2 - God's Team Has an Opponent of Holiness
(A) CONSIDER YOUR ENEMY
Every team has an opponent, a challenger, a competitor. Satan is the opponent of God’s team. What are his capabilities, talents, and tactics? Consider your enemy, so that you will be better able to withstand him, or else he will make you easily lose out on your eternal prize.1. The Name Satan Means Adversary
(a) Consider the Greek and Hebrew Definition
The Greek word for Satan, like the one used
by Jesus in Matthew 4:10, means “adversary
(one who opposes another in purpose or
act)”. The Hebrew word for Satan, like the
one used in 1 Chron 21:1, means “adversary,
one who withstands”. [Strong’s Concordance]
So Satan is literally our opponent, our foe,
our enemy, our adversary. So the Bible
names him fittingly and correctly.
(b) Peter Called the Devil Our Adversary,
Our Satan
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your
adversary, the devil, prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pe 5:8)
This Greek word for adversary means “an opponent in
a suit of law, an adversary, an enemy.” [Strong’s
Concordance] Jesus referred to Satan as an enemy
(Mt 13:25).
The Greek word for Devil, used here by
Peter, means “prone to slander, slanderous,
accusing falsely”. [Strong’s Concordance]
Fittingly, we read about: “... the accuser of
our brethren has been thrown down, he who
accuses them before our God day and
night.” (Re 12:10). Good news! While it is
true that Satan is our accusing or our
prosecuting attorney, Someone greater is our
defense or advocating attorney, Jesus.
“... we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 Jn 2:1)