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The Scriptures declare that we are united with Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ is united with us.

In Christ:

1. We are New Creations.

Satan’s 2-fold strategy:

a. To keep non-believers from Believing.

b. To keep believers Powerless in sin.

When we place our Faith and Trust in Christ we shatter Satan’s 1st goal.

When we walk in the Power and Fullness of the Holy Spirit we shatter Satan’s 2nd goal.

2. We are able to Share in the Victory of the Cross.

The Rule of Sin over us was Shattered.

Our Old sinful Nature was Crucified.

We are now free to Allow the Holy Spirit to Transform Us.

3. We are Alive in Christ’s Resurrection.

We are united with him in Resurrection.

Physical Death is Not the End.

For Christians, Death is a Defeated enemy.

4. We are Seated in the Heavenly Realms.

We are in the heavenlies by virtue of our Union with Christ.

All this is made Available to us because of the Merits of Christ.

The Cross is a place of: The ultimate Triumph of Jesus Christ and The place of Satan’s ultimate Demise.

1. Satan was Defeated by his own Spiritual Ignorance.

- God’s purposes and God’s plan are Not completely Understood by the Devil.

- The Cross was Not Satan’s place of Triumph. - In fact it was his place of Crushing Defeat.

2. The Victory of the Cross.

a. The Forgiveness of our Sins.

b. Satan is Conquered.

The cross that seemed like Shame was the triumph of Victory.

On the Cross, Satan’s weapons and his works were Demolished.

Spiritual Warfare will require well-equipped Christian Soldiers.

1. The Belt of Truth.

a. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Person of Truth.

b. The Word of God is the Word of Truth.

c. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.

d. The Church is the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth.

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness.

Righteousness is a Powerful weapon against Satan,

because in him there is No Righteousness.

3. The Shoes of Peace.

The shoes of peace give us the Stability we need to Stand.

4. The Shield of Faith.

The shield of faith keeps us God Centred.

5. The Helmet of Salvation.

Salvation is deliverance from the Penalty of sin.

It is also deliverance from the Power of sin.

6. The Sword of the Spirit.

The Word of God.

Notice that the sword is an Offensive weapon,

not just a Defensive weapon.

1. The Context of the Temptations.

a. The Preceding context. Baptism.

b. The Immediate context. Obedience.

c. What is Jesus Doing? Fasting.

2. The Nature of the Temptations.

a. The Flesh.

b. The World.

c. The Devil.

3. How did He Overcome?

a. By using Scripture.

b. The Power of God’s Word.

c. To Know and Apply the Word of God.

We can be tempted to make Godless choices in many areas:

1. Money and Possessions.

The love of Money can cause people to Wander from the faith.

2. Power, Status and Popularity.

The tools of seeking Popularity and Power are:

Gossip, Criticism, Manipulation, Undermining and Slander.

When we get Caught up in these we are doing the Devil’s Work for him.

3. Happiness.

Escapism can become our god when happiness is our Goal.

The goal for believers is not Happiness, but Contentment.

4. What are the Results of Godless Choices?

Chasing after the Wind.

5. How can we see Godlessness become Godliness?

Reorder, Repent, Resist.

The Bible refers to “a Foothold” of the Devil. A window of Opportunity.

1. Anger.

a. Interestingly anger is Not always Sinful.

b. While anger itself is not sin, it certainly can Become Sin

2. When does Anger become Sin?

Anger has a Progression.

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Anger becomes sin when an Unforgiving spirit takes root.

3. How do we Respond to anger?

a.. Expressing it for all to see.

b. Suppressing anger.

c. Repressing anger.

4. What’s God’s way of Dealing with anger?

Confess it. Tell God About our anger.

God has a way of Dealing with that anger.

a. Forgiveness.

b. Resist.

He Deceives Us About Truth.

- His strategy is simple: To keep Unbelievers from Believing.

To keep Believers Powerless in Sin.

2. He Wants to Pervert Truth.

Satan Twists the truth.

Mostly because we Don’t Know what the truth is ourselves.

3. He Provides Confusion and Fear regarding Truth.

Satan brings Confusion and Fear.

Tries to Isolate us from Truth, from God, and from Each other.

4. He Provides Confusion concerning Demonic Control.

5. What should be our Attitude to the Devil?

Be aware he Exists. Be aware of his Motives. Be aware of his Tactics.

1. Who is Satan?

He was created as an Angel, a leading angel.

Through Pride this angel fell into sin.

Some names and titles the Scriptures use to describe him:

The Devil John 8:44 Greek word for “accuser”

Satan Matt 12:26 Hebrew word for “adversary”

Tempter Matt 4:3 Father of lies John 8:44

Deceiver Rev 20:10 Destroyer Rev 9:11

Evil One 1 Jn 2:13 The god of this world 2 Cor 4:3

Murderer Jn 8:44 Angel of light 2 Cor 11:14

The Bible mentions 3 major features of Satan’s personality: Intellect, Emotion, Will.

2. What Power does Satan have?

The devil is the Ruler of the realm of demons.

Satan has the power to put Wolves in Sheep’s clothing.

Satan can provoke Persecution against God’s people.

3. What is the Destiny of Satan?

He is Not All-powerful.

He is Not God. He is a created being, under authority of God.

The devil’s destiny is Doom. Gen 3:15 Rev 12:7

We do Not need to Fear him.

Many Christians fear Satan too Much, and God not Enough.

Even what we think we know well, can still greatly deceive us. Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to Sin.

1. Sin Deceives us about Sin.

a. Sin Deceives us into thinking that our sin is Not so Bad.

b. Sin Deceives us into thinking that our sin is the Worst.

2. Sin Deceives about how to Handle our Sin.

Sin twists and perverts how we should handle sin.

3. Sin Deceives us about its Consequences.

a. Sin always brings Consequences.

b. One consistent Consequence of sin -- is Pain.

4. How can we Deal with Sin God’s Way?

a. We need a healthy Fear of God.

b. We need a healthy Hatred of Sin.

c. We need to keep Short Accounts with God.

d. We need to practise Biblical Repentance.