Dealing with the enemy! Part 2
By: Pastor Ron Crandall
Introduction:
Two weeks ago on Sunday Night I started this message. We shared on how the enemy comes against the believers in Christ, how the enemy first strikes at the home and marriage.
Then when he has destroyed the family unit he then moves on and desires to decimate what remains of the family structure.
For if he can destroy the family unit, it effects the church corporately
He strikes at the single father or mother that is raising children and begins to set his oldest trick, which is discord among family members.
As believers we must know if he will do this to our families what will he not stop at to literally destroy the very household of Faith.
For it is faith that destroys the yoke of bondage, believing that the Son of the living God desires to the believer.
Paul writes to the church at Ephesus, about the attack of the enemy and what to be looking for, turn with me tonight to:
SATAN¡¦S METHOD OF ATTACK:
Ephesians 6:11 .... stand against the wiles of the devil.
The word ¡§wiles¡¨ in the Greek is ¡§methodia¡¨ - ¡§ To follow up and investigate by methods and a settled plan, plan crafty tricks, schemes.¡¨
Eph 4:14-29
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
*29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
(NIV)
The enemy has several methods of attack against Individual Christians here is just twelve of them:
1 Cor 16:9
9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
(KJV)
1. Maneuvering into a state of rebellion against authority.
2. Twisting partial truth into lies so as to confuse and deceive.
3. Inducting doubt as to who Jesus really is.
4. Creating a negative impression of God, his power, majesty & authority.
5. Encouraging skepticism as to the reality of God, so they worship creation.
6. Encouraging a humanistic reasoning, causing man to think he is capable of being his own god and solving his own problems.
7. Sowing ¡§the lie¡¨ that a certain state of moral excellence must be obtained before coming to God.
8. Creating the fearful impression that the cost of turning to God is too high by claiming there are too many desires and pleasures of life which one must hold onto for fulfillment.
9. Instilling fear that one cannot really live the Christian life and trying to make it hard through temptations and pressures.
¡§The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.¡¨
For with God nothing is ever impossible. luke1:37
10. Frustrating and confusing those ungrounded in doctrine by presenting many false interpretations of Scripture.
11. Quickly snatching away the preached Word of God from our heart before it can take root.
Matt 13:19
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
(KJV)
12. Keeping people in a false peace, allowing or even giving prosperity or
security so that we are caught up in the cares of this world.
Matt 4:3-11
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
(KJV)
Methods of Attack against The Local Church Congregations:
1. Creating negative perspectives within key circles of people, thus causing a spirit of negativism to spread within the church.
¡§Optimism is the content of small men in high places.¡¨
ľ Men fail through lack of purpose, rather than talent.
Phil 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
(KJV)
2. Harassing the flock with continual attacks on weak sheep or sheep that are not under proper spiritual covering for protection.
Isa 59:19
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
(KJV)
3. Using the tongue as a tool to cause divisions, discord through gossip, slander, by passing half-truths and evil reports.
Eph 4:13-15
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(KJV)
4. Maneuvering people into positions of relational conflict caused by satanic confusion and carnal deception.
1 Cor 14:33
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
(KJV)
James 3:16
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
(KJV)
Ps 44:15
15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
(KJV)
5. Attacking key leaders discouragement circumstantial pressures so as to remove their influence by default or failure.
1 Sam 30:6
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
(KJV)
Ps 33:22
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
(KJV)
6. Magnifying little problems within the church causing spiritual stress, which cannot be pinpointed.
¡§A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities; an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties¡¨
Matt 16:23
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
(KJV)
7. Maneuvering fragmented truth into imbalanced doctrinal emphasis which influences the weaker and newer sheep, thus causing spiritual instability.
8. Working against the spiritual vision of the church by sending people into the church that seem to be supportive, but actually are against the vision and continually work to destroy the vision, although sometimes they work innocently in total ignorance of what they are doing.
Eph 4:14
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(KJV)
If there ever is a time for the believer to begin to stand up and declare Jesus as Lord it is NOW!
We are more than overcomers!
Invitation:
