the devil enslaves
Hebrews 2:9-18
The Devil Enslaves
C.S. Lewis made the cover of Time Magazine on September 8, 1947, with the devil poised prominently on his shoulder. His best-seller The Screwtape Letters introduced the demonic world in a new and fresh way. The devil is real, as Hal Lindsey maintains in his classic work Satan Is Alive and Well On Planet Earth.
Four Ways That Satan Attacks Us:
1. Thru Suffering
a. “but we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9. In an amazing act of humility, Jesus took on a human body and subjected himself to sickness, decay, harm, and limitations that he had never before endured.
b. Jesus also subjected himself to a tortuous death involving physical, emotional, and spiritual pain more intense than we have suffered. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ.” I Peter 4:12-13.
c. Pain is God’s megaphone. It gets our attention like nothing else can.
2. Thru Hell
a. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14. Satan’s strategy is to keep us in a perpetual state of unbelief until death and eternal existence in hell.
b. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the way of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh…like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.” Ephesians 2:1-3.
c. The demonic world has ranks like you see in the military (Ephesians 6:12). Their goal is to blind you until death and eternal judgment (Hebrews 9:27; John 3:36).
3. Thru Death
a. “By his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14b-15. Only the Christian needn’t fear death (Psalm 116:15), as we have Jesus and his heavenly kingdom waiting on the other side (II Corinthians 5:6; Philippians 1:21-23; I Corinthians 15:54).
4. Thru Sin
a. “For this reason he had to be made like them fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:17-18.
b. Sin enslaves us, although Satan tries to deceive us into thinking there is freedom in throwing off the shackles of moral constraints. He is a master of deception, having 6000 years of experience.
c. Don’t let Satan fool you! We must pray diligently, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13. Remember: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out.” I Corinthians 10:13.
Satan has scored massive victories in the modern era, with two billion abortions performed since 1980! Yet, this fact virtually guarantees that there will be a far greater population in heaven than in hell. Throughout history, researchers estimate that 66% of those conceived in the womb will not survive to their fifth birthday (Secrets of the Koran, pg. 240).
Most will reject Christ (Matthew 7:13-14). But if God protects the innocent (II Samuel 12:23), the throngs in heaven will be greater by far (Revelation 5:9)!
C.S. Lewis made the cover of Time Magazine on September 8, 1947, with the devil poised prominently on his shoulder. His best-seller The Screwtape Letters introduced the demonic world in a new and fresh way. The devil is real, as Hal Lindsey maintains in his classic work Satan Is Alive and Well On Planet Earth.
Four Ways That Satan Attacks Us:
1. Thru Suffering
a. “but we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9. In an amazing act of humility, Jesus took on a human body and subjected himself to sickness, decay, harm, and limitations that he had never before endured.
b. Jesus also subjected himself to a tortuous death involving physical, emotional, and spiritual pain more intense than we have suffered. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ.” I Peter 4:12-13.
c. Pain is God’s megaphone. It gets our attention like nothing else can.
2. Thru Hell
a. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14. Satan’s strategy is to keep us in a perpetual state of unbelief until death and eternal existence in hell.
b. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the way of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh…like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.” Ephesians 2:1-3.
c. The demonic world has ranks like you see in the military (Ephesians 6:12). Their goal is to blind you until death and eternal judgment (Hebrews 9:27; John 3:36).
3. Thru Death
a. “By his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14b-15. Only the Christian needn’t fear death (Psalm 116:15), as we have Jesus and his heavenly kingdom waiting on the other side (II Corinthians 5:6; Philippians 1:21-23; I Corinthians 15:54).
4. Thru Sin
a. “For this reason he had to be made like them fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:17-18.
b. Sin enslaves us, although Satan tries to deceive us into thinking there is freedom in throwing off the shackles of moral constraints. He is a master of deception, having 6000 years of experience.
c. Don’t let Satan fool you! We must pray diligently, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13. Remember: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out.” I Corinthians 10:13.
Satan has scored massive victories in the modern era, with two billion abortions performed since 1980! Yet, this fact virtually guarantees that there will be a far greater population in heaven than in hell. Throughout history, researchers estimate that 66% of those conceived in the womb will not survive to their fifth birthday (Secrets of the Koran, pg. 240).
Most will reject Christ (Matthew 7:13-14). But if God protects the innocent (II Samuel 12:23), the throngs in heaven will be greater by far (Revelation 5:9)!