Do you believe in the devil?

• The fallen angel who rebelled against God

• The leader of the demonic forces

• The one who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

-John 8:44

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

-John 10:10 (NIV)

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

-Matthew 10:28 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul told us:

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.

-Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

…you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

-Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)

When you are still dead in your transgressions, you are following the ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air.

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

-2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (NIV)

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

-1 John 5:19 (NIV)

The Bible clearly teaches there are two kingdoms in operation that diametrically opposed one another: The Kingdom of God and The Kingdom of Satan

The Kingdom of God is more powerful and will bring the kingdom of Satan to complete ruin.

In the meantime, Satan has enormous influence over the hearts and minds of those who refuse to submit their lives to Jesus Christ and become part of His eternal kingdom.

Three questions:

How does Satan work in this world?

Are Christians immune to his influence and work?

How can Christ-followers have victory over evil in this world while we are waiting on the next?

How does Satan work in this world?

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

-1 John 5:19 (NIV)

Satan is the ultimate influencer of religions, philosophies, politics, economics, and hierarchies.

He thrives on philosophies that denounce the existence of God and elevate man as the measure of all things.

He influences economic theories that ensure the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and the oppressed become more persecuted and oppressed.

He seeks to establish religions that deny the deity of Jesus Christ, propagate the lie that one can be saved by works, and ultimately discredit the atoning work of Jesus on the cross.

If you are not following Jesus, you are under the influence of the evil one and you don’t even know it.

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

-Matthew 12:30 (NIV)

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

-2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NIV)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

-Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

The western mindset believes that everything has a natural cause or scientific explanation, so evil things must have a natural cause.

A gulf has opened in our culture between the visibility of evil and the intellectual resources to cope with it… We have jettisoned in the west the idea of cosmic or transcendent evil.

-Andrew Delbanco, The Death of Satan

The depth of evil that we are seeing cannot be explained by mere psychological, economic, or environmental factors.

Every time someone tries to say that the problem is psychological or social—its not too long before we realize that those things cannot account for the depth and pervasiveness of evil!

The Bible says that psychological and social factors can accentuate the innate self-centeredness and insecurity in the human heart, but they do not create it!

What is in your heart is there because of the fall of man. And those flaws, aggravated by the Devil, are what makes the world the way it is.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ’Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”’ — Matthew 4:8-10 (NIV)

Satan’s Influence in Culture and Media

I’ve been in rooms-at the top of the top-where albums are prayed over demonically. Music is prayed over demonically, and that goes out to the world, out to the radio stations, out to the public. When you see that stuff and know that stuff, it’s frightening. There are rituals and ceremonies to give light or praise to Satan. The industry has become satanic. If you look at what music is today, the industry from Sam Smith, the Dojo Cats, to Beyonce, they are so demonic it’s unbelievable. It’s in front of us and we are saying, 'O, that’s just music.' But it really isn’t. It has absolutely taken over the world, taken over our children, taken over absolutely everything.

-Shane Lynch, former member of the band Boyzone

Witchcraft

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.

-Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (NIV)

Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

-Leviticus 19:31 (NIV)

Examples: Tarot cards, Seances, Fortune Tellers, Psychics

defiled: Open the door to Satanic influence: corrupted and polluted by the evil one

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

-Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)

Wicca is a polytheistic pagan religion that worships many gods and nature

As Wicca, Witchcraft and Occultism has increased and Judeo-Christian values have decreased in the west, we have seen an increase in child abuse and trafficking, and children killing their parents or someone close to them.

We are the children of God and the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one.

-1 John 5:19 (NIV)

The world system is heavily influenced by Satan. We expect to find satanic influences in the things that influence culture most.

1. Music

2. Arts

3. Entertainment

Impress [the teachings of Scripture] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

-Deuteronomy 6:7-9 (NIV)

• The prince of the power of the air is Satan

• He holds influence over this world system

• He seeks to steal, kill and destroy

• He saturates this world with things that are antithetical to the things of God

• Be careful of what you expose your children to.

• Be careful what you continually expose yourself to.

If you give the devil a foothold, it will become a stronghold, and you will find it almost impossible to free yourself.

Give me the making of the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.

-Andrew Fletcher

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

-2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NIV)

Here are the lies of the devil: "These things are harmless. There is no danger here. I know they are antithetical to Jesus, but it's harmless."

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

-Ephesians 5:11 (NIV)

How many times does Satan tell you it's not a big deal and then it ruins your life?

It’s darker than most people could ever imagine… If you look at the content of the lyrics of the songs that are played on the radio, it’s unbelievably immoral and dark and anti-Jesus. When I started to see the sheer percentage of songs and videos that were leaning heavily in that direction, I came to recognize that it could not be an accident. People in very powerful positions are backing it; there are gatekeepers who are wanting this content that we hear now to be prevalent in our society. It’s akin to poisoning our community, and our kids are drinking from a very, very, very destructive cup… I saw the effect on kids as I worked in the city, and that effect is spreading. LA is the communication center for this planet; when you go to other countries, you still see content made in Los Angeles. It became a really heavy responsibility… People can try to minimize what comes out of Hollywood and say, ‘Oh, it’s just entertainment,’ but it has a tremendous effect on the psyches and souls of our young people... The Church needs to stand up against this darkness because it’s truly having a devastating effect on the next generation.

-Kira Fontana, The Christian Post

How does he accomplish so much? He masquerades as an angel of light.

The devil’s primary objective is to belittle and denounce the blood of Jesus as the all-sufficient, all-atoning sacrifice for your sins.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

-1 John 4:1-3 (NIV)

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.

-C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

All of this influence over culture the devil has is no match for Christ in us the hope of glory.

If you are saved by the blood of the Lamb, you are off limits to the devil and his demons. Darkness and light have nothing to do with each other.

Jesus does not merely save you but rescues you from the power of the darkness.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

-John 1:4-5 (ESV)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’

-John 8:12 (ESV)

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light... Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.

-Ephesians 5:8,11 (NASB)

You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

-Matthew 5:14,16 (NIV)

You are not strong enough to rescue yourself.

If you are not for Him, you are against Him.

You have no real protection from the world that is held in the power of evil.

For those who are in Christ, no weapon formed against you shall prevail.

The only way the evil one can ever come back into your life and begin to kill, steal and destroy, is if you invite him in.

Where the believer is concerned, this is the devil’s strategy and you need to know how it works and how to defeat both.

Make a Decision