Bible Studies
Satan’s Spiritual Workers (Agents) (Matt. 12:22-28)
Series: The Reality of SatanIntroduction:
1. The N.T. reveals that Satan is the ruler over a powerful kingdom of evil and that he rules it with intelligent consistency. 2. In the text we have just read Jesus is charged with casting out Satan by the power of Satan. He points out the absurdity of the charge by saying, “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself” (12:26). 3. This indicates that demons are under Satan’s control and serve as his workers (or agents) as part of his house or his kingdom. 4. Jesus opposed him and Acts 10:38 speaks of His healing those “who were oppressed by the devil.” 5. As we read the texts of the N.T. that speak of demon possession we are quite shocked with the descriptions.a. One such shocking description is given in three of the gospel accounts (Matt. 8:28-34; Mk. 5:1-20; Lk. 8:26-39).
b. The shocking nature of the accounts causes some of us to try to explain them naturalistically. That may be what we are doing when we ask, “Were these cases of mental illness?”
c. The shocking nature of the accounts cause us to wonder if demon possession exists today? Certainly we do not want to be possessed or be in association with anyone so possessed.
6. Another account is given in Lk. 9:38-43. 7. No matter how you deal with these texts—to dismiss them as cases of mental illness or limit them to the first century, if you take them at face value it is evident that the writers and those who witnessed the events believed that Satan and his agents were behind it. 8. But there are other personalities, in addition to demons, who work as agents of Satan. What does the Bible say about his spiritual workers?Discussion:
I. In addition to such “demons,” Satan has “his angels” over whom he rules (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:7).A. Rev. 12:7ff describes a war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with Satan and his angels.
1. These are generally understood to be spirit beings that exist in a dimension that is different from ours and yet intersects with it.
2. In one way we might say it is veiled to our natural eyes and only seen through what God reveals to us in Scripture.
3. Although we may not see this realm with our natural eyes it is as real as anything that we see with our eyes.
B. As “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2) Satan rules over the “world forces of this darkness” and the “spiritual forces of wickedness.”
1. These forces cut through the plain of our existence.
2. Paul would have us realize the nature of the war (Eph. 6:10-12).
3. We are not struggling with mere flesh and blood forces (v. 12).
4. It is a struggle with “spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (the spiritual realm).
5. The weapons of our warfare are not physical but spiritual (13-17).
a. The armor of God is necessary.
b. Loins girded with truth.
c. Breastplate of righteousness.
d. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
e. Shield of faith.
f. Helmet of salvation.
g. Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
6. The nature of the battle makes prayer all the more important (Eph. 6:18-19). We will do well to respect the nature of the battle and the power that we are trying to overcome (Jude 8-9).
II. Eph. 6:12 identifies “rulers” and “powers” that are the agents of Satan. Are we to interpret these as special spirit beings that we are engaged with? Or should we interpret these to refer to earthly rulers under the influence of Satan?A. Eph. 6:12 sets these “rulers” and “powers” in a context dealing with forces that are not flesh and blood.
B. But that would not eliminate earthly rulers and powers under the influence of forces that were not flesh and blood.
C. Col. 2:15 says that through Christ God disarmed the rulers and authorities (cf. Eph. 2:2). Eph. 1:21 says, He is above all “rule and authority and power and dominion.”
D. It is obvious to me that the history of the nation of Israel reveals that her leaders, the kings, the shepherds, the prophets often came under the control of Satan (cf. Ezek. 22:6ff; 34:1ff). This is the reason they were taken into Assyrian and Babylonian captivity. But the Assyrian’s and the Babylonian’s were also under the influence of Satan. Some even see the condemnation of the king of Babylon in Isa. 14 as referring to the fall of Satan himself. Some translations use the translation “Lucifer” in verse 12 from which this suggestion comes.
E. Earthly governments can act as agents of Satan. The greed and self-centered ambitions of nations, the deception of the political world, hatred and rivalry in the business world, the godless ideologies of the world, family and church strife (James 3:14-18) all find their origin in Satan. And so, we need to recognize that Satan’s uses various agencies, organizations, individuals, ideologies, religions and philosophies, governments, rulers, and powers to destroy.
III. Satan uses individuals.A. The worthless men (lit. “sons of Belial).
1. Deut. 13:13 - of those who seduce to serve other gods.
2. Judges 19:22 – of those who intended to rape the Levite and raped his concubine to death (cf. 20:13).
3. 1 Sam. 2:12 – of the sons of Eli who served as priests, but stole from the people, despised the offering of the Lord and slept with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
4. 1 Kings 21:9 – of those hired as false witnesses against Naboth so that he was murdered for his vineyard.
B. Satan even used Peter (Matt. 16:23; Mk. 8:33) and Judas Iscariot (Jn. 6:70).
C. Satan will use you.
Conclusion:
1. There are spiritual workers (agents) of Satan everywhere. 2. He rules over a powerful kingdom of evil with intelligent consistency. 3. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). 4. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:6-7). 5. Let us not despair, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever” (1 Pet. 5:10-11).
