The Arch Broadcaster

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Paul wrote the Ephesian Church about the life that God had called them out of when He revealed His truth to them. Chapter 2, Eph. 2:2, mentioned earlier, references the power of the devil and his influence upon the world: “Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the POWER of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2). This is an amazing passage. The phrase “children of disobedience” is also found in Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6. Let’s examine how these references relate to the phrase, “prince of the power of the air.”

Notice Eph. 2:2 states that Satan’s “spirit … works in the children of disobedience.” Do you see this? Do you grasp it? Satan has the power to use the “air” to broadcast, through his spirit, an attitude of disobedience! He sends moods, feelings, and attitudes of hostility into people’s minds. These “work” within people’s hearts and minds, bringing disobedience. This “air power” gives the devil great INFLUENCE, allowing him to send thoughts of confusion, deceit, anger, pride, hate, foolishness, vanity, jealousy, lust, greed, envy, rebellion, and much more directly into people’s thinking!

Think of it this way. The devil owns a most powerful radio station, broadcasting 24 hours a day. We have learned that this mighty “station” reaches and deceives the entire world! Yet, his incredible cunning has been so seductive that he has even been able to convince most that he does not exist!

The devil is immensely more powerful than most realize. Remember, only one who has enormous power to influence—as a virtual “god” (and Satan is this world’s god)—could blind and deceive on a scale so staggering. As a result, he has produced a world filled with disobedience—lawlessness!

Before the invention of the radio, Satan’s power, as arch broadcaster and prince of the power of the air, could not be as easily understood. But now you can comprehend!

We can now better understand the “children of disobedience.” Like Christians with the Holy Spirit, these people are also inspired and guided by a spirit—that of this world’s god. Satan broadcasts a spirit of rebellion against God’s Law—disobedience—through attitudes—into humanity. Ephesians 2:2 is plain. But a deceived world knows nothing of this understanding!

If you listen to the radio, you usually pick a station that plays what you want to hear. Today, people “surf” radio or television stations. Eventually, something interests them, and they stop and listen to a station of their choosing. In every case, stations are selected by choice. People have control over what they hear or watch.

It is not the same with Satan’s station. The world—and you—does not decide to tune into the devil’s broadcast. And no one ever sets out to be deceived. But every human being on Earth is automatically tuned to Satan’s wavelength! His wickedness, hostility, rebellion, deceit, and selfishness are continuously “on the air.”

Therefore, it is really SATAN’S NATURE that is being incorrectly labelled as HUMAN NATURE. In fact, once it is injected into people, Satan’s nature becomes natural to them. It becomes their nature—now, human nature.

Though you cannot see it anymore than you can see radio waves or television signals, the air around you is literally charged and “crackles” with the power and energy of Satan’s broadcast.

It is absolutely critical to see how this spirit works in people. It is the single greatest key to understanding exactly how Satan can deceive and manipulate over six and a half billion people.

Recall how God was able to communicate with Cyrus through (by “stirring up”) his spirit. Satan does the same thing. Just as God can lead a human being toward a right purpose, Satan’s spirit influences people toward hate, anger, selfishness, violence, competition, vanity, jealousy, lust, greed, murder, and deceit.

Of course, when Satan injects his attitudes into an unsuspecting mankind, it has no idea that he is doing it. The devil does not announce his intentions in advance or speak aloud in an audible voice.

Murder, Lies, and Destruction

Just as God the Father has children, the god of this world is also a father with his own children! Consider this proof: On one occasion, Paul addressed a sorcerer named Bar-jesus, who was trying to hinder Paul’s preaching and ministry. Paul directly labelled this man: “O full of all subtlety and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10).

Besides identifying him as a “child of the devil,” Paul teaches that the devil’s children are enemies of “all righteousness” and “the ways of God.” This is what being children of the devil means!

But what is righteousness? Psalm 119:172 defines it: “All Your [God’s] COMMANDMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Satan’s children hate, and are enemies of, the laws of God—His commandments! Remember, they are identified as “children of disobedience.”

Revelation 9:11 describes Satan as “a destroyer.” The Hebrew word referenced there, Abaddon, means “Satan.” The Greek word used there, Apollyon, means “a destroyer.” This understanding sets the stage for the next scripture.

A fascinating confrontation between Christ and people who professed to “believe on Him” occurred in John 8:30-31. You should read the entire account, but here is a summary. Those who had professed belief in Christ actually sought to kill Him just moments later (John 8:37)! Christ said, “But you seek to KILL Me, because My word has no place in you.” He further added, “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man that has told you the truth” (John 8:40). Many say they want to hear the truth—but not if it means being told that they are wrong, particularly about cherished ideas.

This story comes to a remarkable climax in John 8:43-44. Christ asked, “Why do you not understand My speech?” (John 8:43). He answers His own question with, “… because you cannot hear My word” (John 8:44). What could possibly cause people standing right beside Christ to “not hear His word”?

John 8:44 answers, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). Christ plainly said, “You are not of God” (John 8:47), and these devil-inspired religious leaders immediately accused Him of “having a demon” (John 8:48)! Many today who profess to “believe on Christ” are no different than those described here.

This account is a powerful, instructive statement. Make yourself see this. The devil is a father who murders, lies, and destroys. As the author of killing, deceit, and destruction, he broadcasts these attitudes to his children around the world!

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