Should This Matter?

When we think of the name of Satan or the Devil our imaginations may first drift to horror movies and pitchforks and horns. But as Christians, our understanding of Satan goes much deeper than than that. He is not a horror movie character or a mythological creature. He is real and he is fighting for our souls.

In our culture today, even amongst so-called “Christians”, the idea of Satan has been diluted or even eliminated completely from teaching. “Christians” fear being called delusional or unscientific. So, the mention of Satan has been considered taboo for many churches.

Because I attended church from a young child up until now (adulthood, I am in my mid-thirties), I have witnessed this shift in Christian teaching for myself. I attended a fundamentalist baptist church for most of my life (now I attend a home church led by my husband) so I am fortunate to have had sound doctrine for most of my life, but even within a fundamentalist church, I experienced this shift. As a young child, I recall fist banging messages of fire and brimstone and warnings to stay out of the devil’s clutches. I was young but they have stayed in my memory and were certainly instrumental in my coming to Christ. But as I got older, the sermons became less demanding with almost no mention of the devil or demons. The teaching was good. The teaching spoke of important doctrine. But the teaching lacked almost never alluded to Satan.

Why has this happened? Satan is a major figure in the Bible. In every single passage where he is mentioned, he is not described as some mythological figure but is very real. Christ mentions Satan on numerous occasions. How can we deny or remove the idea of Satan? To do so is to deny or remove the teachings of Christ! If you are ok with that, then you are not a Christian. Yet, so many “Christians” long to fit into our culture more than to stand up for the blatant teachings of Scripture. We don’t want to be deemed crazy!

So who cares? Is it really that big of a deal to not talk about Satan? YES! First of all, nothing in Scripture is said in vain. It is all important. Jesus spends a considerable amount of time speaking about Satan and even battled with him during His temptation. Secondly, Satan is important to understanding the fall of men and he does play a major role in the future (see Revelation). Thirdly, to remove Satan from teaching is to make Christians fight with one hand tied behind their back! Let me go though each of these points in slightly more detail.

If Scripture talks about Satan than we need to listen!

The Word of God is just that – the Word of God! Nothing that God says is a waste and we must not take anything for granted. If we really believe that the Bible is God’s Word than you must accept it. To refuse to do so is to refuse the Word of God. It is all or nothing. The Bible is very clear about this! When God says something, it will come to pass and it is truth. We can count on it! So, if God speaks of Satan, than what is said is true.

Isaiah 55:10-11 (KJV)

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

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.

God has some serious threats against those who add or remove words from the Bible. See below. This same concept can also be found in Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32. Everything that God says is important.

Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV)

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

There are numerous passages that speak of Satan in the Bible. As mentioned above, even Christ speaks of Satan. I will not provide a full list here but I have included some verses below to show that the devil is spoken of as a real figure. Throughout the rest of this article will be additional verses that relate here as well.

Matthew 25:41 (KJV)

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

John 8:44 (KJV)

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.

Matthew 4:1 (KJV)

4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Satan plays an important role in the past and future of this world.

Obviously, Jesus is the most important figure in the Bible. But Satan is a major figure who shows up at the beginning and even at the end. He tempted Eve into eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis and he will gather the armies of men to fight Christ in Revelation.

Satan was originally an angel, and not just any angel but a beautiful one who walked on the “holy mountain of God” and in the “midst of the stones of fire” (Ezekiel 28:13-19). The “stones of fire” are described elsewhere in the Bible as before the throne of God so we know that Satan (Lucifer) was at God’s throne.

But Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:13-19 describe his fall from glory. It was his PRIDE that destroyed him. He wanted his throne to be above God’s throne. But his destination is destruction and by fire he will be destroyed in front of all of those who follow him. The one who was considered so terrible is, in all actuality, not that powerful. He will be easily defeated. In fact, Revelation describes this somewhat anti-climatic event in 20:9-10 where Satan gathers his forces of men to surround Zion but God destroys them with fire from heaven and Satan is cast into the lake of fire.

So we know that Satan is going to be destroyed. He will not win. But in the meantime, he is here and trying to take as many of our souls down with him as possible. He currently actively seeks to devour us and accuses us day and night to God. In Revelation and Daniel (as well as other miscellaneous passages), we are told that he will be instrumental in deceiving the world through the Antichrist during the tribulation period of the end-times. The Bible highlights the Antichrist and end-time events so that we will not follow this man or others like him who will deceive the world because, as Christ says, “if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24). So, it is important to understand what Satan will do in the future so we do not fall into his trap.

As Christians, we don’t only battle against our sin nature but also against supernatural forces.

We, as Christians, are currently in a battle for our souls. We may not notice it or want to think about it, but there is a battle going on right now. If you were in a battle but I tied one hand behind your back, you could be in serious trouble! Maybe you can still pull off a victory, but it is a lot harder to do! This is what we do to Christians when we neglect teaching about the dangers of Satan and his demons.

I believe that many pastors and Christians suffer from two incorrect ways of thinking: 1) “Everyone understands human nature and the desire to do wrong and that doesn’t sound as crazy as Satan so I will focus solely on sin nature” and/or 2) “If I am a Christian, I don’t have to worry about Satan.” To preach this way, however, is very damaging to Christians!

There are two aspects of temptation that we all face: 1) internal temptation: our sin nature and 2) external temptation: Satan and his demons actively trying to turn us from God. I have found that many churches focus almost exclusively on combating our sin nature. Of course, we naturally desire to rebel against God and set up ourselves as god in our lives. It is very important to understand this and it is a basic tenant of the faith that we are all sinners in need of a Saviour. However, there is an external threat that plays on our sin nature. It is not enough to just tame our rebellious nature, but we must constantly fight the external temptation that comes from the influence of supernatural forces (demons).

James 1:14 (KJV)

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed

James deals with overcoming temptation as a major theme in his book in the Bible, and he certainly saw that there are two parts: our own lust (internal, sin nature) and enticement (external, demonic influence). To avoid temptation, it is clear that we must focus on BOTH threats in order to be successful.

Just because you are a “Christian” now doesn’t mean that you don’t have to worry about Satan and his demons. Remember, in Job, we see that Satan walked among the “sons of God” as they “presented themselves before the Lord”. He was looking for someone to tempt to turn away from God. Of course, we know by reading Job that God suggested Job be tempted by Satan. Also, Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Note: Peter is speaking to believing members of the church! So are the other writers who speak of the devil. Think about it! The writers do this because Satan is a threat to believers! Why would Satan waste time on people who already don’t want God anyway? It make sense for him to focus on taking people from the flock of God.

See below the parable of the tares and wheat. There are two forces working in this world: Christ and Satan. Christ is sowing the truth. The Gospel is reaching the ends of the earth and many people are turning to Him (wheat). But Satan is also influencing this world. He seeks to destroy the seed that Christ has sown (tares). He is given authority to do this for a time because God loves the world and doesn’t want anyone to perish. He is long suffering and waits for as many seeds of wheat to grow as possible. But make no mistake. The time of the harvest WILL come and the tares will be separated from the wheat and the tares will be destroyed.

Matthew 13:24-43 (KJV)

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Christ clearly attributes the sowing of tares with Satan. Christ is also clear on the end point for Satan: destruction! Christ and Satan are enemies, but they are unequal. Christ will win. He already has. Satan is merely buying his time before he is destroyed.

I urge all Christians to not be afraid to admit the existence of Satan. This is not to elevate Satan in anyway, but to acknowledge exactly what it is that we battle against. We should not cower to popular thinking and cultural demands but stand with Scripture which tells us Satan is a real threat. Christ will defeat him and we can win against him when we stand in faith with Jesus Christ.

Do you have a question?  Do you have something to add?  Leave a comment below or on my contact page!  I am more than happy to engage in friendly discussions. Thank you!