about this especially when we examine the book of Job because God is still the ruler but in some way the devil has sway over this world. Look at these verses:
1. Isaiah 14:12 says that he once laid low the nations.
2. In John 12, 14 and 16 Jesus calls the devil the prince of this world.
3. 2 Corinthians 4:4 calls him the god of this age.
4. Ephesians 2:2 calls him the ruler of the kingdom of the air.
5. 1 John 5:19 say that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
6. Revelation 12:9 says that the devil, Satan, leads the whole world astray.
B. When I look at this we cannot help but be reminded of what happened a few weeks ago at Virginia Tech. Ezekiel 28 seems to be talking about the devil and it says in vs. 16 that he is filled with violence. Jesus said of him in John 8:44 that he was a murderer from the beginning.
C. Virginia Tech President William Steger said, “I’m really at a loss for words to explain or to understand the carnage that has visited our campus.” How can we explain how a senior at that University locked people in a lecture hall, and killed them? Who or what was behind all of this at Virginia Tech? Simply it was the devil.
E. George Lucas in his movie series, “Star Wars,” gives us a good picture of how the devil operates in Senator then Emperor Palpatine. Palpatine acts like a puppet master, playing both sides of the fence, creating division and confusion at every turn, and in the end we see all of the death, destruction, murders, and wars that result. Why does he do all of this? Only to gain more control and power for himself.
F. In Matthew 4:3 he is described as the tempter. In the Garden of Eden he successfully tempted Adam and Even. Today he still is successfully tempting mankind.
H. 1 Peter 5:9 tells us to resist him. This is impossible without God. The devil has complete sway over this world.
I. (1 John 3:8 NIV) He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. But all of us sin. (Rom 3:23 NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
I. In Luke 11 Jesus calls him the strong man. Our only hope is for someone stronger to attack and overpower him!
I. What a horrible world it would be if the devil were allowed to have free reign! If God did not answer prayer that is how it would be!

II. What if God did not answer prayers? We would be under the control of others.
A. It all becomes the survival of the fittest. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The strong get stronger and the weak get weaker. No compassion, no mercy shown to one’s fellow man. Those who are unable to survive are removed. Evolutionists have a more politically correct term it is called natural selection.
B. (Exo 2:23 NIV) The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.
C. If God does not answer prayer, then the misery of the Israelites would still be going on. Slavery would be the norm instead of the exception!
D. Most of us would not have freedom, we would be slaves. 1 Corinthians 7:23 tells us not to become slaves of men but we would have no choice.
E. This place would become the law of the jungle.