Satan Fallen from Heaven
Luke 10:17-20
Read Luke 10:17-20
Much speculation about Satan’s origin, but little is said in the scriptures.
a. His chief sin seems to be pride (I Tim. 3:6).
b. Text does not refer to his origin here but what was happening then.
The Seventy were sent out, this was their report.
a. Jesus was acknowledging their success (Notice emphasis of verse 20).
Jesus’ point was that their work was so effective that it was a great defeat for Satan ("He saw Satan fall in defeat.")
You see; right now as I speak there is a great war taking place.
A. A war between Christ and Satan the conflict of the ages.
1. Satan is our adversary (I Pet. 5:8).
2. Christ came to destroy the work of Satan (I Jn. 3:8b).
3. Both want to win the world; both want your soul.
B. This conflict is symbolized as a "war in heaven" (Rev. 12:7-11), not over yet but foretells Christ victorious.
1. Note the reason fro victory in verse 10-11.
2. This battle is between spiritual beings, that takes place everyday, but decided among men.
3. This points to the fact that the battle is for your soul (Lk. 22:31).
Examples of some battles in which Satan fell.
C. First let us not over look the text before us.
D. The temptation of Jesus.
1. Mt. 4:1-11
2. Imagine if Satan had won that day…
E. Christ’s death and resurrection.
1. Jn. 12:31-32
2. Heb. 2:14-16
F. When someone becomes a Christian.
1. Col. 1:13-14
2. Every conversion is a defeat for Satan.
3. This is why Satan seeks to keep people from the truth.
a. Lk. 8:12
b. II Cor. 4:3-4
G. When Christians remain faithful.
1. Jas. 4:7
2. Eph. 4:27
3. I Jn. 2:13
Christ saw Satan fall but we too would see him fall every day if we knew the victories that our brothers and sisters are winning.
H. The battlefield was the world of a young Christian girl. She was greatly pressured to forget her Christian principles and accept the line of least resistance. But virtue prevailed. She said, "No!" And Satan fell as lightening from heaven!
I. The Devil arrayed his forces in a business office. A lot of money could be made if honesty and ethics could be compromised.
1. The love of money is one of Satan’s meanest weapons.
2. It was a struggle.
3. Some thought he was a coward or stupid.
4. But the Christian responded, "I won’t cheat and lie for all the money in the world." And Satan fell as lightening from heaven again!
J. A family loses a precious loved one and the unfairness of life begins to cause doubt but they turn to the Lord and their faith becomes solid as a rock, and Satan as lightening fell from heaven!
K. Deep in another heart Satan capitalizes on jealously and frustration.
1. He urges that things be said which hurt another.
2. "Devil" means "slanderer", and he love to promote slander.
3. Say it with a double meaning. Say it with an innuendo. Say it with false love and excuse it with "I didn’t mean to hurt anybody", but say it!
4. But on this day at least one mouth was kept shut and the flapping tongue was stilled. And I saw Satan fell as lightening from heaven.
It used to be popular to joke – "The devil made me do it."
a. But he is very real.
b. Not only does the Bible teach us he is real, but we see the evidence of him everyday (discouragement, immorality, anger and hatred, people taking the easy way out).
c. He is very real and he wants your soul.
But we can overcome (I Cor. 10:13).
Something to think about, a very sobering truth.
d. You either serve Christ or Satan.
e. Rom. 6:16
f. Mt. 6:24
g. If not Christ, Satan wins by default.
The Devil would like to:
h. Take the happiness out of your home.
i. Destroy this congregation.
j. Get your attention off Christ and off heaven.
We like to win; we like to pull for the underdog.
What will happen this morning? Who will win?
James Pharr
Lenoir, NC