How to overcome the devil
Acts 6:1
From the moment the infant church was born satan began to put forth his power.
Acts 2:13, the Christian were mocked
Acts 4:3, Peter and John were arrested and imprisoned
Acts 4:7, They were threatened
Acts 5:4, they were forbidden to preach
Behind all of these incidents was satan, but it is also important to notice that i9n every case his power was broken, and blessing resulted. How was it that his power was overcome?
In Acts 6:1-15, we have a most helpful illustration of this fact.
I. The kind of church the devil attacks.
A. The growing church. (the word multiplied in verse 1) he hates the church to prosper
B. The praying church. Verse 4, and 6 is a glimpse on how the early church placed more time to prayer. Prayer guarantees victory, and therefore it rouses the power of the devil. Let the church get on her knees and satan will immediately do his utmost to thwart the work. But satan also trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.
C. The witnessing church vv 7,8 as a result of prayers revival broke out. Every time we preach the word satan is very active.
II. How satan attacts a church.
A. By sowing seeds of discontent, unrest, criticism, jealousy and disaffection. Notice the word murmuring in verse 1.
B. By causing the leaders to be so occupied with secondary things that priorities become neglected. (verse 4) the priority job was to pray but they are being disturb by secondary things like looking after the benevolent fund.
C. By engineering strong opposition to the gospel. (verses 9,11,12,13. why did satan stir up opposition. Because Stephen was exercising a spirit filled ministry. Why do we have so little opposition today?
III. How may satan’s power be broken?
A. Through spiritual administration. The leaders of the church were spirit filled men who recognized the lordship of the Holy Spirit Verse 3 and 5.
B. There was earnest intercession verse 4 and 6
C. There was holy Demonstration Verse 15. demonstration of a holy life. Stephen was hated how did he react? Did he has a face of an angel or a face of the devil. The biggest obstacle in the pathway of the devil is a gentle, holy, loving, tender, sympathetic, humble, Christ-like life.
