Before we get into today's subject matter I want to remind ourselves that our base scriptures are in 2Thessalonians 2:1-12 and more particularly verses 7-12 where we find this: "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he (remember that I stated earlier that for me this is the first use of the masculine for the sons of GOD in the new Covenant of Grace, as the over comers) who now restrains it (the sons of disobedience, or the progressives, liberals of the lukewarm sort spoken of Revelation 3) will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the LORD Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore GOD sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Now for today's topic of:
Satan Limited in Power:
In the Affliction of the Saints,
Job 1:12 of 6-12 "Now there was a day when the sons of GOD came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." And the LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears GOD and turns away from evil?' Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.' So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD."
May be overcome by Divine Grace,
Luke 10:19 of 17-20 and Romans 16:20 "The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!" And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven (in Revelation 12:9). Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Romans 16:20 of 17-20 "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our LORD Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The GOD of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
A Limit to his Temptations,
1Corinthians 10:13 of 6-13 "Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written (in Exodus 32:4, 19), "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. GOD is faithful, and HE will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation HE will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
Knows when he is Defeated,
James 4:7 of 1-10 "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with GOD? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of GOD. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says (in Numbers 23:19), "He yearns jealously over the spirit that HE has made to dwell within us?" But HE gives more grace. Therefore it says (in Isaiah 54:7-8), "GOD opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to GOD. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to GOD, and HE will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the LORD, and HE will exalt you."
His Time is Short,
Revelation 12:12 of 7-12 and 13:5 of 1-10 "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole (Luke 10:18) world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his (legions of his corrupted) angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our GOD and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser (Zechariah 3:1; Luke 22:31) of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our GOD. And they have conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word (it does not by the Bible but) of their testimony (their revelation of Christ and GOD), for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
Revelation 13:5 of 1-10 "And I saw a beast (Daniel 7:3, 8) rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a (Daniel 7:4-6, Hosea 13:7-8) leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound (Genesis 3:15) was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying (in Exodus15:11 and Isaiah 46:5), "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words (such as the leaders of Islam and other such world leaders speak), and it was allowed to exercise authority for (Daniel 7:8, 11, 20, 25; 11:36) forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against GOD, blaspheming His name and His dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven (Revelation 7:15; 12:12a). Also it was allowed to make war (Daniel 7:21) on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb Who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints."
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