OUR ENEMY SATAN
I. Background
A. God meant for man to enjoy this world without sin - Gen 1-3
B. Satan - the enemy of God and man intends to destroy us - Gen 3
C. Satan was a created being( immortal NOT eternal ) that was very good in his beginning - Gen 1:31
II. Questions About Satan
A. Was he a fallen angel?
i) God charged his angels with folly - Job 4:18
ii) God cast his angels that sinned into Hell - the pit of darkness - II Pet 2:4
iii) He has angels that serve him - Mt 12:24
iv) Conclusion : Satan and his angels had free will to sin against God and lost
B. Why Does Satan Hate Man ?
i) He rebelled against God and lost ( see above )
ii) He tempted Jesus ( personally and with spirits ) and Jesus overcame every time - Mt 4 ; Mt 10:8
iii) Since his fate is sealed he can only hurt God by destroying man who is God's image - Gen 1:26-27
iv) He walks around seeking who he can destroy - I Pet 5:8
C. How Can He Destroy Us ?
i) He uses our lust and pride to cause us to sin
ii) Lust of the flesh ; lust of the eye ; and the pride of life - I Jn 2:16
iii) When sin completes its job it brings death - Jam 1:14-15
D. How Can We Defend Ourselves?
i) God in us is greater than Satan in the world ( if we are Christians ) - I Jn 4:4
ii) God limits his power - Job 1:12
iii) God will provide a way of escape - I Cor. 10:13
E. What Is The End For Satan And His Followers?
i) Hell prepared for him and his angels - Mt 25:41
ii) Hell not made for us but we have a choice who we will serve and where we will spend eternity
III. Summary
A. Everyone must make a choice - God will not force us to be faithful
B. Satan tried it with God and the Lord and failed
C. Destroying you and me are his only hope of punishing God - he has a plan for each of us
D. He is too powerful for us to battle - but not too powerful for God
E. Surrendering to Satan is easy and destructive
F. Serving God is the hardest thing we will ever do - but it is WORTH it!!