of lies, and the god of this world.

Trans: But let me assure you of one thing – He is real, he is at work, and he out to get you and me in his effort to overthrow God and His kingdom.

Reality: But believe it or not – there are countless people who don’t believe in him.

Quote: I have heard it said the best way to spell ‘devil’ is w/ the ‘d’. This reduces the idea of an actual person called the devil to just an influence of evil.

Quote: The devil’s cleverest trick is to make people believe that he does not exist.

Truth: The devil may be out of fashion for some, but he is not out of business.

Quote: I know the devil is in business for 2 reasons – 1st - b/c the Bible says so and 2nd - b/c I’ve had the unfortunate misery of doing business w/ him. Sunday

Trans: Look back at verses 11-13 in Eph. 6. (MSG)

So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we will walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his fallen angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.

Trans: We are at war – and the key to victory over the enemy is in knowing your enemy, analyzing the battlefield, and appreciating your allies and arsenal.

I Satan’s Person

Verse: You had everything going for you. You were in Eden, God’s garden. You were dressed in splendor, your robe studded w/ jewels: Carnelian, peridot, and moonstone, beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald, all in settings of engraved gold. A robe was prepared for you the same day you were created. You were the anointed cherub. I placed you on the mountain of God. You strolled in magnificence among the stones of fire. From the day of your creation you were sheer perfection . . . and then imperfection and evil were detected in you. In much buying and selling you turned violent, you sinned! I threw you, disgraced, off the mountain of God. I threw you out – you, the anointed angel-cherub. No more strolling among the gems of fire for you! Your beauty went to your head. You corrupted wisdom by using it to get worldly fame. I threw you to the ground, sent you sprawling before an audience of kings and let them gloat over your demise. Ez. 28:12-18

A His Position (12-15a)

Note: At the dawn of creation, Satan was the highest ranking of all God’s angelic beings – Lucifer (shining one). He was God’s greatest creation. He was a flawless diamond. He was perfect in his being, and exalted in position.

Note: The jewels cited here are the same found in describing the jewels in the High Priest’s breastplate – a garment intended to reflect the glory of God.

Note: Cherubs are the highest ranking angels given the responsibility of covering the mercy seat and the Ark of the Covenant - protecting the holiness of God.

Note: His access – holy mountain – garden – walking on stones of fire – Angels are not omnipresent – Satan was commissioned to be in God’s presence.

Truth: Satan (Lucifer) was God’s highest creation given the privilege of reflecting God’s glory and protecting God’s holiness – he stabbed God in the back.

B His Pride (15a-18)

1 His Quest for Power

2 His Pursuit of Pride

3 His Thirst for Prestige

4 His Rebellion for Possession

C His Punishment (15a-18)

Note: God threw him out of heaven and made him His archenemy.

Verse: How you have fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! Is. 14:13