Virtually everyone in the world agrees that Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of godly behavior. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Satan is the ultimate example of satanic behavior. Just as it is important to embrace godly behavior, it is important to avoid satanic behavior. The Apostle Paul said we are not ignorant of his schemes, but we need to be reminded.
- The only real enemy of every Christian
- The whole armor of God to stand against the devil
- 10 differences between team Jesus Christ and team Antichrist
Pride – because of his beauty
Satan was the most beautiful of all the angels but it didn’t satisfy him. Satan was the most powerful of all the angels but it didn’t satisfy him. Satan was the most influential of all the angels but it didn’t satisfy him. He thought he deserved more authority, control, and recognition. He wanted to be like God. He even asked Jesus Christ to worship him. Therefore it is no surprise that his satanic influence in the children of disobedience is to not be satisfied with what they have and think they deserve more.
- Satan was perfect and blameless until his heart was filled with pride (Ezekiel 28:11-19)
- How to be justified by God in your prayers
- Gnosticism and the altar of special knowledge in the church today
How about you? Do you take pride in your religious work? Do you think God approves of you because of what you are doing? Do you think you can improve your righteousness by your actions? If so, you are on dangerous ground because you might have just crossed over from being a sinner saved by grace to accepting the satanic lie of trying to be like God in knowing good from evil.
Deceiver – father of lies
Jesus Christ said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” The Satanic opposite is the wrong way and deceit and death. Jesus Christ came to declare righteousness and redemption and restoration. Satan cannot provide any of those things; therefore, he wants to deceive you into following his wrong way, which will lead to death.
You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father. (John 8:44 WEB)
The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die, (Genesis 3:4 WEB)
- A form of godliness (show of religion, piety, holiness, outward righteousness)
- I fear that you will be corrupted by religion
- The Importance of Integrity
Which behavior are you following? The way of truth and righteousness of Jesus Christ? Or, the satanic opposite way of deception and unrighteousness?
Accuser – day and night
Jesus Christ is the God of Love. The satanic opposite is hatred and betrayal. Astonishingly, Satan still accuses us day and night like he did Job. Sometime in the future he is going to be judged.
And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? (Zechariah 3:1-2 KJV)
I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10 WEB)
- Persecution, hatred, and betrayal are signs of the end times
- The legacy of the Apostle John is “love one another.” What is your legacy?
- Ministry of reconciliation (how to be reconciled to God)
Which behavior are you following? Are you known for your love. Or do you hate anyone who disagrees with you, including your own family. Are you known for your ministry of reconciliation or your ministry of hatred and violence?
Thief – he came to steal
Jesus Christ is the ultimate savior. Jesus Christ died for your sins and resurrected for your justification. The satanic opposite is a stark contrast. Satan exalts himself at your expense.
The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:10-11 WEB)
What about you? Look behind you in time and check the historical results of your behavior. Have you left a trail of abundant life or a trail of death and destruction? Look around you. Are you surrounded by abundant life or surrounded by death and destruction?
I have been astonished to know many people who are living in the filth and decay of their own lifestyle and don’t even know it. This is so common that it is a typical theme in literature. Consider the irony of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet being killed in revenge for his evil in seeking revenge. He never seems to be able to see how far down the wrong path he is going. Consider the destroyed land of the hyenas in The Lion King. People never seem to be able to see the destruction they are causing.
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:20-27)
Destroyer – he came to destroy
It seems like every dystopian SciFi and Fantasy story ever written has a satanic overtone. The common features are always corruption, death, darkness, pollution, and decay. And there is usually an eternal torment aspect. But the real Satan is even worse. He is extremely powerful, maybe second only to Jesus Christ himself. But Satan does not have the power to create so everything he touches gets twisted and bent.
- 101 Verses that prove Jesus Christ is the Creator
- The law of unintended consequences: the unexpected dark side of good intentions
- 8 Dangerous Things for Christians to Avoid
The Bible says that people were created a little lower than the angels and were given authority to steward the earth. We need to be very careful how we manage our dominion. We don’t have the prescient wisdom to know what will end badly. We don’t have the foresight to see the ultimate result of our actions. We don’t have the power to overcome evil. Therefore, the best we can do is obey God.
Murderer – he came to kill
Jesus Christ is the ultimate lifegiver. Everything he does is good and just. Satan is the satanic opposite. He is a lifetaker. Everything he does is evil.
- Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer
- Mankind has divided and conquered! God is not impressed.
One of the saddest legacies of thousands of years of human history is the senseless murders of countless people for the stupidest reasons. Christians should be the most tolerant unconditional loving people in the world. But, far too often, Christians promote themselves in ways God never intended to pass judgment on everyone else. I have lived long enough to witness and experience many churches split by hateful, spiteful, satanic arguments that were almost as stupid as how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. I think it’s very important that God equates hating your brother with murder. And, especially important that God says the greatest commandment is love.
Satan has broken all ten commandments
Either Satan has gone out of his way to break all these commandments or we are being warned of his satanic schemes. This won’t end well for him. So don’t follow him.
- No other gods before me
- I will make myself like the most high (Isaiah 14)
- If you eat of the fruit you will be like the most high
- Don’t make for yourself an idol
- Satan was perfect until his beauty (Ezekiel 28)
- Don’t take the name of God in vain
- “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1)
- The devil said, “If you are the Son of God?” (Matthew 4)
- Keep the Sabbath Day
- The accuser of the brethren day and night (Revelation 12)
- There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast (Revelation 14)
- Honor your father and mother
- Led rebellion in heaven (Rev 12)
- Spirit who now works in the children of disobedience
- You shall not murder
- The Devil killed Job’s children (Job 1)
- The thief comes to kill and destroy
- You shall not commit adultery
- Debatable angel/human intercourse (Genesis 6)
- Spiritual adultery (Hosea 4:12; Judges 8:33; Judges 8:27)
- Spiritual prostitution (Hosea 1:2)
- You shall not steal
- The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10)
- You shall not give false testimony
- He is a liar and the father of lies (John 8)
- The accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12)
- You shall not covet
- I will ascend to the heavens (Isaiah 14)