Is Satan Real?

Is Satan Real?

Question

Is Satan Real?

Answer

Several years ago, after teaching a Bible class on the book of Genesis, a longtime Christian indicated to me that he did not believe in the reality of Satan. This gentleman acknowledged the existence of good and evil, but he thought that “Satan” was simply a word used in Scripture to describe evil, rather than refer to an actual wicked being.

It is true that Satan is evil. (Have you ever noticed that you cannot spell “devil” without spelling “evil”?) He tempts, deceives, destroys, lies, murders, etc. But, he is not merely a word used by the Holy Spirit and His inspired penmen to symbolize evil; he is, as Jesus and Paul referred to him, “the evil one” (Matthew 6:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:3, emp. added). He is not just wickedness; he is “the wicked one” (1 John 3:12, emp. added). He does not merely represent dishonesty; “he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).

Although Satan is not deity and in no way has the infinite, eternal attributes of God, the devil is as real as God. That is, the same God-inspired book that describes the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, omni-benevolent, glorious Creator, also tells us about a real, fallen spiritual being called Satan. His name appears 14 times in the first two chapters of Job (perhaps the oldest book of the Bible). Scripture reveals that God confronted Satan in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:14-16). Jesus spoke to him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). And Michael the archangel contended with him about the body of Moses (Jude 9).

Satan is not a fairytale character on par with the Big Bad Wolf or Captain Hook. He is not a little red cartoon figure with horns and a pitchfork who gleefully sits on a throne in hell (see Butt, 2012). The sooner that Christians take seriously “the adversary” (Satan), “the accuser” (devil), who goes “to and fro on the earth…walking back and forth” (Job 1:7), “like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8), the better prepared we will be to withstand his schemes (Ephesians 6:11) and snares (2 Timothy 2:26). We should neither underestimate him nor overestimate him. He is not deity (and thus not all-powerful or all-knowing), but he is also not a figment of our imagination. Unlike God, he desires all men to be lost (cf. 1 Timothy 2:4). Thankfully, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

REFERENCE

Butt, Kyle (2012), “Satan is Not the Ruler of Hell,” http://www.apologeticspress.org/apPubPage.aspx?pub=1&issue=1026.

Interesting Study tip

I thought this might be helpful. 

Another Study Tip

43 books memorized! Wow. 

13 Objections

Here is a good read about the most common objections to baptism. From the Apologetics Press website. 

https://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=5314&utm_source=7%2F4%2F2016&utm_campaign=Newsletter+16&utm_medium=email

Blinded by the Bible

Blinded by the Bible

In August 1984, a Christian was invited to appear on the nationwide Phil Donahue television show for the purpose of clarifying why a church in Oklahoma had implemented disciplinary procedures against a wayward member. The Christian presented the Bible directives pertaining to the point by quoting scripture after scripture substantiating that, in fact, the church had conscientiously followed biblical protocol. His persistent appeal to the Bible seemed to antagonize and irritate many members of the studio audience. Their sentiments were summarized in the words of one woman who stood and, as Mr. Donahue held the microphone for her, stated with apparent frustration and exasperation: “From being here today I just feel that you people are blinded by the Bible. They don’t see anything else but the Bible” (Donahue Transcript, 1984, p. 20).

Unwittingly, this individual paid a tremendous tribute to Christians. It was apparent to the audience that genuine Christians are so obsessed with God’s Word, and so preoccupied with ascertaining biblical authority for every action, that they simply cannot see anything else. They are blinded—not by erroneous human reasoning, legal/judicial consequences, or current societal consensus—but by the Bible.

There was a time when it could be said fairly accurately that American civilization was similarly blinded. Unfortunately, during the last fifty years, society seems to have largely regained its sight. The biblical values and moral principles upon which this country was founded, and which have provided the social framework out of which the majority of Americans have operated, are being systematically jettisoned and replaced by pluralism. A variety of philosophies, religions, and values are being gradually incorporated into an American civilization that was never envisioned by the Founders. The biblical approach, in which God’s words are set forth as preeminent, has largely been abandoned. Public education is now thoroughly dominated by modern psychology, humanistic sociology, and evolutionary values. The average American understood right from wrong, and recognized an absolute standard of morality. Now, however, the “I’m Okay, You’re Okay” attitude of “political correctness” permeates the population. The alienation of the average citizen from the God of the Bible is profound.

With people no longer “blinded by the Bible,” this state of affairs has resulted in the very social scenario described by Jesus when, referring to His earthly contemporaries, He said:

seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.… For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart and turn, so that I should heal them (Matthew 13:13,15).

If only civilization would return to a healthy preoccupation with the Word of God—sustained intimacy with Scripture. If only society would once again become blinded by the Bible.

REFERENCE

Donahue Transcript #09284 (1984), (Cincinnati, OH: Multimedia Entertainment).

https://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=7&article=940

Copyright © 2003 Apologetics Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Larry Haverstock's travels to the Bible Lands

I thought some of you might find this interesting. This is Larry's accounts of his travels to Jerusalem and the surrounding area. There are a number of nice photos. 

Shout to the Lord Singing Workshop

Song PDF's

I have uploaded the Powerpoint Files to the Members Shared Files on the website. I can put the PDF's as well for those who don't have Powerpoint. 

Great Footage of Bible Lands

https://www.appianmedia.org

This is a link to some great video of places we read about all the time in scripture. I haven't been through all of them yet, but what I have seen so far has been well worth the time to peruse. 

I think getting a visual of these places can help when we read. Getting a feel for geography and distances and structures make the text come alive in our minds. I hope you enjoy. 

One Simple Tip

Here is a link to a quick article I thought was good information. 

It is from a site called Radically Christian, which has several great articles. 

New Songs Available Here.

Traditions of Men Versus The Word of God

Traditions of men versus the word of God
Matthew 15:1-9

Recently this passage of scripture was brought to my attention. This passage has a very important lesson for all who desire to please and worship God.

Matthew 15:1-2 (NASB) 
1 Then some Pharisees and scribes *came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 
2 "Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."

The disciples were caught, by Pharisees and Scribes, eating food with unwashed hands. The Scribes and Pharisees pointed out to Jesus that his disciples were guilty of violating the traditions of the elders.

These traditions were called “The Oral Law” and according to Jewish tradition, they were given to Moses on the mount, where he had received the “Written Law”, but were never written down. Instead, they were supposedly passed down Orally from generation to generation. Therefore, these oral traditions were called the “Unwritten Law”, which means they were not contained in the “Written Law” which is the first five books of Moses, Genesis through Deuteronomy.

The traditions of the elders were the most important words within the hearts of the Pharisees and Scribes. These traditions clearly contradicted the Written Law of Moses as Jesus pointed out. Jesus did not accept the Oral Traditions as coming from God. Jesus did accept Genesis through Deuteronomy as coming from God.

Matthew 15:3-6 (NASB) 
3 And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 
4 "For God said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,' and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.' 
5 "But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God," 
6 he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Their tradition stated that if a person pledged all their property and wealth to God, then it could not be used to benefit anyone except the giver during his or her lifetime. At the end of the giver's life, their prosperity would go to God (probably the Temple treasury). According to Jesus, this was a teaching, doctrine, and precept of men. This teaching was not given by God. Jesus did not consider it scripture.

It is obvious that the Pharisees believed the wrong words. Their hearts were filled with the wrong words. They spoke and taught the wrong words. But because the giver donated all his wealth to the Temple it appeared as if they were worshipping and honoring God by keeping this tradition. But it was only in appearance.

How can a person honor God when their heart and their mouth is filled with the wrong words? How can one honor God when their words and practices invalidate God’s written word? They cannot!!!

What Law of Moses did the tradition of the Pharisees and Scribes invalidate? The fifth commandment. This commandment obligated the children to take care of their parents when they needed such help. Most children would gladly do for their parents what their parents had done for them. This was natural family affection. It was a severe crime to even speak evil of your parents much less deny them your help when they needed you.

Deuteronomy 5:16 (NASB) 
16 'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.

Leviticus 20:9 (NASB) 
9 'If there is anyone who curses his father or his mother, he shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother, his bloodguiltiness is upon him.

Jesus rejects any teaching or words which conflict with and would allow a follower of God to break one of God’s commandments. The teachings of men are never to be the script that directs our hearts. God’s children are directed exclusively by His teachings. Anything else will result in worship which is unacceptable to God.

Jesus continues to educate us in this discourse:

Matthew 15:7-9 (NASB) 
7 "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 
8 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 
9 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"

Jesus calls the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites. A hypocrite is someone who pretends to be something they are not. These men pretended to be followers of the God of the Old Testament. Followers of the God of the Old Testament could be identified by the fact that they believed in and followed the teachings of the Old Testament. The Scribes and Pharisees held to traditions which were not a part of the Old Testament. They not only followed such traditions but invalidated the written word of God by their traditions. Therefore, they were merely actors and not true followers of the one true God.

The one thing that separated the followers of God from those who did not follow, was obedience to God’s commands. Obedience demonstrates a true love for God. In fact, to highly esteem God’s word, was to highly esteem the one who spoke the word. When a follower obeys God’s word because it is God’s word, the follower is, in fact, worshiping God. Obedience motivated by respect for God's word is worship.

Jesus said of the Scribes and Pharisees that they were honoring God with their lips. This simply means they claimed to be pleasing God by giving all their wealth to God at their death. Their heart was far away from God because they were not doing what he had commanded. They were actually dishonoring God by not obeying his commandment to take care of their parents.

The very act of taking care of their parents would give honor to the God who had commanded them to do so. Therefore to take care of one's parents would have been an act of worship that would give much glory to God. And God would have accepted that worship. Such worship would not have been vain in God's eyes.

The worship of the Scribe’s and Pharisee’s was vain because they were following the wrong words. They chose to follow the words of their traditions rather than the word of God. It is not possible to worship God when in your heart you choose to follow the wrong words. True worship comes from a heart that has God's words indelibly imprinted within as the standard of worship.

John 4:23 (NASB) 
23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

They did not love God because, in their heart, the word of men was more important than the word of God. They had the wrong words, not the right words and that led to their spiritual ruin.

Exodus 20:6 (NASB) 
6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Deuteronomy 11:13 (NASB) 
13 "It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul,

John 14:15 (NASB) 
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Let us learn from the master.

Mouth of Praise

What an amazing weekend. Thank you again Tom T Bone McGowain for your time and a truly inspiring lesson. 

Here is a link to T Bones site for the songs we practiced:

http://shoutmouthofpraise.wixsite.com/praisehim/song-practice

Cup of the Day

Hello Everyone, 

I just stumbled across this YouTube channel that is really good. It is Scott Beyer from the Monroe congregation. He does something called Cup of then Day.  It is a short(1-5 min) clip covering various topics, mostly an overview of a chapter from the bible. 

It it is well made and Scott is quite articulate. Great to see technology put to use like this. Here is the link.