As we read previously, Lucifer, the highest angel in heaven plotted to overthrow God and make himself the king of the universe. His plot was known by God and despite all efforts, Lucifer refused to repent.

After a battle with the son of God and the loyal angels, Lucifer and the one-third of the angels who chose to follow him were cast out of heaven to the earth.

Lucifer was renamed Satan, meaning the adversary. He is also known as that old serpent, the dragon, and the devil. He now has made humans on the earth his rightful prey. There is a great controversery going on between the forces of good and the forces of evil over you and me.

Does Satan really exist? Satan has done such a masterful job of concealing his existence through jokes, cartoons and by creating doubts in the minds of humans that many people do not know whether there is such a thing as a devil.

He is very real and a most dangerous foe of those seeking God, and especially does he hate those who are committed to Christ.

If Jesus refers to Satan and even speaks directly to him, why should there be any doubt about the existence of the devil? See Matt. 4:1-11; 12:26; 16:23; Mark 4:15; Luke 13:16.

We have no idea of the capabilities and power in the spiritual realm. They can travel at the speed of light, and perhaps even faster.

They have an intelligence far superior to the genius in humanity.They have ways of communicating far beyond anything with which we are familiar.

I remember as I was traveling in northern Wisconsin a number of years ago at night. I had the radio tuned in to a Public Radio station.

At that time the station was broadcasting an interview with a medium. The man was credited with being able to tell facts about anyone not known to him, over the phone, anywhere in the world.

He allegedly received some kind of impressions and could reveal personal information about the person he was speaking with on the phone.

The station was located in Texas I remember.One call came from a man in Pennsylvania. As the man from PA introduced himself by name only, the clairvoyant began to tell things he alleged to know about the caller.

I remember hearing this medium tell the caller that he had a problem either with his right leg or with his hip. The caller admitted that he did have a problem with his hip.

Then the medium revealed more information pertaining to the caller and it was agreed that he was about 60% correct.

It was remarkable to me how this could be possible. Here was one person in Texas and another person in Pennsylvania. The one knew facts about the other person in the range of 60% accuracy.

I was intrigued, and troubled. I knew that this was not from God, for a couple reasons.

For one thing, God forbids going to fortune tellers, clairvoyants, mediums, or whatever you choose to call them.

We will look at this subject more in another article. But, for now, let us look at one text in the Bible.

“When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?” NIV

Do you remember this verse that follows?

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” vs. 20.

Herein lies the test of authenticity. If they do not speak according to the written word of God, there is no truth in them. Fortune tellers, mediums, spiritists and the like, are guided and controlled by Satan, believe it or not.

One way you can know that you cannot believe them is that they are never 100% accurate in their prognostications. God’s prophets are always 100% right because what they declare comes to them from the Lord.

God will allow the demons to employ their deceptions, but he will allow them only so much latitude.

Remember this, God’s prophets are always 100% accurate in their predictions because their messages come straight from God. We shall review some of the prophecies later. Stand by. Meanwhile—

Let us look at an example of what likely goes on when troubles enter the life. Going back to the first chapter in the book of Job, we find that when Satan presented himself at the council in heaven, he said that he had travelled all over the earth from one end to the other.

So, God asked Satan, have you noticed my servant, Job? Have you observed what a righteous man he is?

Satan’s response was, “sure he is a righteous man because you have given him your personal protection. Let me have him for a while and see how quickly he will curse you.

God then told Satan that he could do what he wanted with Job, except for taking his life. Read Job 1:6-22.

See how Job stood an extreme test which would break most anyone. We learn here that sometimes when troubles come that it is a test. God wants to prove to Satan and to the other beings and angels that you love Him enough to trust Him, no matter what happens.

Too often people will blame God and come whining to Him. “Why are you doing this to me, God?” They don’t give consideration to the fact that God is allowing Satan to test them.

It is Satan’s desire to destroy your relationship with God and turn you against Him. He is out to take you away from God. He wants to keep you from heaven. He want to take you down with him. Pete gives fair warning in 1 Pet. 5:8,

“Be sober (serious minded), be vigilant (watchful); because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

Will you give in to him, or remain loyal to God?

The devil and his host are very powerful and they know human nature and they have studied you and no your strengths and your weaknesses. They will tempt you with things that appeal to you to keep you from the lord.

Since they are so powerful and cunning, is there any hope of defeating them and keeping from falling into sin? Yes, listen to the apostle James:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Jas. 4:7.

How can you know if you are being tested by Satan, or whether a trial is rather punishment from God? Where can you find out what to do with trials and temptations? Read the Bible. It is the word of God given for your edification and assurance.

Just recently I heard a pastor tell of how he decided that the following week he would not preach a sermon. Instead, he would have members of the congregation ask questions and leave it to other members to give Bible answers.

A lady stood up and asked, “how can we understand the Bible?”

Immediately a little girl in the front pew, about 9 years of age, raised her hand. The pastor looked around and there were no other hands raised. He said, I was pondering as to how I would answer that question myself, but I pointed to the little girl and she was given a microphone.

She answered the question in two words. “Read it.”

Do you remember? In a previous article, I pointed out from the Scriptures that to get a right understanding of what the Bible is teaching, we need to compare scripture with scripture.

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little:”

This is telling you that you must allow the Bible to do the interpreting. Do not try to figure out a passage with your own understanding. Consult the Holy Spirit and He will lead you into all truth. How can you learn and understand the Bible, or how can you apply the above principle, except you read the Bible.

I have heard people and perhaps you have too, say something the Bible says and it would not be a correct representation of what the Bible actually says. Example: “money is the root of all evil.”

I was just a kid when I first heard the above statement and so I believed what I heard because I knew nothing about the Bible. But this came from a person whom I trusted. It was years later before I read it for myself in the Bible

As I had warned you earlier, never take anyone’s word for what the Bible says, without checking it for yourself. Let’s read what the Bible actually states about money being evil:

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Notice that it is the love of money, making money your idol, making it the great desire of your life that is evil. The pursuit of financial gain becomes to some the focal point of their lives at the neglect of their relationship with God to their eternal loss. Tragic! Listen to the words of Jesus, in Mark 8:36:

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

The matter of possessing wealth is vital to our understanding so we will delve into this subject in a future article.