Summary

Enemy's actions: Blind

  • The devil was separated from the light of the only living and true God when he rebelled, taking up to one-third of the angels with him (now called demons). Isaiah 14:12-21; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:3-4
  • The devil and his demons act to blind the human heart, in order to keep a person from understanding God's word which reveals the glory of God the Father and the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23, 25; Romans 10:17
      Examples —
    1. In the Parable of the Sower – the birds steal the seed. Matthew 13:4, 19
    2. In the garden of Eden, Satan appeared in the form of a serpent, tempted Eve by questioning God's command, Eve's understanding of that word, God's motive for the command, and the real consequences of obedience and rebellion. Eve was deceived, Adam rebelled by choosing a relationship with his wife rather than his Creator, and all of humanity fell into the curse of sin. Genesis 3:1-13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; Romans 5:12-14
    3. By testing Job's character in misery, Satan questioned God's motives, power and providential care. Job knew God, and lived accordingly. Satan aimed to discredit God through malevent use of the destructive acts of nature, the evil deeds of men, and the weaknesses of a diseased body — so that Job would turn from and curse his Creator. Job 1:1-2:9
    4. In the wilderness, the devil tempted Jesus by questioning the accuracy and veracity of God's word as revealed in the scriptures, and Jesus' understanding of those scriptures. By misquoting scriptures, the devil was tempting Jesus' to misuse scripture. Matthew 4:1-11

Kingdom's advance: Light

  • God the Father actively reveals Himself through personal fellowship with man's spirit, through the created heavens, through angelic declaration, through the inspired and preserved scriptures, through the gift of His Son, and through the testimony of his children. 2 Timothy 3:16-17;