The Power of Darkness

Introduction:

1. Do you fully appreciate these words? Do you rejoice in the glorious Saviour you have in Jesus the Lord?
2. Do you fully appreciate these words? Do you understand the warfare we yet fight while in this world?
3. Our objectives are not sensationalism or speculative entertainment, but to glorify Jesus and live for Him.
4. We do not consider this subject because of the current Hollywood fad to think about angels and demons.
5. We speak where the Scriptures speak and are silent where they are silent. This is no subject for speculation.
6. We are creatures of flesh, bone, and blood, and foolish ones at that – we underestimate the spirit world.
7. The air is not just for breathing; it also holds created spirits, both good and bad, that are always around us.
8. Eliphaz had quite an experience meeting a spirit in the night with a message from God (Job 4:12-16).
9. A servant lad of Elisha had quite an experience, seeing the many angles around his master (II Kgs 6:13-17).
10. The Lord Jesus Christ saved my paternal grandfather from Spiritism – worship of Satan – in 1928! Glory!

The Prince

1. He is a created spirit, which means he is only Potter’s clay for His own Personal pleasure.
   1. The LORD hath made all things for Himself and His own pleasure (Pr 16:4; Rev 4:11).
   2. The angels were and are spirits without flesh, bone, or blood, but for appearance sake.
   3. The angels were created very early in Genesis or earlier by Moses’ silence and Job 38:7.
   4. The angels, fallible creatures, are not worthy of His trust (Job 4:18; 15:15-16; 25:5-6).
2. He is an evil spirit that was allowed to introduce evil into the universe for God’s glory.
   1. He and the angels following him were charged with folly and sin (Job 4:18; II Pet 2:4).
   2. They left their first estate and are limited in activity for eternal judgment (Jude 1:6).
   3. Scripture represents about 1/3 of the angels followed Satan’s rebellion (Rev 12:4,7-9).
   4. His sin was pride, which sin is to be avoided by ministers and all men (I Timothy 3:6).
   5. We understand Satan to be prophetically included with Nebuchadnezzar (Is 14:4-20).
   6. We understand Satan to be prophetically included with the King of Tyre (Eze 28:1-19).
   7. He is the head of a devilish kingdom of spirits, according to our Lord (Mark 3:23-26).
   8. He is known as Satan, the old serpent, the devil, the great dragon, Abaddon (destroyer), Apollyon (destroyer), and Lucifer (morning star) from Rev 9:11; 12:9; and Isaiah 14:12.
   9. He is the wicked one, the mystery of iniquity, the spirit of antichrist, and the great enemy of God and His people (Matt 13:19; Luke 10:19; I John 4:3).
   10. Since he is to be destroyed, he seeks to destroy all that he can. Consider his affects on persons like Judas. Consider his lack of restorative power in Egypt (Ex 7:11,22; 8:7).
3. He is a murderer and liar; he is the very opposite of our blessed Lord (John 8:44; Ps 85:10).
   1. He moved Cain to kill his brother Abel (I John 3:12), and he lied to Eve (Gen 3:1-5).
   2. God and His saints live by mercy and truth – his opposite (Ps 89:14; Pr 16:16; 20:28).
   3. When we detect hate, strife, or anything false, we know what spirit we are dealing with.
   4. Do not lie about envy, bitterness, or strife; it is from the devil of hell (James 3:14-16).
4. He is the god of this world and blinds reprobates to God and Christ (II Cor 4:4; Ps 10:4).
5. Consider an abbreviated timeline of his position, activities, and history with God and men.
   1. He was created before Adam, and likely before the days of creation, in a holy condition.
   2. He was a high and mighty angel, maybe the highest, similar to Michael the archangel.
   3. He sinned by pride and was cast down from his official duties in heaven (Luke 10:18).
   4. He retained the right to return to heaven, where he would accuse the saints (Job 1:6-11).
   5. Our Lord confronted and defeated many of his projects among men (Luke 10:17-20).
   6. Our Lord destroyed sin; he was confined to earth (John 12:31; Rom 8:33; Rev 12:7-10).
   7. He was bound from further deceiving all nations as before, until near the end (Rev 20).
   8. He will be cast into the lake of fire for eternal torment prepared for him (Matt 25:41).

The Power

1. Consider Job’s experiences and how fast they happened. He can pull strings, when allowed.
   1. He brought national armies – Sabeans and Chaldeans – in a short time (Job 1:13-15,17).
   2. He brought supernatural fire down (1:16) and a tornado from the wilderness (1:18-19).
   3. He brought sore boils on his body from the sole of his foot to his crown (2:7-8).
   4. He may have very well infected his wife with the odious spirit of a witch (2:9-10).
   5. Observe his power over nations, nature, bodies, and attitudes in sorely tempting Job.
2. He provoked David to number Israel (with God’s leave) that cost 70,000 lives (I Chr 21:1).
3. He provided the devilish ambition and power behind pagan governments (Daniel 10:13,20).
4. Consider the affect they had on the Gadarene in his soul and in his body (Mark 5:1-20).
5. He claimed rights to the kingdoms of the earth without rebuke from our Lord (Luke 4:5-8).
6. If you do not come to assemblies prepared to receive, he will steal the word (Luke 8:12,18).
7. He wanted to sift Peter, and he denied our Lord Jesus that very night (Luke 22:31-32).
8. He only has power, however, when the Lord grants it, which He did long ago (Luke 22:53).
9. No one can use the excuse, the devil made me do it; we are all still accountable (Acts 5:3).
10. Seven grown men were completely overcome by one devil-possessed man (Acts 19:13-20).
11. His messenger sent to Paul was a buffeting and afflicting thorn in the flesh (II Cor 12:7-8).
12. They are called principalities, powers, thrones, dominions, and might (Eph 1:21; Col 1:16).
13. There is power in the air men often ignore, ridicule, or grossly misunderstand (Eph 2:2).
14. We are at war – in a wrestling match – with spiritual powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12).
15. He can capture men at his will, from which only God can give repentance (II Tim 2:25-26).
16. They can and desire to inhabit bodies of men or animals, where they can wreck havoc.
    1. Consider the Gadarene – he was naked, crazy, wild, rebellious, harmful, and death oriented – as a classic example of visible devil possession (Mark 5:1-6).
    2. They instantly ruled over the strong instincts of pigs to violate their nature (Mark 5:13).
    3. Do not be surprised at the actions of rock-n-roll and rap musicians and audiences.
    4. Consider a man’s son – throwing himself in fire and water for suicide (Mark 9:20-22).
    5. A woman was bowed over 18 years by a spirit of infirmity from Satan (Luke 13:10-17).
    6. Satan entered Judas – consider his choices and final end (John 13:27; Matthew 27:1-8).

The Program

1. He is at work today more than in the days of the apostles (I Thess 2:18; Rev 12:13-17).
2. He stands to resist the worship and progress of the saints of God, even a priest (Zech 3:1-5).
3. We err greatly and foolishly when we get distracted with national, international, political, or financial intrigue and possible conspiracies and miss the only one that counts (Eph 6:12).
4. They know men – they know true saints from imposters and their threat (Acts 19:13-20).
5. He can bring (with God’s permission) fiery trials into your life like Job to try your faith.
6. God is jealous (Ex 34:14). He hates competitors, so Satan wins when we look elsewhere.
   1. Friendship with the world is adultery to the Lord (Matt 6:24; James 4:4; Ezek 16:1-59).
   2. Satan tries to seduce us to other gods, which is to spread our legs as vile adulteresses.
   3. Worshiping other gods is worshiping devils (Lev 17:7; Deut 32:17,21; I Cor 10:20-21).
7. They can easily enter your bedroom and observe and report on any troubles they witness.
8. There are certain vehicles that are more seductive and popular than others for his use.
   1. There are demonic games, horoscopes, fortunetellers, ouija boards, palm readers, Harry Potter novels and movies, and many other such introductions to sorcery and Satanism.
   2. Music is one of the most powerful mediums, and Satan uses it obviously (I Sam 16:23).
      1. The musicians and listeners of rock are both sufficiently perverse to prove the point.
      2. The rhythmic construction of rock and such music originated in the Dark Continent.
   3. Televisions provide a very powerful vehicle for Satan to preach his gospel (Ps 101:3).
      1. The combined audio-video presentation is powerfully attractive and mesmerizing.
      2. The carefully constructed movies present sin in its most seductive garb possible.
9. He seeks to pervert everything we stand for, which is true in Christianity today (Ac 13:10).
10. He and his angels are at war against God, the Lord Jesus, and the church (Rev 12:13-17).
11. The devil is involved with doctrine, as he is the master theologian behind all false religions.
    1. Catholic heresies of celibacy and abstaining from meat are Satan’s lies (I Tim 4:1-3).
    2. We are plainly told that the man of sin is aided by satanic deception (II Thess 2:7-10).
    3. He keeps the minds of men blinded from the glorious gospel of Christ (II Cor 4:3-4).
    4. The preaching of the gospel is to turn men from those lies of hell (Acts 26:16-18).
12. The devil has a set of wiles, or devices, by which he seeks to destroy the lives of saints.
    1. He tempts us with three kinds of temptations (Gen 3:1-5; Luke 4:1-12; I John 2:15-17).
    2. He deceives with imitations of the true – another Jesus, spirit, gospel (II Cor 11:3-4).
    3. He can suggest misapplied Scripture to lead us to justify sin against God (Matthew 4:6).
    4. He seeks to destroy us with hopelessness, so we must limit being cast down (II Cor 4:9). Women can become hopeless in marriage or with children by too much emphasis there.
    5. He seeks to destroy us with discontentment, so we will not be happy and content with Him, Who will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
    6. He will divide families and churches with internal envy and strife (James 3:14-16).
    7. He will cause us to run to extremes, forgetting even forgiveness (II Corinthians 2:6-11).
    8. Lying and murder, or deceit and anger, are high on his list (John 8:44; Eph 4:25-27).
13. Satan has been bound since Christ’s death from deceiving nations politically (Rev 20:1-3).
    1. He still deceives religiously and personally, as the Scriptures show (II Thess 2:9-10).
    2. With him bound from the national deception rampant in the O.T., the gospel was able to go into the entire world through the power of the risen Christ (Matt 16:18; 28:18-20).
    3. See the sermon tapes or outline on “Revelation 20” from March 8, 1992.

The People

1. Natural men, the human race, are mere willing pawns of the prince of the air (Eph 2:1-3).
   1. Natural men are all dead spiritually and walking the same road of rebellion to hell.
   2. They are, and we were, directed by the prince of the power of the air, the devil himself.
   3. That evil spirit, Satan by name, was then and is now working in all reprobate humans.
   4. Prior to our regeneration, we thought, talked, and walked just like them in gross sin.
   5. We could not see the light of the gospel, because he had blinded our eyes (II Cor 4:3-4).
2. Saints overcome the devil through Jesus Christ by their testimony and lives (Rev 12:11).

The Promise

1. In Eden, the LORD told the serpent the woman’s Seed would bruise his head (Gen 3:15).
2. Faithful saints will bruise Satan by their Saviour’s great work and their lives (Rom 16:13).
3. Are you persuaded that nothing – not angels or principalities – can hurt you (Ro 8:38-39)?

The Potentate

1. God our Father, by adoption, translated us out of Satan’s kingdom and into His (Col 1:13).
2. Jesus is the Stronger Man, Who bound the strong man and spoiled his goods (Lu 11:21-22).
3. They know our Jesus very well; they are terrified greatly by Him and their coming torment.
   1. When meeting on earth in a state of humility, they ran and worshipped on the ground.
   2. They readily admit their knowledge and submission to the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:13-20).
4. Jesus Christ was manifested to destroy the work of the devil (I John 3:8; Heb 2:14-15).
5. The great Seed of the woman has bruised the serpent’s head, a fatal wound (Genesis 3:15).
6. The woman, deceived by the devil, destroyed him by her cursed childbearing (I Tim 2:15).
7. Jesus gave His apostles power over all the power of the enemy without fear (Luke 10:19).
8. Jesus made a show of them openly on the cross of Calvary, paying for our sins (Col 2:15).
9. He led captivity captive and ascended into heaven far above them all (Eph 1:20-23; 4:8).

The Victory

1. Nothing can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28-39).
   1. Neither angels, nor principalities, nor powers can separate us from God our Father!
   2. Are you persuaded of this fact, as Paul? This is the basis of faith and antidote for fear.
   3. We are more than conquerors over anything they can throw against us (Rom 8:35-37).
2. God can grant repentance so men can be delivered from the devil’s snare (II Tim 2:25-26).
   1. It is important for us to remember we cannot fight this war and deliver them ourselves.
   2. Even perfect ministerial effort, like Timothy’s by Paul’s instruction, cannot do it.
   3. Satan’s lies are perverse and contrary, so that a man held captive will oppose himself.
   4. Satan takes men captive when he wishes, if they live carnally in sin without repentance.
3. We oppose, resist, and defeat the devil and his wiles by using God’s armor (Eph 6:10-18). See the sermon “Give No Place to the Devil” for a detailed study of the pieces of armor.
4. We overcome him by our Lord’s blood and the word of God, even to death (Rev 12:11).
5. Casting out devils was a sign gift, which we do not try to duplicate today (Mark 16:17).
6. Now we wait on the Lord to deliver men; we pray and fast (II Tim 2:25-26; Matt 17:21).
7. We cannot be ignorant of his devices, lest he get an unnecessary advantage (II Cor 2:11).
8. We must love the Lord our God with all our hearts, mind, strength, and soul to avoid giving place to the devil by having other gods before Him. God will judge us for spiritual adultery!
9. Young men can, and have, overcome the wicked one by the word of God (I John 2:13-14).
10. Jesus has defeated the devil, and we should live accordingly (Hebrew 2:14-15; I John 3:8).
11. Greater is He that is in us, than He that is in the world (I John 4:4). Believest thou this?

 The Resistance

1. We are not to give any place to the devil by playing with sin for him to take us (Eph 4:27).
   1. Please review the sermon preached in 2000 entitled, “Give No Place to the Devil.”
   2. Playing with any sin gives place to the devil, but especially deceit or sinful anger, which are obvious devices of a spirit given to murder and lies (Eph 4:25-26; John 8:44).
   3. Envying and strife shows the devil (Jas 3:14-16); so does a lack of forgiveness (II Cor 2:6-11). Don’t deceive yourself. This kind of a spirit is not from heaven (Luke 9:55).
   4. He cannot have place in our lives, unless we give it to him; if we give it, he will grab it.
   5. He and sin, in combination with your flesh, will take you down certainly and quickly.
   6. There is enough grace and strength in Jesus Christ to repel Him and help us (Phil 4:13).
2. We are to resist the devil by not giving in to his lies and the works of the flesh (James 4:7).
   1. There is a great promise here, and it should be of prime importance for us to realize it.
   2. Consider the horrible compromise with sin in the very context of the promise (4:1-10).
   3. The devil is seeking to devour and destroy us; you must resist in the faith (I Pet 5:8-9).
   4. The battle calls for great sobriety and vigilance; this is not a light or ancillary matter.
   5. Jesus resisted Satan with the word of God, and he left Him (Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13).
   6. He does not flee because of our resisting alone, but by our resisting in Christ Jesus.
   7. And notice that he does not merely leave, but he flees, due to the power of Christ in us.
   8. He can only take advantage of us when we give him place in our lives. Don’t do it!
3. We cannot play with even the temptation or possibility for sin or the flesh (Rom 13:14).
   1. Even a thing valuable and desirable: you must cut it off or pluck it out (Matt 5:27-32).
   2. We are to mortify or kill – not merely spank or rebuke – our flesh (Colossians 3:5-8).
   3. Flee youthful lusts; do not entertain or modify them (II Tim 2:22; Pr 4:14-15; 5:8; 6:5).
4. The Internet can be a horrible temptation to men in time and sex. Take necessary measures.
5. Television is the devil’s pulpit in our homes, and it should be guarded strictly or turned off.
   1. Even the most “wholesome” i.e. Anne of Green Gables is a worldview without God.
   2. It is an incredibly powerful medium with its combination of enhanced sight and sound.
   3. The programming comes straight from hell, proven by the lives of those in Hollywood.
   4. Even “neutral” programming i.e. sports is incredibly carnal and can give the devil place.
6. If you don’t have a great sexual relationship, you give place for two in marriage (I Cor 7:5).
7. Dating without a chaperone is as foolish as it gets for two teenagers with mutual attraction.
8. Another great matter is to be diligent to hear, believe, and obey all preaching (Luke 8:12).
9. For those with tendencies to anger, slow down your angry response (Eccl 7:9; Jas 1:19-20).
10. Do not live tired with excessive activity. Remember, Satan tempted hungry Jesus with food.
    1. As with any guard, your sobriety and vigilance goes down with tiredness or distractions.
    2. Any thing that dulls your conscience, or consciousness, should be avoided, if possible.
    3. Obviously, alcohol dulls both, as was taught clearly in comments on Proverbs 23:33!
11. Relationships with the opposite sex cannot be allowed to cross the first line of attraction.
12. Don’t resent or resist dogmatic stands on Bible doctrine (II Cor 11:1-14; Gal 1:6; 3:1; 5:8).
    1. Satan can present his own Jesus, spirit, and gospel, which will deceive the simple.
    2. He is not a fool. He can be an angel of light and his ministers those of righteousness.
    3. Debate, variance, sedition, and strife are all stages of his program for you to murder!
13. You give place to covetousness by going near or considering those things tempting to you.
    1. Covetousness, which is idolatry, results from discontentment and hopelessness.
    2. The mall in most cities is an abominable place of temptation, like a vacation in Sodom!
    3. If your neighbor’s wife is beautiful, avoid her! If you like his motorcycle, avoid it!
    4. You will not hear any reminders or warnings against covetousness, but in God’s house.
14. What pet thoughts or fancies allow him a toehold? Child training? Tradition? Family?
    1. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean NOT to thine own understanding!
    2. Do not allow any man, church, tradition, or habit to encroach on Scripture at all.
15. If you are rich, or heading there, you may give place with pride or vain trust (I Tim 6:17).
16. Don’t forget ouija boards, horoscopes, zodiac signs, fortunetellers, and fortune cookies.
17. Do you read novels instead of watching television? Are they perfect? Or a “little” polluted?
18. Do not violate your conscience, even in liberty, for then it is sin (Rom 14:23; James 4:17).
    1. Your conscience is the candle of the Lord, searching your soul. Obey it (Prov 20:27).
    2. Paul kept a pure conscience with great diligence to be free from offence (Acts 24:16).
    3. Satan has a place, if he can keep you guilty, fearful, or compromising, even in liberty.
    4. This tool of Satan can use minor areas like weight, kissing, Sports Illustrated, etc., etc.
    5. If you are convicted, in or out of an assembly, never ignore it! He is at the wayside.
    6. Alcohol, tiredness, and sinful inputs will dull your conscience. Guard or eliminate them.
19. Self-righteousness is worse than most sins, for its deception precludes any confession.
20. Women give place by modifying their proper role in marriage and home (I Tim 5:11-16).
21. A carnal application of the gospel is as alarming as any destructive vice (II Timothy 3:1-7).
    1. An accurate religion without first love is a stench to a holy and jealous God (Rev 2:1-7).
    2. A confident religion without true humility and spirituality is bankrupt (Rev 3:14-22).
22. “Lead us not into temptation” are not just religious words (Matt 6:13 cp 4:1 cp Luke 22:31).
23. Fornication, adultery, uncleanness, and lasciviousness don’t just happen; they result from giving place with pictures, lustful looks, songs, movies, jokes, fantasies, opportunities, etc.
    1. Women should avoid the sensual image of worldly women, lest they pervert priorities.
    2. If David had been at battle or stayed in bed, he would not have committed adultery.
24. Murder is the result of offences, envy, anger without a cause, and hatred (Mat 5:21-26).
25. Discontentment is as much a place for the devil as can be imagined, he will aggravate it.
    1. When you are discontent, you are like a wife not happy with her lord (Heb 13:5-6).
    2. Discontentment leads to hopelessness, which is his device, and contrary to salvation.
    3. Discontentment is a defeated approach to life, which leave melancholies vulnerable.
    4. If your heart is right with the Lord, you can learn to be content anywhere (Phil 4:11).
26. Entertaining differences leads to variance, competitiveness to emulations, discussion about authority to sedition, and a bright idea unproven from Scripture to heresies.
27. Rather than confidence or ignorance in our abilities, let us pray for mercy (Luke 22:31-32).
28. We must always be soberly and vigilantly assessing our lives and spiritual vitality, daily.
29. When you sense a loss of joy in Christ, it is your duty to examine your self (John 15:26).
    1. The great object of Satan’s hatred is the LORD Jesus Christ, so measure accordingly.
    2. From the very beginning, the antagonism between them was prophesied (Gen 3:15).
    3. Love Paul’s great summaries of His glorious preeminence (Col 1:9-29; Phil 3:7-21).
    4. Do you love to walk with Christ, talk of Christ, pray to Christ, sing of Christ, etc.?
    5. The preeminent theme of Paul’s life was Jesus Christ crucified (I Cor 2:2; Gal 6:14).
30. When you sin (not if), it is your high duty to immediately repent and confess (I John 1:7,9).
31. Women’s hair length (and submission) is a minor matter, right? Wrong (I Cor 11:10)!
32. Friends should be chosen very carefully with a view to truth and spirituality (I Cor 15:33).
33. Music is, and always been, a vehicle for opening up the consciousness to devilish influence.
34. A great defense in this battle requires a great offence, seeking the Lord Jesus aggressively by giving yourself to reading, prayer, confession, singing, and serving others spiritually.
    1. This level of resistance repulses the devil; he hates the glorious name of Jesus!
    2. It should be obvious that temptation will be minimal in spiritual exercises to Christ!
    3. Young men can, and have, overcome the wicked one by the word of God (I Jn 2:13-14).
    4. Be filled with the Spirit and give yourself to regular spiritual singing (Eph 5:18-19).

The Punishment

1. There is a place of eternal torment long prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt 25:41).
2. They are reserved to this judgment; they shall not escape (II Pet 2:4; Jude 1:6; Rev 20:10).
3. They consciously dread this coming day, as they indicated to Jesus (Matt 8:29; Rev 12:12).
4. We shall judge angels, the devil and his angels, with the Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor 6:1-4).

Conclusion:

1. Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world (I John 5:1-5). Are you an overcomer? Or overcome?
2. Our goal has not been to speculate or focus on Satan and his work. We see Jesus and our daily vigilance!
3. Nothing at all can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

For further study:

1. Sermon Outline: Give No Place to the Devil 
2. Sermon Outline: Playing with Sin