The Devil

The Devil

Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

The devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world . . . is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

Ephesians 2:2

You are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:44

Bring up the topic of the devil, and some people will look for a way to turn the matter into a joke. The cartoonish picture of a red character with horns and a tail leads people to associate everything they hear about the devil with superstition and humor. But we confuse fact with fiction. The devil is very real; he is our invisible enemy, and he is out to hurt us, deceive us, and ruin us in any way he can.

The devil is called many things throughout Scripture, and just as the names of God reveal much about God’s character and conduct, so do the names for Satan. He is called a murderer from the beginning, the father of lies, a roaring lion, the evil one, the dragon, a serpent, the prince of this world, the enemy, an accuser of our brothers, our adversary, the power of darkness, the tempter, and the wicked one.

To laugh off the reality of Satan is to open the door for his lies to deceive you, his accusations to attack you, and his evil to overpower you. He wants to trick you and tempt you, to destroy and devour you. So “put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Satan is very real and very powerful, but Christ in you is the power that defeats him.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What are some things people believe about the devil? Are these things true?

Look over the list of names for the devil. Which ones make you hate him more, just like names for God help us to love God more?

Why is it important to recognize that the devil is real?