Lucifer

CORE PASSAGE: Proverbs 16:18

Make no mistake: God is the hero in our story, but there is also a villain – and his name is Satan. In Isaiah 14:13-14, we learn that Lucifer became a fallen angel and was transformed into Satan. Another Old Testament Ezekiel 28:11-19 passage gives us a picture of Satan’s original position, his rebellion and his fall from heaven.

The name Satan means “adversary” or “enemy.” In the New Testament, another common name for Satan is the Devil which means “slanderer” or “false accuser.”

Other titles include:
– the tempter (1 Thessalonians 3:5)
– Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24 – NKJV)
– the wicked/evil one (Matthew 13:19, Matthew 13:38 )
– the ruler/prince of this world (John 12:31)
– the god of this age/this evil world (2 Corinthians 4:4)
– the commander of the powers of the unseen world (Ephesians 2:2)
– the Accuser of our brothers and sisters (Revelation 12:10).

Satan’s different names reveal what he is like. It helps us to understand the way he works:

• Temptation – he tempts people to sin against God (Matthew 4:1).
• Deception – he lies and makes the truth appear false (John 8:44).
• He blinds our understanding of God’s Word and the gospel of salvation through Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).
• Anything that helps him oppose God’s rule in the world (Ephesians 6:11-18, 1 Peter 5:8-9).

Satan (Lucifer) certainly exists today, but the good news is that he has been defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus! God gives Christians the power to withstand his attacks. Satan’s final defeat will come when Jesus returns and Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1-10). That is the moment that the Hero will defeat the villain once and for all!

LIFE LESSONS:

• Lucifer was filled with pride, which led to his downfall, so be careful not to be filled with pride as it could lead to you failing as well.