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“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion,

seeking someone to devour.  But resist him, firm in your faith …” – 1 Peter 5:8-9

This grave warning concerning the devil was given not only to young Christians, easily subject to temptations, but also to “the elders among you” – 1 Peter 5:1.  It often seems, in fact, that Satan’s greatest victories are won when he can cause the fall of a Christian leader, thereby not only destroying that leader’s influence for Christ but also giving “occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” – 2 Samuel 12:14.  The devil is a roaring lion, but he doesn’t come as such.  If he did, the intended victim would flee.

He is, above all, the one “who deceives the whole world” – Revelation 12:9, “for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” – 2 Corinthians 11:14.   As he did with Mother Eve, the ‘subtle’ one will insidiously appeal to our pride, or our aesthetic sense; or our appetite; or our desire for material things.

Peter could speak from bitter experience.  Satan had desired to “ ‘sift you like wheat’ ” – Luke 22:31 – Jesus had told him, but he foolishly boasted that he would stand true – “ ‘Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!’ “ – Luke 22:33, but Peter would then very quickly deny the Lord three times, even before dawn the following day.

No wonder Peter could warn with such urgency: be sober, be on the alert, be vigilant.  Note particularly that, in the context, he is especially warning against greed – “not for sordid gain” – 1 Peter 5:2 and pride – “therefore humble yourselves” – 1 Peter 5:6.  We must not allow Satan to ‘get an advantage of us,’ Paul says, “for we are not ignorant of his schemes” – 2 Corinthians 2:11.

Though Satan is deceptive and powerful, we need never fall to his tempting if we simply – along with staying sober and vigilant – “Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.“ – James 4:7.

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Select verses on Satan, the Devil:

• “ ‘He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.’ ” – John 8:44 – spoken by Jesus Himself
• “ ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.’ ” – John 10:10
• “… as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness” – 2 Corinthians 11:3
• “ ‘… then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.’ ” – Luke 8:12 – another warning from Jesus
• “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:4 – written by Paul
• “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit …” – Acts 5:3
• “ ‘You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness.” – Acts 13:10
• “… for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.” – 1 Timothy 5:15
• “The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.” – 1 John 3:8
• “… not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother.  And for what reason did he slay him?  Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” – 1 John 3:12
• “… the accuser of our brethren …” – Revelation 12:10
• “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” – 1 John 5:19

Overcoming the evil one:

• “… taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” – Ephesians 6:16 – NASB; the following is the same verse, this time taken from the KJV:
• “… taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” – Ephesians 6:16 – KJV
• “Do not give the devil an opportunity.” – Ephesians 4:27
• “… come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” – 1 Corinthians 7:5
• “ ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ ” – Luke 22:40
• “I ‘ do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one … sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.’ ” – John 17:15-17
• “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3
• “… to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins …” – Acts 26:18
• “… you have overcome the evil one.” – 1 John 2:13
• “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.  And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.  The is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” – 1 John 5:18-21

The Lord Jesus Christ and Satan:

• “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.  The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan!’ ” – Zechariah 3:1-2
• “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” – Acts 10:38
• “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” – 1 John 3:8
• “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” – Romans 16:20
• “ ‘Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.’ ” – John 12:31
• “ ‘… and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.’ ” – John 16:11
• “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish…” – 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 (this particular Scripture is concerning the Beast and how he’s defeated at Christ’s Second Coming)
• “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” – Revelation 20:10

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The Temptation of Jesus:

Immediately following Jesus’ baptism by John, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness where the devil tempted the Lord – with the three categories of mankind’s basic areas of temptations.

• First, the fleshly (the bodily/physical) temptation:  “The tempter came and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’  But He answered and said, “ ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” ‘ “ – Matthew 4:3-4 – Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 8:3.
• Then the temptation of pride (mind/spirit):  “Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, “He will command His angels concerning You; and on their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.” ‘  Jesus said to him, ‘On the other hand, it is written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Matthew 4:5-7 – Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.
• The temptation of covetousness (the soul): “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.’  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go Satan!  For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” ‘ ” – Matthew 4:8-10 – Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 6:13-14.

“Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.” – Matthew 4:11.

Note that Jesus quoted scripture in each of His three responses.  God’s Word is our greatest weapon against Satan.

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.’ – Hebrews 4:15

“For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” – Hebrews 2:18

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“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:23

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:11-12

click on link for post: Hell – The Lake of Fire – The Second Death

click on link for post: The Throne of Satan

click on link for post: Salvation Call – God’s Love