Satan, Demons, and the Origin of Evil (Part 3)
The Supernatural Realm • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 54:55
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· 95 viewsSatan brought evil into the world through his sin of pride and rebellion against God. A third of the angels rebelled with Satan and their agenda is to oppose God and destroy God's people. But Jesus has already won the victory over the powers of darkness and we have victory through Jesus by faith in His death, burial, and resurrection.
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INTRODUCTION
We talked last week about Angels on Assignment. Angels are real. They are supernatural beings that were created by God to serve Him and carry out His will. God has angels ready to be dispatched at a moment’s notice to minister to you and I in our time of need. But just like the angels in heaven are real, so are Satan and demonic powers. Just like angels are out to do good, Satan and demons are out to do evil. But how did evil originate? Where did Satan and demons come from? What is their agenda? What is their purpose? What does the Bible say about these powers of darkness? And how do we as Christians overcome them?
When we come to this subject, the first thing we must realize is that this is not a game. Spiritual warfare is very real.
SCRIPTURE
12 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.
MESSAGE
Evil’s Origin
God originally created everything good.
This includes all the heavens and the earth and human beings and spiritual beings.
In fact, at the end of Genesis Chapter 1 He called His creation “very good.”
31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
But in Genesis Chapter 3, we see that evil has entered into creation.
We are introduced to this character referred to as the serpent who deceives Eve, who then convinces Adam, to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that God had commanded them to not eat.
We probably all easily identify the serpent in Genesis Chapter 3 as Satan or the Devil.
Satan is revealed in Genesis Chapter 3 as a liar, as a deceiver, as an adversary to God and God’s people.
And this is the first indication in the Bible that something has happened to God’s perfect creation and that evil has entered into the picture.
So something must have happened between Genesis Chapter 1 and Genesis Chapter 3.
Because we know that Satan was originally created perfect.
He was originally part of God’s creation that He called “very good” at the end of Genesis Chapter 1.
So what happened?
Ezekiel Chapter 28 gives us the answer.
11 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
So Satan was originally created as a good and perfect being, but at some point iniquity (sin/evil) was found in him.
What was the iniquity (sin/evil) that was found in Satan?
We find the answer to this in Isaiah Chapter 14.
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Satan was lifted up in pride.
Notice the five “I will” statements in these verses.
“I will ascend into heaven.”
“I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.”
“I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north.”
“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.”
“I will be like the Most High.”
Satan’s sin of pride brought the first evil into the creation.
God did not create evil.
God gave human beings, and apparently the angels as well, free will to make their own choice.
We can either accept God or reject Him. We can either obey God or rebel against Him.
Satan made the decision to rebel against God and then tempted Adam and Eve to do the same thing.
The entrance of evil into the world was the result of Satan’s choice to rebel against God.
Because of Satan’s sin, God cast him out of heaven.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
God put down Satan’s rebellion quickly.
This is often referred to as the fall of Satan.
However, it is more accurately described as Satan being cast out.
Satan did not so much fall, as God threw him out.
And one third of the angelic host rebelled along with Satan and were also cast out with him.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
The angels that rebelled along with Satan against God are often referred to as fallen angels or demons.
There are two main groups of fallen angels or demons (Fallen and Bound and Fallen and Free)
Fallen and Bound.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
There are a group of the fallen angels who are bound and awaiting judgment.
These are often connected to the angelic rebellion in Genesis Chapter 6, which we don’t have time to get into in this message.
Fallen and Free.
Not all of the fallen angels are bound in everlasting chains of darkness.
Some were cast down to the earth along with Satan.
Satan, in a sense, rules over these demons and the powers of darkness.
And their main agenda is to oppose God and God’s people.
Satan’s Agenda
Some of the names given to Satan throughout the Bible give us an understanding of his agenda.
“Satan” means adversary or one who opposes.
“Devil” means slanderer.
“The ruler of the demons” (Matthew 9:34).
“Beelzebul” which means lord of the flies (Matthew 12:24).
“A liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
“A murderer” (John 8:44).
“The ruler of this world” (John 14:30).
“The god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
“The prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).
“The deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).
“The accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10).
What are some ways that Satan and demons come against God’s people?
Deception
Satan’s first act in Genesis Chapter 3 is deceiving Eve into disobeying God.
Satan is the father of lies and the demons help spread his lies.
He did this by convincing her that God’s word is not true.
Satan and demons come against God’s people by spreading false doctrine.
The false religions of the world today have been formed through the deception of Satan and demons.
Islam was created by Muhammad in AD 610 after he claims he was visited by the angel Gabriel and given the content of the Koran.
Mormonism was started after Joseph Smith claims he was visited by the angel Moroni and given the Book of Mormon.
Satan and demons know that we were created for worship.
So they don’t try to keep us from worshipping.
They just try to change the object of our worship to someone or something other than the One True God.
They promote:
Idolatry,
Witchcraft,
Occult practices,
False doctrine,
False worship, and
Anything to pull you away from worshiping the One True God in spirit and in truth.
Temptation
Satanic and demonic deception are usually coupled with temptation.
Satan began by deceiving Eve into doubting God’s Word.
Then he tempted her by convincing her that she could be like God.
Satan tempted Eve with the same iniquity that was found in him; a desire to be like God.
The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.
Satan tempted Eve into believing that the forbidden fruit was:
Good for food (the lust of the flesh),
Pleasing to the eye (the lust of the eyes), and
Desirable to make one wise (the pride of life).
Satan tempted Jesus with the same three things:
Turn stones to bread (the lust of the flesh),
To worship Satan to receive all the kingdoms of world (the lust of the eyes), and
To demonstrate His power by jumping off the pinnacle of the Temple (the pride of life).
Somewhere in those categories of sins, Satan has a temptation just for you.
What entertains your flesh?
What entices your eyes?
What elevates your pride?
Destruction
Satan and demons are out for one ultimate purpose; to destroy your soul.
Satan wants to drag as many people as he can to the lake of fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels.
But Satan will also do everything he can to destroy your body and mind as well.
There are several examples in the Bible of demonic activity causing physical illness.
The boy who had seizures (Matthew 17:14-21).
The woman who had a spirit of infirmity for 18 years (Luke 13:11-13).
The man who was possessed by a legion of demons (Luke 8:27-35).
Not all sicknesses and illnesses are caused by demonic activity, but some are.
It takes spiritual discernment to know when demonic activity is present.
If it is caused by demonic activity, no amount of medicine or therapy will solve the problem. The problem will persist as long as the demon is present.
In those cases, the demon or demons must be cast out.
We’ll get into that next week if it is the Lord’s will and He doesn’t change our message.
But as we end this message, let me give you some good news.
Christ’s Victory
Christ triumphed over the powers of darkness at the Cross of Calvary.
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Jesus has spoiled (disarmed) principalities and powers.
Jesus has triumphed over Satan and the demons and destroyed their works.
Therefore, demonic weapons cannot destroy a child of God who is covered by the blood of Jesus.
We have victory of the powers of darkness through Christ.
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.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jesus is all powerful.
If you are in Jesus and Jesus is in you, the devil cannot overcome you.
If we resist the devil, he has got to flee.
Satan and the demons are out to destroy the people of God, but we have victory over them through Jesus Christ!
Satan desires to sift you as wheat.
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Satan wanted to shake Peter’s faith so forcefully that he would fail.
Satan also wants to sift you as wheat.
He wants to shake you apart.
He wants to break you down.
So that you will give up and your faith will fail.
But Jesus gives Peter some really good news in the next verse.
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
What a comfort to know that Jesus is praying for you.
That Jesus is interceding on your behalf.
That despite Satan’s best efforts, you are never fighting your battles alone.
And that Satan will not be able to sift you as wheat as long as you hold on to Jesus!
Satan wants to devour you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Satan and the demons have power, but he wants you to think he has more power than he really does.
So he prowls around like a roaring lion to try to make you fearful.
But Satan and the demons are no match for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Satan might have some power, but he does not have all power.
All power belongs to Jesus Christ.
And with our faith firmly planted in Jesus, Satan cannot devour you!
Satan wants to steal, kill, and destroy.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Satan will use anyone and anything he can to come against you.
He wants to steal from you.
He’ll try to steal your joy.
He’ll try to steal your peace.
He’ll try to steal your faith.
He wants to kill and destroy you
He is a murderer from the beginning.
He is out to destroy your soul in hell.
But Jesus has come that we can have life and have it more abundantly.
Satan comes to steal from you, but Jesus has come to give you the free gift of salvation.
Satan comes to kill you, but Jesus has come to bring you life and life more abundantly.
Satan comes to destroy you, but Jesus has come to rescue you from the power of sin and death.
CONCLUSION
There is a spiritual battle going on around you every day.
Satan and demonic powers in the supernatural realm are real.
Satan and demons are out to destroy your life.
You are in a battle for your eternal soul.
Do you feel like you are in a battle right now?
Maybe the enemy is warring against you.
Against your family.
Against your children.
Against your mind.
Maybe it feels like the enemy is:
Trying to sift you as wheat.
Prowling around like a roaring lion seeking to devour you.
Coming for you to steal, kill, and destroy.
Well the good news is that Jesus has conquered the powers of darkness at the Cross.
He came to earth to destroy the works of the devil.
He has triumphed over the powers of darkness through His death, burial, and resurrection.
And now you and I have victory over the devil through faith in Jesus Christ and we have the promise that one day Satan and the demonic powers will be cast into a lake of fire for eternity.