Titles: “Dress for Success/Exposing the Devil’s Masquerade”
Text: Ephesians 6:10-13
INTRO: Look nice – some wearing suit & tie or dresses. Some are more casual. Business world – Dresses or suit & tie (dress codes) John Mallow “Dress for Success” Dress in order to exceed. Christian life takes this concept “Dressing to succeed” – not talking about clothes (I believe God is more concerned about our heart than the clothes you have on). I’m talking about spiritual wardrobe God has for us to stand against the Devil.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (read)
I. Be Strong in the Lord –Verse 10
-Rest in His strength is the main idea, theme of this portion of passage, key to victory.
A. We need to be strong in the Lord – depending on His strength and not ours.
How: Put on the full armor of God.
Why: So we can stand against out adversary
Who: Devil and his clan (strategies)
When: When the day of evil comes
1. Day of evil is a general phrase – indicating a day that comes often.
Q: How many have been bothered by devil & his schemes last week? (been in fight)
TS: Before about how to Dress for Success & the armor of God has for us. We should learn
about our enemy the Devil.
SUBTITLE: Exposing Devil’s masquerade, 4 things about devil
I. Devil’s very subtle 0 verse 11 word schemes GK (methods)
Method – procedure or process for achieving an end
A. Method – something you do over & over again because it works, you have success.
Ex. Football use same running, passing. Make adjustments at half time-use different approach.
1. Like Devil one thing fails, he’ll use something else.
-Methods of trickery & deceit he’s been using for thousands of years, has them perfected. He’s the
master of deceit, father of lies.
II Cor. 11:14 Apostle Paul writes, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
B. No way we can stand against him – too clever. He’s been practicing on humans for a long time.
Ex. Playing chess with kid at camp – been playing a lot longer, knows more tactics & strategies – no
contest.
That’s why it’s important that we go to the Father and get some plans and tactics and that’s what He gives us to counter the enemy.
Briefly discuss:
6 pieces of armor
5 defensive – each defensive weapon counter/response against Devil
1 offensive
Defensive:
1. Belt of truth (response to devil tactic of deceiving us with error, a lot of groups teaching today of
Christianity.
2. Breast late of righteousness – response against dirtying our lives with sin.
3. Gospel shoes of peace response divide our hearts, rob us of our peace, division from within, between
one another.
4. Shield of faith – response to fiery arrows of doubt that would hinder us and our walk, prevent trusting
God.
5. Helmet of salvation – response to the attacks on our thought, command and control center.
Talk more in the coming weeks…
C. Devil is so subtle – world does not believe he exists in many parts of the west.
II Cor. 4:4 “The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
1. Figment of our imagination, fairy tale
2. Liberal theology – attacking Bible on supernatural things. Many Christians don’t believe in
the devil. Ex. Mike Warnky “Satan seller High Priest” talk about playing on this very idea,
people into cult, lady dress up in Halloween devil suit and just as friend walking in making a
wish, doing a spell “playing a game”. Spend night, slowly start bringing new person in…very
subtle.
TS: 2nd thing learn about devil.
II. Very Sinister – vs. 12 (read) evil
A. Spiritual mafia – heads a big organization. Took 1/3 of the angles with him when he was thrown out
of heaven.
B. Some of his names: Devil, accuser of the brethren, adversary Beelzebub, belial, deceiver of the whole
world, Great dragon, the evil one, father of lies, god of this world, murderer, serpent, prince of this
world, prince powers of the air, tempter.
C. One of Satan’s purposes: is to hurt & bring as much pain to God as he can.
1. God is all powerful, can not be tempted. James 1:13 “God cannot be tempted by evil” – so
there is no way Satan can get back to God except one.
2. Hurt God’s children – the only way Satan can attack God is through His children. Ex. Attack
me but when it comes to my children, brings a lot of hurt and pain.
C. One of satan’s purposes: is to hurt & bring as much pain to
1. God is all powerful, can not be tempted.
James 1:13 “God cannot be tempted by evil” — so there is no way satan can get back at God except one.
2. Hurt God’s children — the only way satan can attack God is through His children.
ex. attack me but when comes to my children…brings a lot of hurt and pain.
3. Satan probably could care less about us — we’re only a means in which He can inflict hurt on God.
D, Be on guard — I Peter 5:8 “Be self controlled and alert. Our enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
E. Time is short - Rev 12:12B “He is filled with fury, because he knows his time is short.”
1. Environment shrinking — used to be in Heaven, cast to earth, soon to be thrown into a pit for 1000 years (Rev 20) and then into the lake of fire.
**like a wounded animal that you’re closing in for the kill —— is very dangerous!
III. Devil is a spiritual being
A. Created being — Ezk. 28:12 tells us Satan was created a model of perfection, guardian, cherub, arc angel.
— scholars tell us one of the most beautiful creatures made, model of perfection, in charge of worship. Until overtaken with pride~ driven in disgrace, expelled from Heaven.
**Recognize all spiritual things not from God.
B. Spiritual hunger reports & surveys say people are hungering for spiritual things.
ex. 1-900 numbers “learn about your future” pyramids, crystals
Shirley McClain 10,000 year person talking to her
ex. Lady in accounting very interested in this but I ask about church & God said she’s not interested.
1. I believe God put this void in our lives — that only He can fill and people try and put things in it but they will never fill it.
2. Be careful — I John 4:1 “Apostle John writes we need to test the spirits to see if they are from God.” because: I Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith or follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
ex. David Koresh, people looking for something spiritual hunger, Koresh masquerades as religious leader/Lamb of God, Christ. Result…numerous dead.
a. Satan masquerades as an angel of light — unholy trinity found in Rev. 16 ——Satan, false prophet, beast
IV. Devil is strong Jude 1:9 “But even the archangel Michael, when disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
A. Satan rules his empire by brute force — if there was one stronger than him, he would not be ruling. He’s in charge of his domain because he’s the strongest.
B. Jesus temptation in Luke 4 — 2nd temptation showed kingdoms of the world it’s yours. If you bow down and worship me. Shows us Satan wants to he worshipped as God. (That’s what got him in trouble in the first place)
IN CONCLUSIQN: “Dress for success” Series of messages next few weeks.
Give us a better understanding of spiritual battle.
KEY: vs 10 “Be strong in the Lord” (in His power, not in ours)
TODAY: wanted us to learn a little more about our adversary and what he is trying to accomplish.
— Could have done a series on Satan, but I don’t want to give him too much recognition.
2 things happen (extremes)
1. Don’t believe in Satan
2. Give him too much credit
I believe we need to know about him but realize Christ rules and reigns.
A. Christians — greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.
— Christ has taken the sting of death away
ex. Girl in car with bee, allergic, dad takes stinger in hand.
Satan like bee flying around with no stinger, still can cause problems but can’t destroy us spiritually.
PRAY
