Do You Know the Devil?

Question

That is a pretty unusual title for an article that is designed to uphold the Christian faith. Why would we ever want to know the devil? Because we will never overcome him unless we know something of his sinister purposes, his devious tactics and his universal influence.
George C. Scott portrayed George Patton in the film biography of the World War II general's career. There is a scene in which Scott as Patton reflects on the defeat of the German field Marshall, Erwin Rommel. He said something like, "Rommel, I read your book."
We have to read the book on our enemy, the devil. Among the things we need to know about him are the following:
1. He controls people. He has even been able to control people who walked in the physical presence of Jesus. Near the end of our Lord's earthly ministry, he predicted His own death. Peter resisted the thought that such a thing could happen. Even with the passing of nearly 20 centuries, Jesus' reaction to Peter is a shock. "Out of my sight, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Mat_16:23).
2. He lies. He is the father of lies (Joh_8:44) and he "masquerades as an angel of light" (2Co_11:14). He can start with a premise or a practice that is clearly the opposite of what God wants and put a spin on it that makes it sound like you have God's backing for the most evil deeds imaginable.
3. He has universal influence. In Job 1, God asked Satan where he had been. In arrogance Satan shot back, "Ranging over the earth from end to end" (NEB). You cannot go anywhere on this planet where Satan does not go.
This is not said to make you paranoid about Satan, but so that you might be better prepared to resist the devil and force him to flee from you.

John 8:43-44 KJV
(43) Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
(44) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Answer 1

Sure,we went to high school together. He lives in upstate new York now,works for Xerox,last I heard.

Answer 2

While I could never hope to give the "facts" about the devil (as nobody can give any facts when it comes to religion), I would like to offer up an alternative perspective, based off of your Christian Bible: Lucifer (meaning "Lightbringer" from the Latin lux=light and fero=to bear or bring) was the most beautiful of all the angels, and God's second-in-command. As it is written, Lucifer challenged God's omnipotence and for this he was punished by being cast into Hell. To me, this doesn't seem justified. I think of it this way: humankind would never have been able to make the societal leaps and bounds we have in the past without the aid of people who were brave enough to rebel against the status quo. Ghandi was a rebel, as was Martin Luther King Jr.; in fact, go as far back as the pilgrims, and you will see that America was first populated and cultivated by people who were rebeling against their king and country. This is not to say that all rebellion leads to progress, but no rebellion at all leads to stagnation. And I would probably become a little rough around the edges if I was cast into fire and brimstone simply for asking "Why does it have to be this way?" :]

Answer 3

Jesus said that Peter is Satan. But it does not mean that Peter is Satan or he is totally controlled by Satan or by his Demons like hypnosis. It is because Peter manifested the wills of Satan, as he acts as a blocker of Jesus's fulfilling God's purpose when he came down to Earth. This is the result of imperfection. Not a hipnotic like mind control.
Of course Satan is a real person. But he do not totally controll each individual. That is against the "free will" or personal choices that God has given to us. But if we allow ourselves to be trap by Satans tactics that is, Turning one away to serve God, how to gain riches, false religions, idolatry, bad conducs, and other more, we are using our 'free will in the wrong way. There will be bad consequenses if were are doing against God's course.
In Revelation 21:4 says Satan and his Demons were thrown from heaven to earth because they battle war against God's strong army. These demons are the angels who marry women in Noah's day. When the flood came they return to heaven. But they are no longer accepted in God's organization there. Until the time that they are thrown to our planet in Revelation 12;9.

Answer 4

I must have missed the pulpit on the way in the room... Was this a question or a sermon?

Answer 5

Yes I know satan and if ever I feel he is in my presence I rebuke him in the name of the Lord our God. Yes you do need to know satan and what he is capable of..because if you are ignorant of it you are more suceptible to his lies and deceit , then he has the greater advantage. Glad you touched on this subject! God bless

Answer 6

I agree, but replying to the title question: Because he makes for a swell beer buddy. xD

Answer 7

I met him about a week after I got saved...he knows me now,,,,,he knows I will cry out to Jesus,,if he comes near me...."Leave in the name of Jesus"....there is power in that name....

Answer 8

If I wanted preaching, I'd go to church. YA is not the place for a sermon.

Answer 9

The Devil's real name is EGO.

I'd say we're all pretty well acquainted with "him".

Answer 10

I don't. Do you know the Great Pumpkin?