While on one hand, we do not want to bring undue attention to Satan, It is wise for us to be aware of who he is and what is his job description. Ephesians 6:11 speaks of the " wiles" of the devil , which simply means that he uses " trickery " ( the Father of lies"- John 8:44 ).
In 2nd Cor. 2:11, Paul states that " We are ignorant of his devices " . We do need to be aware that Satan is like a " roaring lion" ( 1 peter 5:8), and that he comes steal, kill and destroy ( John 10:10). Furthermore,
Ephesians 4:27 counsels us not to " give place to the devil" and in James 4:7 we are told to" resist " him. so then, what are the " roles" - what are the jobs of the devil?
There are two main tasks he fulfills, and a couple additional smaller ones.
* TEMPTATION- while God may "test" us, it is Satan's role to do the "tempting", that is , engineering circumstances which are intended to get us to sin. There are many biblical examples:
a. Job- Job 1:6
b. David- 1 Chronicles 21:1
c. Peter_ Luke 22:31
d. Judas- luke 22:3
e. Ananias and Sapphira- Acts 5:3
f. Jesus- Matthew 4:10
This seems especially true of new converts- Mark 4:15
* DISCIPLINE- it can always be said that what Satan tries to do , when there is trust in God, the Lord will use the same circumstances to bring about His redemptive purposes. Such is the case with these cases of discipline:
The incestuous man- 1 COR. 5:5
The hereticts - 1 Tim. 1:20
Paul's Thorn- 2 Cor. 12:7
* SATAN ALSO DOES ALL WITHIN HIS LIMITED POWER TO HINDER OR RESIST GOD'S WORK; ( 1 thess. 2:18, Zechariah 3:1 , and He will empower the false christ ( 2 Thess. 2:9) , but ultimately, he will be defeated" (luke 10:18)
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