Hello everybody and welcome in to episode #207 of the Bible 2021 podcast. We are reading Luke 22 today and our focus is on What Does Satan Do? What is the Devil’s Job?  We are a daily 10 minute podcast, where we will dig in to the truth of the Word of God by reading one Bible chapter a day and discussing it. Welcome to new listeners in Oslo, Norway, Groningen, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Nairobi, Kenya, Sindh, Pakistan, Parts unknown, Philippines, Monterey, California, San Diego, California and Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. Word of Mouth – tell a friend! Thanks for listening!  Our goal is to encourage DAILY Bible reading, so you can jump in at any time and join with us. We want to invite as many people as possible to join us in daily Bible reading, so help spread the word and share the podcast! Don’t forget about our web-page, Bible2021.com – contact page, show notes, transcript and more– Click here for our Bible 2021 reading plan\

Weird topic today, I know, but there are so many misconceptions and unbiblical views of the devil, or Satan, out there that it might be worthy to spend just a few moments on what the Bible teaches about Satan, the accuser. But first, a brief word on the Jesus key to greatness. The world lionizes those who are served – those who lead – those who are bosses. Jesus sets an entirely different standard in front of is in today’s passage:

²⁴ Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. ²⁵ But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’²⁶ It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.²⁷ For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. Luke 21:24-27

So – in today’s text, we see two significant activities of Satan. First, we see him ENTER into Judas the Betrayer:

³ Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. (Luke 22:3)

The Bible does not use the term possess – indeed, in most instances when somebody is affected like this by demons, the word, daimonizomai is used – demonized. But this isn’t just any demon, this is Satan himself. He is not omnipresent, so he can, at the most, possess one person at a time, presumably. Is there anybody else in all of Scripture that Satan possesses? The only other possibility I see is the beast, spoken of in the book of Revelation, “The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority.” Revelation 13:2. The dragon here is Satan, and it does appear he empowers the beast, but does not possess or enter into him.

What else does Satan do? Here is a partial list:

1. He incites people to sin: “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel.” 1 Chronicles 21:1 Similarly, he tempts people to sin  ¹³ He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.  Mark 1:13
2. He places his people, evil people, into the church and various positions in the world to cause trouble:  ³⁸ the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. Matthew 13:38-39 
3. He wars against people hearing and responding to God’s Word: ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ Some are like the word sown on the path. When they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them. Mark 4:14-15 
4. He accuses people – sometimes falsely, sometimes with truth mixed in, but always with an intent to steal, kill and destroy: 3 Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.  Zechariah 3:3
5. He binds people with sickness and affliction: ¹⁶ Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for eighteen years—shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” Luke 13:16  Similarly, he keeps them under tyranny and captivity: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10:38
6. He sifts people, taking them through difficult trials in the hope that they will fail: ³¹ “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. Luke 22:31
7. He lies and murders, steals, kills and destroys: You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies John 8:44
8. He possesses people, as we’ve already seen: ²⁷ After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.” John 13:27
9. He helps and leads people to lie: ³ “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? Acts 5:3
10. He schemes and plots to destroy and foil Christians: ¹¹ so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:11
11. He disguises himself: For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14
12. He hinders the plans of God’s people: ¹⁸ So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 2nd Thessalonians 2:18
13. He can create powerful signs, miracles and wonders, and also construct elaborate deceptions: ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, ¹⁰ and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. 2nd Thessalonians 2:9-10
14. He leads people away from Jesus: ¹⁵ For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 1 Timothy 5:15
15. Terrifyingly, he holds the power of death: Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil— Hebrews 2:14
16. He prowls, hunts and seeks to devour people: ⁸ Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:8
17. He rules and reigns as a king, under the King of Kings: ¹³ I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is.  Revelation 2:13 (see also Ephesians 2:2, where Satan is known as the Prince or ruler of the air.) 

How do we stand against such a terrifying and skilled foe? James 4 tells us: ⁷ Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Let’s read our passage.

Bible Memory verses for the month of July: ^47 “I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built.” Luke 6:47-48

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