Ephesians 6:11-12, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]."

A. Man was given Dominion and Rule over the Earth.

Genesis 1:27-28, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

B. When Man Obeyed (put himself Under The Rule of) the Devil --- He Relinquished His Dominion To Lucifer.

Romans 6:16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

Luke 4:5-7, "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine."

C. Scriptures talks about the Devil's Influence In This World.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

Ephesians 2:2, "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" --- 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Matthew 4:8-9, "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."

1 John 5:19, "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness."

D. Satan's Purpose is to Receive as much Power and Worship as possible --- He desires to Turn Every Person he can Away From God --- He does this by:

1. He Opposes and Disturbs God's Work in the world.

Job 2:1-6, "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life."

Mark 1:13, "And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him."

Revelation 12:7-10, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."

2. Satan Discourages Believers through Various Strategies.

Luke 22:31, "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:"

Ephesians 6:10-12, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

3. Satan Incites God's Justice Against Believers by leading them to Sin Against God.

Acts 5:3, "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

V. Scripture Reveals An Intense Struggle Rages Between The "Seed of The Serpent" And The "Seed of The Woman."

A. Since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, God's Saints Have Been The Object of Satanic Attack.

Ephesians 6:11-12, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." ((More about this later))

B. We need to remember: --- Satan knows Biblical Terminology.

1. He is also a master in Masquerading under the guise of Divine Power.

2. In seeking to be healed or helped --- Christians may become involved in some form of Demon-Energized magic.

Matthew 7:22-23, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

C. The Scope And Power of Modern Occultism staggers the imagination.

1. Many Neglect The Bible and seek enlightenment and comfort in the literature of Occultism and Metaphysics.

2. Millions are unwittingly Oppressed and Enslaved by the occult.

D. Satan cannot overcome the Christian's defenses, so long as they are Based In God's Holy Word.

1. In the measure that we Neglect or Abandon The Word of God --- demonism flourishes.

2. Ignorance of biblical truth breeds Gullibility --- Deception is easy when the Word of God is not taught.

3. When Jesus was tempted --- "It is written".

4. I John 4:1, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

E. Satan Did Everything He Could To Keep Jesus From Being Born!

Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Revelation 12:4, "... and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."

1. The line of Abel ---

Satan led Cain to kill Abel, but God gave Adam another son, Seth (Gen. 4:1).

2. The early line of the Godly Seed ---

Satan led the Godly line to mix with the ungodly and led them into such vile wickedness that God had to destroy the earth. But God raised up Noah (Gen. 6:5).

3. The line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ---

Satan led Esau to threaten to kill his brother, Jacob. But, God protected Jacob (Gen. 27:41).

4. The line of the Children of Israel ---

Satan led Pharaoh to attempt to kill all the Male Babies of Israel. But God saved Moses (Exo. 1:8).

5, The line of David ---

After failing to have Saul kill David, Satan led son after son of David into sin and to murder and disqualify themselves. But God always kept at least one son of David alive (2 Sam. 13)

6. The line of the Sons of David ---

Satan led Jehoram, one of Jehosophat's sons, to kill all his brothers. But God caused sons to be born to Jehoram to carry on the line (2 Chron. 21:1).

7. The line of Jehoshophat's Sons ---

Satan led an enemy to come in and kill all the sons but one --- Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:25).

8. The line of Ahaziah ---

Satan led Jehu to kill Ahaziah, and the queen's mother, Athaliah, took over the throne and killed all the sons. But led the wife of the high priest to save one small baby, Joash. At this point the line of the promised seed rested in the saving of this little baby's life (2 Kings 9:11).

9. The line of God's Chosen People ---

Satan led King Ahasuerus to exterminate all of God's people. But God gave him a most restless and frightening night of sleep. The king, therefore, spared the chosen line (Esther).

10. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- At His Birth ---

Satan led King Herod to slay all the boy babies in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the promised seed. But God warned Joseph and told Joseph to flee with the child to Egypt (Matt. 2:1).

11. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- At His Temptation ---

Satan tempted Jesus to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple (Matt. 4:1).

12. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- At His Hometown, Nazareth ---

Satan led the citizens of Nazareth to try to cast Jesus off the cliff of a hill, but Jesus escaped (Luke 4:29).

13. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- During His Ministry ---

Satan led the religious leaders to hate Jesus and to plot His death time and again, but Jesus escaped each time (John 7:1).

14. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- On The Cross ---

Satan stirred up the people to mock Jesus and tempt him to come down from the cross. This not only failed, but Jesus rose from the dead (John 19).