Satan: How To Resist The Devil In Times Of Trouble Series

Meet The Cast Of The Passion Series

Meet Satan: How To Overcome The Devil In Times of Trouble 5 of 7

1 John 3.8 (NASB) March 28, 2004 FBC Chester, Chester, IL

Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction: (Picture of Satan on PowerPoint)

A In Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Satan is portrayed as an androgynous individual. At times he appears to be beautiful, but not completely. Gibson said to Christianity Today this about the devil in The Passion.

a "That’s what I tried to do with the Devil in the film. The actor’s face is symmetric, beautiful in a certain sense, but not completely. For example, we shaved her eyebrows. Then we shot her almost in slow motion so you don’t see her blink –that’s not normal. We dubbed in a man’s voice in Gethsemane even though the actor is a woman. . .that what evil is about, taking something that’s good and twisting it a little bit."

-Mel Gibson, Director of The Passion of the Christ

b At times you can’t tell if Satan is a beautiful woman or a hideous man.

*14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. 2 Cor 11:14 (NLT)

*Satan may appear to be beautiful. . .but it’s a disguise.

B I want to introduce the next cast member of the Passion today, Satan.

8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 (NASB)

a (ETS) The devil’s work has been destroyed by Jesus Christ.

b (ESS) We are fighting against a defeated accuser who has nothing to lose.

C Objective: I hope you’ll courageously charge into the next battle that the accuser brings to you.

a Probing Question: How ready are you to defeat the defeated?

b T.S.: Let’s ask two questions that can help us determine how ready we are to go up against the morning star.

I Who is Satan?

A He’s a clumsy, spoiled brat who wanted God’s job

12 How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground--mighty though you were against the nations of the world. 13 For you said to yourself, "I will ascend to heaven and rule the angels. I will take the highest throne. I will preside on the Mount of Assembly far away in the north. 14 I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High." Isaiah 14:12-14 (TLB)

*Jesus saw the whole thing . . . before creation!

18 "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning! Luke 10:18 (TLB)

a Satan is in heaven one day and looks up to God’s throne.

(God is the Creator, omnipotent, all powerful, and Satan says, "I think I can take him! Whose coming with me?)

b Satan wanted to call the shots, be in control, have the last word.

Sounds like us!

*We want to call the shots in our lives, be in control, sit on the throne!

*Only when we realize God is in control can we sense God’s power in our lives.

B He’s a tattle-tale.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,"Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. Rev 12:10 (NASB)

a Satan is constantly whispering in God’s ear every sin you think & do. Satan is your accuser!!

b Good News from the Good News!!!

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 1 John 2:1 (NASB)

*Every time the devil whispers in God’s ear about your sin, Jesus says, "It’s under the blood, Daddy."

*Satan is not your Judge, jury, or prosecutor . . .he is only your accuser.

c 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Rev 20:10 (NASB)

*The next time the devil reminds you of your past, you remind him of his future!!

C He’s a master deceiver.

7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Rev 12:7-9 (NASB)