Satan's Battle Tactics Part 7 Series

Satan’s Battle Plan – Part 7

Scriptures: Luke 8:5-18; Mark 4: 26-32; Isaiah 55:10-12

This message will conclude this series on Satan’s battle tactics. Throughout this series we have discussed Jesus’ parable of the seeds as captured in Luke chapter eight and Mark chapter four. Keep in mind that Jesus was teaching a kingdom principle. When Jesus discussed the parable of the Seed, He describes clearly what happens to the Seed based on where they fell and how they were received by the ground upon which they fell. What He described is what happens in real life with the Word of God. There are a couple of points I want you to remember about the seeds that I have not discussed previously. First the sower went out to sow – he had planned how he would distribute his seeds. This was a purposeful decision. When it comes to sowing the Word, it’s not something we do haphazardly. We do it with purpose. And when we do something with purpose we make time for it. All of us at some point will sow seeds in the lives of others but when we actually plan for the “sowing season” the seeds sown have a much better chance of falling on good soil and which brings me to my next point.

In the parable of the seeds, there were four separate places where the seeds fell which described people’s response to the Word when they heard it. In three of the four situations those who received the Word did not trust, protect, and/or use it to bring forth fruit. It was only one situation where when the Word was sown it was received gladly and was able to product fruit. Think about it, 75% of the people who heard the Word did absolutely nothing with it and Satan was able to steal it from them so that they could not produce any fruit with it. I want us to really think about this. If these numbers hold true for our Church, then every Sunday and Thursday, 75% of you hear the Word and do nothing with it. That percentage is very concerning and I do not believe that Jesus randomly chose those examples. I believe this parable can change our lives.

This morning I want to share with you how to win against Satan’s battle tactic. Remember, he comes to steal, kill and destroy. He wants to kill the Word within us before it can take root and product fruit. I have shared with you some of his tactics, but not all. What I am going to share with you this morning will work against all of his tactics. Ephesians 6:11-17 says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:11-17)

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If you have no Word, you have no faith. If you have no faith, you have no armor in which to protect you against the onslaught of the enemy and to enable you to go on the attack against the enemy. The way that we win against Satan’s battle tactics is simply to trust the Word sown within us and then protect it to ensure it cannot be stolen. Trust and protect!!! We cannot win without protecting and trusting the Word (seed) that is being sown. Remember the 75% from the parable of the seeds that produced no fruit with their seeds? These individuals did not trust the Seed. Can Satan come and steal anything that you are holding on to, that you are protecting? No, he cannot. We have the responsibility of stopping him, it’s our job! Right now in this message, I’m sowing the Word. You have a decision to make before you walk out of these doors. He’s trying to steal the Word at this very moment even as it’s coming out of my mouth! Satan has no power over us but what we give him. If we do not protect the Word being sown, we are going into battle with no armor on to protect us. The Word is your armor!!! If we don’t hold on to the Word of God, then that gives Satan an advantage over us.