Lord, Is It Warfare? Week 3, Day 3

We are continuing to work through the devotional by Kay Arthur, Lord Is It Warfare?  The focus is on the fact that the devil often fills the role of a roaring lion.  What follows are the notes that I have written in my journal. 

-Of all the names in Scripture for the devil, none is used more frequently than Satan.  It is used 55 times in the OT/NT.  (1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6; 1:7; 1:8; 1:9; 1:12; 2:1; 2:2; 2:3; 2:4; 2:6; 2:7; Psalm 109:6; Zechariah 3:1; 3:2; Matthew 4:10; 12:26; 16:23; Mark 1:13; 3:23; 3:26; 4:15; 8:33; Luke 4:8; 10:18; 11:18; 13:16; 22:3; 22:31; John 13:27; Acts 5:3; 26:18; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 7:5; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:14; 12:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Timothy 1:20; 5:15; Revelation 2:9; 2:13; 2:24; 3:9; 12:9; 20:2; 20:7.)

-Devil—DIABOLOS—Accuser, slanderer, from the verb that means to attack, to curse, to be an adversary, to resist.  All of these actions are the way that he will choose to operate in our lives.  Whatever is necessary to cause chaos and opposition is the goal. Thirty-five times he is called, devil, meaning “slanderer.”  (Matthew 4:1; 4:5; 4:8; 4:11; 9:32; 9:33; 12:22; 13:39; 15:22; 17:18; 25:41; Mark 5:15; 5:16; 5:18; 7:26; 7:29; 7:30; Luke 4:2; 4:3; 4:5; 4:6; 4:13; 4:33; 4:35; 7:33; 8:12; 8:29; 9:42; 11:14; John 6:70; 7:20; 8:44; 13:2; Acts 10:38; 13:10; Ephesians 4:27; 6:11; l Timothy 3:6; 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26; Hebrews 2:14; James 4:7; l Peter 5:8; l John 3:8; 3:10; Jude 10; Revelation 2:10; 12:9; 12:12; 20:2; 20:10.)

-Here are some of the other names associated with the devil.  The name gives me an idea of what and how he will work at times:

·        The Tempter  -- Genesis 3:1; Matthew 4:1-11

·        The Perverter of God’s Word  -- Matthew 4:11

·        The Opposer of God’s Work  -- Zechariah 3:1-2

·        The Hinderer of God’s Servant  -- 1 Thessalonians 2:18

·        The Hinderer of the Spread of the Gospel  -- 2 Corinthians 4:2-4

·        The Snarer of the Wicked  -- 1 Timothy 3:7

·        The One who Desires the Nations  -- Revelation 16:13-14

·        The Angel of Light  -- 2 Corinthians 11:14

·        The One who is in Battle with Michael, the Archangel  -- Jude 9

·        The Bearer of Sin into the World  -- Genesis 3:1-7

·        The Whole World Lies in His Lap  -- 1 John 5:19

·        The Anointed Cherub  -- Ezekiel 28:11-12

·        The Prince of this World  -- John 16:11

·        The Prince of the Power of the Air  -- Ephesians 2:2

·        The god of this Age  -- 2 Corinthians 4:4

·        The prince of demons  -- Luke 11:15

·        The Old Serpent  -- Revelation 12:9

·        Abaddon  -- Revelation 9:11

·        Apollyon  -- Revelation 9:11

·        The tempter  -- Matthew 4:3

·        The Accuser of the Brethren  -- Revelation 12:10; Job 1:6-10

·        Murderer  -- John 8:44

·        The father of all liars  -- John 8:44

·        Sinner  -- 1 John 3:8

·        Oppressor  -- Revelation 12:10

·        Perverter  -- l Timothy 4:3

·        Imitator  -- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

·        Adversary  -- 1 Peter 5:8

·        Angel of the bottomless pit  -- Revelation 9:11

·        Belial  -- 2 Corinthians 6:15

·        Beelzebub  -- Matthew 12:24

·        Ruler of darkness  -- Ephesians 6:12

·        Unclean spirit  -- Matthew 12:43

·        Wicked one  -- Matthew 13:19

-1 Chronicles 21—1st appearance—He provokes (tempts) David to number the people and his army.  This was an effort for the devil to entice David into assessing his own personal strength.  Some of this arose from David’s personal ambitions concerning his military might.  We come to that conclusion by seeing that Joab answered that there were 1.1 million soldiers in Israel and 470,000 in Judah. 

-Power appeals to all of us.  This appeal for power has no regard for gender, social status, age, or educational level.  This point has been brought home to me as never before through the writings of Robert Caro.  I am sorry to say that I have just found this author well into my middle-age and I wish I would have discovered him 20 years ago.  He has chronicled the life of Lyndon Baines Johnson who used power as no other president in the history of the US.  Power will push ambitious people in directions that cannot handle!  The church and its dark side can sometimes fall under this terrible temptation to flex its muscles as people push their agendas and intentions. 

-The next place the attack is noted is in Job 1-2.  These two chapters show us the strategy but also the limitations of his power.  Throughout these two chapters we can see his activities:

·        1:6—Has access to the Lord but only as an accuser.

·        1:7—He roams the earth.

·        1:9—Believes that people only serve God because of the rewards and blessings they receive.

·        1:10—He gives some insight when he says that there are God-ordained hedges that are around the saints of God.  Could it be the devil recognizes far more about our position than we do?!  I am not a proponent of unconditional eternal security but we have to realize that our salvation isn’t nearly as fragile as we think it is.  If you can’t fathom that thought, immerse yourself in Romans 8 and 1 John. 

·        1:11—He tries to turn the heart of God away from us.

·        1:12—Apparently the devil has some responsibility for some of the natural disasters that take place on the earth (NOTE:  Isn’t interesting that the talking heads are always asking ‘why did God let this happen?’  Maybe they should ask, ‘why did the devil do this?’  This should be a turnabout for those who always blame everything on God!)  (See why I am so intent on getting the Word into you?!)

·        1:15—He stimulates strife and warfare among men.

·        1:16—More natural disasters.

·        1:17—More raiders. 

-Job’s response to it all is remarkable.  What can you do with a man who will worship when the devil attacks?  This is the power that pours forth from a worshipper. 

-There are always price-tags that accompany true worship.  An alabaster box comes to mind.  A life that is surrender to God is one that can worship.

-Job 1:22 notes that through all of this that Job did not sin nor blame God.  This is an attitude that is developed.  It is very challenging to do but there is great virtue in it.  

-As an addendum I added:  The following modes of deception or methods of the devil are noted according to their definition and exposure by the Word of God.  The Word of God is a source of illumination, it sheds light on all the tricks of the devil.  David affirmed that “thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

·        He teaches a lifestyle that damns  -- James 1:15; 5:20; Proverbs 11:15; Romans 6:23; 8:6; Revelation 21:8

·        He involves himself in the politics of governments, nations, and men’s lives  -- 2 Timothy 3:1-2

·        He creates doubt in the mind of believer’s  -- Luke 12:46; John 4:48; 5:38; 8:45; 10:26

·        He creates persecution to hinder the service of Christians  -- Matthew 5:11; 10:17; 24:9; Revelation 2:10

·        He infiltrates the Church with his tares  -- Matthew 13:25; Proverbs 6:14; 16:28; 22:8; Job 4:8

·        He tempts Christians with self-reliance, lies, immorality, worldliness, pride, discouragement  -- Genesis 3:4-5; John 1:9-11; Job 2:7; Zechariah 3:1; Matthew 4:1; 13:19; Luke 9:42; John 13:2

More tomorrow. . .

Thanks for reading. . .