Introduction
The Christian landscape of the United States is rapidly changing, and unfortunately not for the better but for the worse. In between the years 2018 and 2019, Pew Research did a study of how many people in America describe themselves as Christians; those who say that they are followers of Jesus Christ, and the result was 65% claim to be Christian. On the surface, that number might sound like a substantial number of people claiming to be Christian. But if you compare that number to a similar survey done a decade earlier, at that time the number of people claiming to be Christian was at 77%, or over a ten-year span 12% less Americans are claiming to be Christian.
Think about the church houses in America. According to a Gallup Poll American claiming church membership in 2020 dropped to 45%. In other words, 45% of Americans say that they belong to a church. That is compared to 50% of Americans claiming church membership in 2018 and compared to 70% claiming church membership in 1999.
So, let me ask you a question, do you think the church is gaining ground; are we bringing more people to the Lord now than we did just ten years ago? The answer is less.
And do you know what should scare the socks off us. Barna research in April 2020, reported that 51% Americans believe in the all-powerful, Creator God as described in the Bible, the One who sent His Son to die for us. But 56% of Americans believe in the devil. More Americans believe in the devil today than believe in the God of the Bible.
Against that background, I want the words of Jesus to resonate in your ears. Luke 18:8 - NIV...when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” When the end comes, will there be men and women practicing their faith?
We have studied so far that the world, toxic relationships, and a defiled conscience are enemies of our faith. Today, we are going to tackle the biggest enemy- the devil. And yes, he is real, and he is seeking to devour whomsoever faith that he can. And looking at the numbers, he appears to be doing a decent job at attacking our faith.
So, today, we need to see what we need to be looking out for so that we can guard our faith against the devil's attacks. Let's look at our Scripture from Luke 22:31-32.
Scripture
Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV) 31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
Background Information
In the passage that we just read the Lord announces to Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, that he is going to come under Satan's attack. But I don't want you to miss this because Jesus is going to tell us exactly what Satan is planning to attack. Jesus says, "I pray that your faith should not fail." Satan was going to attack Peter's faith, and I believe it is still the devil's main form of attack against Christians. And I get confirmation of that by the very words of Jesus in Luke 18:8 when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
So, if I am going to guard my faith, I need to know how Satan attacks my faith.
My First Point
Satan will introduce something in your life to cause you to fear because the devil knows that fear displaces faith.
Luke 22:56-57 (NKJV) 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." 57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."
What made Peter give the answer to the slave girl that he did not know Jesus- fear. Fear that if he said that he was with Jesus that they might do the same thing to him that they were about to do to Jesus.
But Peter is not the only one who knows about fear. We all know about fear. We all know what fear feels like. And we all have probably said at some point in a given situation that I was worried sick about (and you fill in the blank.)
The devil loves it when he gets us hung up on fear. Churches won't try something new to reach people for Christ because of fear. It might cause us too much money. Let me tell you some churches would rather having the safety of holding on to its money then spending it to reach a soul for the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not going to do that at Bala Chitto while I am pastor.
Bro Greg has been preaching on Wednesday nights about spiritual gifts. People don't get involved in using their spiritual gifts in church because of fear. One of greatest fears you have is fear of commitment. If I sign up to do something, I am locking myself in to be here. What if something else comes up I want to do on that Sunday or Wednesday night. I got an idea why don't you commit and let God work that out. He has done an excellent job in my life working it out. It seems like he has worked it out in Greg's life, and Bert's life and Toxie's life. In fact, I am confident that he can work it out in your life too.
Then there are the unsaved who are just as fearful as the Christian. They hear a message; they know that they need to accept Christ as their Savior, but they are fearful to come forward and get the matter of their soul resolved because someone might think they are a sinner. Let me let you in on a secret, I know you are a sinner and so does everyone else in here because we are sinners too.
I like what Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
I want us to resolve in our hearts and minds that when we are attacked by fear we will become "Fear Busters". If we do not fight our fears, they will keep us from living the victorious life that God meant for us to live, and it will cause our faith to shrivel up.
Turn to your neighbor and tell them I will be a "fear buster".
My Second Point
Satan would love for you to work out your problems on your own rather than you going to God and trusting Him to resolve it.
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Trusting in God to resolve your problem means that you are probably going to search His Word for the answer. Trusting in God to resolve your problem is probably going to mean that you communicate with Him through pray. Trusting in God to resolve your problem is probably going to mean that you might have to do some waiting so you will be relying on the Holy Spirit who gives that fruit. Those things will build your faith because by searching the Word and praying and relying on God's spirit; all those things are looking to Jesus. And when you look to Jesus, Jesus says "I take your faith to a higher level. I take it from its beginning to its completion."
So, what does the devil want to do. He wants to move you and me to solve our own problems. The devil will sometimes even give you a hand to solve the problem. If he is busy, he might even send one of his helpers to give you a hand. The devil just wants it solved without you turning to God because he knows if he can get you to trust yourself, your faith in God will diminish. And let me tell you something, the devil is not interested in doing it right, he just wants you to do it without using God. And how many times when you try to solve the problem on your own you know from personal experience that you created even a bigger mess.
That is why God's pleads with us in 1Peter 5:7 to cast all your cares on Him because He cares for us.
Turn to your neighbor and tell him "From now on I am a give it to Jesus problem solver."
My Third Point
Satan would love for us to think that God is holding back something. If the devil can get me to believe that than my faith suffers.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NKJV) 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
It says that the Apostle Paul pleaded with God three times to remove this thorn in the flesh. I imagine in my mind, it was not in rapid succession; that there were periods of time in between. Can you imagine what the devil was whispering in Paul's ear during that time? God is holding back on you. He could heal you but obviously He does not care that much about you.
It was what the devil whispers in the ears of eye in the Garden. The devil don't have any new tricks, he uses the old tried and tested ones. He told Eve if you eat of the tree, you will be like God, but He is holding back on you. We know the outcome, she did not resist his suggestion, Paul did.
Sometimes the devil will take you to see what another Christian has. And the devil whispers, you see if God loves you, you would have those things too.
But I love hold Paul responded if I have Jesus, I have all that I need. Paul is saying that I am a devil suggesting rejecter.
I want you to turn to your neighbor and tell them: I am a devil suggesting rejecter.
Conclusion
If we are to guard our faith, then we need to remember three things from today's message. I am a Christian so:
I am:
A fear buster.
A give it to Jesus problem solver.
A devil suggestion rejecter.
