Exposing Satan's Opposite Malignant Character

January 19

Exposing Satan’s Opposite Malignant Character

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels (Matt. 13:38-39)

In order to reveal the truth about God, Jesus also had to expose the real culprit behind the ills that we suffer in this world. In the gospels Jesus revealed to us that Satan’s character is so malignant that two of the many titles ascribed to him are “the evil one” (Mat. 5:37; 6:13; John 17:15; 2) and “the wicked one” (Mat. 13:19, 38). Furthermore, the demonic forces that work for Satan and who are the source of much sickness, disease, sin and tragedy in our world are also called evil (Luke 7:21; 8:2). Throughout the gospels Jesus revealed several things about Satan in contrast to God:

• Satan is the evil one who brings temptation to sin. God is the One who delivers from sin (Matt. 4:1-11; 6:13; Luke 4:1-14).
• Satan is the evil one who brings sickness and disease. God is the One who heals (Luke 13:16).
• Satan is a liar and murderer who brings persecution and seeks to kill (John 8:44).
• Satan brings deprivation, death and destruction. God gives His own life for us (John 10:10).
• Satan has a kingdom that subjects people to his demonic torments. God has come to rescue them (Matt. 12:25-29; Luke 11:17-22).
• Satan is the one who attempts to hinder us from our God-given missions (Matt. 16:22-23).
• Satan has a certain amount of power to harm, but God has given us authority over him and his power (Luke 10:17-20).
• God gives His Word because He desires our salvation. Satan steals the Word to keep us from being saved (Luke 8:12).
• Satan desires to sift God’s servants as wheat. Jesus prays for us so that our faith will not fail (Luke 22:31).
• Satan enters into people to betray others (Luke 22:3; John 13:27).
• Satan is responsible for natural disasters (Luke 8:22-25; 9:51-56).
• Satan is the “ruler” (prince) of this world, but Jesus has conquered his domain (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11, 33).

Jesus gives us a clear expose of the enemy. He is the exact opposite of God. While God is loving and good, Satan is mean, hateful and evil. What a contrast.

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