The unchanging ministries of Satan and his cohorts. ( click to view the full message. )

The unchanging ministries of satan and his cohorts.

John  10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Devices to engage before attacking. 

2 Corinthians  2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Blinded their eyes. 

2 Corinthians  4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  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

False teachers. 

2 Corinthians  11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Peter  2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Make them reject the truth in God’s word. 

Rejecting God’s word for them to be damned. 

2 Thessalonians  2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Wiles

Ephesians  6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Deception. 

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.

Accusing us before God, like he did against Job. 

Revelation  12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Listen to people who fall victims of his ploys, devices and wiles. 

1. Adam and Eve, Cause God’s people to loose blessings on account of disobedience. 

Genesis  3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  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.  3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.  3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

2. King David 

Cause careless believers to do wrong things with painful consequences. 

1 Chronicles  21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.  21:2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.  21:3 And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?  21:4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.  21:7 And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.  21:14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.  21:15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Job  1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.  1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:  1:14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:  1:15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  1:17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  1:18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:  1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Afflict with sicknesses and diseases. 

Job  2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.  2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.  2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.  2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.  2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.  2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.  2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

He opened not the house of his prisoners. 

Isaiah  14:17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Hinder progress.  Paul. 

1 Thessalonians  2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

Ensnare careless people. 

2 Timothy  2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

He devoured careless people. 

1 Peter  5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

You can escape all of these by faithfully following Jesus. 

You then experience earthly and eternal fulfillment. 

John  10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John  12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Let us pray.