Prelude
Have you ever wondered why the church is not growing today?
Why there seems to be more churches closing, than new ones opening?
Why there are so many Christians that don’t faithfully attend church?
Why those that attend church regularly seem to be melancholy?
Could it be that the body of Christ is under attack and we are defeated and don’t even know it?
Let’s read our scriptures this morning and see if we can answer these questions.
Please honor the Word of God by standing as we read from Ephesians 2: 1-3.
Scripture
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Ephesians 2:1-3
Prayer
Introduction
Satan is at work in the body of Christ and we seem to be ignorant of His devices.
It’s time the Church arise and face the enemy head on.
Let’s look closer at our scripture passage for this morning and see what our condition we where like before we knew Christ.
How we acted and how we reacted.
We claimed to be walking with Christ that’s what the world says, I’m a Christian, I live in America, I’m a Baptist, but none of these make us a Christian.
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
You see a lost person’s trespasses take them down another path.
Calling yourself a Christian does not make you a Christian. You see our sins make us dead in Christ.
2In which you once walked according to the course of this world,
Down the path of this world.
A path that is filled with heartaches, disappointments, failures, and illness that will eventually lead to destruction.
According to the prince of the power of the air,
So many claim to be walking down the path with Christ, but reality they are walking with a false Christ, who is the prince of this world.
The spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
A lost person’s thoughts and actions are the same as the world.
They act like the sons of disobedience, because they are.
3Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Ephesians 2:1-3
This is the nature of a lost person, one who is without Christ.
However when we as Christians distance ourselves from Christ we become just as the world living in the lust of our flesh and fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind.
In all appearance we look like the children of wrath.
The Devices of the enemy have us under control.
Lets take a look at Luke 4:40-41 and see how the Lord addressed the devices of the enemy.
When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.
41And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior knows that when the Holy Spirit is moving, that the enemy is also on the move.
We live in the midst of a spiritual battlefield.
The enemy is camped all around us.
They pay no attention to us until we begin to communicate to the Lord.
When this happens all Hell breaks loose.
Satan cast his devices upon us and we become defeated.
Watch out for the Enemy’s Tricks
11. His Tricks, 4097
Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
2 Thessalonians 2:9
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:9
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
[8] and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. Revelation 20:7-8
The Enemy’s Position on Earth
12. His Princehood, 4098
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. John 12:31
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. John 14:30
Of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 16:11
Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:4
In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Ephesians 2:2
The Enemy’s Limits on Earth
13. His Limited Power, 4199
And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Job 1:12
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time." Revelation 12:12
And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Revelation 13:5
The Ifs of the Enemy’s
14. Satanic “If”, 4200
Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Matthew 4:3
And said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands hey shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " Matthew 4:6
And saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." Matthew 27:40
And saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." Luke 23:37
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." Luke 23:39
Some of Works of the Enemy
15. His Influence, 4201
Of Mary Magdalene
And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities--Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, Luke 8:2
Of The Man of Gadara
Jesus asked him, saying, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many demons had entered him. Luke 8:30
Of The Backslider’s Heart
Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
Luke 11:26
Of Judas Iscariot
Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. Luke 22:3
Of All Who Will Give Him Entrance
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
The Enemy Knows Him
10. His Discernment of Christ’s Divinity, 4096
Saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" Mark 1:24
Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. Mark 1:34
And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." Mark 5:7
And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. Luke 4:41
The Power of a Risen Savior
When God begins to move on the church, the enemy is awakened and begins its counter attack.
We must be ready for battle at all times.
We must not be afraid, but stand up with the boldness of Christ.
Put the enemy in its place.
Rebuke them in the name of Jesus Christ, plead the blood and command them to be quite.
That’s what Jesus did.
We must stand as Jesus stands!
Listen to what the scriptures say:
And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" Matthew 8:29
saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" Mark 1:24
And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God." Mark 3:11
And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." Mark 5:7
saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" Luke 4:34
This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." Acts 16:17
And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Acts 19:15
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! James 2:19
