Satan's Work in Our World

Satan’s work in our world

Premise: Satan exists and is active in our world

SPS: To uncover Satan’s intent/purpose/goal and motivation

If you were to ask the average person on the street “What is Satan’s goal?” they might say something like “well, he wants to get people to do evil stuff like, murder, cruelty, war, anger, lust, to sin”.

Satan’s purpose in his own words is: “I will be like the Most High”… he does not state that his goal is to be the baddest of the bad, the personification of evil and wickedness… but to be “like (or likened to) the Most High”… and to be worshipped.

• Isaiah 14:13-14 – like the Most High
• Gen 3:5 – passes along his goal to mankind (a liar and a murderer)
• Luke 4:7-8 – worship me
• II Thess 2:4 – sets self forth in place of God
• Revelation 13:2-4 – actual worship is achieved

In pursuit of this Satan presents himself as an alternative to the Most High God and presents a semblance morality,  goodness, even peace… but it’s a counterfeit version. II Corinthians 11:14-15

An Example Counterfeiting

An example in our time is the popular concept of tolerance. In theory, tolerance seems like a great idea and you can understand how it quickly claims the moral high ground… tolerance summons up notions of compassion, mercy, patience and other Godly virtues BUT it’s not the same thing… it’s a clever counterfeit. Tolerance by its very definition is apart from the Most High God because its apart from the acceptance of any kind of supreme moral authority…  but supreme moral authority is what God is all about.

Because tolerance is a way of thinking that is separate and apart from the Most High God, who is judge and lawgiver, the lofty-sounding ideal of tolerance brings with it all kinds of social problems, deviance, false teaching and general anti-God feelings… which works well with Satan’s stated agenda.

Apart from God mankind flesh and blood humans are naturally inclined to focus on our own needs, wants and pleasures…  those who live and think according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh… and the flesh and blood mind is not subject to the law of God nor indeed can be.

It’s a way that seems right to the human mind but it is not the way that leads to eternal life. Life everlasting comes from God… everything else is a DEAD END.

But who in our day and age wants to be in a discussion arguing against tolerance?

Satan Does Not Like God’s Plan

God’s plan is to build a loving family relationship with mankind. God wants to transform humans into glorious spirit born children in His eternal family of which He is the head. But Satan wants something rather different. Remember… Satan’s goal is that he… “be like the Most High”.

What makes matters worse is God’s is planning to place these spirit born children, created in His own image and after His own kind, in positions above that of angels… I Corinthians 6:2-3; Heb 2:5-8

Based on what we know of Satan’s intent to be in the most exalted position… He’s not only in opposition to God, he’s in opposition to you. Satan’s not waiting until after you have been ushered into your full rights and inheritance in the family of God… its game time… its NOW. Satan is jealous, powerful and angry… and he’s your adversary and your enemy.

Satan is opposed to God and opposed to the children of God

Note: He’s not in conflict with all of mankind. His counterfeits and deceptions have succeeded with them. He’s got them fooled, increasingly separated from their creator, the Most High God… and when the time is right, close to the end… when God’s restraining hand is removed, as it is prophesied to be, He will have them worshipping him as if he were God Most High.

But those who believe… That’s a different story.

Satan Hates You Because of Who You Are

II Peter 1:3-4 hitting at you is a way that Satan can hit at the Most High God (discuss triangulation)

Let’s take a look at some scriptures that warn you about Satan’s hatred toward you…

• John 16:33
• II Tim 3:12
• I John 3:13
• Ephesians 6:10-12

If you thinking about getting baptized you might want to think about this…

We are helpless before such an onslaught without powerful intervention John 17:15. Jesus Christ continues in His role as your chief advocate. Interceeding on your behalf. That’s how you will make it.

Satan Hates You Because Of Your Work In The World

God has committed to His people (His Church) the ministry of reconciliation. II Cor 5:10-11

Satan wants to keep mankind enemies with God… not reconciled with God. From his point of view this is very bad. Because of your part in God’s work you are Satan’s enemies. You are part of a group that God has given the task of preaching the truth in the face of falsehood, uncovering the counterfeits and deceptions, of calling others to submit themselves to God, of baptizing them into a covenant that leads to sonship. This is not good.

Remember: He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

To fight against you is to fight against God’s work on earth… to fight against His church is to fight against God’s work on earth… which is what Satan does. (discuss attacks from without and from within)

• I Peter 5:5-13
• James 4:4-11
• Matthew 6:13