Now let’s take a look at another instance here with Peter. Let’s see what was said here. Let’s come to Luke 22, and again we’re going to see about Peter. We’re going to see his ambition, as it were, and let’s see what he said he was going to do. Let’s pick it up here, in Luke 22:31, “Then the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon, listen well. Satan has demanded to have you,” now that’s quite a statement. Just think, Satan has his plan here to make Peter the first pope at the get go. I think we need to understand that that’s why Peter was never the first pope. “…Satan has demanded to have you, to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren. And He said to him, “ ‘Lord…’ ” and now notice his attitude. He really didn’t accept this. “ ‘Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death.’ ” It’s the same attitude that he had back there in Matthew 16. (Now we’re not going to let this happen, by force. We are going to get this thing done.) And who was it that took the sword and went for the head of the servant of the high priest? It was Peter. He ducked just in time and he got his ear. Now Jesus said, verse 34, “But He said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock shall in no wise crow today before you have denied knowing Me three times’ ” (Luke 22:31-34).

Now see, this is important for us to understand. A very key profound point, if I could put it that way. You cannot solve your problems yourself by your own means, by your own effort, by your own will. You’ve got to go to God and ask Him to help you solve those problems. Now you can solve them with God’s help. You can solve them through prayer and study, but not by just your own carnal human ability here. And so, that was quite a thing that he told Him.

Now, let’s see also how Jesus had to deal with Peter again just before He ascended to heaven. Let’s come to the very last chapter of the Gospel of John, John 21, and let’s see what Jesus had to say to Peter three times there. It was a little bit different. And I’m sure He did this knowing the proclivity of Peter, knowing that Peter was headstrong. So therefore He wanted to make sure. Now just as he denied Him three times, so then Jesus said this to him three times. Now let’s pick it up here in John 21:15, “Therefore, when they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me more than these?’ ” (John 21:15, FV). Now you see, this is almost the same lesson that he taught right after Peter did his thing in Matthew 16:[24]. “If anyone desires to comes after Me, let him deny himself” (Matt.16:24, FV). So He’s saying to Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” That is the other the other apostles, “And he said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord. You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ ” Now this is a great and a tremendous thing for us understand, not only for Peter, but for whoever is going to be an elder, a minister, or teacher, to teach the people, “Feed the lambs of Christ.” They belong to Him. You’re not to exalt yourself over them. You’re not to make yourself the big important mucky muck. See, that’s all contained right in here, and who would be one of the first ones to exalt himself, carnally speaking, Peter. So that’s why this incident is given here. “He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord. You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Shepard My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.”

Then he told him something else, to show what it would be like at the end of his life. He was not going to be the big headstrong, courageous, “I’m going to fight for you Lord. I’ll never deny you Lord.” He was going to be old and feeble. So He said, “Truly, truly I say to you, since you were young, you have dressed yourself and walked wherever you have desired; but when you are old, you shall stretch out your hands, and another shall dress you and bring you where you do not desire to go. Now He said this to signify by what death he would glorify God. And after saying this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’ ” (John 21:15-19). Very instructive. Now Peter did come through, because Jesus prayed for him, but nevertheless that’s how Satan works.

Now let’s see something else. Let’s come here to John 13, and of course, we’ve covered this before but let’s cover it here now. Satan likes to be right there in the middle of the action, so he can destroy it. And we’ve had many experiences where people have tried to come, under the guise of doing good, and doing this and that, and the other thing, and we have just had to turn them away, leave them alone. See, because unless we follow God, unless we follow Christ, Satan is going to be there, looking for every little opportunity that he can have. Now, we know that at the last Passover, unseen was Satan. He was there. Isn’t that interesting? You look at the thing concerning the “Da Vinci Code,” and the unseen disciple was Mary Magdalene, very interesting. No it wasn’t Magdalene; the unseen being was Satan the devil because he had already put in the mind of Judas Iscariot to betray Him. Now, let’s pick it up here, in verse 26, about the one who was to betray Him, “Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I shall give a sop after I have dipped it.’ And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. And after the sop, Satan entered into him.” Right there, right there at the last Passover, “Then Jesus said to it to him, ‘What you do, do quickly’ ” (John 13:26-27, FV).

Now, Satan wants to be there all the time. Now, as I said, he’s got the whole world. Let’s come back here to Acts 26, and let’s see something concerning Satan, and how he works, and how he is, and why we need the gospel of God with the truth that only God can bring us, and also to show something very important too, that God is the one who can release people from that. God is the one who can take them out from under the authority of Satan the devil.

We have the account concerning Saul, as he was going up to Damascus. And lets pick it up here in verse nine, Acts 26, and let’s follow along with what Paul said and see the very commission that he was given. And of course, Paul to the Gentiles went out into the Greek world, didn’t he, which when you know and understand the truth of the Bible, they were all living the way of Cain in denying God, following the created thing, worshiping the serpent, worshiping Diana, worshiping Athena, worshiping Zeus, worshiping all of these gods, which then represented the agents of Satan the devil, going clear back to the time before, and just after the flood. So God calls Saul to go into this world, and preach Christ. Now lets pick it up here in verse 9, “For this very reason, I truly thought in myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarean, which I also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints I shut up in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my full consent against them. And by punishing them often in all the synagogues…” going into the synagogues, beatings them, scourging them, “…I compelled them to blaspheme…” Here Saul was an agent of Satan the devil, to do his work. “…And being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them even as far as foreign cities. During this time, I was journeying to Damascus with authorization and a commission from the chief priests, when I saw on the road at midday, O king, a light from heaven, surpassing the brightness of the sun, shine around me and those who were traveling with me. Then all of us fell to the ground; and I heard a voice speak to me, saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.’ And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.’ ”

Now, let’s understand this, a very important point. Any persecution you have against you, they are persecuting Christ. You need to understand that, because Christ is in you. “Now arise, and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as a minister and a witness both of what you have seen and what I shall revealed to you. I am personally selecting you from among the people and the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light…” Because Christ is a light of the world, right. This is just as we covered in a sermon recently, about the light of God, “…and from the authority of Satan to God…” So you see, all the world—because he is deceiving the whole world—is under the authority of Satan the devil, every bit of it. Now, God still works in it. God works out His plan in it; God intervenes, just like He did in calling Saul; God reaches down and calls those whom He wants to, and so forth. But nevertheless, this is a key thing, “…from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified through faith in Me’ ” (Acts 26:9-18, FV). So that was his commission, what he was to do. So that was quite a thing, from the authority of Satan to the authority of God.

Now let’s understand that Satan is there with all of his lying things. Come back here to John 8, and let’s see something else concerning even the disciples who followed Jesus, and the priests and the Sadducees and Pharisees who were there, right at the temple. And again, to show the point, Satan likes to get right in the middle of the action at the highest level possible. Therefore, we need to understand, that’s one of his tactics, and not give him an opening, not give him a space. That’s why we’re told every day, we ask God, “deliver us from the evil one” because he is there with his treacherous lies, and the difficulties and problems, that he brings into our lives. Now, let’s pick it up here in John the 8th chapter, and let’s pick it up here in verse 31. It is quite a long discussion going on here. “Therefore, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him…” Now they believed in Him, “ ‘If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone…Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a servant of sin.’ ” And who is the master of sin but Satan the devil. And he gets into it here a little later on. Now these were the ones who believed in Him. See, so it’s possible to believe in Jesus, but still be run by Satan the Devil if you truly do not believe the truth. Now, let’s come down here, to read a little bit more of this. “Therefore…” verse 36, “if the Son shall set you free, you shall truly be free.” And have the Spirit of God. “I know that you are Abraham’s seed; but you are seeking to kill Me, because My words do not enter into your minds. I speak the things that I have seen from My Father, and you do the things that you have seen from your father.”

Now, what I want you to do is put in your notes there, and take some time, go back and read Ezekiel the 8th chapter, and all the satanic things that were going on right at the temple. Now, let me just mention something here that is important to understand. They have dug up some of the implements of the second temple; they found them out in the caves of letters. And they had an incense shovel, and they know the priest put it there, because the instructions were on a copper scroll where to find it, because they hid it. And on this incense shovel was a serpent, stamped into the bottom of the incense shovel. It was almost like a little dustpan, if we can put it that way. And here’s a serpent, and all the Jews were stunned; how could this be, how could the priests, all these good righteous priests, have something with a serpent on it. Well, the truth is, just like we read about Joshua, in Zechariah the 3rd chapter, Satan is standing right there. If he could get those at the temple to believe his lies, then the lies will be disseminated to all the people, right? That’s exactly what Satan is doing today. He is deceiving the rulers of this world and the rulers of the religions of this world, so that they will disseminate his lies. So we have the same thing here. Oh yes. And Jesus said, “…you are seeking to kill Me.” And they said “No we’re not.” Yes they were. Then He said “You are of your father the devil…” Now, let’s come down here, and let’s understand this. Verse 42, “…Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father…’ ” Which tells us something very important, doesn’t it? You either belong to God or you don’t belong to God, and those who are in between, they need to get off the dime, and go wholly God’s way, or wholly Satan’s way. Now that’s what Christ challenged to church back there, the church of the Laodecions. The ‘tweeners are the ones who are in trouble, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I proceeded forth and came from God. For I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why don’t you understand My speech? Because you cannot bear to hear My words. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you desire to practice. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he is speaking of his own self; for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me’ ” (John 8:31-38, 42-45, FV). You see that’s what cuts to the quick, isn’t it, the truth. Satan likes to come in and mix in the truth. Satan likes to come in and bring false doctrines.

Now, let’s see just a little bit about this. Let’s see what happened. Let’s come here to I Timothy, the first chapter, and let’s see how, even in Paul’s ministry, there were those who got in, who were twisting the doctrines, teaching other things. Now, let’s read about it here, let’s pick it up here in verse 3, I Timothy the first chapter: “When I was going to Macedonia, I exhorted you to remain in Ephesus, in order that you might solemnly charge some not to teach other doctrines;” And we have the same thing today, exactly the same thing today. People want other doctrines. They want it—and one of the things that you have—you have two thrust of Satan the devil coming against the church. One is the thrust from Judaism, to make you an Old Testament Jewish church, which then will lead you to denying Christ. And I’ve seen this happen during the time of my life, in the ministry. The other one is from the Protestant point of view, and Catholic point of view, that you do away with the laws of God, and you come over here and you accept this lawless grace. Now notice, “Nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which lead to empty speculations rather than to edification from God, which is in faith.”

Now, He gives the example of all of these things, and let’s come to the end of the chapter, because it is a very profound and important thing to understand. Now he says, let’s pick it up here in verse 18, “This charge I am personally committing to you, my son Timothy, in accordance with the prophecies that were made long ago concerning you; in order that by them you yourself might wage a good warfare, Holding to the faith and a good conscience. For some, having cast aside a good conscience, have made shipwreck in regard to the faith; Of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I turned over to Satan in order that they may learn not to blaspheme” (I Tim. 1:3-4, 18-20, FV). And it says there in II Timothy, that they were saying that the resurrection is all ready past. See, so our souls go to heaven.

Now, those who bring false doctrine can be turned over to Satan the devil. Those who have personal sins and will not repent can be turned over to Satan the devil, as we find in I Corinthian’s the 5th chapter. Now, the purpose of that is, so that through the trials and difficulties that you are destined to go through, if you turn your back on God, that maybe you will repent. But nevertheless, Satan is there continuously, continuously trying to come after people.

Now, he comes after ministers. Let’s come over here to I Timothy 3:6, while we’re right here. One who is an elder is “Not a novice, lest he become conceited and fall into the same condemnation as the devil.” And be lifted up. Yes, in verse 7, “It is mandatory that he also have a good report from those who are outside the church, lest he fall into reproaches and the snare of the devil” (I Tim. 3:6-7, FV). Well, I tell you, it’s something.

Let’s come over here to II Timothy the 2:22, let’s see what he says here, “But flee youthful lusts; and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who are calling on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and ignorant speculations reject, knowing that they engender arguments.” And arguments lead to vain speculation, and vain speculation leads to false doctrine. So that’s why I have my cowbell. When I do some speculating, I ring my cowbell, so you know that this is not dogma. Now verse 24, “Now it is obligatory that a servant of the Lord not be argumentative, but gentle toward all, competent to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting those who set themselves in opposition; if perhaps God may grant them repentance unto acknowledging of the truth, and that they may wake up and escape from the devil’s snare, who have been taken captive by him to do his will” (II Tim. 2:22-26, FV).

And if Satan is deceiving the whole world, and I tell you, what the Day of Atonement ought do is make us alert to all of the wiles of the devil, and for us to understand, we must have the spirit of God, we must have the word of God, we must have the faith of God to fight Satan the devil. That’s what’s so important. And then we are going to see what is absolutely important, is this, only God will get rid of Satan the devil. That’s why the ceremony back in Leviticus 16. Many of the things that we covered here are portrayed in that example of selecting by lot the goat for the Lord and the goat for Azazel. To look at it on the surface, you can’t tell the difference. To hear the sound of something, which sounds almost right, it’s hard to distinguish the difference. So that’s why God has to make the choice.

Now, let’s see some other things, let’s come over here to I Peter the 5th chapter, and let’s see what we have concerning Peter’s talking about Satan, and of course, he had his experience with it, didn’t he? Yes he did. Now, let’s come down here to verse 6, I Peter 5:6. Now, after talking to the elders and telling them don’t be lifted up, don’t be lording it over the flock of God, he says here, verse 6, “Be humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.” Now you see, these things come upon us so that we then have an opportunity to come to God, and in a way God is testing us with it. And we need to look to the leading of God, you see, casting all of our cares upon Him. Now if we don’t; if we try and work out our own way, that’s exactly what Satan wants us to do, because he’s got you. We have to work it out God’s way. Ask for His help, His spirit, His guidance, His leading. So He says here, “Be sober! Be vigilant! For your adversary the devil is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour.” Now that’s anyone who believes the truth. That’s why when Satan is cast down, he begins to persecute the church and then makes war against the others who have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. And we’re going to be facing a time when that is going to be a reality. Now he says “Whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are being fulfilled among your brethren who are in the world. Now may the God of all grace, Who has called his unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, Himself perfect you, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (I Peter 5:6-10, FV). Now that’s what God wants to do to lead us out of all of these trials.

Now let’s see what James has to say about this. Let’s come to James the 4th chapter. So the whole point we need to understand is this, Satan is out after his church, and in many cases to many people are falling for his spurious arguments. Too many people are overwhelmed in the trials, rather than coming to God in the trials. To many people get discouraged, and despondent, and have a guilty conscience because they’re trying to word it out their way, instead of God’s way. Now you see, we need to understand what it is saying here.

Let’s come back here to James 4:4. Now James was pretty strong here, he said, “You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?” See we are called out of the world. “Therefore, whosoever desires to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Now we’ve even seen how that has happened within the church, haven’t we? And what happens when you make yourself a friend of the world? You become an enemy of God. And what happens when you become an enemy of God? God has got to come and fight against you, right? He’s got to come and correct you, right? Yes indeed. “Or do you think that the scripture says in vain, ‘The spirit that dwells in us lusts with envy’? But He gives greater grace…” The help of God is greater, you see. That’s what He is saying. “This is the reason it says, ‘God sets Himself against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore, submit yourselves to God.” So you resist the devil in faith, you submit yourself to God, you follow God’s way, and the devil will flee from you. Now notice, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” So even in the worst possible circumstances we can find ourselves in, God is there to help us. We need to realize that. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded!” (James 4:4-8, FV). See because that’s what happens. When Satan comes along and bing, he throws one of those arrows of lust and temptation into your heart and mind, and you start entertaining sin, what happens? You’re double-minded.

Now, here’s what you need to do, if you have a problem that is really bothering you, ask God to lift it from you, and take it completely from you, and give you perfect forgetfullness of it. And He will. If you have something coming along in your mind all the time, popping up, popping up, popping up, you do that, you take it to God and ask Him to get rid of it that way.

Now, there are other places in the New Testament were it talks about how Satan had hindered Paul, kept him from doing the things that he needed to do. And he also understood that only God can get rid of Satan, that’s why we have all of this advice here, on how to fight him in this life. But, in the final analysis, only God can get rid of Satan.

Now, let’s come to the book of Revelation, and let’s see that, and let’s see the fulfillment of Leviticus 16, the doing away with Satan the devil, getting rid of him. Now, that’s why before the millennium begins the first part of Satan’s judgment must come upon him. Because in order for God to bring in the millennium and the kingdom of God, ruled with Christ and the saints, there’s no room for Satan the devil. He is put out as the ruler of this world. First he’s cast down, and then after he is cast down, he makes war against the church, then he raises up his great civilization to fight against Christ, and that fails, and then beginning in Revelation chapter 20, we see the fulfillment and the parallel of Leviticus 16. And the truth is, you cannot understand the spiritual significance of Leviticus 16, until you have Revelation 20. Very important to understand.

Now after the battle, the beast and false prophet are cast in the lake of fire, right? Who is the power behind them? Satan, the god of this world. So we have Revelation 20:1, “Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, having the key of the abyss…” And Satan is the king over the abyss. “…and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” In order for the millennium to begin Satan must be removed, and he is, and he’s bound for a thousand years. “Then he cast him into the abyss…” Now the closest thing you can come to that, in type, with the sacrifices of Leviticus 16, was have the hand of the fit man, who was a type of the angel, and lead him into the wilderness, which had to be a type of the abyss. “…locked him up, and sealed the abyss over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were fulfilled; and after that it is ordained that he be loosed for a short time” (Rev. 20:1-3, FV). Now we’ll cover that when we get to that time. But the final judgment, against Satan the devil, is going to be, as we find, in the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. So that’s just a few days down the road for us, so we’ll pick up the rest of it there, the final judgment and removal of Satan the devil.

But this is why we have this day, a day of fasting and prayer, a of day of getting close to God, a day of realizing our physical weaknesses, our mental weaknesses, all the trials and troubles that we have, that we have an adversary we are fighting, and in order for us to overcome and be in the Kingdom of God, we must overcome Satan the devil, which we can through the blood of Jesus Christ. And then when we come back to this earth with Christ, we are going to see Satan bound, and then we will be given the authority to begin to repair the whole world, and began the millennium with the Kingdom of God.

Atonement – 2006

Scriptural Reference

1. Leviticus 23:26-32, (KJV)

2. Leviticus 16:1-11, 15-16, 19-22, 29-31, 34, (KJV)

3. Matthew 4:1-9, (FV)

4. Luke 4:1-9, (FV)

5. II Corinthians 4:4, (FV)

6. I Chronicles 21:1-5, 7-13, (KJV)

7. Zechariah 3:1, (KJV)

8. Mark 4:14-20, (FV)

9. Matthew 16:13-17, 21-24, (FV)

10. Matthew 4:4, (FV)

11. Matthew 16:26-27, (FV)

12. Luke 22.31-34, (FV)

13. John 21:15, (FV)

14. Mark 16:24, (FV)

15. John 21:15-19, (FV)

16. John 13:26-27, (FV)

17. Acts 26:9-18, (FV)

18. John 8:31-38, 42-45, (FV)

19. I Timothy 1:3-4, 18-20, (FV)

20. I Timothy 3:6-7, (FV)

21. II Timothy 2:22-26, (FV)

22. I Peter 5:6-10, (FV)

23. James 4:4-8, (FV)

24. Revelation 20:1-3, (FV)