1/18/18 - Eph 6:11, The Angelic Conflict, Pt. 6.

The Enemy, Pt 3. 

Lesson #18-007

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7J5zKbZo-E

Pastor/Teacher, Jim Rickard

Grace Fellowship Church

www.GraceDoctrine.org
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Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, (If You have - Trusted in Him for Eternal Life), it is important to prepare yourself to: Take-in God’s Word and/or Participate in a Communion Service, so take a moment to name, cite, or acknowledge your sins privately, directly to God the Father. This will assure that you are in fellowship with God the Father & the Holy Spirit’s convicting ministry will then be able to teach you as the Holy Spirit is the real teacher.

1 John 1:9 says— “If we confess [simply name, cite, or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known sins], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [known sins] and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [all unknown & forgotten sins].”

For those of you who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior, please see: The Salvation Message @ the end of this document.

2 Pet 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

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Outline of Eph 6 :10-24

1. The Empowerment, vs. 10.

2. The Enemy, vs. 11-12. 

3. The Equipment, vs. 13-17. 

4. The Energy, vs. 18-20. 

5. The Encouragement, vs. 21-24.

2. The Enemy, vs. 11-12.

Eph 6:11-12; Job 1:6; Mat 4:1, 10; 13:19, 39; 1 Peter 5:8; Rev 9:11; 12:9-10.

Eph 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

“The devil,” is the Greek Adjective DIABOLOS. Sometimes we have him as “Satan,” from the Hebrew SATAN transliterated into the Greek as SATANAS, cf. Mat 4:1, 10. Both titles mean, “slanderous, false accuser, the adversary.”

There are many titles by which the Devil is known in both Testaments that cumulatively establish his existence and evil character. The NT includes:

• Devil, DIABOLOS - slanderer, Mat 4:1.
• Satan, SATANOS - adversary, Mat 4:10.
• Adversary, ANTIDIKOS - opponent, 1 Peter 5:8.
• Abaddon and Apollyon, Rev 9:11, both meaning destruction, the destroyer, the accuser of our brethren, Rev 12:10.
• Beelzebub – ruler of devils/demons, Mat 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15.
• Belial, (meaning worthless or wickedness), 2 Cor 6:15.
• An enemy, Mat 13:28, 39.
• The evil/wicked one, Mat 13:19, 38; John 17:15; 1 John 2:13; 5:19.
• A murderer . . . a liar, and the father of it, John 8:44.
• The god of this world, 2 Cor 4:4.
• The prince of the power of the air, Eph 2:2.
• The prince/ruler of this world, John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11.
• The spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, Eph 2:2.
• The tempter, Mat 4:3; 1 Thes 3:5.
• An angel of light, 2 Cor 11:14.
• False teacher / minister of righteousness, 2 Cor 11:15.
• The accuser, Rev 12:10.
• The serpent, Gen 3:1, 14; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 12:9; 20:2.
• The dragon, Rev 12:3, 7, 9.

The various titles and designations for Satan affirm the reality of his existence and reveal his multi-faceted character and the numerous aspects of his work. A name or nickname often reveals something about the person’s background, characteristics, or activities, so too with Satan. He is a powerful, intelligent, clever creature, and we must never forget or underestimate the reality of our enemy.

His knowledge and facility with Scripture, albeit to deceive men, further illustrates his intellect; as during the three temptations of Jesus Christ, Mat 4:5-6.

Satan’s emotion is seen in his desire to exalt himself above the rule of God, Isa 14:12-14, the “I five will’s.”

The existence of Satan is not determined by the opinions of men. The only source of information is the Bible. There are many who deny the existence of Satan. They claim that what we call Satan is only a “principle of evil,” or an “evil” that is intangible like disease germs that float around in the atmosphere and attack people’s hearts under certain conditions. That is why Satan tries to discredit the Word of God. He is not a “principle of evil,” he is a real person.

1 Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

The Bible is very clear and positive in its teaching regarding the existence of a person of evil with a personality called the devil, Job 1:6; Mat 13:39; 25:4; John 13:2; Acts 5:3; 2 Cor 11:3, 14; 1 Tim 3:6; Rev 12:9.

Job 1:6, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.”

Mat 13:19, 39, “Then comes the wicked one . . . . The enemy that sowed them is the devil.”

John 13:2, “The devil having now put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.”

Rev 12:9, “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

The NT evidence for Satan’s existence is extensive. Every NT writer and nineteen of the books make reference to him, cf. Mat 4:10; 12:26; Mark 1:13; 3:23, 26; 4:15; Luke 11:18; 22:3; John 13:27, etc.. Christ Himself makes reference to Satan 25 times. The fact of Satan’s existence finds ultimate support in the veracity of Christ’s words.

Therefore, acknowledging Satan’s reality, taking his opposition seriously, noting his strategy, and assuming to always be at war with him, is not a lapse into a dualistic concept of two gods, one good, one evil, fighting it out. No, Satan is a creature, superhuman but not Divine; he has much knowledge and power, but he is neither omniscient nor omnipotent; he can move around in ways that humans cannot, but he is not omnipresent; and he is an already defeated rebel, having no more power than God allows him and being destined for the Lake of Fire, Rev 20:10.

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A PERSONAL NOTE FOR YOU

John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life.”

Notice again what John 6:47 says, “he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life.” It doesn’t say, “will have;” it says, “has.” Therefore, the very moment you believe Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life, you have it, and it can never be lost or taken away from you [John 10:28-29]. Furthermore, the gift of everlasting life [also called eternal life in Scripture] is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I am here to tell you that Jesus loves you. He loves you so much that He gave His life for you. God the Father also loves you. He loves you so much that He gave His only Son for you by sending Him to the Cross. At the Cross Jesus died in your place. Taking upon Himself all of your sins and all of my sins. He was judged for our sins and paid the price for our sins. Therefore, our sins will never be held against us.

Right where you are, you now have the opportunity to make the greatest decision in your life. To accept the free gift of salvation and eternal life by truly believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins and was raised on the third day as the proof of the promise of eternal life. So right now, you can pause and reflect on what Christ has done for you and say to the Father:

"Yes Father, I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ,
died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins."

If you have done that, I Welcome You to the Eternal Family of God !!!

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Grace Fellowship Church
Pastor/Teacher: James H. Rickard
23 Messenger Street, Unit 3
Plainville, MA 02762

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