To Recognize Satan

“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.” (1 Jn 4:1)

Satan is the angel that sinned. He is the enemy of God and tries to destroy God’s work and the happiness of men; he is the tempter of the world. There are many people who lack spiritual knowl­edge and are often deceive and lured by Satan. Through the truth in the Bible, we would be able to distinguish Satan’s plan. Therefore, we must pursue spiritual advancement so that we will not be harm by the work of Satan.

I. The Origin of Satan

A. When God created angels, they were beautiful and full of wisdom, but there were some that became proud and rise up against God. Therefore, they were cast out by God and became Satan. (Ez 28:13-17; Is 14:12-15; Lk 10:18; II pet 2:4; Jude 6)

B. There are a great number of Satan. There is a kingdom, a king, and a messenger. (Mt 12:24-26, 25:41; Mk 5:6-9; Lk 8:30)

II. The NAMES of Satan

A. The Devil: meaning slander. He slander God in front of men (Gen 3:1, 4-5), and slander men in front of God (Job 1:9, 11; 2:4).

B. Satan: meaning the enemy. Jesus has seen him fall from the heaven like a lightning (Job 1:6; Lk 10:18; Mt 16:22-23)

C. Beelzebub: idol Baal-Zebub, originally was the idol of fly of the Philistines (II Kg 1:2), latter the Israelites called Satan this name (Mt 12:24).

D. Beliald: in Hebrew means the wicked person. Paul called Satan this name (II Cor 6:15).

E. The Great Dragon: the old serpent. He is deceitful, the ancestor of men was tempted to sin against God by this serpent (Rev 12:3-5, 9; Gen 3:1-16; II Cor 6:15).

F. The Evil One: meaning the king of this world or the god of the world or king of Satan. The world will be under his rule, and he the ruler of the rulers of skies and is the con-troller of this world of darkness (Mt 6:13, 9:34; Jn 12:31, 14:30, 16:11; II Cor 4:4; Lk 4:5-6; I Jn 5:19; Eph 2:2; 6:12).

III. Satan’s evil Deeds and Works

Satan does not observe the truth. He lies and kills people. He is very proud. He often lures and deceives other like a bright angel. He travels around the earth, causing people to sin and covers up the heart of people and steal the truth away from them. He let people encounter difficul­ties and makes them sick. He places nets everywhere to capture people. He tempts people and slanders believ­ers. He enters into the hearts of people and ask people to deceive the Holy Spirit. He betrayed Jesus, and tried to destroy people’s life of loving God, etc... The following are his characters and deeds.

A. The character of Satan

1. Pride (Is 14:13-14; Ez 28:17; I Tim 3:6; I Jn 2:16).

2. Deceitful (Gen 3:4-5, 9; Mt 5:37; Jn 8:44; Ez 5:1-3; II Cor 11:3, 13-15)

3. Licentious (Mk 5:2; Lk 4:33; Rev 16:33; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 2:2-3)

4. Vindictive (Gen 2:17, 3:19, 4:8; Jn 8:44; I Pet 5:8; Rev 12:4-5, 16:13-16)

5. Wickedness (Acts 13:9-10; James 3:14-16; I Jn 3:8)

B. Works of Satan

1. Hinders God

a. Destroy the creation of God (Gen 3:1-6)

b. Try to stop the redemption of God (Mt 2:13; 16:22-23)

c. Try to confuse the truth of God (Acts 13:10; Gal 1:6-9)

d. Work against the church of God (Acts 8:1, 12:1-4)

2. Persecutes men

a. Destroy the happiness of men (Gen 2:8-16, 3:16-24)

b. Persecute the flesh of men (Lk 13:11-16; Mt 17:14-15, 18)

c. Hinder people from believing in the Lord (Acts 13:10-13; Mt 23:13-14)

d. Lure the believers away from truth (Mt 4:5-7, 24:11, 23-24; Jer 10:14-15)

IV. The Power of Satan

A. Controls men

1. Men are control by Satan because they committed sin (Jn 8:34; I Jn 3:8, 5:19; Acts 26:18)

2. If we believe in God, we can be free of Satan’s control (Mk 5:2-4; Rom 7:15-24; I Jn 5:18; Num 23:23)

B. Performs miracles

1. Performs miracles through people (Ex 7:10-12, 20-22; Mt 24:23-24; II The 2:9; Rev 13:12-13)

2. His power cannot be compared to God’s power (Ex 8:16-19)

3. His authorities are limited by God (Job 1:12, 2:6; Mt 6:13; Lk 4:6)

V. The Result of Satan

Although Satan has the power to perform evil works, when Jesus reveals himself, Satan’s works will be destroyed. Through the victory on the cross those who are tempted can be saved (I Jn 3:8; Ez 2:15; Heb 2:18; II pet 2:9). The final result of Satan is to be cursed by God and be condemned (Gen 3:14; Heb 2:14), be cast out, be step on and be bond forever (Lk 10:18; Job 12:31; Rom 16:20; Rev 20:1-3) Satan will be cast into the lake of fire and sulfur and suffer forever (Rev 20:10). In the end days now, the Satan knows his time is almost up, therefore, he will work and try to tempt others even more fu­riously.

VI. Ways to overcome satan

A. Rely and believe in Lord Jesus

1. Through the blood of the Lord (Rev 12:11; Ez 1:13-14; Gal 3:27)

2. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:28; Rom 8:13-14)

3. Live a life of obeying God (James 4:7; Mt 4:7-11)

B. Have a humble heart

1. Do not pursue after fame (Gal 5:26)

2. Regard others better than ourselves (Eph 2:3)

3. Be humble and rely on the mighty hands of the Lord (I Pet 5:5-6)

C. Be honest and true

1. Have no deceits (Jn 1:47)

2. Speak honest words (Zech 8:16; Eph 4:15)

3. Be an honest person (Dan 6:4,22; Eph 2:15)

D. Be holy and perfect

1. Have no evil thoughts (Mt 5:27-28; Gen 39:7-10)

2. Do not love the world (I Jn 2:15-16; Lk 4:5-8)

3. Do not follow unrighteousness (II Tim 2:19; I Cor 6:9-10)

E. Love others as ourselves

1. Do not be jealous of others(I Cor 13:4; I Jn 3:12)

2. Do not harm others (Rom 13:10; I Cor 13:5)

3. Be willing to sacrifice (I Jn 3:16; Rom 15:1-2)

F. Be loyal unto death

1. Hold fast our faith unto death (II Cor 11:2-4; Rev 2:10)

2. Do not depart from Christ (Rom 8:35-39; Jn 6:68)

3. Do not be afraid to die for the Lord (Rev 12:11; Acts 20:22-24)

VII. Distinguish the Work of Evil Spirit

A. Characteristics of the evil spirit

1. Do not admit that Jesus came to the world in the form of flesh (I Jn 4:2-3)

2. Only talk about worldly things (I Jn 4:5)

3. Do not follow the true church (I Jn 4:6; 2:18-19)

4. Have a very violent or very soft voice (Is 8:19)

· Lip voice, short pulses, blowing, a very high screech­ing voice, or sing worldly pop music.

5. Cramp, foam at the mouth, and fall down (Lk 9:39, 42)

6. Become unconscious (Mk 5:1-15)

7. Very proud (Is 14:12-15; Ez 28:12-17)

8. Others: chest pain, listlessness, vomit, cold hands and feet, paleness, straight eyes.

B. Prevent the work of the evil spirit

1. Pursue advancement in spirituality so that we would not be deceive and lured (Eph 4:13-14; II Tim 3:15-16; Heb 10:25; Mt 26:41)

2. Pursue advancement in faith; have a clear understanding of God, the truth, and the TrueChurch (James 4:7; Gen 2:16-17, 3:1-6; Heb 3:14, 11:7)

3. Rebuke the work of evil spirit (Mk 1:25-26, 9:25-26)

4. Regarding revelations, visions, dreams, we must use our judgment where appropriate (I Jn 4:1; Jn 5:39; II Tim 3:15-16)

5. Do not obey the request of the evil spirits, but rather we must command them to do the appropriate things.

6. When necessary, fast and pray to cast out Satan (Mt 17:21)

VIII. Examples of Evil Spirits (Testimony)

IX. Questions

1. Does Satan exist in this world? Who is Satan?

2. What methods can Satan use to tempt or persecute men?

3. How do we distinguish between the Holy Spirit and evil spirit?

4. Why does God allow Satan to trouble the church?

5. How do we prevent the work of the evil spirit?