– Brother Bern’s Sunday Bible Study Series –
- Where is Satan now?
- Satan’s workings among the unsaved
Key Theme: Christians are to always be alert and be aware of Satan’s devices.
Good morning everyone. Today we continue with the lesson titled “Know the Enemy”. Two weeks ago, we learned that Satan exists!
The Bible has recorded his origin. The book of Ezekiel [chapter 28] and the book of Isaiah [chapter 14] are where we can learn about Satan’s origin.
Just a quick summary before we continue today. We learned that Satan is known by many names referred to him in the Bible such as the Devil, tempter, or Satan. He is a created angelic being. He is indeed powerful!
The Bible recorded that he was originally the “Anointed Cherub”. Basically, he is an angelic being with high rank created by God with a high level of duty as guardian of the holiness of God.
Iniquity [sin] was found in him. The serious one with his proclamation “to be like the Most High”. With that, God has sentenced him with his final destiny in hell!
However, he is not there yet!
The Devil is no joke! He is real, and he is dangerous.
Our key scripture for this lesson is from 1 Peter 5:8. Let us read together aloud.
(1 Peter 5:8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
***Prayer***
I. Where is Satan now?
There is a false view concerning Satan. Some people or other religions believe that the Devil is the one who is in charge in hell.
As believers, we need to reject this view. We will learn from the scripture and see that it is totally the opposite.
Let us go to [Ephesians 2:2].
(Ephesians 2:2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
From this passage, we can note another name referred to Satan.
What is it?
He is also called “the prince of the power of the air”.
So where is Satan now?
The planet earth!
We need to remember that before salvation, lost people are under the strong influence of the Devil. They follow the earthly and fleshly desires.
The sad news is that they do not realize this fact! There is no doubt why the Devil feels no threat at all from lost people. The Bible tells us so clearly that the lost sinners [or those who are without Christ] have already been condemned! Let us read [John 3:18].
It sounds harsh, but it is the Word of God.
(John 3:18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Next, let us go [Revelation 12:10] and read together.
(Revelation 12:10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
According to this scripture, we notice that Satan can appear before God to accuse believers. However, we must not forget that we have the Lord Jesus Christ, our righteousness who always advocates for us!
(1 John 2:1) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
This Biblical truth should encourage us!
Christ always intercedes for us even now! One of Satan’s greatest tactics is to throw guilt, shame and worry to believers when they have fallen into sins. Satan tries to isolate you from the church, fellowship or even prayer.
His tactic is for the believers to have their eyes and focus out of the Lord. The Devil’s poisonous method is to have you not confessed the sins so that your mind will be occupied with negativity, concerns, and troubles!
But let us read [1 John 1:9].
(1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We should be thankful to the Lord because He has offered this promise to believers.
God knows that with our sinful and physical body [not yet glorified], Christians can still sin. That is why this scripture is there for us! Praise the Lord for that. However, we should not use this as an excuse to sin! Remember [Romans 6:1-2].
(Romans 6:1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
(Romans 6:2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Therefore, it is so important to learn and take stock of the scriptures into our daily walk with the Lord to guard our heart and mind.
Let us also observe other passages concerning where Satan is now. Please go to [1 Peter 5:8] which is our key scripture for this lesson.
(1 Peter 5:8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Again, we note another name referred to Satan.
He is depicted as a roaring lion!
The Bible warns us to always be alert and spiritually awaken! This means to always observe what has happened around us with the scriptural lens based on the Word of God.
See the nature of people these days. See how morality has changed. The Devil hates Christians who surrender to God. He will attack at our weaknesses.
Also let us go to [Job 1:7].
(Job 1:7) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
We learn from this passage that Satan is also walking the earth. From all of these scriptures, we learn that Satan is alive and active in many areas.
Let us also read [Revelation 20:10].
(Revelation 20:10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
This is where we learn that Satan will eventually end up in the Lake of Fire!
Again, he is not there yet! By the way, when he is cast into hell, he will not be in charge of hell. He will be tormented forever!
II. Satan’s workings among the unsaved
Let us read [Acts 13:10] and [1 John 3:10].
(Acts 13:10) And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
(1 John 3:10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
According to these scriptures, what does God call those who are lost [those who are without Christ]?
They are called “children of the devil”. People in this world either belong to the Lord or the Devil. There is no middle ground.
Again, this may sound radical. This all happened in the Garden of Eden when the first man has sinned [Romans 5:12].
(Romans 5:12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Now we will take a closer look at what is Satan’s major work among the lost? Let us read [II Corinthians 4:4].
(2 Corinthians 4:4) In whom the god of this world hath 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 unto them.
Also, here we note another name referred to Satan.
He is called the “god of this world”.
Satan will do anything in his power to keep the lost blinded to the light of the gospel. So, it is very important as we engage in the gospel ministry to always pray for God’s divine intervention. Only with the power of God can break through this blindness of the lost soul.
Dear friends, we never know when the Lord Jesus Christ will return. Surely, He will come quickly. But until then, the gospel must continue to be preached! The Enemy is always on the
move every moment. Satan is consistent with his approaches and tactics while today’s Christians are spiritually sleepwalking.
So, ‘Awake’ everyone for this spiritual fight is real.
We will end with [Ephesians 5:14-16] and next class we will cover Satan’s workings among real Christians and how do we deal with the Devil.
(Ephesians 5:14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
(Ephesians 5:15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
(Ephesians 5:16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Full teaching script is adapted from The ABC’s of Christians Growth. “Study #5 E – Enemy (Satan)”, Robert J. Sargent.
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