The Origin Of The Enemy Series

Victory Over the Devil: An Adventure into the World of Spiritual Warfare

Message from Jack R. Taylor’s book of the same title (1973, Broadman Press; Nashville, TN)

May 13, 2007 p.m. FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction

A Ours is a time when we have denied the existence of the devil, Satan.

1 F.J. Huegal, "There is nothing our age so needs as a reevaluation of evil. There is a need for a fresh definition of evil."

a We need to see our world & surroundings with a sound biblical supernaturalism.

aa That’s not looking for a demon under a rock or an angel on your doorstep.

bb We do need to reorganize the supernatural.

b The biblical supernatural includes a...

aa A sin enemy, savior, equipment

bb We won’t fare well in supernatural warfare until we accept the supernatural.

2 For the most part we have denied (or minimalized/marginalized) the subject of the devil.

a His role in the problems that face our nation, churches, & homes.

b See people saved & don’t even mention the devil’s opposition & attempts to overthrow our works.

B The devil is delighted that we have denied his existence.

1 He doesn’t want the credit for a job well done.

a He resists detection, doesn’t deserve our consideration.

b Like a sniper

2 We can’t defeat the enemy as long as we deny him.

a Tonight, face the foe! Find out who he is!

b Force him to acknowledge the truth (he’s already beaten/defeated)

c Fight the fight of faith, and watch him FLEE.

C Let’s pray

I The Pre-Satanic State

A The Bible does not give us a detailed study of the genesis of the devil (Why? The devil is not the main subject of Scripture).

1 God tells us enough about Satan to prepare us to stand on our rights against him.

2 However, the Word of God does not go into the full history of our enemy.

B Lucifer was a created being with a divine purpose.

1 There are two key texts to help us understand the beginning of the devil (Isaiah 14 & Ezekiel 28).

a Isaiah talks about an earthly king who pride precedes his demise & then begins a discussion of Lucifer, son of the morning, giving reasons for his fall in chapter 14.

b Before his fall he was known as Lucifer, which means "the light bearer" or "the shining one."

c Because Lucifer was a created being, he was perfect, as all of God’s original creation was perfect.

aa You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you. Ezek 28:15 (NASB)

bb Epitome of perfection, no flaw in him.

2 He was a being that was perfect, without flaw, & perfect in wisdom & beauty.

a Do you now wonder why the devil controls so much of the world’s wisdom, beauty, & gains so much benefit for his kingdom from them?

b Evolution, the so-called sexual revolution, acceptance of sexual sin & debauchery of all kinds-we’ve reasoned God out of existence.

3 Lucifer was an entrusted being in heaven with great responsibility in administering the affairs of God.

a There are differing orders of angels, & Lucifer was probably of the highest order, the cherubim.

b You were the anointed cherub who covers... Ezek 28:14a (NASB)

aa "The" implies he’s one of a kind

bb "Anointed" implies a work of God (charming, commanded the admiration of the hosts of heaven).

cc "Covers"-protection/defense. He was probably closer to God’s throne than all of the other hosts of heaven.

c He reflected the glory of God like no other created being.

C Add to this beauty & color

1 It takes color to adequately reflect the full beauty of God (black & white doesn’t cut it!)

a You could have the most colorful coat or dress in the world, but you would never know it in a dark room. When light hits it-WOW!

b God is light, & in Him is no darkness at all (there is no color without light).

c Ezekiel 28:13 describes how colorful Lucifer looked with his stone covering. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, the topaz and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. Ezek 28:13 (NASB)

aa Ruby=reddish brown, topaz=deep yellow, diamond=clear & reflects all colors, beryl=dark red, onyx=multicolored, jasper=blue/green, sapphine (lapis lazuli)=rich blue, emerald (turquoise)=green, emerald (carbuncle)=blood red (jewels in parentheses are where the NASB defines them differently than the KJV).

bb The glory of God hit these stones in their gold settings and it was something to behold!