SATAN AND THE BOOK
REVELATION 1:9; 2:7-11
Introduction:
The word Satan in the Hebrew, is simply an “ADVERSARY,” as in 1 Kings 5:4, “But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.” This original sense is still found in our Lord’s application of the name to the Apostle Peter in Matthew 16:23, “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
The Word of God, THE BOOK, or the BIBLE, is hated by Satan above every book in this world.
I. SATAN IS GOD’S ADVERSARY
A. Satan’s character, John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
1. The Devil (Satan) is the father of those who know not God, 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.”
2. He who sins is of the devil, 1 John 3:8, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
B. Satan is the enemy of righteousness, 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?”
C. Satan is the deceiver of the whole world, Revelation 12:9, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
II. SATAN’S HATRED FOR THE BOOK
A. God’s Word is sent out to accomplish HIS PURPOSE, Isaiah 55:11, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
1. The creation of the universe was by the power of His Word, 2 Peter 3:5, “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:”
2. The future of the world are reserved by the power of that same Word, 2 Peter 3:7, “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
B. Satan challenges the Word of God, Genesis 3:4-5, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
1. The father of lies is so saturated with lying that he even attempts to make God out to be a liar, John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
2. Satan challenges with “attractive suggestiveness”, “ye shall be as gods,” Genesis 3:5, “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
C. Satan knows the power of the “Book”, Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
1. This is Living (quick) Word of God, John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
2. The Word is Jesus Christ in the Flesh, John 1:1, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)full of grace and truth.”
3. The Word is skilled in judging (a discerner), as the surgeon has to be and able to decide on the instant what to do, Jeremiah 17:10, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
D. The Book of God is a formidable enemy of Satan, Malachi 1:14, “But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.”
E. He attempts to prevent the reading of the Book because…
1. It tells of Satan’s character: Revelation 12:9, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
2. It reveals the character of his works,
a. He is the instigator of all evil, 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.”
b. He is the corrupter of churches, 2 Corinthians 2:11, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
c. He is the persecutor of Christians, 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
CONCLUSION:
The Book or the Word of God is the most powerful force in this world. With it we can defend ourselves against our archenemy, the Devil. He hates “the Book” because it is beyond his power to resist, James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”