Surviving In Satan's Realm Series

Turn your Bibles to John 10:27-29

Title: Surviving in Satan’s Realm

Theme: Our Most Persistent Enemy Explored

Series: Grasping Our Authority in Christ

John 10: 27-29 says, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one." Pray!

Introduction: “Grasping Our Authority in Christ” will cover six different topics, the first being “Grasping Kingdom Authority.” In this series thus far we have “Exposed Our Enemies,” come to understand “A Battle Rages” and today we will come to know “Surviving in Satan’s Realm.”

In his teaching on this truth, Dr. Adrian Rogers intrigued his listeners with a game called “Antonyms.” He would say a word and those playing were to say a word that was an antonym. For example, when Adrian said the word “good,” many would say the word “evil.” When Dr, Rogers said “light” many would answer “dark.” When he said “up” many would answer “down.”

However, when we say the words, “God, Christ, and Holy Spirit” there is no antonym. The Triune God has no opposite because they have no equal. Satan is not God’s opposite. Satan is created and he is a creature under God’s control. No one needs to give Satan greater status than is due him.

Proposition: I would propose to you that Satan’s power is limited. However, he has been given power on earth.

He roams through the earth doing as much damage as possible in his limited time and authority. In warfare the better you know your enemy the more effective you are in overcoming him. Christians dare not be ignorant of the devil’s schemes and his limited powers.

Christians who enjoy their authority in Christ take to heart what is written by the Apostle Peter, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11)

Interrogative Sentence: Just what does the Word of God teach about Satan? How do we survive in Satan’s realm?

Transitional Sentence: Christians who “Grasp Their Authority in Christ” know that Satan was originally created to be a true worshiper of the Lord, yet chose to fall. Ezekiel 28 lists some clues to the heart of Satan. Ezekiel 28 contains difficult passages of Scripture to understand because it shifts focus between the king of Tyre and a figurative character that has been in the presence of God who had authority. (The New American Commentary)

It is believed by many that the King of Tyre was being compared to Satan (The New American Commentary; Cooper, L.E. “Ellison, Ezekiel”) and it has been suggested as well that Satan was the true king of Tyre working through a physical man. (Walvoord, Zuck of the Bible Knowledge Commentary) Listen to these Holy Spirit inspired Scriptures that I believe show the heart of man being controlled by a spiritual being who was once in the presence of God and enjoyed authority that was once given by God. “You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God… You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:12-15)

The whole of Scripture teaches that mankind is wicked from conception and all mankind’s heart is wicked apart from God miraculous work within man. (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 56:11) The Bible also teaches that unrepentant mankind can be taken captive by Satan to commit continued acts of disobedience. (2 Timothy 2:26; Ephesians 2:2).

I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to grasp that Satan had authority in heaven, was made perfect and had all the opportunity to worship the Lord for eternity, but pride and rebellion invaded his heart, thus causing Satan to be cast from heaven to earth. Satan, the master rebel, has no trouble luring mankind to rebel against God because he is the root of all rebellion and lies. The Bible says Satan entered Judas Iscariot moved him to betray Christ. (Luke 22:3-4; John 13:27) All Christians who enjoy their authority in Christ, walk in a Biblical fear of Satan and say to him as did the Archangel Michael “…The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9) not with a haughty spirit, but in a true spirit of humility.