We Believe in the Devil

So much for coming out Sunday evening as we have these evening services once a month in June, July and August and as we been singing I would going through the series. We believe many years ago when I was living in the in the UK there is a very popular song sung by a group called the bachelors.

Don't know if there were ever came over to the US by the expression on your faces. I don't think so, but they had a very catchy song called, we believe, I believe. I believe for every aggressive drain of every blade of grass that grows a flower falls or something like this but kept saying I believe. I believe I believe as we were singing we believe us thinking of that song because it was a catchy song but it never yet said, what we believe in. And this morning as we were thinking of knowledge. As Paul writes in Romans six he says we know in this important that we believe is absolutely essential that we know what we were leaving in so it's not just a mystical I believe. I believe I believe people say well I'm a person of faith. The question is faith and what faith in yourself, or faith, in whom so in the series, as most of you know we going to your articles of faith of Calvary church and this is the second last one and the subject as we believe in the devil. So let's pray father we come now to your holy word. We thank you for the clear revelation of yourself in Scripture. Even as we saw our brothers and sisters in Christ, being baptized as a reminder to us that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried, and that on the third day he rose again. According to the Scriptures, we believe that we believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. We believe that he is our Savior. We believe that he is resurrected from the dead, and is coming soon and we believe this book, the Bible is your revelation and it is with great joy that we turn once again to his pages. As we think of the subject is very very important subject of the devil that we will read what you have told us about the devil's understanding and continue to bless us as we ask it in Christ's name.

Amen. Let me ask you to open your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 6 the letter Paul to the Ephesians is one of Paul's probably one of his most popular epistles, only six chapters. As he deals with the church and I would going to come out towards the end of the book in Ephesians chapter 6 and the majority versus 10, 11 and 12, Paul is been talking about the outpouring of the Spirit or the building, being filled with the Spirit in chapter 5 818. He talked about family life. We talked about the importance of submission in the Christian life is no as is wrapping up this epistle. He says this in Ephesians 6, verse 10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places that starting therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm and then he goes through the various parts of the armor of God, which were not going to look at this evening that which I command.

It is clear from the Scripture and others that followers of Jesus Christ that we were involved in an intense battle. The battle is not against our fellow human beings. Sometimes we as Christians would appear that we are fighting one another about Paul says very clearly that our battle is not against flesh and blood is true within the battle, but it is not against other human beings, but it is as we read, against the rulers, think of this, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. We live in a dark world only world which in many cases seems to be getting darker and darker and Paul is writing in the first century and reminding us of this spiritual warfare that this is real and that Calvary church. Yes, we believe in the devil.

Article 14 of an article sulfate states that as we believe that that is a personal devil, a being of great cunning and power to escort the prince of the power of the air, the prince of this world, the god of this age.

These are all biblical references to the devil's our statement goes on to say we believe that he can exact vast power, but only so far as God suffers them to do so that he shall ultimately be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, and shall be tormented day and night forever. We believe in the devil as Paul writes in Ephesians and elsewhere. We understand this, that Satan and his forces are very organized. All repairs here in verse 11, to the schemes of the devil.

Think about the devil's schemes. Strategies in the two Corinthians 2 verse 11.

Paul warns us not to be outwitted by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his designs, I'm afraid. Sometimes we are ignorant of his designs and sometimes we are outwitted this intelligent being with the strategies he wants to outwit us.

Peter writes in first Peter 58 be sober minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Amazing picture of the devil. He's got schemes. He's trying to witness is trying to destroy is is trying to bring us time without this morning of the part of sin in our life but here's another power. The power of our enemy is like this roaring line with the graphic picture of a lion hungry line piling on just looking to produce on someone and to devour them. So says Peter.

Be sober, be watchful, so if we are to be successful in the spiritual battle. We must know our enemy. Yes, he is the adversary. He is the devil I want to say five things about the devil. First of all, our enemy is the devil, and he is number one. He is a personal being.

While the majority of Americans believe in God. Many do not believe in the devil is often dismissed as a figure of Final Fantasy with a pointed tail and horns. The joke of comedians to be dismissed with a smile, but the devil is not a mere force is not a mere symbol is not a mere influence.

He is a personal being.

Remember when our Lord after his wonderful at baptism. The Gospels record our Lord going into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Think of the identity of an enemy that he's actually going to attempt the sun of God. Matthew four verse one then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The devil was trying to divert our Savior from his task of coming into this world is the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world know what strategy did our Lord use against the devil when he was tempted. What weapon did our Lord Jesus, God's work. Scripture, the word of God over and over again, even the Satan misquotes in courtside of contact Scripture Jesus as the devil, for it is written, for it is written here is one of the ways the most powerful way of standing against the devil.

Some hundred 19 verse 11 your word of I hid in my heart I have treasured in my heart that my notes and against your the power of the word of God.

So the Bible teaches that there is a devil below refers to the cosmic powers over this present darkness, I find it amazing that many people ridicule the reality of a personal devil, but often they're the same people who believe in extraterrestrial intelligence.

Another plan is that if I just know they they fingers life on Mars.

Are there some extraterrestrial beings abandon the planet, and who knows, really, who cares, but we do know this but the god of this age, the present ruler of darkness exists. He is the devil number one is a personal being number two. He is a created being all of the Angels including Satan as a fallen angel were created by God. Colossians 116 for by him all things were created in heaven and on not visible and in visible, so the Angels are spiritual created beings are not eternal beings.

They didn't always exist was a time when there were no angels, God alone is eternal some point in the time of day. God chose to create the spiritual beings that we know as angels. Each angel was created by God, angels are not born there's no baby angels. Sorry to disappoint you in these lovely little postcards.

No baby angels. Angels longer all angels on die and by the way, when we as followers of Jesus died. We don't become angels with a wicked people get the idea that you know a little angel in heaven.

I'm never going to be a little angel anywhere you said no that I Jesus didn't say that when the dad dries, they will be angels in heaven. Rather, he says you will be like angels in heaven, and that there is no marriage in heaven and having when we die were going have glorified bodies were not going to become angels. These are created beings. How many of them. We don't know that on multitudes of angels. Hebrews 12 verse 22 describes them as an innumerable number Revelation 5 verse 11,007 regarding the Angels of myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands what I think there are spiritual beings. Hebrews 1 verse 14 the writer says regarding angels, are they not all ministering spirits sent out to set for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation. Wonderful to know that there angels are there to help us as followers of Christ regarding angels protecting us helping us in ways we can see, but which are there. Normally they are invisible, we can see them but sometimes they appear in visible form. Remember the story and second King sex with Elisha and the Elisha sound but doesn't see the Angels and the chariots of fire.

And Elisha says, oh Lord, please open his eyes that he may see the seven Sizer opens agreed the story and that wonderful story and second King. Six and he sees the angelic hosts chariots of fire so they can appear invisible form as spirit beings. It's possible for many angels to be present in one place, member and collegian says and locate verse 30 that many demons witnessing the minute a demon is a fallen angel many demons entered Legion so there myriads of myriads of that we don't know however how many angels can balance on the point of a pin. That was a great debate in the medieval times. What an interesting debate people sadly not interested in these things today, but there are myriads of myriads of angels. So first of all their personal being. Secondly, there created beings thirds the devil is a fallen being a fallen angel was read about that in Isaiah chapter 14 is in the Old Testament book of Isaiah � 14 Satan's are subject this evening is a created angel who sins said that no state was an angel. Yes is a created angel created by God, and he fell, he said endlessly about his fall in Isaiah 14 verse 12. How are you fallen from heaven, or DayStar, son of Don, how you are cut down to the ground and you laid the nations low. You said in your heart to this I will ascend to heaven above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high. I will sit in the mind of assembly in the far reaches of the North. I will ascend upon the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the most high, but you brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. As I also tell is it also tells us, and provided in Ezekiel chapter 28 here is Lucifer described as the anointed guardian cherub. One of the most beautiful of the Angels created by God but do you notice in the passage I read five times. He says I will I will I will I will exit private he the start of the morning wanted to be equal with God upon lay in his pride in his audacity. He tried to dethrone God and for his rebellion. He's cast-iron and he continues to promote rebellion against God in Scripture Satan is given various names, which described his rebellion is called the Dragon the devil saffron to the tempter, the Prince of the part of the air.

A roaring lion deceiver, an angel of light and so on. Wants to be proud and he's cast-iron and by the way Satan whispers in your ear unit in control know God, you lift your life challenges always morning to present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice is a very last thing that the devil wants. He wants you and say steer you in control you live your own life.like God or anyone else.

Your parents or anyone else to tell you how to live. You live your own life. You go ahead you're the boss, that's Satan.

So he's cast-iron and as a sconce done that are a number Revelation 12 verse four possibly 1/3 of the angels are cast-iron with him. These are angels along with Satan, who also rebel against God, and that these fallen angels are called demons and of the angels which fell with Satan that appeared to be two categories.

Some are presently bound in a spiritual prison and some are not bonds done with me to second Peter chapter 2, I find this intriguing saying the beginning God created all of the Angels Satan and some of the Angels rebel against God there cast-iron and of the ones who are cast-iron them into categories and there's a category who are presently in prison say that strange well here it is. Second Peter chapter 2 verse 4 foot of God did not spare angels when they send, but cast them into hell. Strictly talk to this and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness, to be kept on till the judgment presently in chains and darkness and again in the little epistle of Jude 2nd last book in the Bible just before Revelation Jude just as one chapter and verse six Jude verse six children second Peter go over a few pages you will come to Jude and the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day. So some of them in this gloomy darkness in chains, others Satan and the demons are not the present active in visible enemies. These demons are not imprisoned in this gloomy darkness, but there I was there invisible to us to do the bidding of the leader Satan that under the control of Satan members a little boy asking my dad that can Satan be safe and that my father knew the word of God. But that's kind of sin to stump him and he hesitated and I can really remember his answer motion if he gave an answer, but answer is no. Satan can't be saved from Jesus Christ.

God son came from heaven to he didn't come to redeem the fallen angels.

He atoned for the sins of the world. Hebrews 2 verse 16, but surely it is not angels that he helps with you helps the offspring of Abraham was going to happen to the devil and his angels or any of them going to be saved know none of them are going to be saved. Jesus says in Matthew 25 verse 41 that Hal has been prepared for the devil and his angels think a wonderful think of the grace of God, these angels sins and for them. There is no redemption. You and I Satan we offspring is one of Abraham and the Savior comes in great love to seek and to save the lost and that when he died on the cross he died for our sins and rose forever.

Justification so the devil is a personal being is a created being, is a fallen being a moving fairly quickly this evening, for he is, to say the obvious and evil being behind all of the evil in our world is our enemy the devil who is totally wicked.

Talk to someone about this and saying that the devil is 100% ruthless. Even the most depraved human being still has some what we might say common grace made in the image of God.

However, Martin's God, that images, but for the sake support Satan. He is 100% evil.

You'll get no mercy from the devil you give yourself to the devil you listen to the devil. He'll take you down the path to destruction P is 100% evil. He is Satan know what Satan means the adversary is your adversary. Be warned he's always against God always against the purposes of God, always against the people of God, always against the gospel of Jesus Christ is always against everything which is good and pure and holy and true, remember that this morning you dedicate your life to Christ to live for God during Satan just going to leave you. We have some people today who would baptize some new members giving Satan Cesar this is wonderful. No church, Calvary church as we seek to be true to the word of God and the gospel to think Satan stands by doing. He stands by to you and your family. You seek to raise your children and the fear and admonition of the Lord know you have an enemy is going around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour these out there is why Paul says the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

He is 100% evil.all of us know something about evil couple years ago I was speaking to to someone in the UK who had been in prison for four number years and I was asking you how was it to be in prison, and the person said you know before I went into prison. I thought I knew about evil, but in that prison so evil is never seen it before.

Some of evil in the world is the retries were to protect her children were trying keep them in the state of innocence which is very difficult in our evil world only some of you have looked on the face of evil, the devil is the very epitome of evil the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places won't. Why am I telling you this to make afraid no wouldn't say he's defeated, not to make you pray, but so that you would be allowed so that we would be sober minded Satan and his demons are incorrigible.

Eight evil there utterly opposed to the truth of God there utterly opposed to the holiness of God. Satan specialties are lies and deception, slander, witchcraft, doubts, false accusations, division, fear, darkness, immorality, violence, murder, theft, and every imaginable perversity that goes on comes from our enemy is evil, the devil has false religions. Paul refers to them in first Corinthians 10 verse 20. The devil has a Paul's gospel.

Paul warns us about that in Galatians one is is even about an angel came and preached another message. It is to be anathema. The devil has a Paul's gospel. The devil has false preachers using surely not as the devil has false preachers listen to Paul in second Corinthians chapter 11 verse 13 there were there in the first century and that there certainly in the 21st century. I'm reading from second Corinthians 11 verse 13, Paul says, for such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Sometimes like a lion of the times he's like an angel of light.

Verse 15 so it is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. The Rand will correspond to the needs. Paul is warning the first century that there are preachers there really messengers of Satan, but they pretend to be messengers of righteousness is false preachers. The devil is false teaching member Paul in first Timothy four verses one and two talks about deceitful spirits and the doctrine of the teaching of demons, false doctrine would we disposed of to come from our enemy God gives us the truth. The enemy comes and says now God is really sad that you see that back in Genesis 3 only the God really say that you want.you you you go ahead Eve God is keep you something back you glad this is the way to live. Try something new. That's the devil. He has false disciples.

Jesus warned us of them in Matthew 13 member that they that the parable of the wheat and the tears false disciples. That's why incidentally, from time to time. I challenge you is a challenge myself. Are your true follower of Christ. The difference between a profession as opposed to a possession that are false disciples and the devil is a false Christ doesn't take is called the anti-Christ is post to God.

These spiritual forces of evil. He does all he can to prevent us from placing our faith in Christ. Paul calls on the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbeliever, you meet someone and you begin to present the gospel to them to us. It seems so clear.

The passion can't understand is because they're distributed. They may have a PhD there may be very brightly may be tremendously well educated. The problem is not a matter of intelligence. The problem is a spiritual problem. The mind is blinded by the God of this world pulse is not configured glorious light of the gospel revealed in Christ to bring light where once there was darkness, even as God in the beginning said, let there be light and there was light. So the devil's offices tries to stop us from coming to Christ.

Now he stops you growing in Christ quite quite frequently I meet someone who tells me was the sparingly and and and since faster than I'm trying to live for Christ but the more I try to live for him, the more difficult it is. Why is that because the devil's afternoon it would feel the devil harassing trying to dive back to trying to get you off course if Texas dilutes Texas with fears and anxieties tempts us to disregard and question the word of God. He tempted Eve in the garden. He tempted Jesus in the wilderness until time you and Charlotte with all kinds of evil, the devil is a formidable evil enemy when any spiritual work is done. Satan, as they of the adversity he hates God he hates the glory of God.

He hates the worship of God. He hates the purposes of God. He hates the church of God member Jesus as I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Know the church is triumphant, the church continues to spread people coming to Christ, but the very gates of how is it whatever against the church. That's the devil opposition promote adversity is the Dragon he always seeks to destroy what God is building so in a sense, the more you pursue Christ in holiness. Sometimes it seems the fiercer the devil is against us in the parable of the sower Jesus tells us something that particular as a preacher I find very interesting and I are trying to keep in my mind member, the parable of the sower in the Mark chapter 4 mango sewing seat scattering's see that it falls on different kinds of soil. You know what it is and that there is seed which falls on the path, and the birds of the air, and take that seats but the seat the word of God was to interpretation of Jesus according hear from Mark for verse 15. These are the ones along the path where the word is sewing when they hear Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is so, and in them is not interesting in preaching the word of God.

Your reading your Bible, you and your Bible study you in your life group and the word of God.

The seed is being stolen. And you know can you can almost picture Canterbury. Satan is there and the seven as it's throwing he's there to take it. That's why I'm a fairly patient person. Most of the time but when people leave early in the service in the last five or 10 minutes to get the extra place at the local restaurant or to get out so they can get a doughnut before anyone else in the life group that does bother me you only bothers make no sense because people can't leave because that is such an important time word of God is soon. How are you going to respond. Satan wants to snatch that CD want you to start thinking about your doughnut.

He wants you to start thinking about the Panther game wants to think to get you to think about anything and everything other than what is my response to the word of God. The last thing I want to say that important thing with the devil is he's a defeated being not wonderful to know that the devil is defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ came. One of the things he did was conquer and defeat Satan in the Gospels we see our Lord Jesus Christ invading Satan's territory. The kingdom of God has come and is invading the kingdom of darkness as our Lord Jesus Christ cast silently demons praise God, and John says in first John three verse eight.

The reason the son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. If I asked you why did Jesus come. You might say what he came to show his love became to dine the cross became to teach his truth. All of these are true statements but think of this. We don't often think of this one that our Lord Jesus Christ came to to destroy the works of the devil high was not accomplished at the cross at the cross, our Lord Jesus Christ defeated Satan and his evil forces was in the Paul in Colossians 2, verse 19 regarding our Savior. He disarmed as Jesus.

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him. Thank you Satan attacks us with the redo we stand with the word of God. We send strong we take him to the cross where he was defeated and we point to the precious blood of our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, which covers all of our sins and remind him that on the third day, our Savior rose and triumphed up from the grave he arose when a mighty triumph for his foes. He arose Victor on the vast domain 90 lives forever with the Saints today and hallelujah Christ arose.

He is a defeated foe and his works are destroyed. And just as this morning we thought that because of our union with Christ we are freed from the power of sin because of our union with Christ. The devil has no authority over those born again by the spirit of God at the cross is power is broken. Always a formidable enemy. He is a defeated enemy and his final destiny is absolutely certain you could read in Revelation 20 thrown into the lake of fire. The end of the millennial kingdom will be throwing in the lake of the fire with his angels for fall of eternity.

So what am I saying don't be surprised that protection. He tries to discourage he tries to tempt you, tries to get you off track is powerful, but is not all-powerful and of God is for us, as he is, we can stand against them. We rejoice is the defeated football size and Romans 16 verse 20 and the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet and can I say to all of us, never listen to the devil is a is a father of lies is the truth of the brothers never fear the devil he's defeated enemy and when he comes to come to the cross.

First John four verse four. He was in you is greater than he was in the world.

Revelation 12 verse 11, and they can't contend that Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto that was going to defeat the enemy. We have it in their fingers at Calvary.

The word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, our Lord Jesus Christ. But on the cross. His blood was shed.

Satan is defeated and he conquered forces of darkness, so make sure your trust is in Christ, make sure that your part of the kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of darkness. We witness baptisms today.

In previous generations in the some churches candidates for baptism were asked this question and occasionally bass the same question. The question is this, do you renounce the devil and all his works asked those being baptized. I asked you tonight will you renounce the devil and all of his works.

James says, resist the devil what what does he do, he flees and not amazing if you resist the devil to stand strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You put on the armor of God. Resist the devil, stand strong.

Don't go looking for them.

But when it comes resist them, and he will flee from you is true. He'll come back sometime, but resist him and he will flee from you. Father, we thank you for the triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ with all this morning that through our Lord Jesus Christ, the power of sin in our life is been broken in the know through our Lord Jesus Christ, the powder of evil and the devil has been broken that he is a defeated enemy. So father were not to fear him, but we are to be aware of him and would not to be ignorant of his devices help each one of us father to send strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to stand in the strength of your might strengthen us and encourage us and pull your blessing on this we ask in Christ thing a man