Satan’s Personality

A bible study for the Leonardtown Baptist Church, Men’s Ministry, 4.9.2016

A Bible Study by Adam Osborne, Jr.

Deceiver

Gen 3:1 (NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

• – What do we learn here? How is “deception” dangerous for us? How do we defeat deception?

• ⁃ The tempter of human souls is deceitful and subtile.

• ⁃ He can adapt himself to any circumstance. He can make use of any thing.

• ⁃ He is courageous. He dared to venture into the new and lovely paradise which God had made for adam & eve. Would not God expel him at once?

• ⁃ Satan is bold and adventuresome. He will approach them to seek their ruin, even though heaven may be their helper.

⁃ That the Tempter seeks to engage the human soul in conversation and controversy.

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Now, still talking about DECEIT, the next verse from Acts, is actually talking about a person named “bar-jesus” . A false prophet, a Jew, who was following Saul (Paul) and Barnabas. Paul turned to Bar-jesus and said:

Acts 13:10 (NIV) “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

Satan or others like him pervert the right ways of the Lord.

2 Thess 2:9-10 (NIV) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

⁃ counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, every sort of evil that deceives.

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MASQUERADES AS THE ANGEL OF LIGHT

2 Cor 11:14 (NIV) And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

• • The King James here uses the words “is transformed into an angel of light”. The thought is Satan can transform himself.

• • Since Satan himself is capable of appearing to be an angel of light, it is not to be deemed strange that those who are in his service also should resemble him.

• • The phrase “an angel of light,” means a pure and holy angel, light being the emblem of purity and holiness.

• • Satan has power:

• • He can assume such an aspect as he pleases. He can appear to be powerful and pious.

• He is the prince of wickedness; and think about how bad it is for everyone that Satan assume any character which he pleases.

Sinful

1 John 3:8 (NIV) He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

• ⁃ Greek-present-tense is used here. That would indicate that it would be “keeps on intentionally sinning”…..

• ⁃ “sinning from the beginning”..what does that say?

• ⁃ he’s practice it, he’s good at it.

⁃ As the author of sin, and prince of this world, he has never ceased to seduce man to sin [Luecke].

Liar

Luke 4:6 (NIV) And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

• ⁃ There is nothing in scripture, anywhere, that tells us that anything had been delegated to the devil. This was a flat out lie.

• ⁃ And if the devil will try to lie to Jesus, where does that put us?

• ⁃ And how did Jesus respond to satan’s attack? By throwing back Scriptures right in satan’s face. That tells us something.

• ⁃ Also, when did satan say this to Jesus? What was Jesus’ condition when satan attempted to tempt Jesus?

• ⁃ He was hungry and tired. He had been fasting for 40 days.

⁃ So, there’s a lesson for us to. satan will attack us at our weakest times.

John 8:44 (NIV) You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

⁃ No truth in him. Lies are his native language.

Tempts us(also lies to us)

Gen 3:4-5 (NIV) “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

• ⁃ Thoughts? So, instead of telling her what “the knowledge of good and evil” really meant, he turned it around, to promise them knowledge, to be like God, and made it sound like it would be good to know “good and evil”.

• ⁃ He lies, he distorts.

⁃ Another thing here we learn is that satan causes us not to fear God’s warnings.

Perverts the scriptures

Matt 4:6 (NIV) “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

• ⁃ If he will tempt and pervert the Scriptures to God himself, what about us?

• ⁃ our enemy is subtle, spiteful, and very daring;

• ⁃ Jesus was just starting his earthly ministry. All high places are slippery places; advancements in the world makes a man a mark for Satan to shoot his fiery darts at.

• ⁃ truth may be abused by lies; and that there is nothing more dangerous to the members of Christ, than when Scripture is misinterpreted and misapplied.

• ⁃ BY THE WAY, God had never promised, nor ever given, any the protection of angels in sinful and forbidden ways.

⁃ He misapplies this text, using it not to instruct, but to deceive.

Prince of this world:

• -Prince….what does that suggest?

-does he actually have any authority, or any power? [to his followers he does]

John 12:31 (NIV) Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

• â—¦ The title “prince of this world” was the regular Rabbinic title for Satan, whom they regarded as the ruler of the Gentiles.

• â—¦ He is also called the god of this world, 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12;

• â—¦ All these names are given him from the influence or power which he has over the men of this world, because the great mass of men have been under his control and subject to his will.

• â—¦ He is called the Prince of this World not because he has any legal power and authority over the world; but because he has usurped a dominion over it, and has great power and efficacy in the hearts of the children of disobedience, who yield a voluntary subjection to him, as if he was their proper lord and sovereign.

â—¦ just as the Messiah is the Saviour of the believing world, whether Jew or Gentile, so Satan is the ruler of the unbelieving world, whether Gentile or Jew.

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[Jesus talking about his upcoming death on the cross]

John 14: 30 (NIV) I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me,

▪ The powers of darkness are at work in Judas and his employers.

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God of this world (KJV); God of this age (NIV):

2 Cor 4:4 (NIV) In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them.

• ⁃ The name “god” is here given to him, not because he has any divine attributes, but because he actually has the homage of the people of this world as their god, as the being who is really worshipped, or who has the affections of their hearts in the same way as it is given to idols.

⁃ By “this world” is meant the wicked world. He has dominion over the wicked world. They obey his will; they execute his plans; they further his purposes, and they are his obedient subjects.

Ruler of the kingdom or power of the air:
• Eph 2:2 (NIV) Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
• So we have “prince of this world; god of this world, now prince of the air. Is there any place you can go to escape this god, little g god?
• But the phrase “the power of the air” is unique and difficult. his phrase signifies not “a power over the air,” but “a power dwelling in the region of the air.”
• Now, the word “power” both in the singular and the plural, is used here, almost technically, of superhuman power.
• Here, therefore, the Evil One is described as “the prince,” or ruler, of such superhuman power—considered here collectively as a single power, prevailing over the world, and working in the children of disobedience—in the same sense in which he is called the “prince of the devils,” (Matthew 9:34; Matthew 12:24).
• Why “AIR”? Robinson (Lexicon) supposes it to be because he is lord of the demons who dwell and rule in the atmosphere.
• So Dodridge supposes that it means that he controls the fallen spirits who are permitted to range the regions of the atmosphere.
• It is generally admitted that the apostle here refers to the prevailing opinions both among the Jews and non-Jews (pagans), that the air was thickly populated with spirits or demons.

Can get in your way and hinder you from doing good deeds:
• 1 Thess 2:18 Why we would have come to you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
⁃ OK, if satan can stop Paul….well, what about us?
⁃ Paul recognized the hand of Satan in frustrating his attempt to do good, and preventing the accomplishment of his strong desire to see his Christian friends.
⁃ Satan may often be responsible, or contribute to the embarrassments or failures that we meet with in life.
⁃ When we feel like God is calling us to do something good, but we face hindrances, obstacles, often look very much like the work of Satan.
⁃ Under the “Oh this is cool column”….The Greek for “hindered” is literally, “to cut a trench between one’s self and an advancing foe, to prevent his progress”;
⁃ So yeah, satan be like that!

Contends (STRUGGLES) with the saints:
• Eph 6:12 (NIV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
• WRESTLE:
⁃ That there is a struggle, a “battle”
• Lots of descriptive words in this Scripture; and men, if it’s Scripture, we should listen. Principalities, which by definition means “Ruled by a PRINCE; and I know that we know what “Prince” it is talking about. Powers, this is demonic powers we are talking about; Rulers of the darkness of this world.
• You know how Jesus always talked about darkness as in Sin. And Spiritual “wickedness” in “high places”….powerful places.

Is sometimes permitted to afflict the righteous
• Job 1:12 (NIV) The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
⁃ Notice that God still had control, he allowed some things, but not other things.
⁃ This is a warning, but actually, if you think about it, it’s a powerful blessing statement too. Our Lord REIGNS.
• 2 Cor 12:7 (NIV) To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
⁃ So, once again, we have this recurring theme. Satan inflicts pain or suffering, but again, God uses it for our good.
⁃ Paul sees the glass half-full, not half-empty.

Opposes the righteous
• Zech 3:1 (NIV)1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.

Satan has dominion over the sinful
• Acts 26:18 (NIV) to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

• Acts 5:3 (NIV) Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

Preys upon men
• 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

• Rev 2:10 (NIV) Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

His place of activity is in the mind:
• John 13:2 & 27 (NIV)The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus…. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him.

• Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.

More names of Satan

• Rev 9:11 (NIV) They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.
• Rev 12:10 (NIV) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
• 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
• 2 Cor 6:15 (NIV) What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
• Matt 12:24 (NIV) But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
• Matt 4:11 (NIV) Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
• Matt 4:3 (KJV) And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
• Matt 12:43 (KJV)43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
• Matt 13:19 (KJV) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

BUT HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS; THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

• Satan’s future:
• Satan is cursed by God::

• Gen 3:14 (NIV) So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.

God can control Satan:
• Rev 20:2 (NIV) He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

• John 12:31 (NIV) Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

• 2 Thess 2:8 (NIV) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Satan will lose in the end:
• Rev 20:10 (NIV) And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

• Heb 2:14 (NIV) Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil.

• Luke 10:18 (NIV) He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

• Rev 12:9 (NIV) The great dragon was hurled down–that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

• 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
• James 4:7-8 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• James 4:8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
• Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes

*Note: Some of the notes on this bible study were taken from a sermon preached by Dr. Greg Wrigley, Orange Avenue Baptist Church, Green Cove Springs, FL. Other comments have been added by the author…..Adam