Growing up, I watched cartoons that sometimes showed the devil sitting on one side of a character’s shoulder (usually the left side) while an angelic figure sat on the other shoulder. During those scenes, the characters usually try to figure out the right or wrong thing to do. In cartoons, the devil is a red being with horns, hoofs, a pointy tail, and a pitchfork. Let’s look at how the Bible describes him.
WHO IS SATAN?
Satan (also called the devil), is God’s adversary and the adversary of those who follow God (His children). The word “satan” means “accuser” or “adversary.” It also means “to oppose.” In Ezekiel 28:12-13, Ezekiel says that God speaks to the prince of Tyre, but some believe that God symbolically refers to Satan. The same goes for (Isaiah 14:3-14). God is speaking about the king of Babylon but symbolically refers to Satan.
According to the two scriptures above, he was an important angel and beautiful. In Luke 10:18, Jesus says that he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven, which gives us an idea that he once lived there but was banned. According to the scriptures, he was banned for being prideful, wanting to exalt himself above God and become God.
Parables were often used to help us get a clear understanding of what God said. “I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables” (Hosea 12:10). So, even though the prophets were talking about the prince of Tyre and the king of Babylon, they very well could have been referring to Satan.
Satan is also the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).
SATAN’S APPEARANCE
The Bible doesn’t go into much detail about Satan’s appearance, but he is said to disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Many believe that Satan is some hideous creature, but he tends to appear charming and beautiful through sin, lust, and our deepest desires; The lust of the flesh, eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). He could very well be hideous, but he doesn’t appear in that form. Once he appears to you in the form of your sinful desires, you fall into his trap. This opens the door to your downfall. It is not always easy to recognize the enemy. This is why having a relationship with God is so important. He will give you the spirit of discernment to differentiate between good and evil.
Satan’s angels
Satan has demons. He is not omnipresent (being everywhere at once) like God, but his demons help him with his plans. “… he was thrown down to earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:9). His demons do his dirty work for him, and they are powerful too. “There are rulers, authorities, powers, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
SATAN’S PURPOSE
The devil has one purpose, which is to leave unbelievers and lukewarm believers in spiritual bondage, enslaved to sin. Satan has 3 goals: to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). According to Revelation 12:4, he swept down a third of the stars (angels) of heaven and cast them to the earth. The stars symbolize angels, who are now demons. How he planned to bring down angels with him, he wants to do the same with unbelievers and lukewarm believers.
SATAN’S STRATEGIES
One of the devil’s biggest accomplishments is convincing people that he and the place he resides in doesn’t exist. He specializes in deceit and manipulation. He is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). The serpent who deceived Eve in (Genesis 3:1-24) symbolizes Satan. Hence, Satan’s character is cunning, deceiving, and manipulative. Some people think Satan is stupid, but he is actually clever. All he needs is access to your mind and the rest is history. Satan is powerful, but he is given limited authority from God to tempt believers (Job 1:6-12) and unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Sin always appears attractive at first until you get involved. Afterward, shame consumes you. The devil tells you how amazing the sin is. Then he convinces you to do the sin. Next, he condemns you of the sin by reminding you of how disgusting you are for engaging in the sin. He is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). This means that having done all of the convincing, he finally reports to God on your behalf, by accusing you of the sin he just convinced you to commit.
The trick is for him to get into your mind. He will even have you thinking that you might as well continue in your shameful acts because it’s too late to turn back now. 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. In other words, repentance and renouncing leave no room for shame. When Jesus died on the cross, shame and regret went with it. However, if you continue in it, it brings death.
Once we repent and ask for forgiveness, God will not remember the sin (Isaiah 43:25). Don’t take that lightly. God remembers everything, but if you are willing to be righteous, He will pardon your sins. He wants us to know that although we have all sinned and fallen short of His glory, He is willing to look past the sins if we’re willing to repent and walk away from them.
TEMPTATION
The devil will always try to tempt you, but God will always provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. Our fleshly desires give birth to sin (James 1:13-15).
RECOGNIZING SATAN
Satan brings hell into our lives through spiritual warfare. Examples of spiritual warfare are fatigue, anxiety, depression, stress, temptation, fear, lies, despair, mental anguish, anger, insomnia, evil thoughts, perversion, etc.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8)
Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs (2 Corinthians 2:10-11)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
HOW TO WITHSTAND / RESIST SATAN
“Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:13-18)
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:7-8)
SATAN IS ALREADY DEFEATED
Satan’s destiny is already written and ends in defeat.
“and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
In conclusion, there is a real enemy, and he is called Satan (the devil). Although Satan is powerful, he isn’t more powerful than God, and his powers are limited.
- Satan gets to us through the lust of the flesh, eyes, and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16)
- Satan is out to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10)
- Satan tempts us to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13)
- Satan is an accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10)
- Satan is a liar (John 8:44)
- Satan has an army of demons (Ephesians 6:12)
- Satan is defeated. (Revelation 20:10)
Disclaimer: I am not a theologian or Bible scholar. Any Bible Study posts on RISE’s website are for perspective purposes only; to help others understand the Word from a different point of view. If you have any questions or concerns, click here for RISE’s contact page where you can fill out a contact form or email us at rise.risechosen.org.