SERMON TOPIC: OVERCOMING SATAN (THE DEVIL

Part 1- knowing the enemy – Satan

Part 2- the schemes and strategies

Part 3- knowing how to overcome

 Part 1
Greeting- May the peace of the lord and the mercies falling from his throne be multiplied unto every
soul watching us know. Good morning.

I thank the Lord for his words which were proclaimed by my senior colleague preacher Dr. Samuel
Twumasi-Ankrah, Bro. Martin Oppong Boating and Bro Charles Nii Odotei Odoi

Prayer- Father Lord we come before thee now, at thy feet we helplessly bow especially as the tempest is
raging in this life, may you speak that your word may touch us, remould us and direct our part in Jesus
name. Amen.

 We live in a world which is controlled by forces we cannot see.

 We get scared every moment we hear the devil, demons, evil spirit, witches and wizard.
 We are mostly tempted to find out who is behind our troubles, who is the cause of our
problems.
 We blame the old folks in our families for bewitching us and most of the times these blames are
fueled by ‘’so called’’ men of God, prophets, miracle workers and witch doctors
 In our part of the world Africa, particular Ghana superstition is a daily bread, we may not say it,
or think about it always but to the evil spirits works against us.
 Few weeks ago a 90years woman was lynched at Kafaba, what was her sin? Ans. Accused to be a
witch
 Was it the first time? No!
 Has it happened again? Oh yes! But not physically!
 Because someone somewhere is watching me and is not in talking terms with his or her mother
or father, or any family member because a spiritual man or prophet has proclaim that there is a
witch or wizard working against him or her. Therefore emotionally we are lynching others.
 Some people have withheld support to some old people or family because they have been told
that such people they are supporting have evil spirit!
 Therefore they are being lynched! I can go on and on.
 It is this confusion and uncertainty on our part to know who or what is behind our troubles that I
bring to you this Sermon series – Overcoming Satan (The devil.

Part 1- KNOWING THE ENEMY-SATAN

Today, I want to spend the rest of the time discussing with you knowing the enemy the devil. In 1pet 5-
8-9 our main text. We are told………….

 Who is peter talking about?

  he is talking about being called the devil
 he is not talking about any of our family members or someone you consider as your
enemy, he is talking about Satan
 Peter tells his readers including you and I to do two things and gives reasons why he has
prescribed that actions-
1. He tells us to be sober.
The word sober means- to be calm in mind, to be temperate, to be circumspect,
Peter is imploring us to be serious, to be self-controlled

2. He tells us to be vigilant. That means to watch, to be conscious, to be attentive, and to be

watchful.

Why did the apostle keep using these two words? May be
 Because we are stranger and pidgins here this earth.
 Because we are soldiers in a battle field behind the enemy line trapped in a spiritual
war. 2tim 2-3-4( we are soldiers
 However, Peter in this passage gave a reasons-

He says because- the devil as a roaming lion walks about seeking to deceive

 That reason gives – the identity or description and the intention of the enemy.
 What soldier will not be sober/watchful at place where his enemy is?
 But Peter is not trying to scare us about the devil or his power
 He is simply saying ‘’who resist’’, steadfast in the faith.
 If in this passage Peter has said be sober/watchful and again resist, then it is something we can
do or is possible thing!
 Then Peter adds, ‘’knowing that the some sufferings are experience by your brotherhood in the
world.
 Giving an indication that our sufferings and troubles are not experienced by us alone.
 From our studies so far, in the passage 1Pet 5-8-9, we see a description of the devil, his
intentions and what we can do to overcome him.
 To be able to know and understand , let’s talk about –
1. The origin of Satan / the devil. From the beginning to the end of the bible, we read of the
God head, Father, the Son (Jesus and the Holy Spirit and Satan is none of them. we have the
Divine being, Angelic being, Human being and Animals and Satan is not Devine, neither
human or animal hence he can only be an angelic being so does the Bible say (Jude…..Heb
remember the connection between Michael and Satan. It is worth mentioning that Satan as
the principal leader of the rebellion angels who has agents who work with him. Demons,
witches, sorcerous, witch doctors, false prophets, chanters etc. are all agents who boss is
Satan.
i. May I suggest to you that I am discussing with you overcoming the devil. The boss, Satan
himself.
ii. If you can overcome the boss, who else?
2. His nature
 a. He is not Devine and eternal.
 He is a created being- Heb 1-7, psalm 104-4
 He has not being from the beginning, he will not live forever
 He doesn’t exist by himself
b. He is not omnipotent- job 1-6
 Yes Satan Is very powerful, million times powerful than man(human
 But he is not all powerful, he doesn’t possess all powers and not the source of
all powers
 He has a boss who is far, far above hi and incomparable to hi. Job 1-6
 He doesn’t speak in the presence of God, have you seen ‘’who came before
who’’?
 Have you seen who came to report himself to whom’’?
 Someone holds the power of the earth,
 And may I inform you not Satan?
c. He is not omnipresent-job 1-7
 Peter said your adversary the devil walks about.
 This means he is not at everywhere at the same time, satan is not omnipresent.
 And he himself admits when he met god in job 1-7. He says he has been going to
and fro on the earth , and from walking back and forth on it
 Satan walks about , if he has block your way, be cool, for he will soon move away for
he is not omnipresent
 So if satan is at your house at moment, he can’t be at mine
d. Satan is not omniscient-
i. The word omniscient means to have infinite awareness, understanding and
insight.
ii. He is not all knowing. He doesn’t possess universal or complete knowledge.
iii. I have heard of people saying, satan knows me, he knows what I am thinking of
and he tempts me with that.
iv. Beloved satan cannot read minds. He cannot know what your thoughts are.
v. That is an attribute of our God, don’t raise satan too high because he isn’t all
knowing, God alone can rad minds, psalm 139-2 and 23, Jesus can read minds
Luke 5-22, 6-8.
vi. Reading of thoughts and /minds belong to God lets confirm from the devil
himself-

He couldn’t know what job will do! Said job will curse God but he didn’t- job 1-9-12.

Not from the passage that, god has made a hedge around job, his house and
around all that he has! (Job 1-10. We shall revisit this statement!
Friends Job didn’t curse god in spite of all that happened to him from vs 13-19.
Do you know what job did instead?
 He blessed the Lord, job 1-20-22 may we all learn to bless the Lord in all circumstances.
 So yes, satan is not omniscient, he doesn’t know everything and what will happen in the future.
  I have heard people said witches know the future false, oh if satan knows the future, he
wouldn’t have coursed men to kill Jesus. because his defeat comes as a result of the death ,
burial and the resurrection of Jesus

CONCLUSION

Let me conclude by saying,

 Satan is not divine , he is not omnipotent, he is not all powerful, he has a boss,
 He is not omnipresent, he moves back and forth, walking and not running or flying
 He is not omniscient, he is not all knowing. He does not read the future and the thoughts of
man. Witches don’t know your future even their boss doesn’t
 Yes we can overcome him

Next week we will discuss his schemes with you. Don’t ever forget that, satan has limitations.