“Did God really say …?” (Genesis 3:1)
Adam and Eve were hanging out in the Garden of Eden. All was good.
But then Satan entered the picture and whispered that little question into Eve’s ear. It’s one he’s been whispering to us ever since.
Satan’s First Question
Question of the Week: Satan
This week you get two questions for the price of one …
What does the Bible really say about Satan?
The Bible describes Satan as a fallen angel who rebelled against God, was thrown out of heaven and now battles humans and God.
“Satan” literally means “adversary” and that’s exactly what he is. He’s also called the devil, the accuser, the evil one, the father of lies, the prince of darkness and the god of this age.
World or God?
You adulterous people,
don’t you know that friendship with the world
is hatred toward God?
Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world
becomes an enemy of God.
(James 4:4)
Those are tough words. But they’re true.
Which side are you on? Look at your actions the past 24 hours. Do they show more friendship with the world or with God?
When Satan was tempting Jesus in the desert, he took him to a mountain and showed him “all the kingdoms of the world in their splendor.” Then Satan said:
All this I will give you,
if you will bow down and worship me.
(Matthew 4:9)
Jesus’ response?
Away from me, Satan!
For it is written:
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”
(Matthew 4:10)
Satan’s response? He boogied. (Matthew 4:11)
James picks up on this theme. Immediately after the “friendship” warning above, he says this:
Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you . . .
Humble yourselves before the Lord,
and he will lift you up.
(James 4:7-8a, 10)
Choose your friends wisely. Choose the world and it’ll drag you down. Choose God and he’ll lift you up.
CHOOSE GOD
Suit Up
Continuing last week’s discussion about doing battle with Satan, here are some additional words of wisdom from the Apostle Paul.
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)
Sounds pretty freaky. So, what should we do?
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. (Ephesians 6:13)
What exactly is the “armor of God”? Here’s how Paul describes it:
- Belt of Truth
- Breastplate of Righteousness
- Shoes of Peace
- Shield of Faith
- Helmet of Salvation
- Sword of the Spirit
Each piece is indispensable . . .
Without the Belt of Truth, everything else falls down.
Without the Breastplate of Righteousness, our hearts are vulnerable.
Our feet must be “fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). Otherwise, we’ll be unprepared and we’ll stumble and fall.
Without the Shield of Faith, we’ve got nothing to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16).
Without the Helmet of Salvation, we’ve got no hope of survival – we need a Savior.
The Sword of the Spirit is the “word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Without it, we’ve got no offense.
DON’T GO INTO BATTLE UNARMED
Question of the Week: Satan
We recently started a new feature here on Get Up With God. Send your deepest, thorniest, most mind-boggling Bible questions to getupwithgod1@yahoo.com and I’ll do my very best to answer ‘em in 100 words or less.
This week you get two questions for the price of one:
What does the Bible really say about Satan?
The Bible describes Satan as a fallen angel who rebelled against God, was thrown out of heaven and now battles against humans and God.
“Satan” literally means “adversary” and that’s exactly what he is. He’s also called the devil, the accuser, the evil one, the father of lies, the prince of darkness and the god of this age.
How should Christians react to Satan?
The Bible warns us to be “self-controlled” and “alert” because Satan “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” We’re told to ”resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8). If we resist Satan, he’ll flee from us (James 4:7).
God has infinitely more power than Satan. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Satan is a creature — not divine. While he has powers to deceive, tempt and accuse, he is finite and limited in space and time.
Jesus modeled how to deal with Satan and his deceptions. We should know God’s word, be filled with the Spirit and do God’s will. By his life, death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus has already dealt Satan a death blow. Satan’s defeat will become obvious and final at the end of the world when he and his followers will be thrown into the eternal fire.
