Today – Change gears to a CORPORATE FOCUS
A Church Like Ours
The Devil Does NOT LIKE YOU/ME...FAM!
What would satan do to hamper us? Weaken us? Where would he show up if possible? How would he go about his business?
2 Passages
Is. 14:12-15
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Ez. 28:11-19
Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The Sardis, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. “ Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings that they might gaze at you. “You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever.”’”
DOUBLE REFERENCE as when Jesus spoke to Simon Peter saying "get behind me Satan"
I. Scripture
Setting
Physically
Spiritually
These Passages – Speak to Who & what satan was before that attempt.
Eons of Time
"Lucifer" "Satan" "Devil" attempted overthrow
Lucifer’s fall was caused from his dissatisfaction with his anointing and calling on his life. He was dissatisfied with his role. He wanted more than his portion.
IN TIME we are somewhere between Gen. 1:1 & 1:2
WORDS
Is.
How you are fallen from heaven, Lucifer...cut down to the ground...For you said ‘I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down...to the pit.
Ez.
“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering...The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created...You were the anointed cherub...You were perfect...until iniquity was found in you...You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Your heart was lifted up...You corrupted your wisdom...You defiled your sanctuaries...
"ARCHANGEL"
"ANOINTED"
"WORSHIP"
"ROLE"
II. AGENDA
It’s in Scripture that satan’s agenda is brought to light
Even in these passages –
Satan’s Agenda is:
TO OVERTHROW GOD
THEN – Archangel that tried to take over...
NOW – Fallen Angel that is Angry...Without Hope...Rampage...
The Devil’s Agenda
Is to supersede and overthrow the kingdom of God. It is a strategy of destruction.
He HAS ONE AGENDA –
IN General – Overthrow GOD
ANYTHING of GOD
Specifically
1st -
Ø His KINGDOM
Since – Anything of God...Good...Light...
CORPORATELY
Ø The HOME
Ø The CHURCH
The Only Institutions From God!
It has been said that he plans to destroy human order of rule (Authority) Both within the Spiritual world & the Secular, through anarchy.
He purposes to destroy society through debauchery.
He aims to destroy true relationship with God through apostasy.
He wants to
Blind the minds of the unsaved...Snatch away the word...Lull unbelievers into a false sense of security...Lay snares for the unwary...Masquerade as an angel of light...Mix truth with error...Annihilate the church or neutralize its witness from within...Persecute it from without...Smother its’ witness...Disturb the unity by creating discord and division...Subverts the church through apostasy and heresy.
III. NAMES
His Names Give More Insight to His Character
Lucifer - Morning Star
Satan – Hebrew for “Adversary”
Devil – “Slanderer”
Wicked one
Tempter
God of this age
Ruler of darkness
Prince of the Air
Accuser of the brethren
Liar & Father of lies
IV. CORPORATE SETTING
Again – Marriage & the Church
Agenda - TO OVERTHROW GOD
John 10:10 Thief came to steal...kill...destroy...
IF he Can’t – He Steps to Others Levels...Objectives...
If he can’t Destroy it – He will bring it to a place – where it Still has the "SHELL" or the "LOOK"
Yet – has nothing on the INSIDE
(Home or Church)
1. If he can’t destroy You – he’ll Join You
You know that satan goes to church don’t you?
Ø WEAKEN – Bring it to a place where it can’t sustain a real move of God...Can’t accommodate god’s Vision...
Ø DISABLE – Paralyze it somehow...
Ø RENDER INEFFECTIVE OR USELESS – Salt without savor...
Ø OFFER A CHEAP COUNTERFEIT –
Ø OFFER A COMPROMISE –
"Settle Down"..."Don’t rock the Boat"...
"That was a GOOD Service...TRUTH – Nothing happened but a little food for the flesh that insists on feeling something!
No one was saved...Delivered...
It was a show for a few people that go home with bragging rights...
2. Look Here
Most likely to Show Up here
Leadership
Relationships
Services
a. Leadership
Strike the Head
The Leadership of the Church or HOME
(Render Something Useless if You Destroy the HEAD)
HOME – MEN
CHURCH – PASTOR
Also –
STAFF...VOLUNTEER LEADERS...MEN...
b. Relationships
Ø Unholy Alliances
He had 1/3 follow him!
They thought his idea was better than God’s!
His agenda became their own...Looked good on paper...Notes...
Wrong – Against the HEAD!
Ø ACCUSATIONS
Breakdown Trust
Prov. 18:8 Words of a talebearer are as wounds that go down into the innermost parts of the belly
It doesn’t have to be true – just has to have a teller & a hearer!
If His Lips are Moving...
Ø Disease of Me
PRIDE
Problem with Pride – It won’t allow you to admit that you have the problem!
Pride, the idolatrous worship of self, is the national religion of hell."
Leads to
EGO...CONCEIT...DECEIT...
SELFISHNESS...
ALL About FLESH...
c. Services
Ø Moves of God
Distractions...Bladders...Altars...Worship...
If he can’t get you to fail – he’ll try to get you to over shoot
Unteachable...Over zealous...Confusing...Out of Order...
Ø Leadership
Top to Bottom
Ø Worship
Power in NOISE
Sounds of Victory
His Nature...Past...Knowledge...
Ø Prayer Ministry
V. Good News
He has been & is Defeated
Christ has instructed us
"Be as Wise as Serpents..."
Jesus is the head of the Church –
Lest we be “terrified by our adversaries,” it is well to remember that Satan’s power is not inherent but permitted (Rom. 13:1). It is not unlimited, but controlled (Job 1:12; 2:6). It is not invincible, but broken (Luke 11:21-11). It is not assured of success, but is surely doomed (Rev. 20:2-3). Satan knows well that there is no ultimate victory for him. The pronounced sentence has only been postponed. However, he works to hinder and postpone Christ’s final triumph. We can rejoice in the certainty of John’s assurance: “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).
