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He is called serpent, liar, murderer, beast, dragon… perhaps you have heard of the devil, BUT do you know the devil’s secret identity? We should be observant enough to notice a talking snake or fire breathing dragon, but if we are not aware of his secret identity he could be standing very close to us. It is time to deal with the devil by looking him in the eye and saying the words of Jesus… “Get behind me Satan.”
This is Redemption Church. My name is Chris Fluitt. I am glad to share the Word of God with you today. We have an enemy. Perhaps you have heard of him? This is the final week of our series – deal with the devil.
Deal with the Devil
The devil makes deals through words, hearts, minds, and actions. Instead of a physical contract, the devil seeks a spiritual agreement.
Amos 3:3 (KJV) Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
When we are in agreement with the devil, we have begun to walk with him… we have made a deal with the devil.
Your enemy the devil has many tactics. We looked at pride, rebellion, & deception. There are more tactics than these. We need to always be on the lookout for our enemy the devil
Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) …do not give the devil a foothold.
You may have heard it said, “Do not let the devil ride, or he will soon insist on driving.”
This is true. Do not give the devil an opening, a foothold, or a seat in your life.
While the devil has many tactics, he also has many shapes, forms, and identities.
The secret identity of the devil
He is a serpent. He is a dark sinister beast seeking who he may devour. He is a liar and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).
In Revelation 12, he appears as a “great, fiery, red dragon,” perched to devour.
…And the devil has a secret identity. Do you know about the secret identity of the devil?
I think we would notice a talking serpent. I think we would notice a beast with many heads and horns. I am not the most observant guy, but I think a great fiery dragon would catch my attention. …but what if this subtle satan had a secret identity that we would never expect?
This satan does not always appear was a vicious beast…
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NIV) For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
The secret identity of the devil
Satan masquerades as an angel of light. Think how convincing an angel of light could be? If an angel showed up before our eyes and started speaking lies, our EYES might overrule our EARS and believe his lie.
Paul also warns us of servants of the devil who may work in the Church… They may be called…
-preachers, pastors, bishops, apostles… people with titles…
-people with fancy suits or robes…
-people with a large following, big congregations, on TV…
Be careful! Paul warns us of a masquerading satan and to be aware of masquerading servants of satan.
Satan is not always an obvious serpent.
You have probably heard this saying…
Jesus chose 12 disciples and one of them was a devil
This is a reference to Judas, one of the 12 disciples, being a betrayer…
You may be surprised to learn that there was more than one devil among the 12 disiples.
Check this conversation between Jesus and Peter.
Matthew 16:15-19 (NIV) “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:21-24 (NIV) From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
In a few verses-time, the disciple Peter goes from being called blessed, is given keys to the kingdom, recognition as one who receives revelation straight from the Father, and given a new name with promise…, then, just a few verses later, Jesus calls Peter – satan.
What is going on here?
The secret identity of the devil
In this final week of the deal with the devil series, I want to warn you about the devil’s secret identity. While you were looking for a serpent, a beast, a shifty guy with horns, a pitchfork, and red tights… the devil has snuck up on you and has become someone in your inner circle.
Jesus called Peter satan
Peter was in Jesus’ inner circle. Peter, James, & John saw things that the other disciples did not see. They went deepest into the garden of gethsemane with Jesus, they went to the mount of transfiguration and saw Moses, Elijah, & Jesus clothed in his future glory… Peter walked on water with Jesus. Simon Peter had a calling from Jesus that would put him as the first person ever to preach the gospel of Jesus and see 3000 souls saved.
We would understand Jesus calling Judas satan… calling the demoniac satan… the Pharisees satan… but Jesus called Peter satan. Here is why…
Satan means advesary
Satan is not a name. The devil’s name is not satan.
In fact, I want you to understand that the entity known as the devil, does not really have a name. When he was an angel, he had something close to a name – Lucifer, son of the morning (Isaiah 14). It could be argued that this is not a true name, but yet another description… it means “light bearer.”
Could it be? That God’s Word has not allowed this evil entity to have a name written down? Authority is found in a name… and the devil has no authority. A name creates lineage and he has no true lineage.
Satan has not been given a name… but check out who has been given a name!
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus! Now that is a name.
Devil… satan… serpent… he doesn’t even have a name. I try not to even capitalize the word satan. I don’t care that my Word Document puts a squiggly red line under it… satan is not a name, but a general description.
Satan means advesary
When Jesus calls Peter satan, He is not giving Peter a new name. Simon was his old name, Peter is His new name, and satan is a temporary description.
In other words, Jesus is not saying that the same evil entity, that old serpent, is Peter…. Jesus is NOT saying Peter is ACTUALLY THE DEVIL. However, Jesus is saying that Peter is acting as an adversary.
Sometimes the people we love can be just as much as an adversary as the serpent was an adversary to Adam & Eve.
With friends like these, who needs a devil?
I want to make this clear. Jesus loves Peter, but Jesus looks Peter in the eye and calls him satan… calls him adversary.
Let’s read the scripture again.
Matthew 16:21-24 (NIV) From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Jesus told the disciples what He must do. Jesus said “I must” go to Jerusalem, I MUST suffer, I MUST be killed, I MUST be raised on the 3rd day. I MUST!
When God gives you a “YOU MUST” command, anyone who tells you “YOU MUST NOT” is an adversary.
Peter did not know he was playing the adversary. Peter thought he was helping. Your adversary can be your best friend, your mama or your daddy, the love of your life, your pastor, your brother or sister…. YOU YOURSELF CAN BE THE ADVESARY.
I can almost hear Peter trying to reason with Jesus. Peter would probably say “Are you sure? Are you sure you heard from the Father? DID GOD REALLY SAY…”
Wait a second… Where have I heard that before… “Did God really say” sounds so familiar.
Genesis 3:1 (NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Without knowing it, Peter uses the deceit of the Devil. Peter tried to stand between Jesus and the cross!
Without realizing, your loved ones may play the role of satan, becoming an adversary to your calling & purpose.
You yourself, may be unaware that your own thoughts, your own words, your own actions, your own emotions are standing as an adversary between you and what God has told you that you MUST do!
God has told you things that you MUST DO! Anyone who stands in between you and that MUST DO command, is an adversary.
- Jesus said “You must be born again.” You must be born of the water & the Spirit…
- Jesus says you must not be ashamed of Him… The Word says you must not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ… You must go and be a witness.
- You must repent, You must be baptized, You must be filled with the Spirit
- You must worship, You must love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength
- You must pray
- You must believe the Word of God
Anyone who stands between you and your MUST is an adversary!
You must be willing to take on your adversary… even when that adversary is someone you love dearly.
Romans 3:4 (NIV) Let God be true, and every human being a liar.
Every human being has the potential of being an adversary and a liar!
- Stop being devastated because your loved ones let you down. They can’t help it. Instead REJOICE because Jesus has never failed!
- Stop being depressed because someone who should be for you seems to be against you. Instead REJOICE because Jesus is FOR YOU AND NOT AGAINST YOU!
- Stop living in confusion because some lied to you, or lied about you. Instead, REJOICE because every person is a liar; GOD IS STILL TRUE!
- Stop being surprised that you have adversaries. Instead REJOICE because God is for me; who could be against me!
Deal with your advesary
Do not come into agreement with your adversary. Stay in agreement with the ‘MUST’ command of God.
Jesus looks Peter in the eye… Jesus loves Peter. Jesus has a plan for Peter. Jesus dies on the cross for Peter. Jesus, after his resurrection, seeks out a Peter who has denied him 3 times, and Jesus embraces and forgives Peter.
BUT, Jesus looks into the eyes of a person He loves and says “Get behind me, adversary!”
Get behind me! I am going forward!
It is easy for me to look at the devil, that spiritual entity that only seeks to kill, steal, and destroy, and tell Him “get behind me. I am going forward.” I have the faith to do that, and I understand that I do not want the devil in my life; I want to leave him far behind.
But, to look someone I love in the eyes… someone I care about so much that I would be willing to die for them… to look them in the eyes and say “get behind me. I am going forward even if it means I am leaving you behind.” That takes faith in God… That takes trust…
Do you trust God that much?
Are you allowing an adversary to stand between you and your MUST statement?
Again let’s look at the Word…
Matthew 16:23-24 (NIV) Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
The cross deals with every adversary
Jesus says “whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
The cross of Jesus defeats the devil in every way. No devil, no adversary can handle the cross of Jesus Christ.
You defeat every adversary when you keep moving towards Jesus and His cross.
Out of my way adversary, I am going forward to the cross.
Get behind me satan, I am taking up my cross.
You better stand aside, because I am following Jesus!
The cross is worth it
You may have to tell someone to get behind you… but the cross is worth it.
You may lose a relationship… but the cross is worth it.
People may say bad things about you… but the cross is worth it.
Who is ready to tell an adversary to stand aside, I am going forward?
Who is ready to come to the cross of Jesus today?
Before we come to this altar today I want to remind you of the power of agreement.
Find Agreement = Find Power
The Bible is clear. Wherever there is agreement, there is power.
Matthew 18:18-20 (NIV) “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
People can be your adversary… but when you can connect in agreement with other believers POWERFUL THINGS HAPPEN.
WHEN WE AGREE…
- We can bind a thing on Earth, and the power of Heaven will bind that thing based on our agreement.
- We can loose a thing on Earth, and the power of Heaven will loose that same thing based on our agreement.
- If 2 will agree on Earth and ask me, it will be done by the Father in Heaven.
- If 2 or 3 will agree in the name… The name of Jesus… He is there with them.
Stop just coming to attend a church service… Come get your spirit in agreement.
Stop just singing a worship song… Get your heart in agreement with every word being sung.
Stop just hearing a sermon… Get your life in agreement with the Word of God.
Stop just arriving at this altar to pray for your needs… Come into agreement with God at this altar.
Acts 2:1-2 (KJV) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
We are in one place… but are we in one accord. Are we in agreement?
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Church we need to get in agreement.
That power is available right now if we will get in agreement.
You can put every enemy behind you: if you will come into agreement.
Will someone come and stand in agreement?
There will be young people in this altar today that don’t have a mom & dad standing beside. There are young people that are here in this altar today because they made up their mind to go after God even when those they love tried to dissuade them. Will you come and stand beside that young person?
There are people in this place who have lost a loved one. The person they stood in agreement with has gone to be with Jesus. Will you stand with them today? Will you pray in agreement with them?
There are needs that people have never spoken. There are sins and failures that no one has ever revealed. But I wonder, could that person come to this altar today and without saying a word be embraced with your agreement?
Come agree together!