The Greatest Among You II Syllabus TG II Lsn 1 TG II Lsn 2
Lesson 3
“Devil” means “accuser”. The devil is also our "adversary", which means “opponent in a lawsuit”. He stands before God accusing us if we do anything wrong. He is our opponent in the lawsuit against our sinful souls. Christ defends us. How sad it is when we give the devil ammunition to use against us! I can picture him saying "Ah Ha! Did you see what your child did?!! Punish her! Punish her! She is sinful! She is going to disappoint you and she will leave you! She will end up serving me!" It makes me want to try even harder not to do wrong, so that I won’t break God's heart with my sin every time the devil accuses me.
Two Spiritual Kingdoms
It is important that we understand that there are two spiritual kingdoms. Everyone is in one or the other. We have no choice but to be in one or the other.
We have considered the authority of the Father, the authority of Christ and Christ’s kingdom. To complete our picture of understanding, we must now take a look at the other kingdom, Satan’s kingdom and his domain.
Note: I will be using some verses more than once because I will be using them to make more than one point.
Satan Is a Spiritual Dignitary
Satan is a spiritual authority and a spiritual dignitary. He has a kingdom. He has a sphere of influence and with it, he has power. His power is limited in that God’s power and authority are greater than his.
Take a look at the short book of Jude:
In it we learn that Sodom and Gomorrah, amongst other evil deeds, “rejected authority and spoke evil of dignitaries” (vs 8) Verse 9 refers to Michael the archangel contending with the devil. The context indicates that since the devil is an authority and a dignitary Michael did not dare to bring against the devil a “reviling accusation”, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” I understand from this that we are to have great respect for authority. We should not revile those who have authority and that we should even be careful how we refer to or what we say about Satan, because he is a spiritual dignitary and authority.
Because of this passage, I have never been comfortable singing the little children's songs about the Devil. There's one about running over him and another on about putting him into a box and throwing away the key. It appears that there is a lot more that is required of us concerning respect for authorities than we understand. It is scary, because we say things without even considering that it would be wrong to do so. Do not misunderstand me. We are not to respect the actions of sinful men, but the position of authority is to be respected.
The most important point from this section would be that we should respect authority, all authority, and that we as parents should definitely be careful and diligent to teach our children to respect authority.
1. Thought question: Other than God and Christ, what authority do you think people (any age) find the hardest to obey and why?
Satan Has a Kingdom
2. If Satan casts out Satan,
he is divided against himself. How then will his ______ ________
? ()
Sin Puts One Into Satan’s Kingdom
3. 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 ______ ______ ________ of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
Satan Has a Throne
4.
“I know your works, and where you dwell, where ______ _____
is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even
in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among
you, where Satan dwells. (Revelation 2:13)
Satan Has Power
Remember in another lesson that we discussed that those who have authority, also have a domain. Also, authority belongs to the one who has the power to cause his or her desires to be accomplished.
God’s authority is accomplished in love, truth and all righteousness. The Devil has power only through the use of lies and deception. He has no power over man except through temptation to sin. No one would ever follow him if he told the truth. Therefore he must use lies and all deception to entice people into His kingdom.
5. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an _____ ____ ______ . 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Cor.11:13-15)
6. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the ______ ____ ________ to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. (Acts 26:17-18)
Satan Has a Synagogue
7. I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a ________ _____ _______ . (Revelation 2:9)
8. I will make those who are of the ________ _____ ___________ , who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars–I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. ()
Satan Has Children
9. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever ______ _____ ________ _____________is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. (1 )
10. And said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you ____ ____ ___ _______ , you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? ()
11. You are of your _______ ____ ______
, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from
the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in
him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar
and the father of it. ()
Satan Has Angels
12. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and ____ ____ ___ ____ ____ with him. (Revelation 12:9)
What is on Satan’s Agenda?
13. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom _____ _____ ______ .
14.
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil
and satan, who _______ ______ ______
_______ ; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with
him. (Revelation
12:9)
15. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and ______ _____ ____ _______ out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (Luke 8:12)
We Must Avoid His Wiles and His Snare
16.
Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall
into ______ ________
______ ______ of the devil.
(1 Timothy
3:7)
17. And that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been ______ _________ by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)
18. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the ______ of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)
When A Person Obeys Satan They Are His Captive
19. And that they may come to their ______ _______ ______ the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)
Would you rather be a captive of Satan or a child of God?
20. Thought question: When a person is taken captive of the devil, what sort of thing does he get them to do?
Victory over Satan
21. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For _____ ________ the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. ()
22. Therefore submit to God. _______ the devil and he will flee from you. ()
23._____ ______ _____ _________ ; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ()
Are You a Child of God or of the Devil?
How can one know?
24. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not _____ _____ _______. ()
What Are Some Other Things We Know About Satan?
He oppresses Christians:
25. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the ______ is about to throw some of you into _______ , that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. ()
He wants to spiritually gobble us up:
26. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, ______ whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
If we resist him, he will run away:
27. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and ___ ____ _____ from you. (James 4:7)
28. Thought
question: How does one resist the devil?
He Has Some Major Character Flaws
29. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his ______ _________ , for he is a liar and the father of it. ()
Satan’s Eternal Destiny
Satan will spend eternity in Hell but he will not, as fiction purports it, be in charge of Hell. He will suffer eternally with all who followed him there. His kingdom will be overthrown and His power will be abolished forever.
30. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be __________ day and night_______ ____ _______ . (Revelation 20:10)
Hell Was Created For Satan
Those Who Follow Him Follow Him To Hell
31.
"Then
He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed,
into the everlasting fire ______ for the devil and his
angels. (Matthew
25:41)
Let’s Review:
32. What are some symbols of Satan’s authority?
33. Through what does Satan gain power?
34. How can you tell a child of God from a child of the devil?
35. Name some things that are on Satan’s agenda.
36. What is the eternal destination of Satan?
37. What is the eternal destination of those in Satan’s kingdom?
For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever. (Micah 4:5)
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson,Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."